Bored

I am right now sitting in my dad's office, bored to death. Every once in a while I type on the computer or draw on the whiteboard, but the most important things are my secret exploring missions all over Microsoft. I haven't gotten lost yet.

Occasionally I go to the large windows overlooking the woods and cafeteria and read a book. Or, I take a quick trip to the bathroom to wash my hands. If I'm hungry, I stroll to the kitchen to get a soda, hot cocoa, water, or to use the Purell's hand sanitizer they have there. Maya spends most of her time sneaking in and out of the copy room to take the pencils, sticky pads, highlighters, and pens stocked in abundance there. That is her secret mission.

The sky is darkening with the upcoming storm and I hope the power doesn't go out for four days again.

Journal

The day started off with rare sunshine, soon to disappear into the misty chill of the dismal, cloudy sky.

I woke at the same time as Maya, slipping into my bedroom slippers and peeking into Maya's sun-lit room. After a hurried brushing, I ran downstairs to find it empty and cold. After a quick bowl of oatmeal, I started my horrifyingly complex school project, which included a gigantic sheet of watercolor paper, several boxes and lines, weird looking creatures, similarities and differences, rulers, a computer, and a paper cutter.

Now, after finishing the easy part of the project and lazy to start the hard one, my stomach is rumbling with hunger. Apart from being cold, a sleepy lull has taken over the house......

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I already started making Christmas presents. I know it is early, but it is fun to make them! I already finished one of them.

Have a great dinner!

Oral Book Report Tips

• Practice a lot- especially in front of a mirror.
• Don't procrastinate! Spread your book report out.
• If a costume is needed, pick a fun one that will ease your nervousness. If you need to make a visual aid, start early.
• Making eye contact- don't stare at the floor or ceiling! Look at your audience.
• Talk loudly. Don't mumble, stutter, or whisper. Using an accent or fun voice will also add effect to your report.
• Choose a book that you enjoy or you think is interesting. If the book is boring, you will not be as motivated.
• Add fun! Make jokes in your report, or say something funny!
• If you are nervous, take deep breaths before you perform. Try not to look scared. If you can, go first to get it over with.

With these tips, it is guaranteed that your book report is going to be the best one in your class!

Journal

Today I woke up precisely at 8:28 AM. Maya was still sleeping, which was a relief, because I didn't have to listen to her constant chatter or her continuous questions about where her clothes was. After eating a heavy meal of pancakes with syrup and finishing my reading homework, Maya woke up at 9:48 AM.

We just finished a short skirmish about the deadline of a contest. It was settled when I walked away to write this.

Music

From the black veil of darkness
A white moon, like a ghost amidst the blackness…
Gray lining on the heavy clouds
White shining upon the ground…..
Moonlight.
Wind passing through……
A breeze ruffles the soft air
With a whisper the trees sway ……
Swishing and slipping
Between the thin branches
Of the tall trees standing proudly……
Zephyr.
Down at the small pond
Shining silver on the water…..
With a splash-
Swans, three in all
White soft feathers and sharp black beaks
Appear and disappear……
Swans.
Nothing left but the ripples, circling
Like a swirl of something unknown
Getting farther and farther……
Rippling water
With a sigh
All trace disappears…….
Ripples.
From among the dark trees of the forest
A hidden guitar plays …..
Spinning the music out of the air
Like a delicate golden thread
Through the night…..
Music.

Haiku Poems from Japan

Beautiful sunset,
The sky a flame of colors,
Casting a bright glow.

Rushing waterfalls,
Bright greenery everywhere,
Cascade on the rocks.

Pink and white flowers,
Cherry blossoms by the lamp,
The light reflecting.

Woman with a fan,
Shading herself from the heat,
The sun beating down.

Walking on the path,
Lady in a kimono,
Hat perched on her head.

Happy Birthday

Today is Maya's birthday.

Again I woke up before everyone else- precisely 6:17 AM. Then Maya opened her gifts- I'm not telling what they are- and we went down to eat.

Now I am trying to fight the bit of hunger in my body, because there is nothing in the house and we have no idea what to eat.

P.S.- Voting does not work.

And I am also feeling very bored.

Journal

Today I woke up precisely at 8 AM to find everyone asleep. After reading a short book, I went downstairs to eat a breakfast of three pancakes with syrup, chocolate milk, and a sticky brownie.

Right before I started this Maya and I were cleaning out her closet (and mine too). I've found my posters and pictures! I now have a large garbage bag filled with disguises- hats, wigs, and costumes. I haven't eaten lunch yet but I'm not particularly hungry yet.

I was hoping for a sunny day, but the weather right now is chilly and cloudy. When my mother opened the window, a blast of cold air came through it and almost made me fall.

Weather Forecast

Have you noticed the unusual change in the weather system? At your house, is it cold, gloomy, and pouring rain in the mornings, pleasant in the afternoons, absolutely gorgeous sunshine in the evenings, and stuffy at night? This is because we are nearing to the end of summer! Say goodbye to swimming in the pool and ice cream and watching TV, because school has started and autumn is just beginning. During October and November (I call them the Slug Season), we will have the pleasure of stepping on slushy mud and worst of all, muddy worms and slugs. It's not very delightful, but it's reality. Sorry to bring you such a dismal report.

Unfair Teachers

Today I have had more than two hours of homework, and I'm still not done with it! Why is this?

Teachers ALWAYS say that they are not giving much homework- if a child would equally spread out the load each day, homework should take only about one hour. They say that children should have a break- play from 4-5:30, and then start their homework. Do they not know that kids have after-school activities, or school duties like safety patrol? They have loaded so much homework on me this week that I have not been sleeping before 10:00 PM, and I also have patrols in the morning. Isn't this unfair and unjust? I think kids should have a say in their homework- less homework, less expectations, and NO book reports! If you don't do at least a small bit of those nasty reports every day, I guarantee you that you will be staying up the night before it is due and cramming the whole thing into a short period of time. So if you are having similar problems like this, please make a comment and give me feedback. This is important!

Journal

Dear Journal:
Today has been okay so far. Even though I woke up really late and went to Maya's room to find her at her desk, I've accomplished many things.

• Practiced piano
• Finished all my homework except for my annoying, boring, tiresome, useless, and irritating book report due the coming Friday and an "All About Me" topic sheet.
• Cleaned up my room- took the papers off my desk, arranged everything neatly, put junk into drawers, put dirty clothes into hamper and clean ones back into the closet...

After a delicious lunch, AND after watching Roddick beat some Yoghzenky guy or something like that in the US Open, I have finally reached my final destination after a lengthy, life-threatening, risky journey down the stairs to the computer to write down today's events, even though I am aware that Maya may have placed some sneaky spies around here. If I am not captured by the mighty Maya by the end of the day, I will write once more at night to conclude the interesting events of today.

Weather Forecast

Today, the weather in Redmond is cloudy and dismal. The skies are mostly gray and white, but with a slight tint of blue, signaling that there might be sunshine today. The sun has come out once so far, but it is now hidden behind a mass of heavy gray clouds. Several wet drops on the pavement means that it must have rained last night or very early in the morning. The temperature is chilly, but with a hint of heat. We must all hope for blue skies and sunshine for the rest of today.

Camping

Flames rising higher in the sky,
Not a wisp of wind seems to go by,
Yellow, orange, red,
Warming my cold head.

A stock of wood piled up by the tent,
All crooked and bent,
We use that wood,
To heat up our food.

Our tent is big,
To set it up, we had to dig,
Sleeping bags laid out on the floor,
The flap resembles a door.

A big bear, hiding in the tree,
Watching the food in glee,
Ready to pounce, awaiting its chance,
It is the timing the bear wants to enhance.

I look up, see the bear,
Quickly close up the food with great care,
With an angry growl, the bear runs away,
What an exciting day!

It's No Wonder.....

It’s no wonder
Why a horse in the city would want to run.
The countryside is much more fun.

It’s no wonder
Why a cat bites.
They are used to getting into fights.

It’s no wonder
Why a snake likes dark places.
They are used to being confined to small spaces.

It’s no wonder
Why a monkey swings.
How would it feel like to have wings?

It’s no wonder
Why an insect flies.
They want to see the world before they die.

There are so many suggestions.
The world is full of questions.

Reminder

I would like to remind everyone who visits this blog that the contents are my own work and copyrighted.

Why You Should Keep Your Room Clean

As I was lying in bed,
My mother came in and said,
Make sure that
You vacuum your mat.

But of course I didn’t do it,
Didn’t even vacuum a bit,
The mat is getting,
Dirtier, I’m betting.

One cold winter day,
I was definitely not gay,
Sneezing everywhere,
Holding my teddy bear.

So my mother made me clean it up,
When she asked me if I was feeling better, I said yup,
So that’s why now,
I made a vow….

To always keep my room clean!

Gettysburg Address

Background information:

The Gettysburg Address was spoken by our 16th President, President Abraham Lincoln. It took place in 1863 during the Civil War, 4 months after the battle of Gettysburg. The Civil War occurred when the North part of our country was arguing against the South part. They argued about many things, such as the fairness of slavery and about many laws. Finally, they started a war. The casualties were even higher than 3 previous major wars that took place a long time ago. The battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle in the war. The casualties were extremely high. So high, in fact, that President Lincoln, who was for the North, was asked to speak at a ceremony that the country was going to have in honor of those who fought at the battlefield. They actually dedicated a national cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The Gettysburg Address:

"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."