My Side of the Mountain

In 1959, My Side of the Mountain, written by Jean Craighead George, was published. She has written many great books about nature such as On the Far Side of the Mountain and Julie of the Wolves, and she has won many awards. The book tells the story of a boy named Sam Gribley, who lived in a city in New York. Because he hated cities, he ran away and started living in the woods in the Catskill Mountains. While he was there he wanted a peregrine falcon to help him hunt. Fortunately, he discovered a nest with peregrine falcons in it. He cautiously climbed a tree and stole an eyas, which is a baby falcon. The falcon, which he named Frightful, became his trustworthy hunting companion.

While living in the woods, Sam made a home for himself inside the trunk of a tree. Because he had read many nature books, he learned to forage for food, fish, and trap animals. From the skin of a deer which he had captured, he sewed his own clothes. Amazingly, he even fashioned his own warm winter underwear from rabbit skin. Sam Gribely was a hermit kind of person, but very brave. Frightful, a courageous, friendly bird, wasn’t afraid of anything. Together, they made a great team. They hunted and they lived happily through the winter without any hunger pains.

Frightful was also a beautiful bird, and any other falcon that saw her wanted to mate with her; one time she mated with another falcon and had eyas! But that’s another story. From this awesome story I learned to always be adventurous, but never live alone, because later in the story Sam really wants someone to live with, although he doesn’t really know it. This truly is a great story which I recommend to all ages from 10 and up. This book exudes adventure and excitement. Completely deserving of its Newberry Honor Award, this well written book is a terrific read, and probably is my favorite book ever.

The Prodigal Son

A father had two sons. One of the sons requested his share of the inheritance immediately so he wouldn't have to wait for his father to die. The father, who loved the son unconditionally, gave him his share of the goods and the son peregrinated to a foreign land. Foolishly, the son spent all his money on parties with his friends. After a time, a great famine came across the land. So the son desperately searched for work, and finally he found it! His work involved feeding pigs, which is quite a messy job. But the son was so hungry that he started eating the pigs’ food!

Finally, the son, whose pride had turned to mortification, came to his senses and said to himself, “I have been very foolish and I need to go back to my home, because my father’s workers at least have something to eat. I will humbly tell my father that I am not a worthy son anymore, and I will work as one of his servants.” In humiliation, he began traveling back to his home which was very far away.

When he was nearly home, his father sighted him and ran and hugged him, but the son cried, “I am not worthy to be your son anymore, please accept me as a servant.” But his father commanded his servants to kill the calf they had been fattening and to prepare a feast! The other son, who had been working in the fields, arrived home later and asked his father why he had killed the calf and prepared a feast. With joy his father replied, “Your brother is home and we are celebrating!” But the older son angrily declared, “I have worked for you all my life and never questioned your authority, but when my brother comes home you prepare a feast for him?” Gently the bewildered father replied, “You have always been with me and everything I have is yours, but he was once lost and now he is home; let‘s be happy about it!”

Government

North Carolina’s government is divided into three branches: the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch.  The Executive Branch is led by the governor of the state.  She has lots of responsibilities, such as enforcing state laws, proposing or vetoing laws, planning a budget, and commanding the state military.  

The Legislative Branch makes all the laws.  The laws focus on education, roads, healthcare, crime, and other things.  The people that make these laws are part of the General Assembly.  The General Assembly is divided into two houses:  The House of Representatives, which has 120 members; and the Senate, which has 50 members.

The Judicial Branch is the court system, and it interpret laws.  First, there are the District Courts which handle small cases.  Second, the Court of Appeals handles larger cases and has twelve judges.  The last one, the Supreme Court, handles the biggest cases, and it has seven judges.  All of the judges are elected by the people living in the state.  

The three branches of our state government are similar to the branches of the federal government.  Having three branches of governments preserves our system of checks and balances. 

Star Spangled Banner                                              

In 1814, during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key boarded a British ship to try to obtain the release of his friend, Dr. William Beanes.   Key was detained onboard  the ship, because he overheard the British plans to attack Fort McHenry.  While Francis watched the British bombard the fort, he saw a small American flag flying and wondered if it would be there in the morning.  When morning came, he saw that not a small flag, but a large flag, was flying on the poll! (This was the American way of saying, “We ain’t done with you yet!”)  This is when Francis Scott Key wrote the famous poem, “The Star Spangled Banner”, but at the time he called it “Defense of Fort McHenry”.  Later on, music was added to it, to the tune of a famous British song, and it was printed. (Only two original copies are known left  in the world)  This famous poem was made into the National Anthem in 1931, 116 years after it was written.  

My Bedroom

Most of the time my bedroom is very dirty.  It looks like a tornado ran through there!  My legion of bionicles are warriors surrounding my room.  With the mountainous pile of clothes and the bionicles thrown everywhere, it’s almost as bad as my brother’s!  And you would never want to look into my brother’s room… it looks as bad as a toxic swamp!  Once in a while my mom goes into my room and starts screaming.  This is not good.  I go up to my room to find my mom’s head steaming… this is definitely not good!

Maybe I should clean my dirty bedroom more often.

My Dog, Jack

Some people might say that my dog is the meanest thing in the world!  But he’s my hero!  He always tries to protect me, and growls at anything that might threaten me.  He’s reasonably fit, and has more bark than bite. He loves to play with his Big Brute Toy and shake it around.  Most of the time I find him staring out the window barking at cars. He thinks he is a Great Dame, and can beat up anyone.  But, he is actually a Miniature Schnauzer, and quite small.   He is a salt and pepper Schnauzer and has a very shaggy beard.  When my mom gives him a hair cut, it shortens his beard, and his legs seem WWWAAAYYY too small for his body.  It looks so weird!  But when it comes to a good dog, Jack is the best!      

The Boasting Traveler

A man, who had traveled to a far away land, boasted when he returned home.  He had been to many places and performed many heroic acts.  He said that when he went to Rhodes he leaped such a distance that no one could beat him, and there were many so called witnesses.  Just then, a bystander interrupted him saying, “ There is no need for witnesses, show us right here and now!”