Conflict Creative writing:

Gale, a middle aged married man came home from work at lunch one day on his break. His wife was still at work and wasn’t coming home. Gale had worked hard for the life he had now. He had an amazing wife, a house along the coast, which had an amazing view and an education that would fulfill his dreams. Ever since he was a kid he had dreamed and strategically planned his future. Now that he was an adult he had gotten everything he had wanted. Gale turned on the radio and brought out the supplies he needed to make his favourite sandwich. A sandwich composed of multi-grain sliced bread, mustard, black forest ham, lettuce, and cheddar cheese. As he placed the slice of bread on top and took his first bite of the scrumptious sandwich the announcer on the radio sounded panicked as he said “ATTENTION! New news has come in that everyone must evacuate immediately! A rupture in the ocean floors has happened and an earthquake is sure to quickly come! Evacuate! Evacuate!” Gale wasn’t worried about nothing especially about this earthquake, he had made his house completely earthquake proof. He turned away from his kitchen and sat down on his couch, grabbed the remote for his TV, which was on his coffee table and clicked the on button. He ate his sandwich peacefully as he watched his favourite show. Ten minutes later he could hear the screams and cries of people in the town. He just sat there. The earthquake passed and house wasn’t harmed and neither was he. A smirk appeared on his face and a slight laugh came from his mouth. He went downstairs to his basement to admire how well the structure of the house had held up. Little did he know that when he walked away from the kitchen, the announcer said “A tsunami will follow shortly after the quake. People, please be aware and protect yourself!” Gale, now in his basement was inspecting the beams as he looked sideways and caught a glimpse to what looked like a tsunami.  He was terrified, scared, his house was not able to withstand such pressure.  He rushed over to the opposite end of the house and started to grab all valuables. But it was too late. The water had broken the window and was pouring in. He was almost to the door when the pressure of the water closed it. He tugged and tugged as hard as he could but the water was coming in too fast.  He started cursing and was feeling anxious. He had to get out! Adrenaline took over his thoughts of survival.  He dropped his things and started yelling for help. He could hear the upstairs television still on as a public service announcement came on, warning everyone to evacuate and be cautious.  The water was at his shoulders and he was floating well above the ground. Luckily his ceilings were high and he was grateful for that because he would have been dead by now. The water now creeping up his neck, he took a deep breath which could have been his last, as the water closed over his head. He held his breathe and went over to the window and tried to get out. Shards of glass were still attached and made it impossible for him to escape. He gave up, and closed his eyes. Gale was running out of oxygen, the pain in his lungs was excruciating. He prayed. The pain in his lungs went away, the adrenaline, the fear, the thoughts of survival went away. Gale, a man who got want he ever wanted died, drowned of water in his basement.

My assignment this week was to cast my own production of A Midnight's Summers Dream.


The first character is Puck:

Adam Sandler as Puck!

For the character Puck, I chose the actor Adam Sandler to play the role of Puck. Adam is a great actor and is in many popular movies such as Bedtime Stories, Just go with it, Grown Ups, Jack and Jill. He always plays the trickster or the really goofy character he can also be mischievous  The picture I've attached you can even see that he is a funny kind of person, it's not a typical kind of actor shot and looks a bit crazy. Adam Sandler would be a great pick for Puck because the character is also a absurd! "Either I mistake your shape and making quite, Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Call'd Robin Goodfellow. Are you not he That frights the maidens of the villagery," (I,i,32-35) "Thou speak'st alright: I am that merry wanderer of the night." (I,i,43-44) This shows that Puck is a mischievous and likes to trick people and scare them as well. Sandler would be a perfect fit for this role.

Second character, Titania:
Gwyneth Paltrow as Titania!

        You may recognize this elegant actress from Iron Man and her tittle for Most Beautiful Woman 2013. Titania is presented as the fairy queen, a beautiful creature, sentimental, and assertive. I believe that Gwyneth would do a great job acting as Titania. She has a sweet look to her, flowy, and can be rough as well. Her acting in Iron Man has shown us that her innocent look can be shifted into an action role as well  "Out of this wood do not desire to go: Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. I am a spirit of no common rate; The Summer still doth tend upon my state: And I do love thee: therefore, go with me;" (III, ii, 73-76) The quote tells us that even Titania is sweet but has a adventurous other side.

Third Character, Helena:
Catherine Zeta Jones as Helena!

I chose Catherine to play Helena because  both have the capability to display a whole lots of different character traits. Catherine is very talented and is confident is all she acts. “None, but your beauty: would that fault were mine!” (I, i, 209) Helena is a jealous freak and wishes she could be more like Hermia so that Demetrius would be in love with her rather than Hermia. Catherine would very easily slide right into the role of Helena.

Spring break

This spring break I am going on a training camp to Kehei, Maui, HI! This is a training camp for swimming. We are gone for around 2 weeks practicing twice a day. 6:00 to 8:00am swimming and 8:00 to 9:00am dry-land and back in the water from 6:00 to 8:00pm. I thought coming to Maui for this camp was a terrific learning and training opportunity, to enhance my swimming abilities. I am definitely looking forward to experiencing the topical island culture and hot weather! I know when I get there I will want to get back home though.
I chose this photo because it is the view from my room we are staying at. The picture is of palm trees and an ocean. Hawaii is surrounded by the ocean and has many trees.
On this trip we went whale watching and we got what the locals called 'mugged' by several humpback whales and their baby calf. They were so close to our boat that we had to put the engines in neutral and could not move. I could literally almost touch them!
On our break between practices we went to the local and extravagant beaches of Maui. All the beaches were different, some had stores you could buy things in and one beach even had cliffs we could jump off of. Someday the waves were so big that they flipped us over and smashed us onto shore, filling our bathing suits with sand!
The main reason to come was to train. We were tortured by our two coaches day after day after day after day after day, until we couldn't feel our muscles any more. Many people threw up and some even cried! Some nights we were so tired after practice we didn't even unpack our equipment bags. Although the training camp was hard it was an amazing experience and helped me grow at an athlete! I wouldn't trade it for the world!

What do you like most about your novel so far?  Perhaps it is the style of writing the author uses, or the way he describes a character or scene.  Write one paragraph regarding your favorite aspect of your novel.

My favourite part about my novel so far is the very beginning. In fact, I think my favourite part in every book is the beginning. It is my favourite part because the start of the book reveals a lot about the characters and you get to know them. Usually you learn about their beliefs, value, and characteristics, physical appearance, and background of their past. After getting to know your main characters you can see how they can change throughout the book. The start of “Of Mice and Men” starts off as the two men step out onto the cleared area in the forest by the road. While they set up camp George and Lennie laugh with each other and talk about their dream. It creates a warm cozy feeling and you get a sense a strong bond between the two, of friendship. 

Text to self connection!

For today's literacy blog, you will make a connection between something in your novel and yourself. This could be a character, a plot event or a theme or idea that reminds your of something in your own life!

My connection to my book is when George and Lennie are talking about their dream ("American dream") of living on their own farm/ranch with not a boss in sight or even boss present. Where the two boys can raise their own bunnies that Lennie can tend to and pet, grow strawberries and live without any rules and restrictions to follow.
I'm one hundred percent sure that everyone has thought of their future before. And most people have multiple dreams and goals they want to accomplish within their lifetime. Whether its buying your first house or someday being able to stand on the podium at the Olympics with a gold metal hanging fom your neck. Everyone wants to achieve something.
I have many in my life some for right now and some for later in my life. An example would be to finish this blog with over two hundred fifty words and publish it before tomorrow morning.
Some of my bigger goals are someday getting a full scholarship to a university in the states with a swim team, large campus and hopefully somewhere warm and by the ocean! I would be ecstatic! Even further into my life I hope to find a job that I like and love! A career that involves colour, art, and houses, creativity! Maybe interior design? My job would pay enough so that I could buy my own land and build my own house, a house that would be created to fully suit me! Then when I'm ready start a family and watch them grow up.
As you can see this may be way more detailed and compact then George and Lennie's dream. But it shows what I said earlier that everyone has dreams and goals even fictional characters!

PART TWO
3) Outline the setting of your novel. Where does it take place? Remember time, place and circumstance. What does this setting remind you of? May be a place, another movie, a family vacation, ect.

The setting of “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck takes place in the 1930’s. Coincidentally at the same time the author was living, the time of the Great Depression, where many people were out of work within California and though out the United States. Millions of people were looking for jobs and many worked on farms/ranches just like George Milton and Lennie Small. The setting is of great importance to the plot of the book. The main setting is on a ranch south of Soledad, California. Where there are bunk houses, stables, and a main barn.  In the beginning it starts off when George and Lennie step out into a clearing into the woods by a stream close to the Salinas River. It’s during this time we get to know about the history of George and Lennie‘s friend ship and about their personal lives. In the morning the two men arrive at the ranch that they will be working on for the time being.  The bunk house is where all workers live and sleep. The walls of the bunk house were described to be whitewashed and the floors unpainted, the wall beside each bunk, were shelves for personal belongings (if you had them) and there was also baby powder, razors, magazines. The stable is occupied by a horse and Crooks (the stable buck). Crooks is separated from the other male workers because he is black. The setting very much reminds me of  The Walking Dead TV series settings because both places seem lonely and kind of have an empty fill. When I picture the setting of the book I think of dull colours not vibrant ones because the Great Depression wasn't a happy time. Usually bright colours are shown to represent a good time in this case it was not.

PART TWO

2) A character sketch of the protagonist of your novel. Discuss who they are. What do they look like physically? What do they behave like? What kind of person are they?
Include a photo of what you feel they might look like if they were played by a famous actor

Andrew Lincoln

          In the book "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, George Milton plays a vital part in the book and is the protagonist. While George is extremely kindhearted he is also short-tempered and at times can be a bit tough on people. George has an unusual relationship with Lennie as he travels with Lennie always from ranch to ranch during the Great Depression. He is the protector of Lennie and feels that he is held responsible for him. George has a brotherly love towards him. He is the companion and best friend of Lennie Small. George used to be real harsh on Lennie and said things like “I can live so much easier without you.”, until he almost accidentally drowned him. George is described in the book as small, dark of face, and has restless eyes and sharp strong features. With these descriptions I can see George to be somewhat fit and potentially not fed well, dark of face could represent that he is not properly cleaned, tired and a good worker. His restless eyes are aware and could be frightened. George can also be portrayed as confident and handsome from having sharp strong features. Milton continuously shows the reader that he can clearly think and plan things out, from getting the job on the new ranch to planning out how they will achieve their American dream (can fully sustain themselves on their own). If George Milton was a real person I would think of him to be quite similar to Andrew Lincoln (see picture above).