Dear Mr. Bourne...

This serves as both a letter and a blogpost, because I should make up doubly for complete screwing up this assignment. I could go on about how I have a major assignment due in every one of my classes (even Chorus), but the fact of the matter is I'm certain you don't care about that sort of thing. That being said, I do hope you grade this with full credit (why wouldn't I?) but if you don't, I do understand. I just feel like I owe you an apology for getting this to you so late.

-Cas

P.S. So that there's some creativity to this letter/blogpost, here's a quote from Rick Read (my interviewee) in the form of a meme.

(actually pictured: Rick Read)

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."

In case you somehow didn't already know, The Hobbit was released last night at midnight.  Unfortunately, only one member of our class had his priorities straight enough to skip sleep and school to watch this incredible masterpiece unfold before his eyes.  After I have the opportunity to witness this spectacle, I will write a review and post it as a comment on this blog post.  Anyone else who has experienced the journey of these hobbits, particularly anybody who chose to do so earlier than the rest of us (Brendan Barth) while we wait another day in sheer agony, should also feel free to write his/her opinion.  Anyways, below is the essay that everybody kept bugging me about.

The pungent scent of evil hangs comfortably in the smoky air. Despite the volcano continuing to spew lava across what is left of the pathway, the two little adventurers push on. One of them falls to the ground, his body weak from exhaustion and lack of food. Ordinary beings would have given up, but these are no typical travelers. The other picks up the fallen one and exclaims, “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you!” Working together, the two hobbits complete their journey to the top of Mount Mordor.

What if instead of two hobbits, Harry Potter faced this task? Harry would have no trouble finding his way up Mount Mordor because he possesses magical powers. With the wave of a wand Harry would find himself at the top of this burning mass of rock, and Lord of the Rings, the greatest saga known to mankind, would end in an awfully big hurry. Or what about Luke Skywalker? Using his unusual ability to manipulate the force, he could cast aside boulders and any other obstacles that would otherwise prevent him from reaching the top of the mountain. With the help of this mysterious ally, Luke could have strolled up the mountain with almost as little trouble as I have walking to my neighbor’s doorstep.

A hobbit may lack Harry Potter’s magical might and Luke Skywalker’s ability to manipulate the force, but Sam and Frodo, two simple hobbits, still make it to the top of Mount Mordor. These plain and unskilled voyagers appear to lack supernatural talent, but this is only half true. Hobbits aren’t supernatural, but they are talented; hobbits have an aptitude for never surrendering to failure. For example, when climbing up this perilous mountain, Frodo falls and is unable to continue, so Sam picks him up and carries him. At another point, Frodo tells Sam to stay behind, but Sam doesn’t give in so easily.  He secretly follows Frodo until Frodo requires his help. Time and time again, the hobbits consider submitting to their fear, but each time they push on, knowing they can not pursue success while following fright.

I have grown to admire hobbits, and not merely because they make even me appear tall by comparison. I think highly of hobbits because despite possessing no extraordinary power, they do demonstrate an incredible talent: determination. This quality is greater than any superpower because it allows them to succeed by being too persistent to fail. Much like my short and chubby counterparts, when I find myself sweating from stress while struggling to complete a threatening math test or shaking from the New Hampshire cold during a late night soccer practice, I remind myself that big people overcome small obstacles with perseverance. My heroes have revealed to me that incredible success isn’t always produced by incredible people. Instead, success can be achieved by individuals whose determination drives them to accept no other fate.

Yo

Whats up fellas, I've finally been invited to the blog. For my first post, I've decided to hit y'all with some random facts. Here's a brief list:

1) Money is made out of cotton, not paper
2) Ketchup was sold in the 1800s as ketchup
3) Most lipstick contains fish scales
4) The dot over the letter "i" is called a tittle
5) Apples wake you up better than caffeine

The bottom line is, we should just eat apples every morning if we want to be productive and get into college like Duncan. If only I had found that fact several months ago.

Peace homies,

Chouk

Events

Participating in high school athletic events is one of the most fun things you will do in your life. Our hockey team had our home opener on Wednesday, and it was one of the most fun moments of my life. The whole experience was nuts and it made the game that much more exciting. The best part about hockey games, is that the fans go nuts. No one really cares what they do at games, so the fans chirp the heck out of the other team. It is so funny to listen to them. It is also great to hear them go nuts when you skate by every time. That part was really funny to listen to, especially when I finally looked at them, they went even wilder. It was awesome

You know when you're a Senior When... Part 2

To continue from my previous post...

You know you're a senior when you've gotten into college.
Once this magical moment occurs in your life, and you open your computer and click on the "Application Decision" link to find a "Congratulations!" somewhere on the screen. You don't read the rest of the letter, because you're way too pumped and you already know what it says. From this moment on, you see everything through a new light.

•Instead of feeling guilty when you don't do homework, you feel guilty when you're doing homework, because you know you should be having fun.
•You convince your parents to let you renew your Netflix account.
•You rampage your Netflix account.
•You search your school on college prowler over and over. Girls? Yup, still an A. Weather? Nope, C-, (come on global warming, get a move on already).
•Your friends tend to say "**** you dude, you guy" when they remember that they didn't apply early decision
•You begin to wonder if you made the right choice, or if you should have looked more at that school in northern San Francisco.. the weather there is so much nicer.
•You say whatever. You're accepted.