M for McDonalds

The Restaurant I choose was McDonald's which is located off of Western Ave. I have sat down and ate in there either with  friends getting a quick bite to eat or after a long day at a sport. I'm not really a fan of McDonald's because I think it's really bad for you but sometimes those salty french fries are irresistible. There is not service really, you just sit down after you ordered and pick up your food. They offer the Big Mac which is under $5.00. They also have many desserts and shakes like the kiddie cone which is less than $3.00.  The atmosphere is clean for the most part but sometimes it can get dirty because of not sweeping up or cleaning the trays. McDonald's is near Crossgates mall and Stuyvesant Plaza which has many attractions in both of them. McDonald's wouldn't be a place I would recommend to go because their food is filled with fats, grease and other things that aren't good for you. One of my best friends works there and she actually told me how they get and make their food and that makes me never want to go back.

The Book(s) that Changed My Life.

My favorite book that I have read is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I read Speak in ninth grade. I really liked the way this book was written and how it really described in detail the main characters feelings. There is no special meaning behind it although I did at one point feel alone in school in sixth grade but that was it. It doesn't relate to my life but I can put myself in the main characters shoes and see what she deals with on a daily basis. I think this book changed my life because the main character gets shunned and I know what that feels like. One of my best friends and I are not seeing eye to eye on somethings right now, I know I shun her and I don't mean to do it personally but sometimes I just don't know what to say anymore. Also she shuns me because she is mad at me for stating my opinion on something. The first time I read this book I couldn't put it down I had to keep reading! I think the reason I feel so strongly about this book, is because I feel so strongly about the main character. I really liked her and she seemed like a more independent character at the end. This book has taught me so believe in who you are and if somebody doesn't like you for being you then that's their loss not yours.

The Language of Song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nSAwgCoy2s
"J'envoie Valser " By Zazie 
http://lyricstranslate.com

"J'envoie valser" lyrics:

FRENCH:

J'en vois des qui s'donnent, donnent des bijoux
dans le cou
c'est beau mais quand meme
ce ne sont que des cailloux

des pierres qui vous roulent, roulent
et qui vous coulent
sur les joues
j'aime mieux que tu m'aimes
sans depenser des sous

moi je m'en moque
j'envoie valser
les truc en toc
les cages dorees
toi quand tu m'serres tres fort
c'est comme un tresor
et ca
et ca vaut de l'or

j'en vois des qui s'lancent des regards
et des fleurs
puis qui s'laissent quelque part
ou ailleurs
entre les roses et les choux
j'en connais des tas qui feraient mieux de s'aimer un peu
un peu comme nous
qui nous aimons beaucoup

et d'envoyer
ailleurs
valser
les bagues et les
c?urs
en collier
car quand on s'aime tres fort
c'est comme un tresor
et ca
et ca vaut de l'or

moi pour toujours
j'envoie valser
les preuves d'amour en or plaque
puisque tu m'serres tres fort
c'est la mon tresor
c'est toi
toi qui vaut de l'or

ENGLISH:

http://lyricstranslate.com

I see some people who give, give each other jewels
in the neck
it's beautiful but still
those are only little stones

stones that fool, fool you
and that leak
on the cheeks
I prefer that you love me
without spending money.

I care nothing for it
I send waltzing
this fake stuff
the golden cages
you when you hug me tight
it's like a treasure
and that
that is worth gold

I see some people who throw glances at each other
and flowers
and then leave each other somewhere
or elsewhere
between the roses and the cabbage
I know a lot who'd be better off loving each other a little
a little like us
who do love each other a lot

and sending
elsewhere
waltzing
the rings and the
hearts
for the necklace
because when you love each other strongly
it's like a treasure
and that
and that is worth gold

me, forever
I send waltzing
the gold-plated proofs of love
since you hold me tight
my treasure is there
it's you
you who are worth gold

SHORT STORY:

Dear John,

I walked by your house the other day and it reminded me of the memories we had. I want to still be with you but I feel like you were trying to buy my love. You know that I loved you 100% without your riches and gifts. I couldn't deal with you thinking the only reason I wanted to marry you was because you could buy me the world. I loved you for who you were and I just want you, not your money. You tried showing your love through money and that made me nervous. I'm not a typical girl that loves the materialistic things, I like the attention, the affection and the relationship. I wish we could go back when we were in elementary school when the hardest decision was picking out a crayon, I miss the old you, not the wealthy you. Go back to yourself.

One Love.

Irish Blog.

TU Tuesday - CRIME

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Man-gets-15-years-for-shooting-robbery-3405399.php

http://www.aware.org/arttruelaw/whenshootpart1.shtml

http://sentencing.typepad.com/
 
How long of a sentence do you get it you shoot or kill someone?
I read the article about a shooting that left people harmed and wounded. Also two other suspects are being investigated. "Unavoidable danger. This one is tricky." This means that the incident could have been avoided and could have possibly never happened. "A state judge has sentenced a Sulphur man to 15 years in prison for his participation in a 2009 shooting that left two people wounded, including a pregnant woman." The answer to my question is 15 yeas as said above. "Criminal Division’s primary mission is to investigate and prosecute crime." This is when someone commits a crime the criminal division which includes judges, lawyers and detectives to find out how long that person should be punished for based on the crime they did commit.

Creative Contest II Blog

"Can we at least try to find a soccer ball?"

Scruples

3. A neighbor’s six year old child finds $30 on your driveway and gives it to you. No one claims it. Do you give the money to the child?

If my neighbor's child found $30 on my driveway I wouldn't keep it. I know its not mine and I would never want to feel bad if I took someones money that really needed it. I would probably ask my parents or my brothers if they lost it first and if all of them said no then I would absolutely give it back to my neighbor's child. I answer the question that way because taking something that isn't yours in stealing and if you want to risk being caught and getting in trouble then go ahead but my parents raised me better than that.

Design Your Own!

Create a bucket list of 10 things you want to do before you die and explain why you would want to do each of them.

1) Make an impact on a stranger's life - This would make me feel better has an all around person knowing I helped someone in a positive way so they can be happy.

2) Go to Bora Bora- Bora Bora is some where I have always wanted to go because its so pretty and beautiful. I want to go there because I feel like it would be a great place just to clear my head and think about life

3) Go swimming with Dolphins- I would like to swim with dolphins because they're probably one of most favorite animals and I think swimming with them would be a dream come true

4) Go to Springfield College in Mass and study Athletic Training- I would like to go to this school because one of its majors is athletic training which I really want to do when I get older. I like athletic training so much because I'm such an athlete that if I could help another student athlete out it would be awesome.

5) Meet someone and fall in love with them- I don't want to use up all my youth in being a relationship because I hate the fact of being attached to someone but I think when I get older or as I progress in high school I will want someone to be with. I love the fact of being in love and I want that more than anything in life; to grow old with someone

6) Go to Africa or an poverty stricken country and help out for a week- I have been so blessed with everything I have that if I could go to Africa and help pay back what life has given me, it would be the greatest thing in the world

7) Create something like a quote or line that will live in the generations of my family to come- I always here the expressions by grandparents use to say that I want my grand kids to always remember some way or remember something I would always say.

8) Bungy Jump- I know its extreme but the rush of adrenaline by bungy jumping would be incredible. I would die to do this because no one really experiences something like this

9) Be apart of a flash mob- In the middle of NYC would be my dream flash mob location. I feel like it would be so much fun and just an overall good time

10) Ride a camel/elephant- So random, I know. Camels and Elephants have always been something I was interested in, but riding one would be so cool. Just to sit on top of an enormous animal would be a great feeling.

Revisions

Happiness is...

A point guard scoring her 1000th point
A football player scoring a touchdown
A baseball player hitting a home run

A mother seeing her child grow
A father seeing his little girl smile
A brother helping out a sister

A cancer patient getting cured
A person donating money
A doctor treating a vitcim

An individual doing a good deed
A teenager giving back to their community
A boy trying to save the world

The dreams that live forever
The love that never dies
The gift that keeps giving




Megan - I suggest you take one of the metaphors in Happiness Is, and expand it using your imagination, strong imagery and sensory language.  I think you'll be surprised what happens when you stay with one metaphor instead of using several.

Mimi Moriarty




REVISION:
Happiness Is...


A teenager helping out another student
A teenager being there for someone in need 
A teenager improving the life of someone else


A teenager loved by her family
A teenager hanging out with her boyfriend
A teenager goofing around with her friends


A teenager growing into a better person
A teenager wanting to go far in life
A teenager with the biggest personality


A teenager acting funny like their father
A teenager showing kindness like their mother
A teenager facing problems and acting strong like their brothers




I thought my first poem was really good because it didn't just focus on one point but it focused on a lot of little things. After reading Mimi Moriarty's suggestion on my poem and after I wrote the revised poem I think that my opinion has changed. I like my second poem better because it give more detail about a particular idea. I really like how it came out and I'm thankful for Ms.Moriarty correcting my work.