Catching Up

     Wow. So um...sorry about that. I completely forgot I had a blog. That's sad. But you can thank Writing Tips (a.k.a. Nicole) for bringing me back. Tell her Tyler sent you. My oh my, the updating I have to do now.
 
     I did make drama, the play was a parody sorta thing of Julius Caesar. That play was canceled. Our new play was about the first day of school. Like middle school. I did happen to capture a video while on stage, because I had to take a video camera on stage to begin with, so yeah, here it is.

 

     That took forever to get on here, so I hope you watched it. Anyways, I was a dad to this girl with a zit (she could've just used Neutrogena), and my wife and I ware all pedophilic and wanted a picture to remember this moment of our daughter's first zit.

 

     Updates on reading:

• I started/finished the Divergent Series
• Didn't cry with TFIOS (because I'm heartless like that)
• Read the second book of "The Testing" series
• Began summer reading

     Not much of anything *cough cough* slacker. But I'm not usually to enthusiastic about summer reading. The reason being is I like to choose my own books and do not wish to be forced to read. Takes away from the enjoyment. BUT, they (yes I use the pronoun because of its notoriousness) are requiring one of my books to be Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. And let me say, it is AMAZING!

 

    

     A little humor for those who have read the book. It never really struck me as a book I would pick up and read, but hey, that's what summer reading does to ya. I would've never read The Hobbit if it weren't for summer reading.

 

     Also, I have finished all 7 series of BBC's "Doctor Who." Well except for "A Christmas Carol." That episode cannot be found on a pirating website or Netflix or TV. In honor of watching all of them, I will commence with a bracket to determine the impossible question: What is my favorite episode (2-part episodes will be counted as 1)?

 

     After hours of careful decision, I have finally came up with my favorite episode. I really didn't expect this episode to win. You can see the bracket here. I don't want to spoil it for you, and I really wish you just check the link instead of me telling, because I really worked hard on it.

 

     Well, I assume that's all for this time. I'll leave you with a mean post, and one of my favorite scenes from what is apparently my favorite episode. 

The Testing

 

     I'm aware that not very many people have actually heard of this series, and let me say, they are truly missing out. It's amazing in every way. The first 40 pages are really slow, and then it speeds up out of nowhere. I was in no way, ready for this speed shift.

     I can't wait to go and get Independent Study, which is probably going to be just as good. And you should go get The Testing. You won't regret it, unless you're basic. Don't be basic. Just...don't.

Anyways, so I looked online and found a quiz for The Testing to see if the quiz taker would pass. If you'd like to take it, here's the link: http://hmhbooks.com/thetestingtrilogy/test.html

1. Which is your style?
A) I do best on my own.
B) I like to work with a team.
C) I prefer working with a partner.
 
     I'm going to choose C. I like to have the comfort of being with someone, so that eliminates A, but too many people can drag you down.

2. I do best in:
A) Math and Science
B) Gym
C) English and History

     Obviously A for me. I'm okay at gym, but that'll have to pass. I hate English because it seems like a bunch of rules that I'll never learn, and History seems just like a bunch of dynasties. For some reason though, math and science click the easiest.

3. What qualifies you for The Testing?
A) My grades. I'm super smart.
B) My survival skills. I can take care of myself.
C) My cunning. Winning is all about strategy.

     I wouldn't last a day in the woods by myself. I can't hunt, set traps, or even build or find shelter. I'm really silly when it comes to strategy, so A it is.

4. When it comes to winning, you...
A) do your best, but nothing you'd feel wrong doing.
B) do anything it takes. Steal. Cheat. Lie. Whatever.
C) play dirty, but never get caught.

     I usually can't play dirty without feel so terrible later. I will do anything it takes...sometimes. When it comes to The Testing though, I wouldn't do anything like that, so once again, I choose A.

5. If you had to pick three items for a survival test, you'd choose...
A) food, warm clothes, and a map.
B) a gun, a machete, and matches.
C) a tent, a first-aid kit, and a water-purifying kit.

     You can't survive off weapons alone, so B is out. Remember, this is survival, so you're made to live off of the land. You might be surviving in a hot area, so the clothes are ignorant. C has the most reasonable choices

6. You're sleeping in the woods. Suddenly, a strange cry wakes you up. You...
A) follow the cry, ready to fight whoever made it.
B) bolt in the opposite direction of that sound.
C) lie quietly and wait to hear it again.

     I wouldn't dare fight them. They may be stronger than me. If it's a cry for help, I want to be there. If I heard it again, then I'd know if the problem was solved. So C.

7. You overhear some Testing candidates conspiring to eliminate a fellow candidate. You...
A) confront them and demand to join in. You'd rather be the enemy that be defeated by them.
B) do nothing. It' none of your business, but you'll watch your back from now on.
C) report them. You're all about fair play.

     The people running The Testing aren't going to do anything about one candidate eliminating another. I wouldn't want to join in, because then they may draw attention to myself, so I choose B.

My results: I would make it to the final exam

     "So you're not exactly clueless, and you know a thing or two about strategy and survival. Maybe you'll make it through the final exam. Maybe you'll get lost and die of starvation. Maybe you'll get in somebody's way. Watch out and remember that only the best candidates make it to the University, You'd better be one of them."

     That was fun! I also found a book trailer to get everyone even more excited about The Testing. The trailer is not much of an exaggeration of the book. Be sure to comment your quiz results!

Theatre Games!!!

    

Theatre started today and I am super excited! It's always so fun being around those I love. And these people aren't really people I see all the time, but wish I did. Sadly, I have no classes with them.

     Also, some of my favorite ninth graders came! It was a blast! #LivingItLarge .

     I wonder if you can even do hashtags on a blog? But I won't be that person who hashtags everything. #annoying #juststahhp #why #lol #2k14 #MountainDew #turnitup #hashtag . Ok I'll stop now.

     Anyways we play all these fun games. They're like warm-ups to get you relaxed, loosened up, and creative. These are more fun than...well...exercising. Unless you find exercising fun. Then you must have a problem.

     The first game we played (well I didn't play it, I had math team for the first portion of theatre) was this game where you have to pretend you had a ball, and you'd have to throw it. "Tyler, that sounds extremely lame. Who would want to play that?" It's not that boring people. He assigns a different size ball for a few minutes.
 
     So let's say you were assigned one of those super bounce balls. You would throw it extremely hard on the ground, and another person would try to catch it. Of course you would catch it while jumping, and it wouldn't be heavy at all.

     Now he gives you an imaginary exercise ball. This would be harder to throw and catch, so you have to pretend that it was heavy. It's more fun when you have the fear of not being selected for theatre because you lack creativity. After all, as Mr. Scott (our drama teacher) says, "drama is making something out of nothing."

     Next, we had to take the first letter "A" and start you phrase or sentence with "A." The next person would have to say something starting with "B" and "C" and so on. These phrases or sentences need to link with the last. Here's an example:

     "And in other news..."

     "Baseball is illegal!"

     "C'mon MLB, get your act together."

     "Don't blame them, it was probably all of those steroid using baseball players."

     "Every player uses them!"

     "Forget that. Let's go to the weather."

     "Groundhog's day is sure to be a downer for all spring lovers."

     "Heat is never going to come back."

     "Ice is staying sadly."

     "Just don't worry about it."

     "Knowing you come from Alaska, I thought you would say that."

     "Lesson to be learned: never invite Sarah Palin on the news broadcast."

     "Maybe if we hold the other Alaskans hostage, then she'll leave."

     "No, that's too easy. There's only about two other people up there."

     "Obviously, we need to force John McCain to run for president again."

     "Perhaps then she will... "

     "Questionably leave."

     "Right now though, we need to continue the broadcast."

     "Sorry, I don't feel like it."

     "That's the spirit!"

     "Ugh! This show is losing viewers by the minute. They want 'actual news.'"

     "Victory!"

     "What? Sophie, I thought you were on our side the whole time!"

     "Xylophone playing is so much cooler though. I wanted a segment on it but I couldn't get one!"

     "You only think of yourself Sophie!"

     "Zip it! We're back from commercial break!"

     Well that was fun to make! Try playing it with you friends. And if you don't have any, I'll be your friend. Anyways, then he called people up to say a phrase, but say it three different ways. So you could say "Is that mine?" in a disgusted way or say it in a hopeful way.

     Finally, he called two people to go up and do improv. He gave us a scenario and we had to act it out on the spot.

     He called my partner and me second. I was nervous, but guess who he chose as my partner? JOCI!!! Okay for those of you who don't know, Joci is like a sister to me and we do lots of things together. I was thrilled to do it with Joci. Everyone went oooooh because they knew we were best friends and they were excited to see what was going to happen.

     I had to cheat off of her on a test in the scenario. This is how it went down:

     I peered over to look on her desk where the answers were. She slides the answers away.

     "Hey, what'd you get for six?" I say.

     "Nothing." She responds back.

     "Oh please, you know you put something down." She hits me on the side of my head. I hit her back, gently of course. I'm a gentleman. She hits me once again, and I snatch her paper and begin to copy her answers.

     Mr. Scott ends the scene for us. He still had like 30 others kids to do this with. Joci was blushing and I may have been. This sounds like some love story, but honestly, it's not.

     I still have to audition, and I'm a little nervous. I shouldn't be, because I did the same thing last year. I will let everyone know if I make it or not. Ooooh I'm excited.

     That's going to wrap everything up. You got to see me use my fancy spelling of theater, so you should be happy.

Mockingjay/New Year's Resolutions

      I finished Mockingjay! So you know what time it is! Okay maybe you don't. After I finish a book, I want to do something with it. Especially a great book. Today I'll do a book tag (on the series), but let me know what you want me to do next (no book report junk either).

 

1. What is your favorite book in The Hunger Games trilogy? 

     Okay so this may be a little confusing, but persevere through. I like The Hunger Games better than Mockingjay, I like Mockingjay better than Catching Fire, and I like Catching Fire better than The Hunger Games. It's like rock, paper, scissors. One is better than another, but another is better than one. Okay since I just went all Confucius on you in that last sentence, how about a visual.

 

2. How long would you last in the Hunger Games?
     I'm definitely not going to die first. I wouldn't go to the cornucopia either. Maybe I can go into whatever wilderness I'm in and make my own weapons. I would probably get to the near end and die. Most likely at the time when Foxface or Clove died.

 

3. What's the strangest thing you thought was going to happen in the books but didn't?

     I thought that near the end of Mockingjay, there would be a whole chapter devoted to who Katniss was going to pick: Peeta or Gale. It seemed like she had no choice. "Gale's working in District Two. *Sigh* Oh well. I guess I have no choice other than Peeta." Ugh Collins.

 

4. How were you introduced to The Hunger Games?  

     My very first encounter with the series was when my brother began reading it. It was about three years before it gained high popularity and I though it was just some stupid hunting book my brother was reading.

     My friends began reading it, and the movies were fixing to come out, so I felt pressured to begin it. I asked my red-head (don't call her ginger-it annoys her) church friend, who always talks about it, to let me borrow it.

     On top of my pressure to beat the movie, there was also a waiting list. I read it quickly (which wasn't really a challenge since it was so amazing). 

     One year later, I was encouraged to read Catching Fire. I didn't really know how you could continue the series that well, but I gave it a shot and was glad I did. 

 

5. Favorite moment in The Hunger Games?

     It took me a while to think about this one, but the only thought that comes to my head is when the tributes hold hands together in Catching Fire. There are lots of other favorite moments though. No scratch that. Katniss shooting the apple from the pig (or boar)'s mouth. Hilarious. But seriously, there are still some parts that will come to me later. 

 

6. Who is your favorite character?

     You're probably going to hate me for this, but I don't really like the three main characters. Katniss complains too much. Peeta seems a little useless during the games, and in Mockingjay, he just gets in the way. Gale seems to only grasp one emotion. I can't decide between two people: Johanna and Rue.

 

7. What district would you live in?

     Okay, by location I would live in District 11. I think that I would fit in District Three the most though.

 

8. What was the most emotional moment in the books for you?

     I hate to be cliché, but Rue's death got to me. How could it not? I mean, look at this!

 

9. What item from home would you take into the arena with you as a token?

     My phone and Wi-Fi router. Jk. Probably my RED [the amazing album by the one and only Taylor Swift(which reminds me that I need to blog about her)] bracelet.

 

10. What was the most evil plan someone made in the books?

    I was absolutely shocked when Coin sent Peeta on the mission in Mockingjay. I though he would kill Katniss. Also, I can't believe Coin would go to such measures.

 

11. What are you looking forward to most in the film?

     I really want to see District 13 and District 12. Also I would love to see the epilogue.

 

12. Who is your favorite villain in the trilogy?

     Buttercup. I know he's not really a villain, but more of a minor antagonist. I enjoy how Katniss feuds with him all the time.

 

     I guess this is it with the Hunger Games Trilogy. I think I'm going to cry. Hey, at least I found this new book called The Testing. I can't wait to tell all of you about it.

 

New Years Resolution Time!!!

1. I want to read more. After all, I think this blog needs to be lifestyle/books, but maybe I'll figure it out later. Anyways, I feel as if I don't read enough. I sound really nerdy right now. But seriously, I only read about 2,000 pages last nine weeks. This 7th grader read 17,000 (note that I'm in 8th currently)! OH MY GOODNESS!!!
2. I want to blog more. I started this blog in December. It's a new year. Why not make a blog related resolution?

      "What? No weight loss related resolutions?" I am trying to be reasonable with my resolutions. I don't wish to do anything impossible.

 

     What are your resolutions? Post them in the comments below or just be like the majority of my readers and don't let me have feedback.

 

     Also, don't forget to vote on the right. Have an awesome day!

Drama. Drama. Drama

     I only have one more test for finals! I'm jumping with joy and I feel like all the pressure is lifted off of me. But being my procrastinating self, I set aside studying for science and began blogging. Oops.

 

    
     These last few days have been full of drama though. And I'm not the good kind of drama like theatre. It had to happen during finals week too. Why couldn't it occur when I don't have anything to do? Why does it even happen? Why does it have to be me? Why won't I stop asking rhetorical questions and fill my readers in on what happened?

     Okay, I'll tell you.

• Scenario A:

     So I was invited to an ugly sweater party and so were all of my friends. Well, except for one. The host of the party, "Effie" (That will be her made up name) made a well bonded friendship with "Beetee" (made up as well), "Wiress" (the pattern continues), and myself in sixth grade. We were unbreakable. This is how bonded our friendship was (note the pun).

     Then seventh grade came and Wiress and Effie drifted away, but they still were friends. Sort of. The party invitations were passed out; however, Wiress did not receive an invitation. I was my usual curious self and confronted Effie and asked her why Wiress was not invited. She replied saying:
    
     "We just don't talk anymore and we're not really friends." Okay, that sounds okay to me. I told Wiress, not trying to issue harm. Effie confronted me in the hallway and said that I was just trying to start stuff. Aca-perdón (what I say instead of Aca-scuse me). I talked to her, but my phone died. At least things are less tense. I think.

• Scenario B:

     I have this crush on this girl who will be named "Katniss" (fake name once again). Katniss is sooo sweet. Oh goodness, what if she's reading my blog right now? I sure hope not. Anyways, I only told two people and made them promise not to tell a soul. Of course I should've never trusted one of those people.
    
     Now my best friend knows, and I planned to not let my close friends know. Looks like that was a fail.

     Morals of the stories:

• Curiosity killed the cat
• Keep a secret to yourself

      Sorry for bugging the people who hate drama. Just needed to get this off my chest.

Finals

     Finals are the worst punishment of any kind! If you actually like them, then you probably have a terrible grade and need to bring it up or you probably have schizophrenia. Here's a list of several reasons to hate them:

1. They are all on the same week
2. They ask you questions from the entire grading period so you have to think back
3. They make or break you grade (so no pressure)
4. They are time consuming
5. They are boring
6. They are too much like SATs
7. They require lots of studying
8. They scare everyone
9. You get no sleep.

     The strangest thing is that our schools major subjects (English and Maths) are the easiest, whereas our minor subjects (History and Science) are the toughest. I spend the whole week studying for History and Science and put English and Maths off to the side.

     English and Maths are impossible to study for anyways because

• English is just passage reading
• Maths have varied answers.

     I wish that I could keep my current grades and just read. Finals just had to happen while I was in the middle of Mockingjay. Of course Mockingjay had to go on the pile of "unimportant things this week." Teachers just don't understand my struggle. I need to finish before people spoil the ending for me and because I have a long waiting list of books to read.

     Finals are the first clue to a dystopian society. The government will gradually make the education system harder, so be on the look out and don't fall into any traps.

     And one last thing. Please give me your feedback. I can't improve if I don't know what to improve on. Have an awesome week and be relaxed for your finals.