Selena

=﻿Selena's Portfolio=

Camping
toc In the summer With my family Beside the campfire Under the stars Near a stream Through the weekend I will go camping

Don't Let Go
As long as I am yours Happiness is easily within reach In my heart and in my mind but miles and miles away If you ever leave, I might just fall apart and not be able to pick myself up again because you hold my heart which is fragile only for you in the palm of your hand. Promise me you wont let go

Rational: As long as: //This is my line that begins with a subordinating conjunction and it is a dependant clause// Happiness is easily within reach : //This is one of my independent clauses// In : //This is the line that begnings with a preposition// But: //This is my coordinating conjunction that is at the end of a line// Which is fragile only for you: //This is my dependant clause and also my adjective clause// Promis me you wont let it go: //Independant clause// If you ever leave....in the palm of your hand: //This is my compound complex sentence//

Blitscussion Revision
Red: Corrected spelling errors Green: Things that I've deleted Blue: Things I added

Original Post:

I read Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. I chose this book because I am a huge Ellen Hopkins fan Ellen Hopkins is one of my favorite authors. She is one of my favorite authors. The setting starts out in all different places around ﻿in ﻿ the country since it is told from many different points of view. However, at some point ﻿, each of the characters ends up in ﻿ the story revolves around ﻿ modern day sin city, Las Vegas. There are five main characters. Eden comes from a very religious family. She is expected not to question her beliefs or ever do anything wrong. Another main character is Whitney. She struggles with always living in the shadow of her older sister and is always second best in her mothers eyes. The next main character is Seth. Seth is supposed to be the typical big and strong farm boy. However, he is homosexual and struggles with not showing who he really is. He has to face who he really is and worries about what his father will think of him. Parts of the story are also told from Cody's point of view. He comes from a pretty good home but a family tragedy forces him to make the wrong ﻿ tough decisions to support his family. The last main character is Ginger. Her home life is horrible is she feels as though she is forced to leave when her own mother uses her. She has a bad home life and an even worse mother. Her mother uses her and Ginger is forced to seek safety. The plot varies from each character's point of view. However, each of the charicters end up going to Las Vegas in search of a better life but end up losing sight of them selves in the process. However, all of them go on a journey in search of a better life but end up losing sight of what is right. The stories all start out separate but end up intertwining into each other to tell a larger more powerful story.

"Escape from Tears of Zion does not come easy. Jerome is, in fact, maneuverable, and a key to the lock. He comes to me late at night, tells me to do things I've never even imagined, things I should have saved for Andrew."

The theme of the story is that you should never do anything that your not comfortable with. This book shows you that it's easy for good people to go down a bad path in life without even realizing it﻿ ﻿ how you can always say no and that there's always a way out of a bad situation if you try hard enough.

Revised﻿ Post:

I read Tricks by Ellen Hopkins. I chose this book because Ellen Hopkins is one of my favorites authors. The setting starts out in all different placed in the country since it is told from many different points of view. However, the story revolves around modern day sin city, Las Vegas! There are five main chatacters. Eden comes from a very religious family. She is expected not to question her beliefs or ever do anything wrong. Another charicters is Whitney. She struggles with always living in the shadow of her older sister and always being second best in her mother's eyes. The next main character is Seth. He has to face who he really is and worries about what his father will think of him. Parts of the story are also told from Cody's point of view. He comes from a pretty good home but a family tragedy forces him to make tough decisions to support his family. The last main character is Ginger. She has a bad home life and an even worse mother. Her mother uses her and Ginger is forced to try to seek safety. The plot varies from each character's point of view. However, all of them go on a journey in search of a better life but end up losing sight of whats is right. The stories all start out seperate but end up intertwining into each other to tell a larger, more powerful story

"Escape from Tears of Zion doesn not come easy. Jerome is, in fact, maneuverable, and a key to the lock. He comes to me late at night, tells me to do things I've never even imagined, things I should have saved for Andrew."

The theme of the story is that you should never do anything that your not comfortable with. The book shows you that it's easy for good people to go down a bad path in life without even realizing it.

Hint Fiction
The body floated past her, face down in the water, she didn't need to see his face, when her heart already told her it was him.

The body floated past her- IC face down in the water- DC she didnt have to see his face to know who it was- IC whe her heart already told her it was him- DC

Innocence
Innocence is a rose that only stays with us for a short while It is magnificent and beautiful fragile At some point it wilts and fades though Leaves fall off and decompose with age It's stem slowly bends then snaps It never can be mended Innocence is looked upon with admiration and wonder Displayed in a vase, but thrown to the side when it begins to crumble Even the sweetest of roses wont last forever when time runs against it

Tone Analysis
In the acticle [|We're a nation of germophobes] by Alex Berezow, the author expresses her opinion on how everyone is blowing a fear of germs out of proportion. "Bacteria are a lot like snakes: Some are good, most are harmless, and only a few are dangerous. However, this distinction is often not articulated, and as a result, public fear over germs is greatly exaggerated." She uses figurative language to compare bacteria to snakes, then she uses a colon to break off this part from the rest of the sentence. After that she goes on to say how most bacteria is okay. She uses comma's to make it sound very flowing and says "only a few" to emphasize that most bacteria is good. In the last sentence of this exerpt, she says that fears of germs are greatly exaggerated. This shows that she thinks that everyone is making too much of a big deal about all of this. The author could have just said that it is exaggerated. Instead, though, she said it is greatly exaggerated. This leads the reader to believe that she thinks all of this is very silly and she see's herself as above the fear of germs.

Blackout Poem
Darkness is Blind

Twisting around a tricky blindfold Cutting where vision has vanished Many people want to be blind The mystery lights mutual understanding One person leaves the dark Remembers what life was like before

Digital Vocabulary
Original Images: [|It would be nice to start over again....before we were men...] [|2009 04 19 - 4733b - Washington DC - Natural History Museum - Fluorite] [|Gaudy Nights]
 * //Gaudy//**
 * //adjective//**
 * 1: brilliantly or excessivly showy**
 * 2: cheaply showy in a tastelss way; flashy**
 * 3: ostentatiously ornamented; garnish**
 * Rational: To me, gaudy is a word that describes something that is begging for attention and extremely over decorated. This picture is of a woman with gems glued all over her face. I think that this is gaudy because she is being flashy and looks a bit over done. I also added blue gems around the image to make it seem even more decorated. In the back ground of this image, there is a building with extremly bright lights that are very colorful. Everything in this image is very flashy and tastless even.**

__Silence isn’t Always Golden__
“Honey, there’s no easy way to say this, but I have cancer.” My mother’s face was grim. Her usually rosy cheeks had turned cold and gray looking. Finally, the reality of it set in. The word ‘cancer’ hit me like a brick wall.

I stumbled to find words then managed to gasp, “You’ll be okay, right? They can fix you, can’t they?” The look on her face told me that it wasn’t good. I looked into the dark pools of her eyes, trying to find reassurance but only found fear.

“Well, the cancer is pretty far along.” She whispered. Even though my mom’s tone was gentle, the word cancer hissed at me like a deadly viper. Suddenly my mom looked so weak. Her dark chocolate hair melted over her shoulders as she began to cry. I wrapped my arms around her. “It will be okay, mom” I tried to comfort her but we both knew that the words I spoke were just a lie.

I’ve always been fairly quiet. I don’t like to share myself with others that much either. When I found out that my mom had cancer, I didn’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t be able to stand being told “I know how you feel” and “Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry”. When people feel bad for me, I hate it. I don’t need anyone to be there for me. I can handle everything by myself.

In the morning I had to get up and go to school. Everything that was going on around me was just a blur. At lunch I sat down at my usual table with my best friend, Zoë. She chatted and kept talking. I had no clue what she was even saying. I think she was talking about how much she absolutely hated one of our teachers. “Yeah, that is so fucked up.” I managed to say to her expecting hazel eyes.

“Um, what are you talking about, Brie? I asked you if you wanted to come over to my house tomorrow after school.” I tried to blink the glassy look out of my eyes, “Oh um, well I can’t. I have family stuff to do.” It wasn’t a total lie. I like Zoë but I want to spend as much time with my mom as i can. I could tell by the look on Zoë’s face that she knew something was up. Part of me wanted to tell her about my mom. She’d never understand though. Zoë has a picture perfect life and never tries to think about anything that really matters.

“What’s wrong with you? You’re like a freakin’ zombie or something today!” Zoë got up from the table and stormed off. She is so dramatic! Sometimes I wish that she could just calm down for once.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I didn’t feel like staying at school a second longer. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a quick text to my mom. The custodian shot me a look that said “You better put that away right this second or else!” I could care less about him at this point. I trudged outside and sat down on the grass. The bell rang loudly and everyone went back inside. I continued to sit there and twirl long stands of grass in between my fingers until my mom’s car pulled up.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Don’t I need to sign you out or something? I don’t want you to get into any trouble.”

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I shrugged my shoulders, “Screw them! You’re my mom! I mean it’s not like you’re kidnapping me or anything, right? Oh, and do you think we could possibly make cupcakes when we get home?” I know that my request made no sense at all but I just want to bond with my mom as much as I can...

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yeah, cupcakes would be nice” My mom tried to smile and I tried to smile back.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Time slipped by us way too quickly. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. I watched in silent horror as the cancer ate away at my mom’s body. There wasn’t anything anyone could do to stop it. The cancer was like a runaway train. It destroyed everything in its path.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Night after night I lay awake praying. “Dear God, please save my mom! I need her so badly. She’s such an amazing mother and I don’t think that I can live without her. Tears slid down my cheeks and pooled onto the pillows.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Before I knew it, my mom was spending her final moments in a hospital room. I held her hand as her eyes fluttered shut and her breathing slowly stopped. When her life stopped, it was like the entire world wasn’t real anymore. Everything around me was just a dream. It couldn’t really be happening, could it? I managed to stay home from school and wallow in my own self-pity for a total of two weeks. One of those weeks I spend in the hospital looking after my mom. The second week I just stayed at home and made myself become numb. Eventually though, life had to go on.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Oh, look who finally decided to come to school!” Zoë sneered at me as soon as she saw me walk into 1st block. I dropped my math binder onto my desk. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Yeah well, I’ve had a lot of shit going on.” I said in a flat tone. I loved the look of shock and disbelief that spread across her face. “Way to be a bitch, just like always Zoë. Maybe if you were my best friend then you would know that my mom has been sick and that she died last week.” I didn’t mean to call her a bitch or a bad friend, it just sort of came out! It was just like word vomit.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I think she decided to ignore my mean comment because she said, “Oh my God! I am so sorry!" Her voice was filled with sympathy.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">"It wasn’t a big surprise or anything...She had cancer so we knew it was coming.” I don’t know why I never told her. I mean, she is my best friend and all. Zoë gave me a huge hug and then the tardy bell rang so we had to go take our seats.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">At the end of class I rushed out and headed to my locker. Zoë beat me there though. “I know what you’re going though. Believe me when I say that everything will get better.” She whispered to me.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Zoë, I’m sorry but you don’t know what I’m going through.” I said slowly.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Her response completely caught me by surprise. “Yes I do. You know how i never talk about my dad? Well, it’s because three years ago he was killed in a car accident.”

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“You’re not just saying that to try and make me feel better right?” For some reason, I couldn’t look her in the eyes.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I wish I was, Brie, but I’m not.” Zoë’s eyes were gentle. Why didn’t I ever trust her? She gave me another hug and I knew that I didn’t have to feel so alone anymore.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ever since my mom died, the house feels empty. My dad has tried to take over cooking duties and is failing miserably at it. We sat down to eat dinner. The hunk of chicken that sat on my plate was obviously over cooked and rubbery. I tried to eat it any ways though. I didn’t want my dad to feel even worse about my mom being gone. The phone rang loudly. “ I really hope it’s not another sympathy call. I can’t stand how fake people are. I mean like where were you when mom was dying? Why didn’t you help then?” I stopped my small scale rant when I the number that displayed on the caller i.d. It was Zoë. I held the smooth phone in my hand and debated whether or not I should answer it.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hello?” I breathed into the receiver.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Um hey Brie. My mom and I were wondering if you and your dad wanted to come over and have dinner with us...like right now.” Her voice sounded kind of unsure of herself.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I glanced at the overcooked chicken and soggy peas that sat on the plate. “Sure, that would be awesome. Be right over, k?” I hung up the phone and turned to my dad. He looked tired and over worked. I could already tell that he would enjoy a night off “Dad, Zoey and her mom want us to come over for dinner tonight.” He looked relieved and grateful.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“That sounds delightful.” For the first time in a long time, I saw my dad smile. We both grabbed our jackets and ventured out to his old black truck. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I we sat in the car I thought about how much of a good friend Zoë really was. I tried hard not to feel bad for not confiding in her sooner. The next couple of months, maybe even years are going to be difficult without my mom. If Zoë could get back up and keep living, well then so could I. I smiled as I thought about how lucky I was to have a best friend that completely understood me right now. I don’t know what I would do without her. My mom would be proud of me for finally confiding in someone and not trying to handle everything alone.