Sunday, December 26, 2010

A Much Better Christmas Post

Yesterday's Christmas post was not really a blog. Well it was, but only about a paragraph of it was actual blogging. Sooo now that I have more time, here's the story of the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!

I actually can't remember the celebration part of Christmas 2008 (grade 8) at all. Just the tree. I imagine we had a delicious dinner at Grampa and Grandma's house on Christmas day and Quaker Christmas either the week before or the week after. And we opened our stocking Christmas morning, had a delicious breakfast, opened presents, and spent the rest of the day figuring them out until Christmas dinner. Actually, that was the year I received my mp4 player! I've since upgraded to an actual iPod but still, it was pretty great. The BIG amazing thing about that year was the tree.

We went out to get it about two days before Christmas, so of course all the better trees were already taken. There'd also been a really heavy snow the day before and half the trees were buried in snow. Only it was packed down, so we didn't realize just how MUCH of the tree was hiding beneath the snow. So we were hiking around the tree farm, thinking all of the trees were way too small. When we found the perfect one, Dad began making his way around to flatten the snow, and then wedged himself underneath to start chopping. I guess we should half know it was going to be a problem tree when, half an hour later, he was still hacking. No. We kept going. Also, apparently, if we had gone back to the farmhouse, the man owning it would chop it down for us, but that thought's just depressing and really doesn't matter anymore.

You know how usually, to get it on top of the car, you have to get a bunch of guys together and hoist it up? We had to back into the tree. Really. I'm sure how that even worked, but we were there for a LONG time getting that tree on top of the van. And we had to borrow extra rope.

Okay, this is taking way too long and I have relatives over. The rest will be rushed.

Basically, the tree had two trunks, one of which Dad spent a LOT of time removing. We had to remove a lot of the top of the tree to fit it inside the house - even more the fit it inside the stand. By the time Dad finished trimming, we had more rejected branches sitting on the front porch than we had on the actual tree. Still, it looked like a bush. It was the first year we've ever used all of the Christmas lights for the tree - we didn't have any left to decorate the cedar branches along the outside, or the fake branches on the stairway or kitchen arch. We used ALL the lights. And beads. Not a single bead rope was left out. We often skip the gold beads because they make the tree look too cluttered. Not this time. And ornaments. Normally we put some of the handmade ornaments hanging somewhere else because they're too big for the tree. Not this time. It was also so thick that there was very little space beneath for presents.

All decorated, it did look like a Christmas tree. In fact, it looked like the BEST CHRISTMAS TREE EVER!!! We've never chopped our own tree since - they're all from Fincher's now, but that tree was definitely the best one we've ever had. It doesn't really look as amazing in the picture - but it was great.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!


I know I haven't posted in a long time, but this season is so busy! But this is the most wonderful and uplifting holiday of the entire year, so if any day is worth posting on, it's this one. Even if it isn't much, again. This is my favourite Christmas carol because it shows someone of such high nobility showing equality to someone so beneath them. It also, in my head, for some reason takes place in this really beautful picturesque scene in the medeival ages.

GOOD KING WENCESLAS

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather"

Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
...and don't think too much about the presents eh? ;)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Story from Grade Three

All throughout my gradeschool years, I was sort of known as 'the writer' because I wrote a LOT. So I was digging around through my old things this afternoon for my portfolio in Careers, when I came a across my old story called "I Went To Calumuzzu". I wrote it in grade three, and it is sort of what triggered my entire image of being 'the writer' because I gave it to my principal directly after I wrote it, and he gave me a certificate. This is going to be a long post, but here it is. I removed all the spelling and grammar mistakes. Also, blogger doesn't have the 'Tab' button, so the paragraphs are only marked by moving to the next line.

I Went To Calumuzzu
I went through a wardrobe to a city. The sign said "Welcome to Calumuzzu.", the next sign beside it said "Hippety Hop Calumuzzu Circus", and underneath that in small letters it said "Apple Valley Street".
I turned around to go back the way I had come. I was going to go get the others, but the wardrobe was gone! How would I get back?
I wondered if my life was based on the books of the Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. No, because then my name would have to be Lucy, but my it’s Anni, short for Anneke.
So I started down the street to find Apple Valley. When I found the street, I found that the roads and everything was covered in snow. As I walked, I started to freeze. I found nothing but snow. I began to cry.
"I can’t bear the snow any longer. I’m going to die," I thought. I made a little bed of snow and took off my sweatshirt. Then I layed my scissors across my pants and cut, so I had shorts on. At last I layed down on my bed that I made of snow, waiting for me to die.
"Get up - you might get frost bite. Snow doesn’t keep you warm, you know," I head someone say. I sat up immediately.
"I know that," I said.
"Then come on," the lady said, "We ought to get you all bundled into some warm clothes, don’t you think?"
"Yeah," I answered. The lady was wearing blackish-bluish-greenish turquoise pants with a greenish coat, a headband in her hair, and long blonde hair.
"Oh yes, and my name is Kemp, Katy Kemp," she said.
"Oh, mine’s Anneke, but people call me Anni," I said.
"Last name? I’m sure it wouldn’t be Anni," she said impatiently.
"Oh. Narnia," I said.
"Anni Narnia? Something is peculiar about you," she said rudely.
"Like what?" I asked.
"You last name," she answered.
"So?" I asked.
"So just look up at the sign," she demanded.
The sign said "Welcome To Narnia".
"So? Who cares if I have the same name as the town? What will it do? And besides, I thought this was Calumuzzu?" I asked.
"Well, it was, but it’s not anymore. Well...you see ... um ... well ... well that ... you see, that ... that was the last town. Kind of," she stammered.
"Uh huh? And why does it matter?" I asked.
"Oh ... just because, and you’re asking too many questions! Now you’ve lost the answer for this one," she muttered.
Whatever, I thought. We started going home. Now I thought that my life really WAS based on the book of The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. A magic wardrobe, snow everything, a wicked witch (or at least she seemed like it), and wierdest of all, the town’s name was Narnia. Now how weird is that?
When we got there, she got to the door and when she opened it, all I could see was children everywhere.
"Now we mustn’t waste any time - there’s too many children," Katy said.
"For what?" I asked.
"Their names," she answered.
"Oh, but so many kids, Katy!" I begged.
"No buts. And call me Mrs. Kemp. Now the kids on this side are Cassie, Luis, Jen, Jennifer, Paul, Xavier, Lucy, Mary, Cammie, Cam, and Lisa. Over here on the right is Lexi, John, Jamie, Stephen, Steven, Tyler, Candace, Morgan, Michelle, Polly, Reuben, Ruben, Kyle, Rachel, Jordi, Jessie, Courtney, Jason, Cody, Makayla, Crystal, Jade, Suzie, Rebecca, Hannah, Zachary, and Kyla. Over here on the west are Darian, Kysha, Lila, Lilly, Lia, Linsy, Lauren, Tish, Lore, Carver, Tino, Freddy, and Luther. Now the kids on the north side are Kate, Kelsey, Carmen, Meryn, Megan, Leendert, Jeanette, Roger, Maria, Mandy, Kelly, and Nisa. The kids on the kitchen table are all triplets with one more. Their weird names are Dotty, Lotty, Moxi, and the fourth triplet is really weird. She doesn’t rhyme with her brothers and sisters. She is Cottontail. And the kids on the cabinet who are not supposed to be up there are Tammy and Tommy. Guys, get down," said Mrs. Kemp.
"Wow, there are about 60-something people in here," I said.
"Yes, and you are the next child her," said Mrs. Kemp.
"No, I’m not, and I never said that either. So there, we’re even and I’ve even got a little more proof than you," I declared as ran out the door.
She ran after me, yelling, "Stop, stop! I’ll catch you! You name, well last name anyways, is now Kemp."
"Bad chance," I yelled. I ran all the way back to Calumuzzu, and right into a door. When I found that I was going through a tunnel, I stopped.
"Get in here quickly - she is coming!" a voice boomed. I ran faster by the thought of her catching up.
When I finally saw something, it was weird. In the huge opening in the tunnel, there was an old man.
"You coming or not?" he asked.
"Yes," I answered.
"Then come on," he said. I ran over. I saw a flying machine.
"Come on, get in," he said. I ran in.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Are you kidding? We’re going home," he answered.
"You mean you know me?" I asked.
"Yup. I knew your grandma and grandpa pretty well in college. Now they were love bugs. Oh yeah, and I taught your dad," he said.
"Wow," I said, surprised.
"Yeah, I’m pretty much in the family," he said.
"Oh, you get back here!" yelled Mrs. Kemp, running and shooting fire bullets out of an evil wand.
"Oh no," he said.
"What?" I asked.
"If that goes into the wrong hands, this machine can’t run," he said.
Just then, an evil bullet shot into the flying machine.
"Ahhh!" I yelled, or screamed - I don’t fully remember. Now back to the story. The machine split in two and him and I landed on our butts.
"Stop, stop! Why are you doing this? What do you want of us, you wicked witch of the East?" he said.
"Oh not so quickly," she said, "You think I am the witch of the east, but I’m not. I am the witch of the north. Oh yes, and I will call Elda here. She’s the witch of the west. I know how you all fear her. And about why I’m here and who I want. I am here for a new member of my family, and I want Anni. I would be surprised if you would want her. You’re so clumsy, you can barely keep yourself alive," she snarled.
He fainted.
"He can so," I said.
"Cannot!"
"Can too."
"Cannot."
"Can too."
"Cannot."
"Can to."
"Cano-." Her voice got interrupted by a girl’s voice.
"Thop it, you meany!" the voice yelled. It sounded like a 5-year-old. Well, that’s because it was, except a 4-year-old, which is even worse.
"Polly, what are you doing here?" asked Mrs. Kemp.
But before she could answer, I yelled, "watch out, Polly! Get over here - she’s lifting her magic wand!"
"So?" she asked.
"So if she shoots our bullets of fire and she’s aiming at you, which she is, than," - I snapped my fingers - "you’re dead."
"Fine, then I’ll get you first," snapped Mrs. Kemp.
I ran behind the biggest rock in the cave. Polly ran after me.
"Ok, on the count of thwee, we will wun out and thing ‘I love you. You love me. We’re a happy famawy. With a gwate big hug and a kiss from me to you, won’t you say you love me too.’ We’ll do that to let her know that we will like her," said Polly.
"No way. You do it," I said. It way have been a stupid song from Barney, but it was smart, in away. It would help make Mrs. Kemp go wacko, I thought.
Just then, I saw two doors. One had a shape of a hand carved in it, and inside the hand there was a silver button right where the palm would go. The hand was about Polly’s size.
I could still here he singing, "and a kiss fwum me to you. Won-."
I interrupted her and said, "Polly, come here,"
"Why?" she asked.
"Just come here!" I yelled. She ran over, a bit frightened.
"What are we doing?" she whispered.
"Go put your hand in that one," I pointed at the door.
"Why?" asked Polly.
"Because I said so!" I yelled.
Quickly, she ran to the door with the hand on it. When she put her hand in the door, it opened. She walked in.
"Mommy, Daddy!" I heard her said. Then a bigger hand appeared. Mrs. Kemp ran to the door. Just then, a hand the same size as her’s appeared and in she put her hand. She ran through a hallway.
"What! A jail!?" I heard her yell.
I put my hand in the next one. Suddenly, I saw coats.
"The wardrobe!" I yelled. I would have imagined the old man heard me. I ran through the wardrobe and into the living room and saw my sister reading.
"What you reading?" I asked.
"Chloe’s Diary," she answered.
"Cool, what’s it about?" I asked.
"Here, I’ll read the back. This is what it says: ‘I have just gotten the popular boy in the school to notice me, but he doesn’t want me to tell, but what good it is if nobody knows cause then I won’t be popular?’ There, that’s what it says. Now can you just leave me alone?" she asked.
"Cool, can I read it?" I asked.
"Uh ... Anneke, you don’t even read love stories," she said.
I laughed out loud and said, "it’s so fun getting you confused." I walked out of the room. Oh yeah, and did I mention that was Amy? She’s 16 and her boyfriend’s David.
"Anneke!"
Oh, that was Amy. I better stop talking about her. Now let’s go see Jacob. He’s 13 years old.
"What are you reading?" I asked.
"Knight of the Flaming Sword," he answered.
"What’s it about?" I asked.
"An evil armoured man with a flaming sword. If a man gets touched by it, he’ll get cast into the dark ages," he answered.
"What are the dark ages?" I asked.
"Medeival time," he answered.
"Oh," I said. I walked out of the room. I walked into Mom’s office and there was my meanest sister, Marije. She is 11 years old and in Grade SIX.
Here it goes, I thought.
"Hey, Marije," I said.
"What are you doing in here? I thought Mom told you to scram! Even though you bothered the others, I’m not gonna let you bother me. Now go!" she yelled. I did.
Now, my mother did not say ‘scram’. She aid ‘go’.
Now my twin Ponika.
"Hey, Ponika." I said.
"Hey," she said.
"What are you reading?" I asked.
"Cool Barbie," she answered. It doesn’t really say ‘Cool Barbie’. It just says Barbie, but she thinks Barbies are cool.
I’m reading Lizzie McGuire. My little sister Gwen is in Preschool. She’s six.
"So you’re reading Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree?" I asked.
"Yeah," she answered.
Well, that’s the end of my story. Good-bye.

Monday, December 13, 2010

SPACE FILLER JOKE #1

Okay, I know haven't been on in a while (not sure how long), but I can't type that much today because I've been having MOUNTAINS of homework lately! Soo this post is only going to be a joke.

Q. How did Oprah die?
A. Spell 'No Oprah' backwards
...
Harpo On
...
harpoon
...
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D