SkyLandOceAnna

Monday. Everyone hates Mondays. It’s time for kids to go back to school, while their parents go to work. I dropped my children off at the school and I started the long drive to work. My daughter, Anna, is twelve and her brother, Skyler, is seven. They are a couple months into school and they have been doing great in their classes so far. I make my way through the busy traffic of all the adults who are groggy from rushing to get ready to begin the work week. You see them sipping their coffee, biting their toast, and making sure ties and makeup and presentations are perfect and ready. Thankfully I don’t have to worry about all of that, because I am a nurse. I slip on my scrubs, name tag, and stethoscope, and then I’m off. I also carry a pager which I always carry, even to bed, so I’m used to always remembering it. The line of cars finally moved some more. Darn construction. I see my exit and get off on it. I come to a stop sign, where I have to wait for a whole row of cars to pass before I can go, and across the street to the other ramp, I see a man. He is looking for a ride. He has a sign, which reads: Heading to Minnesota. He looks terrible. His face is covered in hair with messy hair on top of his head and clothes that appear really worn and dirty. I always feel bad when I see someone trying to get a ride and it appears they have everything they own in a bag and they have to carry it everywhere with it. I’m sure it gets heavy with all that walking and the weather definitely isn’t always nice. It’s rare that people are willing to actually help such a soul, because you never know if they would still your car and stuff and leave you where they were just moments before. Also, if they would kill you in the process or take one of the passengers with them, so as no one could call the police. It can be hard to tell the good ones from the bad ones, especially if they have kids with them or a cute pet. The cars all pass and there is time for me to go. I drive away, regretting not being able to help him, but thankful I haven’t had to endure such hardship. I get to work and start my shift. I go to see my first patient and check her vitals. They are a mother and daughter, with the daughter having what appears to be a break of a bone in her ankle. I speak with them about what occurred to the daughter. The mother stated that her daughter was outside playing and came inside for something to drink, but when she went back out, she tripped going down the stairs. I check her ankle and try moving it, but the little girl screamed from my very touch. Seems the mother had to carry her into the hospital and into the observation room. I tell her that we are going to have to perform some x-rays, but it definitely appears to be a break. She nods in approval, but then asks what many patients tend to ask me when they come from low-income families. “How much is this going to cost?” Since she was asking, it meant that she most likely didn’t have insurance, but being a nurse, I am still supposed to ask. “Do you have insurance?” I asked. “No,” she replied. I then explained that it would involve many doctor visits and then how much it would cost for the x-rays, doctor visits, and cast placement and removal. Also what it would cost if crutches were necessary as well. She then began to tear up. I wanted to comfort her, so I explained that there are payment plans that we can offer her so she wouldn’t have to pay it all at once. Being a nurse, I have medical insurance through the hospital, so I haven’t had to worry about paying for doctor visits for my family. This made her feel slightly better and she thanked me for offering to help with more than just making her daughter feel better. I then finished my shift and went to pick up my children. My daughter and son were waiting at the front of their schools. I had asked Skyler how his day at school was and he was still talking about it when we picked up Anna and until we got home. We all went inside and they put their bags away in their rooms and got washed up as I went in the kitchen to see what my husband, Kyle, was cooking. He works as a math professor at the local university. So after he is done with his two morning classes, he comes home and does the cooking and I do cooking when I work night shifts or have the day off. I helped him finish cooking and have the kids set up the table while I told him about Skyler’s day at school and mine at work. He then told me about his day at work as well and then we put the food on the table and served the kids and ourselves. Kyle: So Skyler, your mother told me about the girl you like. Skyler: Mommmmm! I don’t like her. Anne: Skyler’s got a girlfriend. Skyler’s got a girlfriend. Skyler: No I don’t. He then starts to tickle his sister, but Kyle picks him and puts him back in his chair, as Anne and I giggle at the situation. Kyle: Alright! Alright! Let’s leave him alone. So Anne, we know about your brothers day, how was yours? Anne: It was awesome! Addy and I beat Sam and Dean in volleyball in P.E. Kyle: That’s my girl! Learn anything interesting? Anne: Oh yea, in Math, we learned more on fractions and in History, we learned about something called The Great Depression. Skyler: What’s a Great Depression? Anne: Well, it’s when this thing called a Stock Market Crash happened, and many people lost all their money, and couldn’t get jobs. Families became homeless and had to live on streets and struggled for food and shelter, even the rich were hurt by it. Skyler: Wow! That won’t happen to us, will it daddy? Kyle: No son. That was a long time ago. Things are different now. You guys don’t need to worry about that. Skyler: Whew! Good! Anne: Yea! We’re lucky. We have a good life, huh, mom? Katie: That’s right hunny! We do have a good life. Katie reaches over and grabs Kyle’s hand as she thinks about all the things that happened today to make her feel like they truly had the good life.

I was going through COT and saw yours. I absolutely love it. Your use of metaphors and imagination and creativity is astounding. I really inspired by what you wrote and wish I could write like that. Since I am now inspired, I definitely want to try and create a work as great as yours. I keep imagining these two girls and all the scene you created. The one thing I wasn't sure about, however, was the fact that they had a TV. Since it seemed like they didn't have a lot of money, I was wondering how they could afford one. I guess it would depend on if electricity was in the rent agreement, but I like the fact that it is in the story, because it gave a nice opening scene with the two girls. Thank you!

I really like how this short story gives the feeling that you can do anything that you put your mind too. Also the fact that every little bit helps and nothing is unimportant. I also liked your usage of names of some important people in our history and that you gave symbols (colors of shirts) to the characters in your story in association with their majors. The part I was confused on was if the Four-Is were truly her friends and how come if they were, she wasn't able to catch it through all the clues he was obviously given. Also how come you choose all Is for their names. One wording error I noticed...you put "So she ended up putting on one of Aristocles’ white t-shirts." I assume you meant to put orange. Thank you!

My vote is most definitely Superman. He is the kind of guy that children can look up to. He gives hope, because he shows that you don't have to be rich and able to buy or own expensive gadgets to be a hero, you just have to use what you were born with. Don't get me wrong. I like Batman too, but if I were to make a list, Superman would come out on top. When Wayne becomes Batman, his personality becomes different or darker, especially in these more recent movies. He becomes more aggressive and violent and filled with rage. As Bruce, he is mainly shown as a spoiled heir who doesn't care about his wealth and just spends. That certainly isn't always a bad thing though, like when he gives it to a charity or childrens' home. However, when Superman becomes Clark, he is still the same person. He was born with his abilities, so when he dons the glasses and changes suits, he becomes his secret identity, but still keeps the same personality. He doesn't change in order to become the hero, but stays true to who he is. Thank you!

Christopher Reeves.

I like Bieber's song Never Say Never, but that is the only one I really know. My vote will be Colm! Good thing it wasn't based on looks.

Alright, so I listened to multiple songs sung by both performancers, so as to not base my answer on one performance. With the kind of music they were performing, I prefer to hear the emotion the lyrics are meant to bring and be able to connect to the music, but only one did that for me. I enjoyed the other voice as well, because it was a deeper voice, but that doesn't work with all the songs I listened to, which is probably why I couldn't feel the emotion and connect. So my vote is for Colm Wilkinson! Thank you!

Jean Valjean!

Found this and thought I'd share it with everyone: A professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with gold balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’ The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. ‘Now,’ said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like you job, house, and car. The sand is everything else – the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. So…pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. ‘One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. ‘I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.’

With Twilight, I am just going to say that the books are better than the movies. And for the area of competition... If we can't have both, then Gandalf.

All comments appreciated. Thank you! The Guardian You open with the inside of an amusement park. You see kids and adults playing in all ends of the pools. Some are wearing floaters and others are diving off boards or searching for toys in the bottom of the pool that others had thrown there, as the wade pool pulls and pushes older kids and parents around. You see others trying to hold their breaths the longest and some racing others to get to the other end of a pool. You then see a young girl go up on some stairs. She climbs and climbs until she reaches the top. She then walks forward a little and stops. A holding bar and the beginning of the long twist and turn slide take hold of the girl’s view of sight. She walks slowly towards the starting point. She looks at the water flowing down to the bottom and all the turns that are in the slide. She then notices the short dark tunnel in the middle of the slide so she looks up at the lifeguard with a worried look on her face.Lifeguard: It’s alright honey! You don’t have to go down if you don’t want to.The young girl then looks down again to see her mom and dad waiting for her at the bottom, standing on either side of the slide in the water. You see that the slide goes all the way to the bottom of the pool. She smiles and waves as they wave back at her. She then takes a deep breath and stands up straight almost like she is a gymnast getting ready to start a routine. She then grabs onto the handle, takes one last look at the lifeguard, and pulls herself down the slide. She screams and laughs as she slides down until she sees the tunnel coming closer to her. Before she reaches it, she sees the inside rotate and open at the bottom before the entrance into it. A figure comes out, looks at her, and then dissipates into a puddle of water. She tries to stop, but is unable too. She becomes scared until she enters the tunnel and sees four dark emblems light up. When she leaves, she is laughing again and screaming like she did before, as if nothing ever happened. She then reaches the bottom and goes over to her parents.Mom: So how was it sweetheart?Young girl: It was so much fun mommy. Can I go again?Dad: Of course you can April. We’ll wait for you down here.Young girl: Yeah!April then hurries out the pool and starts speed walking to start the climb up the stairs again. As she does, you head towards the building with the concession area and the shower and changing rooms. You head through the concession part to the front of the building with the persons taking the money or tickets to enter. A whole row of people pay, hand tickets, and listen to which room they should go to. A girl dressed in clothes goes up to them with a piece of paper in hand.Counter person: Hello! What can I do for you?Woman: Um! Yes! Hi! I was given this application a few days ago. A Brianna told me to bring it back today. She told me she would be here today.Counter person: Oh right! She told me about you. Um! One sec.The counter person taps another lifeguard who then jumps to the counter and begins taking money and tickets. She opens part of the counter and lets the woman through.Counter person: Alright, my name is Stephanie. Brianna is on lifeguard duty if you’ll just follow me.Woman: Oh, ok! My name is Elle.Stephanie: It’s nice to meet you Elle. Now let’s see! Ah! There’s Brianna. She’s is over by the diving boards. Hey! Brianna! Your new recruit is here.Ella looks across the pool where the lifeguard Brianna is speaking with another lifeguard. She waves at Ella.Brianna: Hey Ella! Be right there!Ella waves back and watches as she hands her whistle to the lifeguard she was speaking with. He is really handsome and as Brianna walks away, she and he meet eyes. They continue staring at each other after he gets up into his chair. Brianna is then standing in front of her.Brianna: Hey there Ella! It’s good seeing you again.Ella: You too.Brianna: Alright Stephanie! Thank you for your assistance with our new lifeguard.Stephanie turns around and walks away just as Ella gets a really confused look on her face.Ella: Your new what?Brianna: Lifeguard silly!Ella: But you haven’t even conducted an actual interview with me.Brianna: Silly Ella! When you are the owner of a swimming pool and your best friend since like kindergarten finally comes home from her third year at the stupid University of Florida for a spring break and wants to work with her best friend, you don’t need an official interview thing-a-mi-jingy to know that she will be hired on the spot. So what’s new with you Ella?Ella smirks a little.Brianna: Oooooo. Is there a boy I should know about?Ella: No! There was, but…Brianna: Oh no! What happened?Ella: Nothing happened. It’s just that like all the other boys I’ve dated. I go out with them for like three dates and then I find out that they have another girlfriend they aren’t telling me about and that just makes me feel like I’m just the girl guys wanna date when something is going wrong in their own relationships. I don’t think I’ll ever find someone.Brianna: I’m sorry El.Ella: No! Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine just like all the others I didn’t even get to really know. Hi, my name’s blah blah blah and then ‘BOOM’ there are the true girlfriends.Brianna: Don’t say that Ella. You’re great! Forget about them. Don’t forget what your mom always said. There is always something planned for every person. I’m sure I can still get you finally laid by working here and you won’t have to worry about them not calling you or having another girlfriend. I know which do, which don’t. Which are exactly you type, which have no clue and can’t take a hint. I’ll pick you someone great. In fact, I already took the liberty of picking one for you.Ella: That’s sweet of you Brianna. It really is. Seriously though, don’t you think I’m a little old to be told who I can and can’t go out with?Brianna: Okay! Okay! But I’m still gonna hook you up.Ella sighs and then laughs with her best friend as Brianna throws her arm over Ella.Brianna: Come on! Follow me! Let’s go over the basics of lifeguardiandum or something like that.Ella: Lifeguardiandum?Brianna: It’s a new things.Ella: If you say so.They continue walking back to the office building and you see the unusual shape on the slide from before peering at them.

Here is another story I wrote several years ago. I'll try to add more every day, but looking over what I have for this, I'll have to finish the ending, since I have yet to do so. All comments appreciated. Thank you! Drake Open with scenes of a countryside and then of a car driving down the road.Mother: Now I know that you've never met your grandfather because of his disapproval of your father, but he feels really bad that he never took the chance to get to know you. All he knows about you is what he has seen in those pictures of you I sent to him. He also told me that he missed those letters you wrote to him.Crimson: Mom, I was seven and dumb when I wrote those. Why did he choose now to meet me in person?Mother: Well, because he is getting old and he must want to make up for everything he didn't do in his life, such as spending quality time with his only granddaughter. You shouldn't worry. He is a really great person. He lives in a huge mansion, so I am sure you won't have trouble finding something to do.Crimson: I would rather hang out with my friends, since I have to go back to school in the fall.Mother: Oh, come on Crimson! I mean, it isn't gonna be the whole summer. It's not like it's the end of the world!Crimson: It is when you have to drive an hour and a half to the nearest mall.Mother: Please just give it a chance Crimson.Crimson: Fine!Mother: Thank you! Oh, look! We're here!Crimson looks out the car window as they pull up to the mansion with amazement spread across her face. They get out and a butler grabs her bags, while she grabs her bicycle. Her mom goes around the car.Mother: Alright dear! Now I am gonna leave you, but I promise to call you later.Her mom gets back into the car and rolls down the window.Crimson: What am I supposed to call him?Mother: Grandpa, of course! He'd love that. See you dear!She drives off and leaves Crimson.Crimson: That's easy for you to say. Hmmm!She walks through the gate up to the stairs with her bike, leaning it against the hedge, and then up to the doors. She goes in and looks up and around.Crimson: Wow! Where is everyone?She begins walking further into the room. She sees a small set of stairs lead to a window and a door. Her curiosity entices her to go up and into the room. She goes in, shuts the door, and notices the only glimpse of light comes from the sun through tiny cracks of a covered window. She begins to search for the light switch. She turns it on and sees the room is filled with coffins. She gets nervous and does not realize that there is one of the standing up coffins behind her. It opens and a man walks out, he sees Crimson, and raises his hands to her shoulder. He lays them on her and she turns and backs up between two coffins. They open and she runs next to the window. They leave their coffins and begin to walk towards her. She gets scared until she realizes that there is a window begins her. She rips everything down and they hurry back to their coffins. She then runs out. She runs down the stairs and trips. Guy on the second floor...Guy: Hey! Are you alright?She looks up at him, gets up, and runs for the door.Guy: Wait! Where are you going?He hurries down and chases after her. Once outside, she gets on her bike and goes to leave the property. He comes outside, sees her, and gets on his motorped, which is conveniently located near where hers was placed. He rides after her. When she heads out on the street, a car almost hits her and sends her into the grass on the other side of the street. He gets off his motorped and rushes to her.Guy: Are you alright?She looks up at him.Crimson: Uh! Yeah! I think so!Guy: Come on! I'll help you up.He helps her up and she becomes weak and falls into his arms.Guy: I guess not.You see him pick her up and then her waking up. It's night time. She sees a man sitting next to the fireplace. She gets up and begins walking towards him.Grandpa: So, you're finally awake?Crimson: Yeah! Do you know that there are people in one of your rooms here? They tried to attack me.Grandpa: Yes!Crimson: What? But they tried to kill me.Grandpa: Only because they didn’t know who you are.Crimson: Oh! So what if I didn’t get out of there and they did kill me, would you have cared? Would you have even called the police?Grandpa: No! I wouldn’t have done either.Crimson: How could you?She turns and begins to walk away.Voice: Because I told him too.

I thought that was a rather unique story. I think its great that even in the midst of war, people can still have a normal conversation and enjoy certain other aspects of life and living. Anything from sharing stories to making new friends to love to pizza. You can see this portrayed in many movies and books, such as Shatter Me or Battleship or Terminator or I'd say even Disney's The Lion King. Thank you!