A Little Step into My Head

Short Films

2011-08-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

So lately my friends and I have been making short films. Here are 2 of them. ^_^

I hope you like them!!!!!

Youtube

2010-12-02T08:10:00.001-08:00

Only on youtube can you start out with a Christmassy mood and end up listening to your favorite soundtracks with funny instruments. :D

And an old standby....

La Plus Belle

2010-11-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

admit it. It's pretty much the most beautiful song in the world. You wan to laugh and cry at the same time from pure enjoyment.

The Beatles

2010-11-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

Aww.... you can see them grow up. :)

Homeless Man ~ Under Pressure

2010-10-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

Thank You Notes

2010-09-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

The thank you notes are my favorite thing that Fallon does. This is the most recent one...... not the best ever but easiest to find. :D

"I saw that documentary, Saturday morning!"

After All, Tomorrow's a New Day Music Video

2010-09-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

I just recently found these guys and I wanted to share them :D

Hippie Video

2010-02-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

The party is long over but I am really pleased with how this video turned out.

2010-01-25T10:23:00.000-08:00

This is a commercial but it's still really cool! I love Paul and I love Apple!! It's great. :)

This is the entire song.

SNL-Taylor Lautner

2009-12-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

I was watching SNL last night and this skit cracked me up!

Ghosting

2009-11-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

I first saw these guys on Leno. I just wanted to put them out there. It cracks me up!

Funny Things

2009-10-16T23:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of me. hehe...

BOUNCE!

2009-10-16T23:49:00.000-07:00

I saw this and instantly had to share it with everybody! It made me laugh!

Music is EVERYWHERE!

2009-10-09T07:24:00.000-07:00

It is amazing what you can find while cruising the internet. This is what I saw. I think it is awesome!

And...

Jonas Brothers In Concert!

2009-06-30T10:21:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, June 27, 2009, my family and I saw the Jonas Brothers in concert. It was an amazing night. Honor Society and a Korean band Wonder Girls along with Jordan Sparks opened. Papa Jonas came out and announced them coming out and then it was non-stop screaming from then out! They sang in this order: Paranoid, Poison Ivy, Live to Party, Play My Music, That's just the Way We Roll, Fly With Me, Black Keys, A Little Bit Longer (I cried), Much Better, Year 3000, Tonight, Gotta Find You, Turn Right, When You Look Me In The Eyes, Sweet Caroline, Hold On, B.B. Good, World War Three, Battlefield Featuring Jordan Sparks, Lovebug, S.O.S., Encore was Burnin' Up! And Here are some Pictures.

The tour Bus.

Us by the tour bus. We signed it!

We found a backdrop and had to strike a pose!

It seemed like we waited forever to get our Merch.

Almost next to the boys! I was so excited!

This is the stage moments before they came out!

Kevin, Joe, and Nick singing and playing!

This is me cheering my head off!

The crowd was so thick I could barely walk!

the Jonas Brothers singing "Sweet Caroline".

And the encore "Burnin' Up".

Both video's are from this concert and yes the girly screaming is me. Sorry for the occasional shakyness, I was dancing!

Daughtry - No Surprise Music Video

2009-06-13T15:23:00.001-07:00

I am so glad Daughtry has a new CD coming out next month. It had been so long since the first one I had lost hope. Now I can't Wait!

My Latest Video

2009-05-23T22:18:00.001-07:00

Well, this blog has pretty much turned into a log of my favorite videos. This one definitely makes the cut!!

New Interest

2009-03-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I went and saw "The Jonas Brothers 3D Concert Experience". Frankly, I only wanted to see the cool "3D". After watching the movie though, the Jonas Brothers scored a new fan.

So here is one of my favorite songs in music video form.

And this is another good one.

Jaywalking

2009-01-18T11:48:00.001-08:00

Jay Leno can be very funny. I especially like Jaywalking. Jaywalking is when he asked normal people easy question and is shocked at how wrong they are.

David Cook's Music Video for his new single " Light On"

2008-11-07T09:13:00.001-08:00

I really like David Cook and am really looking forward to when this CD comes out!

First Week of School

2008-09-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday was my first day of Junior year. So far I have enjoyed all the classes I am enrolled in. So all I can do is say "Hello Highschool" and hope for a good year.

U.S. Open 2008

2008-09-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

This year the U.S. Open Men's final consisted of Roger Federer from Switzerland VS. Andy Murray, a young new player, from Scotland. I am a HUGE Roger Federer fan and I am very glad to be able to say than he Won! I am just so happy! It was a good game and Murray gave a pretty good fight.

Let's hear a round of applause for Roger.

Two good Videos

2008-08-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

Jakob Dylan Singing "Something Good This Way Comes".

I just really love this song.

And a funny commercial that never was approved.

Wimbledon

2008-07-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

Today Roger Federer beat Marat Safin securing him in the finals this Sunday! Tennis being my favorite sport, and Federer being my absolute favorite player I am very happy about this! I can't wait until Sunday when he will play Rafael Nadal, a very talented player!

I am so excited!!!!

Go Federer!!!!!!!!!

Here is a funny commercial he made for Nike...

Happy Day for Me!

2008-05-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

Today I watched Indiana Jones and the Kingdom on the Crystal skull. I loved it! After all this time Indiana Jones is back! They did a great job making it! : )

Also David Cook won American Idol! He has been my favorite from the beginning!

I am so Happy!

The Trunk Monkey!

2008-05-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

My brother showed me this video, I think it's very funny!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2008-03-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

This is Riverdance. I thought it was appropriate for today!

Also Riverdance!

For other really awesome videos go to my sisters blog!

"Music and Lyrics"

2008-03-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

This is a music video that is the opening scene to the movie "Music and Lyrics" with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. This music video is a parody of all those hilarious 80's bands. I love the movie AND this music video.

Who am I...

2008-02-17T08:23:00.001-08:00

Who are you in the Lord of the Rings
created with QuizFarm.com

Strider

67%

Samwise Gamgee

67%

Peregrin Took

58%

Gandalf the Grey

50%

Legolas

50%

Frodo Baggins

42%

Meriadoc Brandybuck

33%

Gimli

25%

Gollum

17%

Indiana Jones

2008-02-14T16:55:00.001-08:00

I don't know if this movie will be good. But I am SO excited about it!

Why I Haven't Been on for a While...

2008-02-13T20:22:00.000-08:00

I haven't done a post for... I don't know two months? Well I am just going to say what I have been up to! Mainly I have been helping my parents build an addition on our house! :D I am going to put up some pics of my new room. The room isn't finished yet but it is painted!
This is from the doorway.

This is from inside the closet.

And this is just the wall.

Well... thats it!

I just love Rowan Atkinson SO MUCH

2007-11-02T07:11:00.003-07:00

This is Rowan Atkinson, the actor of Mr. Bean. He is just so funny!

My Birthday!

2007-10-27T13:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I turned sixteen! WOOHOO! For my sixteenth birthday party I went laser tagging. It was great fun. : )

I had a great birthday and I would love to name the gifts that I received.

From my oldest brother I got a Wii classic controller! (Thanks Benny!!!)

From my second oldest brother I got a "Dwarf Supply Crate". Inside the "Crate" was an assortment of things all wrapped in brown paper and cleverly named. These items included... "Kogorans' Special bitter brew, Made by Dwarves for dwarves" AKA Henrys root-beer, an "Officers Award" which was a large glass mug with my name engraved on the front in a pewter plate, "Two day Emergency rations" this was some REALLY good jerky, "After Battle Refreshment" a yummy mint chocolate bar, and last but certainly not least "Advanced Dwarven Tactics Training, Dwarf Eyes ONLY"... Halo 3. : ) (Thank you Joey!!)

My Little Sister got me "Mr. Bean the complete bean" Every Episode of Mr. Bean ever made..... I love Mr. Bean so much! (Thank you Caroline!!)

My Mom and Dad got me A beautiful leather watch, a brand new calculator (which I have been needing desperately), and a pewter dragon keychain,(keys included) which I promptly named "Rowan" After Rowan Atkinson, the actor of Mr. Bean.

Not to mention my parents paid for the laser tag party!! (Thank you Mom and Dad!!)

Aren't I a lucky girl?

Taged? Who... me?

2007-09-23T18:25:00.000-07:00

Well, My Mom Tagged me so hear goes!

Two Names You Go By:
1.Miss Cheet
2. Cheetah Barittah

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1.Denim Shorts
2. Blue T-Shirt

Two Things You Would Want (or have) in a Relationship:
1. Common views about the world and religion
2. Someone Who makes me laugh and Vice versa

Two of Your Favorite Things to Do:
1. Be completely alone
2.Hang out with my Family

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. The house project to be done!
2.chocolate cake : )

Two Longest Car Rides:
1. Once I had to ride from Eugene, Oregon to Reno, Nevada. Driving all day through farms seems like a lifetime... especially when you have to drive back in two days.
2. Another time was when the entire family piles in the car to drive to Grass Vally, California. A car trip seems longer when you hold a hamster cage on you lap the whole time. : )

Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving

Two Favorite Beverages:
1. Cold milk
2.REALLY COLD water

Two Things About Me You May Not Have Known:
1.I am TERRIFIED of sea weed
2. I pronounce "Squeegee" "squid-gee"

Two Jobs I Have Had in My Life:
1.Babysitter
2. umm..... do chores count??

Two Movies I Would Watch Over and Over:
1. The Italian Job
2.The School of Rock

Two Places I Have lived:
1. For a week I lived in Disneyland (teehee)
2. Springfield, OR

Two of My Favorite Foods:
1. Swedish Meatballs
2.Swiss Steak

Two Places I'd Rather Be Right Now
1.Traveling Europe
2. Deep in the forest

Hey, Ben.... Tag your it! : )

And the Winner is...

2007-09-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I cheered and clapped, sitting on the edge of my seat watching my absolute favorite tennis player, Roger Federer, play in the final match of the U.S. Open! I had never hated commercials more. Roger Federer Won Yesterday making that his fourth U.S. Open win in a row and his twelfth grand slam win, both record makers.

Three cheers for Roger Federer!

This is Sam

2007-08-25T12:09:00.001-07:00

This is my Dog Sam! Isn't he just Adorable? I really just wanted to show his cuteness!!

That was him doing all his little tricks!

My Favorite Tom Petty Music Video

2007-06-29T20:49:00.001-07:00

This is the music video for "Don't come around here no more"
It's wierd but cool!

Evolution of Dance

2007-06-28T13:01:00.001-07:00

This funny dance guy just cracks me up. If I am sad he makes me laugh.

Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues Music Video

2007-06-27T15:42:00.001-07:00

Bob Dylan is one of my favorite Musicians! This is his first music video!

DISNEYLAND 2007!!!!!

2007-05-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

This last week, May 13 through 17, I was in Disneyland, California! We flew into John Wayne airport and settled into our hotel room in time to see a WONDERFUL fireworks show out our window above Disneyland!

Early the next morning we used our early admittance tickets and entered the park an hour early! That was a fun filled day as we hit every ride we wanted including The Indiana Jones ride three times, The Pirates of the Caribbean ride two times, and many others! We were fortunate that they opened Splash Mountain the day we arrived when we had read that it would be closed, a happy surprise!

Another Happy surprise was seeing crewmen setting up the set where Pirates of the Caribbean will Premiere, on May 19.

The next day we went to Disney's California Adventure where we enjoyed Elevators that dropped ten floors (we rode that twice), and many very very fast roller-coasters! We ended this day with a water rafting ride that COMPLETELY drenched my Mom... hilarious. : ) All in good fun.

On the third day the went to San Juan Capistrano, an old Mission. It was really cool with lots of old walls and things. After we finished exploring the mission we made a quick detour to the beach before we bee-lined to MEDIEVAL TIMES!

What a wonderful place that was.

We supported the green barbarian knight who came in a close second place. There was a horse show and at one time a falcon flew around the arena. I even received a rose from our knight! I repeat a wonderful place.

After a mere four hours sleep we flew home with happy memories filled with magic, adventure, and swordplay!

Kumea

2007-04-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

Kumea (Koo-may) was a little girl. She was the age of ten and always wore pigtails clasped with a bright blue ribbon. Every morning Kumea woke up early, with the sun, and helped her mother tend to the rice farm in beautiful Japan. This farm year was different than all the others. The rice paddy was a sickly brownish yellow instead of bright lush green, and at night she would hear her parents talking about how the emperor would take their farm away if the weather didn’t change.

One morning Kumea was gathering water from the creek when she thought she heard movement in the forest behind her house. Kumea took a little cup, filled it with water, and carried it over to a small yellow flower behind a shed. Slowly she poured water on the flower like she had done for weeks when her mother wasn’t looking.

Just then a large cart approached the farmhouse with armored soldiers in it. Kumea peeked around the corner of the shed and watched the soldiers walk to her Father. The soldiers and her father talked for a moment before they pointed to the cart. Her father and mother looked scared. Kumea had never seen them scared so she was scared to. The soldiers put shackles on her parents and Kumea heard them say something about “prison”. Kumea started to run to her mother. Her mother looked over and gave Kumea a sharp stare and a small shake of her head. Kumea backed around the shed and hid in the forest. Her parents walked into the back of the cart and the soldiers locked the door. As the cart lurched away Kumea started to bawl.

She sat in the shadow of the tall trees, tears running down her face, the sun glistening off the leaves. It seemed like she sat there for hours when it really was just a few minutes. There was a rustling behind her. Kumea turned her head slowly, she thought she saw something in the tall grass and bamboo. A shadowed figure emerged and walked towards her. She screamed for a moment before he quickly covered her mouth.

“Shh,” he whispered.
Tentatively he removed his hand from her mouth. Kumea didn’t scream.
“Follow me,” the man said.

Kumea didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t stay at the farm because the soldiers may come back. But she didn’t like the idea of following a stranger into the forest.
“Who are you?” Kumea quizzed.
“Atsumori,” the man answered.

Kumea looked at him as the light broke through the trees. To Kumea, Atsumori looked ancient. He was probably around 40 years old. He had thin pale scars running down his face and his dark hair showed traces of silver around his temples.
Atsumori scooped up Kumea and threw her over his shoulder like a bag of rice. He started to make his way into the forest.
“Put me down! Put me down!” Kumea shrieked while she pounded her little fists on his back.

As Atsumori sprinted through the forest it became darker and darker. Soon Kumea couldn’t tell if it was day or night. By this time she had given up on screaming and hitting, mainly because her hands and throat hurt, and was just lying in a heap upon Atsumori’s hard shoulder.

“I’m tired,” Kumea complained.
“We will camp soon,” Atsumori replied.
“Where are we going?” Kumea asked.
“To find your parents,” he answered.
“I already know where they are,” Kumea sighed. “Some town called ‘prison’.”
Kumea heard a small chuckle from Atsumori before he said, “There are many places called ‘prison’, I need to know which one.”
“Why are you helping me?” she questioned.
Atsumori dropped her atop a pile of moss.
“We camp here tonight,” he stated.
“Why are you helping me?” Kumea asked again.
Soberly he answered, “Because I owe your parents, I cannot just watch as they are dying in a prison.”
“My mother is not going to die!” tears started to fill Kumea’s eyes just before she started bawling on the moss.

Atsumori watched her cry; for a moment there may have been a trace of emotion before he left to get wood for a fire and shelter. When he returned Kumea was reduced to a red-faced quivering lump on the ground. In not too long there was a small fire going and a lean-to like shelter made on the soft ground.

“I’m hungry,” Kumea stated sulkily. Atsumori reached into his small satchel to pull out three small pieces of fruit.
When Kumea woke up the next morning Atsumori had already doused the fire and packed the few things he possessed. Kumea sat up, stretched, and grabbed the last piece of fruit sitting next to her.
“Stand up. We need to leave soon.” Atsumori ordered.

By this time Kumea was used to Atsumori’s stern ways and simply nodded her head as she stood up.They fought through dense foliage for a half mile before Kumea saw sunlight breaking through the trees ahead. Atsumori lifted the last branch so that she could crawl out of the forest onto a hill overlooking a small fishing village.

“In that village there is a man who can tell me where your parents are,” Atsumori said with a sigh.
Atsumori lead the way down to the village. He glanced over his shoulder at Kumea. She was tired and he knew it. Her cheeks were flushed crimson and she breathed hard from all the distance they had covered.

Soon they were entering the village. As the two of them made there way to the fish market all the locals watched them with suspicion. Kumea was too tired and hungry to notice the quaint beauty of the little market. Atsumori didn’t care. Kumea hungrily watched while rice and fish were cooked and eaten as she followed Atsumori into a small fisherman's hut.

The hut was bright and smelled of the rotting fish hanging on all the walls.
“Why have you come back, Atsumori?” asked an old man who walked into the hut behind Kumea.
“Rin, I just need a little information,” said Atsumori in a slightly hushed tone.
Angrily Rin answered, “Information? You risk guards bashing down my door for a little information?”
“I need to know which prison the Haito’s are in.” Atsumori asked in almost a whisper.
“The Haito’s? Why do you care about the Haito’s?” Rin asked.
“I have to repay a debt.”
Rin sighed, “They are in Rhosu prison.”

As Kumea followed Atsumori she forgot her fatigue. She was on her way to see her parents, ohh how she missed how her mother put her to bed every night with a small kiss on the forehead, and how her father would always remember to bring her a piece of sweet fruit every time he went to market.

“Stop,” Atsumori whispered, jarring Kumea out of her daydream.
The sun was setting. Kumea and Atsumori were atop a small hill, and down in the valley Kumea could just make out a tall wall surrounding many buildings.
“Is that Rhosu prison?” Kumea asked.
Atsumori nodded his head.
“How are we going to get in?” wondered Kumea.
“Follow me,” Atsumori answered.

Quickly Atsumori made his was around to the south end of the prison. He picked up the delicate Kumea and carefully hid her in the center of a knot of branches and leaves in a lush tree.
“Do not leave this spot until I call you,” commanded Atsumori.

Kumea watched as he scrambled up a tall tree and shimmied to the end of a long branch. Atsumori wiped the sweat off his brow as he looked once more at the spot where he hid Kumea. There were two guards on the wall, one was patrolling the north wall, by the main gate, the other was gazing to the west. Atsumori was nearly above the south wall, reaching up he grabbed a branch above his head for stability as he attempted to stand. Shakily he gauged the distance between himself and the wall. With a quick leap he was grasping the wall. Slowly he heaved over onto the wall. Atsumori crouched low as he moved over to the southern tower, grabbed a rope, and returned to where he could see where he’d hidden Kumea.

By this time it was very dark outside and Kumea couldn’t even see Atsumori on the wall, but she heard him when he whispered, “Kumea, come to the wall.” Nervously she crawled out of the tree and ran to the base of the wall. She felt a rope land on her head, and as she grabbed it she discovered a loop.
“Sit in the loop and hold onto the rope,” instructed Atsumori.
Kumea did as she was told. Slowly she was lifted off the ground and soon she felt Atsumori’s strong hand grab her around the belly and set her on the stone wall.

Atsumori motioned for Kumea to follow him then he crouched low and ran along the wall. Kumea stayed close behind Atsumori and copied his every move. She was scared. Soon they arrived at the stairs. Atsumori peeked over the wall into the center of the prison, there didn’t appear to be anyone looking. Keeping close to the wall Atsumori and Kumea crept down the stairs. Once they were at the bottom they hid in a dark corner and looked at their surroundings.

There were five buildings, two guard houses, one captain’s house, a records headquarters, and the actual prison building. The prison was the largest and the records building was next to it, right by the main gate. There were no guards outside, but Atsumori could see at least four in the prison through a window.

“What are we going to do?” Kumea whispered.
“We need to know where your parents are so we are going to check the records,” Atsumori answered in an ever more quiet whisper.
“I’m scared,” Kumea said, lip quivering.
“Don’t worry. Just do as I say and we will make it out of here,” Atsumori said in an almost comforting tone.
Atsumori snuck through the courtyard area and made it to the records building door. Slowly he peeked through the window. Kumea watched the light move onto Atsumori’s face. Atsumori pulled his head back and paused for a second to think. There was one man in there who was sitting at a desk facing away from the door.

Atsumori reached over to Kumea and grasped her little shoulders, he turned her and pointed to a dark nook by the wall. She nodded, crawled over, and hid. Atsumori waited until Kumea was thoroughly hidden before he stood up. Carefully he opened the door, the man, who was a scribe not a soldier, was on the far side of the room, so he didn’t hear as Atsumori snuck up behind him. Like a snake, Atsumori wrapped his hands around the scribe’s neck. The man screamed a little before Atsumori stifled him, causing him to drop the papers he had been working on.
“Where are the Haitos being held?” Atsumori growled.
“The Haitos? How do you expect me to remember each prisoner?” the scribe answered gasping slightly from shortness of breath.
“I am going to let you go and you are going to find where the Haitos are. If you do this I will let you live,” Atsumori said coldly.
The scribe answered, “Yes, yes of course.”
Atsumori released his hold and the man gasped for breath then quickly got to work searching through his papers.
Soon the scribe exclaimed, “Yes here they are Haito, they are in the last cell in row eight.”
Atsumori brought down his heavy hand onto the back of the scribes head, knocking him out. As Atsumori exited the building Kumea ran over to him.

“Do you know where they are?” Kumea asked excitedly.
“Yes,”Atsumori stated, “From now on I want you to stay right behind me.”
“I will,” Kumea said nodding her head.

Atsumori crawled over to the prison door Kumea right on his heels. Kumea could see soldiers through the small barred windows, they looked strong and they had swords on their hips. Kumea watched at Atsumori put his back to the wall under the window, quickly she did the same. Slowly Atsumori crept upward trying to look through the window without being seen. There were two guards talking to each other, they were relaxed. Atsumori could tell they had not had trouble with people breaking in before.

Atsumori leaned in close to Kumea’s ear and whispered so quietly she could hardly hear, “When we go in here I want you to run and hide under the table, don’t look at me or what I am doing.” Kumea felt a rush a fear as she nodded her head.
Atsumori stood up in front of the door, took one deep breath, then threw the door open as he charged inside. The soldiers spun around shocked as Atsumori grabbed the nearest soldier’s sword off his hip.

Kumea dived under the table screaming, then she curled up shaking all over. All she could see were the feet of Atsumori and the guards. Very quickly she saw one guard fall, he was facing away from her and she could see his arms wrapped around his stomach. Kumea heard a dull thud, then the other soldier fell.
“Kumea, come out now,” Atsumori said hardly out of breath.
Kumea crawled out as far from the bodies as possible. When she looked at Atsumori he was wiping blood off a sword.
“Are..... are they dead?” Kumea asked stunned.
“Just one, the other is only asleep,” Atsumori calmly replied. Kumea felt sick in her stomach. She sat down in a chair, her face pale.
“Come. We need to get your parents,” said Atsumori as he finished cleaning the sword. When he looked at her his face changed, he walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, “Kumea, do you want to see your mother?”
Kumea looked up at his scarred face and realized what he must have done to get those scars.
“Yes,” she answered timidly.

Kumea stood up, her head staring at the floor in front of her until she was away from the room with the bodies.
Atsumori walked down the long hallway. There were numbered doors all along both walls. He soon stopped in front of door ‘8’.

As he opened the door he saw a soldier standing in front of him halfway down the short hall of cells. When the door opened the soldier whirled around, hand on his sword.
“Kumea, go back out and shut the door. No matter what you hear do not come in,” Atsumori said in a deadly cold way.
Atsumori heard the door close behind him. He started to walk towards the soldier. The soldier stood there with his hands on his sword watching Atsumori’s every move. Atsumori stepped forward. The soldier stepped back and to the right squarely facing Atsumori. Atsumori was drawing his sword when a hand darted through the bars and grabbed the soldier around the neck. Another prisoner dashed to the bars and hammered the guard until he collapsed to the floor unconscious. Kumea heard Atsumori call her, so she slowly opened the door. When she saw the body on the floor she started to pale until Atsumori assured her that he wasn’t dead.

Atsumori seized the keys off the guard’s body and hurried the end of the hall while prisoners screamed to be freed.
When the Haitos saw Atsumori unlocking their cell they looked thoroughly shocked.

“Atsumori?” Kumea’s father asked disconcertedly. “Why have you come here?”
“We have no time to talk, Brother, we need to get out of this place,” responded Atsumori. Kumea’s parents exited their cell, looked down the hall, and when they saw Kumea they dashed to her. Kumea hugged her mother wishing to never let go. Atsumori interrupted this joyous moment with a sharp, “We need to leave now.”

Exiting the prison was far easier that entering. After opening most of the cell doors there was a mad rush for the main gate. While the guards were rushing to stop the prisoners none of them noticed a small group heading for the south wall. Once they were safely in the forest Kumea’s father asked, “Why did you come for us, Atsumori? You left our family decades ago.”

“You raised me, Brother. When I renounced our family to combat the emperor I brought shame upon you,” Atsumori sighed deeply. “I was imprisoned eight years after I left. When I finally escaped I heard that you had married and that I had a niece. I then decided to return and try to restore some of the honor I had destroyed. As I approached your home I saw you and your wife dragged away from your farm and daughter. My only choice was to help you.” After concluding Atsumori looked his brother right in the eye, waiting for a response.

“Welcome back, Brother,” Kumea’s father answered graciously.

Kumea smiled as she looked at her mother, father, and new uncle, Atsumori.

The Lord of the Rings

2007-03-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

Today my sister and I finished my puzzle. I bought this puzzle two or three years ago when the "Lord of the Rings" movies first came out.

I never opened but instead I put it away for a rainy day. Yesterday was a rainy Oregon day and I decided to do my puzzle! It was a tough one!

For more pictures see my sister's blog!

KIds Can be Cruel

2007-02-17T14:43:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe the capability of people to just be heartless.
Cliques are such a horrible thing, making so many people sad. Don't you hate it when someone says, "Partner up!" and you are the last person chosen?
It is so much worse when you are the last person for months.
Kids can be soooo cruel.
What about when the kids start playing dirty?
When they start spreading rumors?
What if they are trying to crush a person?
It sure stinks to be the person on the "crush" list!
As you can tell I am having social problems.

The Grammys 2007!

2007-02-12T08:47:00.000-08:00

I don't usually care about the Grammys but some special people were nominated this time. When I say special people I am talking about Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. Bob Dylan won TWO Grammys one for "Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance" and another for "Best Contempory Folk/Americana Album".
Go Bob! Sadly, he lost one for "Best Rock Song". But he won TWO!!!!!
Tom Petty was nominated twice! Good for him! One that he was nominated for was "Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance" which Bob won.

I think they both did wonderfully! I am happy for them!

Emergency at the Pony Express

2007-02-05T11:01:00.000-08:00

It was a hot dusty day at the Pony Express station. There were no packages coming and the riders were getting antsy. Jesse, the youngest rider at age 16, was re-shoeing his pony, and Kale, Jesse’s older brother, was sitting on the porch watching the Texas dust blow.
Jesse stood up, patted the pony and said, “Well Sarah, we are ready to go now.” He then walked to the water barrel and drank a large ladleful, liquid rolling down his shirt.
Kale looked at the horizon and saw two dark silhouette’s approaching.
“Hey Jesse!” Kale hollered, “I think a job’s a- comin’.”
Jesse looked around the corner of the station to see the figures growing by the second. He quickly ate a biscuit, then stood on the porch watching as the men arrived.
The men were obviously military, both wearing navy blue uniforms, their horses were stark black with manes and tales cut short.
“What can we do for you’s today?” Kale asked.
“We need you to deliver a package to Baton Rouge, Louisiana,” one of the men said.
“Why can’t you take it yourself?” Jesse questioned.
The two men looked at each other warily.
“Umm... well, frankly, there are people trying to get ahold of this package and we thought that if we used civilian delivery they probably wouldn’t find it.”
“We will pay extra of course,” the other man put in.
Jesse looked excited and Kale looked wary.
“Will you just give us a minute to talk?” Kale asked in that way people ask when they really are commanding.
“Yes of course,” the younger man said and the two of them led their horses over to the barn to give them water.
“I don’t like it!” Kale stated. “I think we should let this one go.” Jesse looked shocked and exclaimed, “What?! We really need the extra greenbacks. It’s not too far, and they said whoever’s looking for it wouldn’t look for us!”
Kale started playing with his hat the way he did when he was thinking.
“Come on, it’ll be fun! We haven't got a job for days!”
“I really don’t think...”
“Kale! If this was any other job you would take it. The only difference is who hired us,” Jesse interrupted.
“All right,” Kale said with a large exhale.
Kale and Jesse then told the military men that they would take the job. The men gave them a tiny package and wished them good fortune; then the brothers got ready to ride.
Usually they wouldn’t ride together but Kale had insisted they did this time. Jesse hopped on Sarah while Kale saddled and mounted his horse Bob.
Soon they were out the gates and running full speed to Baton Rouge.
* * *
They had been riding for three hours through the dry plains when ahead they saw a grove of trees and what looked like a creek running through it. Knowing their horses would need a rest they decided to head there.
As they approached the trees Kale noticed a rifle casing on the dry grass, and Jesse could have sworn he saw something moving in the trees. They slowed down as they approached the creek. They both heard a stick crack... or was that a rifle cocking. Kale was scared, dead scared, even though he didn’t know for sure there was a gun pointing at him. He felt like it was right at the back of his neck. They had just gotten to the creek and the horses had thirstily started to drink when Jesse drawled, “ Hey Kale, remember that time we snuck away from the house so we wouldn’t have to clean the barn?”
Kale was startled by the way Jesse sounded like he didn’t know anything was wrong, but he answered, “Yeeaah.”
“And remember how just when we were about to jump in the water Dad came around the corner?” Jesse asked laughing.
“Yeeaah.”
“Ahh... it was great the way we just took off... so fast.” Jesse sighed they way people do when they are remembering things.
That's when Kale got it. Jesse wanted to run. ‘Why does he always have to be so cryptic?’ he thought, but then he said, “That was the only way to get away.” They gave each other a quick glance before shooting out of the creek just as they heard the rifle fire! Jesse looked over his shoulder and saw two men wearing military uniforms of the Spanish, standing there aiming at him. Kale twisted around just to shoot four quick shots in their direction, to slow them down.
“Ok you were right, we shouldn’t have taken this job,” Jesse admitted.
They rode on until dark when they made a camp for the night.
“No one else has tried to kill us. Don't you think that’s a little odd?” Jesse asked calmly.
“No. I think people trying to kill me is odd.”
“Maybe those men at the creek haven’t been able to report that they didn’t get us yet,” Jesse said hopefully.
“Well, if that’s true then we know they will have told someone by tomorra’. I think there will be more.”
“Do you think if we changed clothes they wouldn’t recognize us?” Jesse asked yawning.
“They will recognize us. Go to sleep, Jesse!”
Kale then rolled over and promptly went to sleep.
Jesse laid on his back and looked at the stars until he could stay awake no longer.

* * *
Early in the morning the two of them woke up and started riding again. Around noon they came to a bridge spanning the last major obstacle between them and safety, a very wide river. Once they cross the bridge it would be a ten hour ride to town. But there were people standing on the bridge in Spanish military uniforms checking people.
“This is not good!” Kale complained.
“Maybe if we just ride as fast as we can...” Jesse starting going on with an extravagant plan.
Kale condescended, “No. If we run they will shoot. They probably have our pictures.”
“This is the dry season; we could try and swim.”

“That's what I was thinking,” Kale agreed. They rode down to the river bank then upstream an hour till they found a wide part. Giving their ponies words of encourage-ment, they rode into the river. Halfway in they thought they were gone, with the cold water rushing everywhere, but the ponies pulled through. When they got to the other bank they started a fire to dry their clothes. By the time their clothes were dry it was too late to keep going, so they spent the night assaulted by bugs and mosquitos.
* * *
They awoke early the next morning and found it took them another hour to get back to the road. They got to Baton Rouge around six p.m.
“Where are we supposed to deliver this?” Jesse asked.
“We are supposed to wait outside the first store we see.”
The two of them looked around until they saw a little store off to the side.
They waited two long muggy hours until a tall man in a long coat walked up to them. “Are you Kale and Jesse?”
They nodded.
“Give me the package.”
Kale reached into his bag. When he pulled out the package there was a loud BANG! The tall man looked right at Kale; Kale looked scared. Slowly, the tall man looked down at his chest to see a river of blood running down his shirt, dripping to his feet. He fell down and died in a pool of his own blood.
Reholstering their weapons, the two men who had first hired Jesse and Kale calmly walked up to them.
“Thank you. Here is your pay.” They took the package and handed Kale double what was promised.
As the men turned to walk away Jesse asked them, “Who was that guy?”
The men turned around and said, “He was a Spanish soldier.”
Everyone shook hands as if they weren’t standing over a dead man, then they walked away from each other.
“From now on let’s just deliver normal mail.” Kale said smiling.
Jesse grinned and said, “Ohh, yeah!”

For all you reading this please don't steal my story and call it yours. I worked hard on this! : )