Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Trip to Julian



Watching the window wipers sway back and forth on the foggy windshield of my mom’s car, rain pours down on to the window making it hard to see out of. People honk their horns, with anger and swerve their way around. I sit staring at the flooded ground outside. Splashes of water fly everywhere as cars speed past. The loud rushing sound of cars driving by fills the area. I turn to look at my mom, her lips moving slowly, but yet I hear nothing. As I stay staring the raindrops slowly hit the windshield and I go blank.

Suddenly I’m in Julian. Winter vacation of 2004. The bright sun sets behind the mountain tops leaving a layer of orange, yellow, and purple in the sky. The car packed with eight of us happy and cheering aloud. When suddenly the car takes a sharp turn, spinning in a half circle along the slippery road. Nervously I bury my face deep into the pillow that lay on my lap. I can smell the clean laundry soap aroma that lingered on it.

Our heads swung forwards then backwards pulling our bodies with them. The car then fills with nothing but silence. I slowly lift my head, and staring at me is my cousin who was as pale as snow. Her arms and legs shake uncontrollably making the back seat feel like one of those massaging chairs. With my body in shock and my hands slowly starting to shake, I can feel my heart beating harder than I’d ever felt it beat before. It was so strong that I can feel it making my body vibrate with it. We sit there in the silent car staring at one another, with not one word being said.


I then feel a hand gently pat my shoulder, and all turns to darkness. The vivid memory of Julian which was once so clear is gone. My body turns numb and I slowly open my eyes. I’m back, still sitting in the passenger seat of my moms 2004 Chrysler Sebring. The rain pouring down harder than before, forcing my mom to lean forward in her seat. She squints her eyes causing her forehead to wrinkle. Her hands tightly squeeze the steering wheel as we slowly take a turn. With a strong grip, I grab a hold of the seatbelt that crosses my chest. I can’t help but to feel a sense of uneasiness.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Sensory Detail: Sound


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Small gurgles awaken the sea.Waves come crashing forwards then backwards. The oceans stomach growls with hunger.A rush of salty air fills the nostrils of many.Small waves come swaying towards the shore,bringing a whisper with it.The crashing and splashing cause a wave of foamy bubbles to take over.Slowly disappearing into the top layer of the mushy sand. Followed by a moment of silence. One last wave clears the ground of foamy bubbles.Waves are dragged back and forth leaving us with a refreshing sound.One deep breath is taken before jumping in.The ocean growls once more, this time louder than before.Touching the oceans bottom causes me to push myself up.A rushing noise fills my ears.Bubbles pop loudly above be.As i rise small ripples are created in the watter.A large wave comes crashing down.Smacking the ground. A sound so loud it clearly meant danger.Like a drain being unplugged the rushing sound of the oceans stomach simply disappears. silence takes over.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Locker Problem


Red lockers= open
White lockers= closed


Locker Problem

There was a total of 1000 lockers, and only 31 lockers were left open. The way we figured this out was by finding the factors and the perfect squares. If the locker had an odd number of factors, we knew it would end up open. For example, locker number 8’s factors are 1,2,4, and 8. As you see, there is an even amount of factors. There for the locker will end up closed. The pattern for the first ten lockers is, 2 lockers closed then 1 open, 4 lockers closed, then 1 open, 6 lockers closed, and 1open, 8 lockers closed, then 1 open, and 10 lockers closed, and 1 open, and so on. For example, locker number 1,4,9,16,25, and 36, are opened( as seen on the diagram below) This operation was repeated until we reached the last locker.