With only a week of summer left, here are some of my thoughts.
The first feeling I'm having is that I'm ready to go back to school. I know it sounds crazy, but there's only so much purpose you can find for 16+ hours of a day. The purposes I do find for those hours also sometimes feel like a waste. For example, watching hours of YouTube videos a day doesn't really make me feel like I accomplished anything.
The second feeling is that I don't want to go back to school. Yes, I have those reasons to go back, but there is also the fact that I will have less free time. Especially since I am going to have some harder classes (AP US. History and Honors English -- for which I still need to read/annotate The Crucible) which will require a lot of at home work time. Then you add in Cross Country almost every day after school and you end up spending 12+ of your 16+ hours doing stuff for school.
Now, there is a reason I would like to have some free time now. My urge to write has returned and so I'm working on getting A Conjurer's Writings back up and running. There I've written some fan fiction stories and now wish to continue them. The other major writing event is NaNoWriMo in November. Maybe this year I will be able to write the 50k word novel in the month of November. I didn't do very well last year.
Let me know what you think of what we've been doing. If it all goes okay we'll hopefully be able to post pretty regularly, even once school starts. Of course, if we can't do it when we have lots of free time, how are we going to do it when we have barely any? XD
- Cameron
The Lost One
Ps. We started afternoon practices for Cross Country this week... and I've discovered that running in the heat is a lot harder. Especially since it was all the steep hill workout. I also have my first meet tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be too bad. Won't be surprised if I'm still the last person to finish. *shrugs*
August 17, 2012
July 28, 2012
Book Review: Paper Towns by John Green
This last weekend I read Paper Towns by John Green. It was an interesting book and just thought I'd share my thoughts on it.
The story follows a boy named Quentin as he goes through the last little bit of his Senior year in High School. The thing is, his next door neighbor, and friend, decides to change up his life a bit. In the process though, there is one main topic and that's what I'm going to focus on. (don't want to give any spoilers) ;)
The topic that he uses is told to Quentin early in the story, but it stays in his thoughts always.
It's the idea of "paper towns". There are a couple different definitions of them:
- Subdivisions that were never finished (also called psuedovisions).
- Fictional towns that are placed on maps as copyright traps.
In these towns are the "paper" people. These are the people we see only as what we think they are, the way our "story" writes them. Green explains this also like looking in a mirror. It is only when we finally can make the person a window more than a mirror that we see who they really are. It is then that we can really understand them.
The other thing I found interesting was the idea of a feeling, the feeling of leaving your "paper town". When Quentin feels this, he gets a better understanding of why Margo did what she did. I think I know the feeling too. Though it's a little different, I get this sort of feeling whenever I go on vacation. It's that reluctance to return home because this new place feels so much better. The thing is, it isn't until that big moment when we finally leave home to LIVE somewhere else that we get the full strength of it.
The thing is, all of this could be part of why I feel the way I shared last week, because I'm tired of living my little paper life. I want it to become real... but time just moves too slow for it to happen.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Even though there was quite of bit of language, it was still an amazing story, and that is all that really matters. Green is one of the few authors that I can pick up their book and not be able to put it down.
Cameron
~ The Lost One ~
The story follows a boy named Quentin as he goes through the last little bit of his Senior year in High School. The thing is, his next door neighbor, and friend, decides to change up his life a bit. In the process though, there is one main topic and that's what I'm going to focus on. (don't want to give any spoilers) ;)
The topic that he uses is told to Quentin early in the story, but it stays in his thoughts always.
It's the idea of "paper towns". There are a couple different definitions of them:
- Subdivisions that were never finished (also called psuedovisions).
- Fictional towns that are placed on maps as copyright traps.
In these towns are the "paper" people. These are the people we see only as what we think they are, the way our "story" writes them. Green explains this also like looking in a mirror. It is only when we finally can make the person a window more than a mirror that we see who they really are. It is then that we can really understand them.
The other thing I found interesting was the idea of a feeling, the feeling of leaving your "paper town". When Quentin feels this, he gets a better understanding of why Margo did what she did. I think I know the feeling too. Though it's a little different, I get this sort of feeling whenever I go on vacation. It's that reluctance to return home because this new place feels so much better. The thing is, it isn't until that big moment when we finally leave home to LIVE somewhere else that we get the full strength of it.
The thing is, all of this could be part of why I feel the way I shared last week, because I'm tired of living my little paper life. I want it to become real... but time just moves too slow for it to happen.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Even though there was quite of bit of language, it was still an amazing story, and that is all that really matters. Green is one of the few authors that I can pick up their book and not be able to put it down.
Cameron
~ The Lost One ~
July 21, 2012
Service and Friends
Yesterday was a pretty good day. The reason for this was that I finally accomplished something that helped others in the real world. What was this odd act? Well, it was a service project.
A couple weeks ago, a friend from school posted an event on Facebook. This event was to go to a nearby greenhouse. Here's what she explained it as:
This event made me think about something I have lots of thoughts about. And that is, what friends are. An odd topic for here, I know, but it's something I'd like to get off my mind and hopefully be able to share with other people later. So let the crazy thoughts begin. (Warning: My thought process is weird and jumbled so be warned. These are my opinions and you don't have to agree to them, just read so that you understand. Thanks!)
There are two main titles that I give my groups of friends: Friends and Acquaintances. Friends are people I talk to a lot and who I actually hang out with. So yes Tyler, you're counted in there.
The other people (which are 99% of my "friends") I call Acquaintances. These are the people I "know" because I've met them before, know their names, and maybe talk to them... but that's all.
I don't know, maybe I'm just shy or whatever... but when I've spent 90% of my summer sitting at home, playing video games on my computer until 5 am... it makes me really sad. Sure, there's church, Young Men's and Summer Seminary (this month), but that doesn't really do anything for me. Cross country was nice the first couple times I went (before my doctor pulled me out) because I had to wake up and go accomplish something. I think a job would be nice, but my self confidence isn't the highest. (That's the same reason I have a problem talking to people... which is what I would love to do, talk!)
But really, it was last night as I helped will all the things (even though I didn't know what I was doing) that I finally felt like there was a good reason for me waking up that day. That's one reason I love Summer Seminary, it gives me a reason to get up rather than just sleep in, sit on the computer for hours, then go back to sleep. I'm glad that you have more confidence at calling me, Tyler... because the couple of times I've gone over and played video games have been great. We sit there and have a great time, even better when we add Kaleb into it. Though, maybe now it's my turn to have you over. I could be the one who wins for once if we played some Wii games. :P
Sorry for such the sad post... I guess I'll talk to (well, again I don't talk much, so I mean email) you later today. ;)
Have a good weekend! :)
- Cameron
~ The Lost One ~
P.s. Hope your mouth is feeling just lovely! :P
P.s.s. If you have problems with text being highlighted in white when you post, let me know, I know how to fix it now. :)
A couple weeks ago, a friend from school posted an event on Facebook. This event was to go to a nearby greenhouse. Here's what she explained it as:
The Murray Greenhouse is a place where disabled adults learn life skills and continue their education. They raise their money and profits by supporting a greenhouse and selling the plants to the community. It's a great organization, that needs a lot of help.So last night (Thursday) we went over and played around with dirt, weeds and a lot of spiders to redo some of the tarping around the outdoor planters. There were probably about 14 of us there and we had a great time. It was made even better when her mom came over and cooked funnel cakes in a dutch oven for us. They were delicious! :)
This event made me think about something I have lots of thoughts about. And that is, what friends are. An odd topic for here, I know, but it's something I'd like to get off my mind and hopefully be able to share with other people later. So let the crazy thoughts begin. (Warning: My thought process is weird and jumbled so be warned. These are my opinions and you don't have to agree to them, just read so that you understand. Thanks!)
There are two main titles that I give my groups of friends: Friends and Acquaintances. Friends are people I talk to a lot and who I actually hang out with. So yes Tyler, you're counted in there.
The other people (which are 99% of my "friends") I call Acquaintances. These are the people I "know" because I've met them before, know their names, and maybe talk to them... but that's all.
I don't know, maybe I'm just shy or whatever... but when I've spent 90% of my summer sitting at home, playing video games on my computer until 5 am... it makes me really sad. Sure, there's church, Young Men's and Summer Seminary (this month), but that doesn't really do anything for me. Cross country was nice the first couple times I went (before my doctor pulled me out) because I had to wake up and go accomplish something. I think a job would be nice, but my self confidence isn't the highest. (That's the same reason I have a problem talking to people... which is what I would love to do, talk!)
But really, it was last night as I helped will all the things (even though I didn't know what I was doing) that I finally felt like there was a good reason for me waking up that day. That's one reason I love Summer Seminary, it gives me a reason to get up rather than just sleep in, sit on the computer for hours, then go back to sleep. I'm glad that you have more confidence at calling me, Tyler... because the couple of times I've gone over and played video games have been great. We sit there and have a great time, even better when we add Kaleb into it. Though, maybe now it's my turn to have you over. I could be the one who wins for once if we played some Wii games. :P
Sorry for such the sad post... I guess I'll talk to (well, again I don't talk much, so I mean email) you later today. ;)
Have a good weekend! :)
- Cameron
~ The Lost One ~
P.s. Hope your mouth is feeling just lovely! :P
P.s.s. If you have problems with text being highlighted in white when you post, let me know, I know how to fix it now. :)
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