Today - Halloween!

Today is halloween -while at school I was just editing writing so This is here.
I am being Arachne for Halloween she is the goddess of spiders

Hawaii Trip Last Week (AWESOME)

Hawai'i Diaries

2013

Sunday, Oct. 20

We just back from a 13 hour long plane trip and landed in Kona Airport, Big Island Hawai'i.

We also still had a little bit of time to swim in the pool.

(My sister and I in the pool)

Monday, Oct. 21

This was our first full day in Hawai'i! Excitement level - High!!!

My sister and I spent hours in the pool's 4 sections - each having a different depth; equipped with a water slide, waterfalls, 3 Jacuzzis, bridges looming over and providing shade from the smoldering sun, and being fresh water - not salted. Including a 5th section that is a kids pool with a pool bottom lined with soft sand. We spent most of the time in the 2nd section, the one by the kids area (because of my younger sister). The lagoon was the best part of the day! There are: wild sea turtles, manta rays, coral, an assortment of tropical fish, minnows, barnacles, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and well - lets start from the beginning. This is a natural lagoon in the center there is the coral and hundreds of fish such as parrot fish or angel fish; by the waterfall are the sea turtles we I got to see or feel (not hurt) 9 sea turtles!!!!!!

Sea turtles are endangered.

(Areal view of the pool)

(This is the lagoon, the sign warns us about "...DANGEROUS SUBMERGED ROCKS..."

Tuesday, Oct. 22

Tuesday was busy. We attended a Dolphin Quest dolphin encounter and a "Legends of Hawai'i" Luau. The Luau was right after swimming with dolphins.

(I am kissing "Kona" the dolphin)

(The dolphin pool)

(Luaus are all about food and festivity)

(A show was put on about Hawaiian legends)

Wednesday, Oct. 23

Today we went to the Lava tubes.  The area we went to was wiped out by Mauna Loa's (a volcano) lava flows in the 1980's, you might not think this is true but big Island Hawai'i is mainly a black desert - a desert of dried lava flows, some up to hundreds of years old. Not many people know of the lava tubes because it is literally in the middle of no where.

(The desert)

(Standing in the Lava Tube entrances)

(Lava "cave")

Thursday, Oct. 24

Today we had a once in a life time experience - we got to fly in a helicopter above Hawaiian waterfalls and active lava flows from Kilauea Volcano. It was amazing I still remember the feeling of lifting off the ground in a helicopter, we saw active lava in a fiery red-orange color metaphorically I would call it a "waking tiger". The pools of water, formed by the river, looked like bubbles as roaring water thundered down into the depths below.
 (view of Kilauea)

Friday, Oct. 25

Friday we were leaving Hawai'i, but we had some time until our plane departure. During those brief hours I met a 5th grade girl from Australia whom I'd call a friend, saw a lizard, and took a colorful moment with the hotels parrots.

(what we saw from our balcony, we had to soak that view up or we might never see it again)

(A lizard)

(A parrot paparazzi - these and other parrots danced around on their perches and squawked as if they were on stage center)

Saturday, Oct. 26

At home again! :-(

Joey Nowak MLB Writer Interview: Question & Answer (Ania)

You don't have to be a MLB reporter to be a Genius Writer

Today during Language Arts at school we had FaceTime with Joey Nowak my teacher's nephew.

Question:

What is the most important message you heard from Joey Nowak during our video call?

Answer:

Just be yourself and follow your passion - get a job that inspires you and that you enjoy.

The Hunt: LA 10.9.13

The Hunt

A true Story

     It was early morning in Yellowstone Park, and its inhabitants were active, the animals. We had driven  to Lamar Valley - a popular place for spotting animals. Our car drove us through loops, gullies, and hills to get to our destination. Finally we arrived at our intended spot, on  a rise in the clearest spot of the Lamar Valley. We scanned the view using our binoculars. Bison thundered across dirtied roads and in the distance they dotted the vista. Most of the people that stopped were hoping for bears. Suddenly I spotted an elderly couple pointing their fingers to a point and excitedly whispering. My curiosity grew. I walked up to them and asked, "Excuse me, but, what are you looking at now." The woman replied, "You see there, there is a grizzly out there ya see it." "Yes, oh my gosh, it is a bear, a wild one." I chimed. I dashed to my mom to get my handy binoculars, I showed her it and soon all the tourists at that pullover had spotted the grizzly. Timed ticked on, the grizzly bear kept doing whatever it was doing. Its shaggy brown pelt only a speck in the distance to a human's naked eye. "Time to get into the car," my mom called out, I left and buckled my seatbelt. My sister and I exchanged a glance both thinking the same, "But I wanted to watch the grizzly bear". 
       
   Once ready we drowsily drove over the hill and the grizzly was no longer seen in my sight. Our car parked on a rise, my sister and I in no good mood, at 6 o'clock in the morning. I looked down at the ants scavenging for food and awkwardly thought what it would have been like to stay in the cabin. All of a sudden I jolted out of my daydreams, the whole crew (my family) was loading into our car. We went back on the road we came.
     
   I noticed that others were doing the same. Of course! Those two people said there are wolves; just up the road!
     
   I no longer felt like a drowsy "six o'clock in the morning 10 year old", in fact, I felt wide awake. "How cool is that, we are going to see wolves," I squealed, "Yes!" my mom agreed.
    
   Five minutes later our car parked rolled to a stop, everybody wanted to spot the wolves! It was crowded; kids of all ages, 80 year olds and you name it.
   
   Our car doors swished open, I ran to the railing overlooking a clear valley with a trickling stream, pine forests, bison, and elk - a wolf's favorite food.
  
   Maja and I struggled to get a view of the  vista, with all of the much taller tourists also trying to get a glimpse of Yellowstone's wild heart.
  
    "Over here!" my mom called over the quiet roar of the wind. We bounded toward her and the clear spot she reserved. "Look over there...", I said. Effortlessly I spotted a ghostly white shape moving towards a herd of elk. I used my binoculars and then spotted 2 more rugged grey pelts.
   

10 - 4 -13 Small Moment Writing "Wind"

Wind

   I struggled to hold on, while the falling rocks tried to release my grip. The wind was tugging at me, and threatening to pull me into the depths below. My goal was to get to the peak - where Earth touches the sky, very few climbers attempted to do so. 

   As I climbed my throat was parched with thirst, arms ached, but kept going to achieve my goal. The icy gusts of wind buffeted my golden hair up to a lion's mane. But, with the sight of clouds the hope rose. The ever darkening skies seemed only an inch away; I must persist! Every muscle in my body burned with pain! "Left arm, right arm, left arm, right arm, left foot, right foot..." I chanted in a beat inside my head. I grappled myself so high I could see the top. "Almost there," I breathed. 

   A new spark spread in my heart. A final heave and I hauled myself to the top of the bar. With mighty effort I had achieved my goal. I looked through the tangle of climbing ropes and spotted Grandma standing on the wood chips she waved, I smiled back. I had just climbed to the highest point of the play structure! 

   Up that high I cherished the wind, I could feel the Autumn sun warm my skin. I was free! I could see the dust particles that tried to release my grip, too. Glanced down then up again, at the top of my lungs, I screamed "HELLLLOOOOOOOO!", I hoped to make an echo, and it did. I scanned the horizon looking at the houses, cars, and trees which all seemed like tiny ants. I wonder if I will ever get to climb a real mountain someday or name a mountain summit "Sky Peak". Well, I should better enjoy climbing play structures while young. 

   I sat there and watched the clouds roll over the Earth. In the sky, in the wind, in my imagination.