Character Description Practice

My brother Tim wanders into the room, fingers flying across his iPod. I say hello to him, and he raises his eyebrows in response, never looking up. With one long finger, he stabs his screen, wincing as he loses points in whatever game is playing. His eyebrows pull together and his looked intensifies. Stiffening his arms, he forces his slim fingers to work faster, sliding across the screen. With a final swipe, his lifts his finger into the air, poised like a director instructing a band to pause. He taps his feet, his lanky legs twisting as he does a small victory dance as he apparently gains points. Throwing a bony arm into the air, he gives a wide grin to the ceiling. Looking back down, he notices me watching his antics.

"Oh. Hi," he says. I just shake my head and go back to my homework.

Character Description Practice

My brother Peter shuffled up to me, a goofy smile plastered across his face. He ran his fingers through his long, straight hair, pushing it into his eyes.

"I just brushed my hair," he said happily, the grin widening to show his short teeth.

I paused, looking up at him. "Um...great?"

Peter brushes his hair around ten times every day. Also, he hates getting it cut short. Therefore, at the moment, his hair conceals his eyebrows and dangles right into his eyes. He crosses his eyes at me and punches me in the shoulder before bounding away, laughing a fake laugh at the top of his lungs. He snatches up an inflated ball and kicks it around, engaging one of my other brothers in a game of indoor soccer. He smooths down his athletic shirt, bends into a goalie position, and screeches as the ball slips past him into his "goal." Squirming into an odd position of frustration, with his arms twined together, he claims that he was distracted, and that the goal shouldn't count. The two of them begin to bicker, and I decide it's time to move downstairs.

Falling Asleep

This happens to me a lot...when it's not supposed to. I will be sitting in a class, and suddenly my eyes feel very heavy...as if my eyelids are suddenly made of lead. It is a battle to keep them open as I frantically cross uncross my legs or fold and unfold my arms in an attempt to stay awake. Or, I will be sitting at my computer, trying to make it through another round of homework, when I suddenly feel myself drifting away. The clock will seem to be ticking very fast, and time will be slipping away as I slow down, trying to simply keep awake. Once, I lost the fight, and fell asleep on my laptop. When my mom came in and woke me up, I had the imprint of the keyboard on my face. Even now, as my fingers are moving across the keys...I can feel my eyes getting heavy...

Homework

Your pencil scratches across the paper, filling line after line. The lead on your pencil is worn farther and farther down, until the wood of the pencil hits the page. You sharpen it, taking your time as you watch the shreds of wood float into the trash can. Flipping to the next page, you continue, once again filling line after line after line...after line...it goes on and on. It seems as if a whole notebook could be filled. And in some cases, it will be filled. By the end of the trimester, a small tree has been used up for each class. Worksheets are stuffed into folders. Notebooks are covered in writing, lines filled. Spanish words, German phrases, paper review, calculus...it doesn't matter which you fill the page with, it all falls into the category of homework.

Cub Bagging

Bagging groceries is always an interesting job. You shuffle awkwardly up to the next person in line and work up the courage to ask if they would like any help bagging their groceries. When bagging before Thanksgiving, there is usually a turkey somewhere among the piles of food that are being slid through the counter. It always presents somewhat of a challenge. You have to heave it into the air and slide it into a bag without creating too much of a ruckus, because then the person purchasing the food may believe you aren't treating their food with care. When you try to bag the other items, it is often like a puzzle. The boxes and cans go on the bottom, then the items that can stand to be slightly squished, and then the bread or chips, or whatever fragile items may be laying on the counter. You at a pace somewhere less than frantic, hurrying to finish the bagging before the purchaser is done paying. Gently laying the bags in their cart, you flash your biggest smile and say goodbye. And move on to the next customer, and the next, and the next...until your shift is finally over!

Hugo Cabret

The movie Hugo Cabret had educational value, artistic value, and entertainment value. The theme of the movie was thought provoking, as it was about purpose. In one line, the main character Hugo states, "A machine always comes with the exact amount of pieces it needs- nothing more. I think of the world as a big machine. And since there are never any extra pieces, I must be a part of that machine for a reason." That quote shows how the theme of purpose isn't too cheesy, but it is deep. Also, another theme is fixing things- machines and people alike. The artistic value is also amazing. The set of Hugo's home and the views of the camera are all well thought out. The lighting is different to create different moods; once, when Hugo is trying to follow an old man who stole his notebook, they pass through a churchyard, where the statues have dark shadows, giving a feeling of doom. In another scene, where Hugo is with his new friend and they are walking through a train station, the lighting gives a soft glow to everything around them. The entertainment value was very high. The plot was intriguing, while not being too unrealistic. My disbelief was suspended throughout the entire movie, and I felt as though I was a part of the world of Hugo Cabret.

Thanksgiving

It happens every year. Turkeys are purchased, thawed, and cooked. Stuffing is mixed and set out in bowls. Mashed potatoes are whipped by beaters. Cranberry sauce and deviled eggs are prepared. After all of the cooking and preparation, the meal is finally ready. Families gather around the table, joining together to give thanks. For some, it is stressful, due to the amounts of cooking and planning that must be done. For others, it is a chance to eat and relax with friends and family. For still others, it is simply another regular day of the year. To some it is important, while to others it is no big deal. Either way, it is recognized nationally. Going back to the times of the Pilgrims, this holiday is a symbol of being grateful. So people celebrate while they can! Happy Thanksgiving!