Time is a legal tender.

Time is a legal tender.

When you do something wrong, you have to pay your debt to society with time spent in jail.

When you work you spend time to earn money.

Time is money.

Lots of people are thrifty with money. Is anyone really thrifty with time?

Our time is spent and wasted more than any other resource we have.

Time is the great equalizer of us all.

It doesn't always seem like it, each of us only have 24 hours a day.

The same amount of time is given to each of us daily, but we spend it so differently.

How we spend time determines how much we have left.

If you spend time exercising, your time is likely to be extended.

If you spend your time making bad choices, you can limit your future use of time.

We shouldn't waste money on useless things, and we shouldn't waste time on it either.

I love you, this many dollars worth. 

LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E

Time spent with family will multiply happiness. Time spent in other ways dwindles into nothing.

Time spent in education helps you to grow. And an education will be with you for all time.

Money can't buy me love... but time well spent always will.

You can't buy time. Once it's gone, it's gone.

You never know how much time you have.

Eventually you will be bankrupt and you'll have to answer to God.

How did you spend your time? 

Literary Mash

This is the essay I wrote for Mr. Mast's semester final. We had the option to write a short story using at least three characters from the books we've read so far this year. So I figured, what the heck. I did it in 45 minutes and finished just before the testing period ended. The re-creation however, has taken nearly 2 weeks. It's hard to re-produce that kind of focus, but here it is.



"Today is a special day, a very special day. Today's contestants have traveled through space and time, crossed the boundary of reality (with the help of the *Litera-techs and my particular friend, *Thurday Next) and wriggled through the wormhole of reality. They have crossed the dimensions of fantasy, fiction, and folklore... all to be with you here tonight. I'm your host, and you're watching...."
           "Who's my Soul Mate!" The studio audience finished the phrase, right on cue. The host smiled, and continued.
         
        "Once a year we take the slighted souls, the brokenhearted brats from the pages of ages past and give them one last shot at happiness. Now, without further ado...." he paused dramatically, "please give a round of applause for our lucky bachelor...." with a quick glance at his cue card, he finished with,"(1)The CREATURE!!!!"
              The large marquees on either side of the stage lit up, prompting the audience to applaud and an enthusiastic welcome carried through the studio. That is, until the side door opened.


               
              A stunned silence ensued, penetrated only by the initial gasps and startled cries of the now speechless audience. The Creature walked solemnly to the stage. The director wisely cut to commercial, allowing the crew and audience a moment to recover themselves. After a long and unavoidable awkward silence, the Creature spoke. "I do not  mean to trespass on the tranquility of these common people. I apologize for my startling appearance, but I plead to the humanity in each of you... do not be troubled by it. There was a time when such a reaction as yours would have kindled the fires of hatred within my breast, but no longer. In the decades and centuries that have passed since the unfortunate event of my creation, I have overcome the passionate loathing that drove my violent actions in the cursed prison of my novel. The solemn solitude within my prison of pages has tempered my soul. I seek no longer for the accepting love of human kind. That would be a miracle even the most naive of hearts can no longer harbor hope for. I seek only for the opportunity to win the love of one soul, that my being be no longer wracked in the torment of inconceivable estrangement."
           He paused his plea. A different kind of silence kept the audience still as the Creature quietly  continued, " I have been wronged and robbed of happiness by both of my creators. One was the author of my sorrows (literally), and the other the deceiving God of my harsh plot line. No one wants a repeat of the sad events detailed in my novel. I ask not for your love, only your acceptance of my brief presence on this show as I search for the eternal happiness I finally deserve."
           
             The minds of all present were put to ease in response to the Creatures heartfelt plea. Even so, it was decided that a curtain would be drawn around the creature during the initial introduction of each of the other contestants to prevent any -what the director called- "premature rejections" from damaging the Creature's chances and, more importantly, the success of the show. The crew recovered enough to prepare for the end of the commercial break. The host shook himself slightly, put on his best "television smile," and stared straight at the camera.
             Five. Four. Three. Two...."And we're back! Our first contestant is the charming (2)Edna Pontellier. Edna felt trapped by the social conventions and expectations for women of her time, so she... ah...removed herself... from the unpleasant situation. Another storage car would have to be added to your honeymoon train because of your combined emotional baggage, but if it's love, it's meant to be....well. Please welcome, Edna!"
            The timid figure of a woman was ushered on, blinking in the bright lights and looking entirely out of place.
          After a moment the host prompted, "Why don't you tell us something about yourself, why do you think you deserve this chance?"
            Gaining confidence, Edna spoke. "I would give my life for my children, certainly, but never myself.  So I gave my life in my novel. Now, at last long, I have a chance to find happiness for myself. I'm ready to see him." 
              Obviously, she wasn't.
           
               The host struggled to regain composure as two stagehands carried the unconscious Edna off-stage behind him, "Ah...and it looks like time for our next contestant. Please welcome the lovely...." he stared in disbelieving horror at the name printed on the cue card before saying, "L-Lady Macbeth!"
              The prompted applause was hesitant and scattered as worried whispers filled the studio instead. (3)Lady Macbeth stormed on stage, and was instantly the the center of attention and authoritative force.
              The host bumbled on, "From the pages of the Bard's darkest drama, Lady Macbeth comes to try her hand at a new life and the p-possibility of a new love. Lady Macbeth was selected as one of our contestants and is potential compatible with our bachelor because of their shared t-tendency toward...evil."
              Lady Macbeth stood fiercely erect, chin held high, and demanded for the curtain to be drawn back.
              She took one look at the Creature and ran off stage, crying, "Unsex me! Unsex me! This union 'tis a horrid dead which all the witches of heaven nor hell could never me to it's completion compel!!!"

               The studio was in uproar. Sponsors and corporate lenders were jamming the phones with complaints and threats, several audience members had fled when Lady Macbeth appeared, and the rest seemed too scared to move. The host was on the verge of a nervous break-down, and the director was yelling at any crew member unfortunate enough to cross his path. Only the Creature was calm, like the eye of a grand storm. As the end of another impromptu commercial break came to a close, the studio prepared for the final contestant.
                "Ladies and G-gentlemen," the host began in a broken falsetto, "our final c-contestant for this evening is the (4)Wife of B-bath. So. Well. Here she is."
               
                 The unsightly hag walked across the stage, scarlet stockings and all. The curtain was drawn back a final time and everyone cringed collectively, expecting the worse.
             
               But she just stood there, in contemplative silence, taking him in. Finally, she spoke."I've never met a man I couldn't handle. Though your appearance is off-putting and fright-some (and you may not be a man of the first right), I'm always ready for a challenge. Your appearance? I've lived and loved worse. And I'm gap-toothed myself. I've met (well... you know what I mean) men who were ugly on the inside as well. And you don't strike me as that type."
                 
                 None of the audience members present at that time -weeks ago now- will ever forget it. But of all the strange events that transpired, all will agree that the oddest part was watching the Creature and the Wife of Bath walking away -arm in arm- towards the prospect of a well earned and strange new kind of happiness.

               





Literary Character Allusions.

* "The Eyre Affair"
(1) "Frankenstein," The monster/Creature
(2) "The Awakening," Edna Pontellier
(3) "Macbeth," Lady Macbeth
(4) "Canterbury Tales," Wife of Bath

The Figure a Portrait Makes

From the Book of Blake

In all honesty, I have only ever written about eight poems before. (Kind of ridiculous for someone who fancies herself a writer, and most of them were written for school projects.) Guess what? I actually followed through with my New Years resolution. (applause) Not only that, I even made one for last week... when I made my resolution but didn't keep it.  

In the Style of William Blake, I wrote two poems on the same subject. With VERY different tones. 

Song of Innocence 
Humble Home
A home filled with laughter of children where 
The family tree is nourished with care.
Child's tender words express pleasure and love.
Words sweet and pleasant as the coos of a dove.
At some length sleep closes the child's eyes, fair.
Work-hardened hands caress the child's soft hair.
A Father, rocking gently, cradles her close.
 Her presence reminds him what matters most. 
Home is at peace, love permeates the air.

Why? Because there are children there.
-Alayna Een

Song of Experience
 Once Humble Home
Again we visit the once humble home.
How are the seeds of love that once were sewn?
Children are older, grown independent.
The family tree now is broken and bent.

We fight, bring out the worst of each other,
Turning against each sister and brother.

Careless jokes leave gashes, deep in the soul
Words cut like knives bleeding out of control.

Harbored harm and secret grudges exist
Care-free facade but behind backs, clenched fist. 

The biting words and teasings choke 

The spirits of the gentle folk.

Disagreements out of proportion blown,

Making a house of what once was our home.

Why does our love quickly turn to despair?

Why? Because there are people there.
-Alayna Een

Telestrations

The word for this one was "Survivor" from the TV Show. (Mom chose that)

I drew this

Eliza interpreted it as this

Aria drew that

Trish Gherlach thought it was this.

Brother Gherlach drew this.
(The top thing is "hoe, mow, side")

Dad came up with the final kicker.

A Brave New Year

Sounds ominous.
And, considering all that must be accomplished in this year.... it is.

Last year was the first year I really made New Years resolutions, the first year I really meant what I said, and the first time I could look back on a year and have a singular thing to be proud of. Something to remember the year by, and to prove that it was more than a clump of 365 days.

My New Years Resolutions last year helped me grow into a better person.... which is kind of the point.

So, in this post, I am going to make a list of my resolutions for this year.

Now the whole point is that these resolutions are for a new year... so I'm not re-using ones from last year.
 "Alayna, what could you possibly mean by that?"
Well. I've thought about it. And I'm not going to continue with my "Work of the Week."
Gasp! "Alayna, I thought that those were really cool... and I thought you liked doing it! It was a great thing to do, why not keep it up?"
Yes. I liked it. I'm really proud of my "Work of the Week" projects. But I've already done that. It's time to move one. Of course I'll still do art... but not in the same way.
One thing my "Work of the Week" taught me was discipline. I made a goal, and accomplished it. Sometimes I stretched it, and sometimes I cheated, all to finish something before the end of the week... because I said I would. Just because I said I would. Most of the time, I felt like I was doing a good thing (expanding my artistic talents) for the wrong reason. I was forcing myself to be creative, instead of letting myself be creative. Last year was great, but this year will be different. And hopefully, it will be even greater.

1. Get back in the habit of journaling, at least once a week.

2. Set aside time at least twice a week to study for AP tests and apply for scholarships (as long as applicable)

3. Do some of the things I keep saying that I'm going to. (Gee Alayna, could you be a little more vague?) Triskadecaphobia T-shirt, the book for Mr. Mast, stuff for NHS, Color run, LOTR marathon, Sadies, Prom,  etc.

4. Practice more often (also vague, but there you go)

( Here is where I would say that I will work out more... if indeed I intended to commit myself to such a resolution. I don't)

5. Cook at least one meal a week with minimal help.

6. Get to sleep earlier so I don't sleep during Math.

8. Learn how to count.

9. Get more hours at work during summer, at least 30.

10. Keep in touch with friends as we move away.

11. Get my Drivers License. Really. And improve on my navigation skills... or get really good at using Google Maps.

12. Find out how to use my ipod touch. iTunes, FaceTime, all that jazz.

13. Have FUN and do well in Swim Team this year. And I want to be Captain.

14. Graduate in White, get the Medallion, get the NHS cord, and be Salutatorian.

15. Get A's in all my classes and pass (hopefully with 4s) my AP tests.

16. Write more often. Something every week (journal doesn't count). A poem, a story, descriptive essay, something. With a year-end goal of two fully written stories. (Some of the ones that have been kicking around in my head for the past forever.)

17. Do "Artistic Progressions." (You'll see what I mean) Take pictures along the way, as I spend time doing a really good picture. At least one a month, to be worked on throughout the month. (CAN include schoolwork)

18. Get my stinking braces off. Enough is enough. It's Senior year. I want them off before I graduate.

19. Make new friends (necessary!), but keep the old. (One is silver and the other gold)

20. Go on at least one date... it can't be that hard....

21. Keep up with my blog.

22. Help my neighbor write her personal history over the summer.

 23. Do the best I can with whatever comes my way, but don't freak out about thinks that I have no control over.

24. Go to the Temple at least 13 times this year.

25. Be more kind. Be more tolerant. Be more certain. Be myself... but better.