For most of my life I have loved traveling. I’ve always said how I just want to travel anywhere and everywhere. My dad has been putting me on a plane by myself for years now so I could go visit my grandparents. My all time place that we have traveled too now is the Chichén Itzá located in Yucatan, Mexico. The Chichen Itza has this opening at the top and our tour guide told us if we stood in front of the ruins and you clap your hands it makes a bird call echoed through the opening. I am not exactly sure why or how it does this but I was entertained by it for at least 15 minutes or more. The Chichen Itza wasn’t the only ancient Mayan ruins we went to but in fact one of the many we saw. Another cool feature about these ruins too is they have hundreds of Bearded Dragons who sit on the ruins and seemed like they were guarding the ruins.
Our cruise ship on the Water
This place does inspire me as a person and makes me feel like I can do anything as long as I put my mind to it. This was my favorite thing that we did in Mexico but definitely not my favorite part. The people in Mexico also are very nice, and it amazes me how different everything is versus living in the United States. We have very many tourist attractions in Florida but the tourist attractions’ in Mexico had much more meaning to them because most of it was hand made which gave it more value. Mexico is definitely my favorite place to travel just because it is a never ending exploration. This vacation was also a lot of fun because I got to spend time with my family, which I rarely get to do. My dad went and took me to get certified in scuba-diving when I was 13 so every cruise we go on, we love going scuba diving. The scuba diving in Mexico was unbelievable considering how crystal clear and beautiful the water was. I wish I would have brought my Go-Pro on this trip with me I could have gotten some cool shots of some creatures I’ve never seen before. You could stand above the surface of the water and see everything through the water. My absolute favorite part about this vacation was the time spent with my family and the new friends I got to meet on the cruise.
My family and I went on a road trip to New York nut on the way we had a stop that was a surprise to everyone except my mother. Well Ruby falls was the surprise and it was something tat we have surprisingly never heard of, also we have never been inside of a cave before so we were very excited to see what it was like.
First thing once we arrived was the front of the building to enter the cave was a little castle tower that you could go to the top and see the birds eye view over the town from the top of the mountain.
Once it was time for our tour we started our journey to the bottom of the cave to the falls. the tour guide was funny and it was quite cold. there was natural formed structures and shapes that the guides have named for jokes and tried to be funny, one was called the jacks a**.
We finally made it to the bottom after 45 minutes of the guide talking and teaches us little facts about the cave. The view was breath taking of this naturally made water fall that till this day they do not know where it comes from or what causes it to flow and never stop. Inside the pocket of the cave was very damp and cold, as well as tight in space that makes you feel almost claustrophobic.
A woman as pale as a ghost stands atop a frozen hill, gazing at the autumn forest clearing untouched by snow. She wears an aged, torn-up robe that seems patted down with snow. Her hair is messy and the color is faded light brown. Many would think that she would be a lost soul or someone in need due to her appearance; however, one look at her eyes and arms would be enough to think otherwise. Darkened black scleras surrounding wispy light blue irises with no pupils. Lower arms and hands covered in ice, acting like clawed gauntlets. No spirit has been known to have such a feature and usually those that have strange features are known as Fallen.
She wasn’t Fallen because she would have to be dead, but she wasn’t alive either. She was an ice mage apprentice of a Clan long gone. That is why she is here atop this hill, to see what time has done to her homeland. Where once there was vibrant tents and homes, now gone with no sign of it ever existing in the forest’s plains and it’s people that would be tending to their daily duties and children’s laughter, now replaced by sound of cawing crows in the distance.
Why does she keep returning to this place? Every few years, she stands on this exact hill. Is it for closure? It has been so many years yet she has not felt peace, nor has she felt anything in that matter. Is that the reason? To feel again? To remember the joy she once had? She has tried everything she could to feel something, anything. From the purest action to playing with snowflakes to the darkest action of watching someone slowly freeze to death from the touch of her icy hands.
In the midst of watching the forest, a caw shook her from her thoughts and saw a crow hopping around near her in the snow, barely making a sound with it’s light body. She stared at the bird for awhile until she met it’s eye. She saw the reflection of her glowing eyes in it’s own and time seemed to have slowed down. She was drawn into the crow’s eye as she pondered at her own reflection. A hollow shell of who she was many years ago. What would her past self say to her now? What would they think of her actions? Are they even watching over her? So many questions rapidly crossed her mind as she continued to stare, that is until she blinked for a moment.
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Once she reopened her eyes, her reflection was not in the bird’s eye, but in a puddle and her appearance changed into what she lost so long ago. Rich dark brown hair, normal white eyes with beautiful green irises stared back with robes now muddy and not torn. The distant caws of crows changed into screams of men, women and children surrounding her. She looked up the puddle to see a battlefield before her. People running in fear as soldiers belonging to two different nations at war pursued them. She saw homes in flames, the dead turning into dust and a child crying alone in the carnage with a stuffed animal held tightly in their hand.
“Hold your focus!” a voice yells out behind her and she turns around to see a familiar group of faces. “We need to give others some more time to get to safety before the soldiers reach here!” The voice yells again as their back is turned to her. A man wearing similar robes like her standing with others facing away from her focusing on their spell. She knows that voice, it is one she hadn’t heard in a long time. The person in front of her is Faelin, a close friend of hers and someone she thought as family more than anything.
She remembers this moment, they were trying to hold off incoming soldiers with their magic. She tried to help them in anyway she could with her abilities as well. Everyone in the group took turns on offense and defensive positions. She was supposed to be attacking incoming forces, but her body burned with exhaustion and she felt her strength starting to fade.
“Keep going! Not all of us are out of there yet!” Faelin shouted again as he walled off more soldiers nearing them. The others were mainly casting shields from the incoming arrows and spells from the armies to protect each other from taking hits.
“Where did the fire mages go!?” A woman yelled as she focused on the barrier. She was Tilly, another friend of hers.
“I saw an explosion go off deeper into the forest!” another voice said casting an icicle at a soldier. That’s Ronin, another face she had long forgotten.
“Dammit! We need all mages here to-” Tilly was interrupted when her barrier broke and what followed after was an arrow plunging itself into her stomach. She screamed in pain while Ronin silently cursed and extended his free arm to make another barrier.
“Mabs help Tilly!” Ronin called out as he focused on the barriers.
That name…that was her name! She had forgotten her own name since she never spoken nor had she felt the need to even know it anymore. Nodding her head at Ronin, Mabs ran to Tilly whom was currently on the ground crying in pain, digging into the ground with her hands.
“You’re gonna be ok Tilly,” she spoke and she didn’t recognize her own voice. Running to her friend, she saw the arrow lodged deep into her gut. Tilly had magical healing capabilities, so taking the arrow out seemed most logical. Reaching for it, Tilly stopped her by grabbing her hand.
“No. Don’t,” she said as whimpered in pain. She took a moment to breathe and held Mabs’ hand strongly. “I don’t have enough strength to help you guys if I heal myself,” She looks at Mabs and spoke in a serious tone,“Take what mana I have left to help the others escape, I will only become a liability.”
“C’mon, Tilly!” Ronin said with anger in his voice as he struggled on focusing on the barrier. “You can do this! Don’t give up now!”
“Tilly,” Mabs spoke weakly as she held her friend’s hand, she felt something wet come out of her eyes, something she hadn’t felt in a long time; tears. “Please don’t do this,” she pleaded with her friend. As she said that, Tilly only smiled and her hand emitted a glow that started to transfer into Mabs’ own.
“I give what strength I have left to you, Mabs…,” Tilly spoke as she began losing her grip. Mabs felt some power wash over her body as she cried out, watching the light in Tilly’s eyes go out. Ronin clenched his jaw tightly and breathed in through his teeth as some tears streamed down his face.
Mabs became overwhelmed as she held Tilly’s now limp hand and tears kept spilling from her face. She cried out as she felt her heart break at the loss of her friend once more and with a call from her fellow mages, she stood back up once more to rejoin the battle.
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Ronin died after the other mages met their fate in exhaustion or from an attack that pierced the barrier. Now it was just Faelin and Mabs hanging on to what power they shared together, given to them by their fallen comrades. They lost hold on their line in the battle and began to retreat where their clansmen had went to. Now it was just a matter of surviving from two armies rushing at them. They didn’t see anymore of their people that stayed behind to protect, they either died or were already on the run. Mabs breathing was rigid, she was covered in dirt, blood and a bit of frost from the overuse of magic. Faelin wasn’t in great shape either as he was grazed by a few arrows and currently pushing his limits.
“We just need to keep going,” he said, exhaustion heard clearly in his voice as they kept running, with only the shouts of the enemy soldiers charging after them. “The others soon have set up our escape by now, we just need to meet up with the rest of the Clan to get out safely from here.”
“Are you sure? What if they left us already?” She replied back, the feeling of fear, doubt and exhaustion gnawing at her. She hates feeling this emotion, but to finally feel something had her questioning her own state of mind.
“Don’t think that!” Faelin yelled back, “We need all the hope we can get right now if we wanna get out of here. That’s the least we can do for our friends.” He looked at her with determination in his eyes, she could see how tired he was and when they looked back to what was in front of them, an explosion went off.
An energy bomb hit just in front of them, Mabs was regaining her grip on her senses. She was on the ground, bleeding and light-headed. That wasn’t from behind them…that bomb came from the front.
“F-Faelin…,” she spoke messily as she rolled onto her stomach, vision still shaky. She was in a dirt cloud with rubble surrounding her, looking around the best she could for her friend. “Faelin where are you…”
Then she saw the back of a familiar robe, her eyes widened and her heart dropped. She couldn’t hear herself speak anymore but she knew she called out his name as she crawled to him with her arms. Digging into the earth desperately to reach her dear friend, more tears flooded her eyes as she neared him.
Once she reached him, she turned him over and cupped one hand on the side of his face. He had rubble stuck in one side of his face and blood emerging from his clothes at a fast rate. His hazel eyes were barely opened and lost it’s light. Mabs pushed herself up with what strength she had to sit on her knees with his head in her lap. Everything was slowed down around her, the sound of the soldiers rushing towards them was quiet and the dirt cloud around them didn’t vanish yet.
“Please…no,” her voice shook as she cried, holding his head in her lap, tears falling onto his face. “There is nowhere to go now Fae,” she said as she placed her forehead on his, waiting for the inevitable to come upon them both.
“…need…to…” A weak voice spoke in her ear, she lifted her head again to look at him. He was barely alive and he spoke to her with the last of his ability. “…run…Mabs,” He spoke again, repeating the same sentence the best he could.
“I-I can’t anymore Faelin…I’m t-to weak, there is no one way out,” She remembered these words, this moment with her dying friend. “They already b-beat us to the exit, so I-I have no way-out…,” she cried both at Faelin and at the words coming out of her mouth, for the next moment will be when it all changes.
“…take it…M-Mabs,” He breathed as he began to transfer what mana he had and gained from their allies. “…r-run…and live…for all of u-us,” He went limp in her grasp like Tilly did. As the power of her friends and allies flowed into her body she gave out a scream at his passing.
As she screamed, something snapped within her and a force began to erupt back out of her. A cloud was blown away from her and a rune circle emerged and emitted a bright blue light beneath her feet. Ice began to form violently around her as she cried out, she felt the air turn cold and saw her own breath form in the air.
“No!” she shakily cried out as more ice formed around her. “Let me die with him!” She looked at the large ice crystal near her and saw her appearance change before her. Skin turning into a white pale, ice starting to form on her arms, eyes turning to the familiar light blue wisps with the same darkness around them. “No!” she cried as her voice began to vibrate and change into something new.
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“NO!” Mabs shouted out loud and was welcomed by a rush of flapping feathered wings. She was standing back on the snowy hill, shaking and looking around her. No Faelin. No soldiers. No home. Only thing that was different was the falling of snow, the circle of ice spikes around her and a frozen dead crow on the ground, the one she was looking at.
She felt something wet on her face and she raised a clawed finger to wipe it. It was water or as she remembers, a teardrop. She…cried? She was still capable of feeling something? Ever since the change she never felt anything, but here she is. Back home remembering what changed her into the thing she is now and reminded of what a cruel war that has lasted over hundreds of years, even after the fall of her home.
Perhaps it is time to give a personal visit on the next couple battlefields she comes across on her journey around the world.
My father joined the U.S. Air Force in the year 2000, the same year I was born. Part of my dad’s job was moving every three or four years, when I was younger I didn’t really understand why we had to move I just went along with it up until I was in the third grade. I came home from school and my parents broke the news to my brother and I that we would soon be moving to a place called Belgium. As a third grader with minimal geographic knowledge, I was immediately upset. I didn’t want to leave my friends and home of four years to go to a place I didn’t even know existed. As the summer flew by I was soon saying goodbye to my friends and family members until finally my family and I were boarding the plane to fly 8 hours from the Chicago airport to Brussels, Belgium. Being in a foreign country was difficult and scary, stores close on Sundays and there are roundabouts everywhere, but I persevered. I began to fall in love with the landscapes and narrow roads, I found myself visiting castles on the weekends and going to the Louvre in Paris on a school field trip. When fifth grade came around I’d finally felt comfortable in this new place, I felt it was my home, then my parents once again broke the moving news, but this time we were moving three hours away to a place in Germany we had been before.
My brother and I in front of the Brussels Atomium.
Sixth to ninth grade I lived in Germany and it was amazing. I was heavily influenced by the culture around me, I was taking trains with my friends to go to festivals, I fell in love all over again. I had so many amazing opportunities to see Europe and I definitely took advantage of them. I’ve been to more countries than I have states, I’m an expert public commuter, and I met some of the best people in the world. I traveled everywhere I could and wanted to take in every bit of each city and country, I saw monuments and buildings that are in history books. I learned so much I could write a book about it, and no matter where I went or what I experienced I always came home to Germany. Life was great up until my parents broke the news for the final time, except now I was devastated. I had to leave my best friends but I also had to leave my favorite place, my home, and my life wouldn’t be the same. The narrow roads and stunning landscapes were now an ocean away, I found myself immersed in four lane highways and stop lights, my festivals were now fairs, and stores are open on Sundays. I miss biking in the forest and listening to church bells ring every hour, I miss the experiences I had. I carry with me a million memories of places some people never get to see, sure I’ve endured lots of pain and heartbreak but I wouldn’t trade it for anything, being a military child taught me that home is where your heart is.
An amazing landscape looking over Germany and Austria.
Although it’s airline advertisement, it captures the true beauty of Germany.
This is MooMoo. Her name is MooMoo because she looks like a cow.
My cat MooMoo is a beast! She is an indoor and outdoor cat. She is 13 years old in human years, but she looks and acts really young for her age. Years ago, my cousin Laurel brought her home one day not telling anyone. After a few months of having MooMoo, My cousin kind of neglected her so my mom adopted her.
This is a picture of MooMoo with a toy mouse, but she usually brings in real mice and scares the crap out of my mom.
MooMoo is a calico breed. Calico breeds are almost all females and rare males are almost always sterile. Calico breeds have a variety of colors including orange, red, white and black. There colors are unique and you never see a cat with the same color patterns. Calico breeds have sassy, spunky, and independent personalities. If you ever need some unconditional love, a calico cat is a good choice if you’re looking to adopt. These companions are extremely sweet, loving, and loyal.
Some interesting facts you probably didn’t know about Calico cats.😊This is how MooMoo sleeps. When I see her sleep, sometimes I think she’s dead.
MooMoo is such a loving, goofy, funny cat. I love her to death and I cherish the memories I have with her. I hope she lives for many years more!
Pensacola Beach is a hidden gem among the many spectacular beaches in Florida this is one you can not miss.
History of Pensacola Beach
The island cross on Pensacola beach
Founded in the summer of 1559 by Don Tristan De Luna
The cross on Pensacola Beach commemorates the first Christian mass held in the United States when the first Spaniards arrived.
Fort Pickens was completed in 1834 and used in WWII
What makes Pensacola Beach so great?
One part of Pensacola Beach that makes it so special is the crystal white sand. This is a beautiful sight. Next, another part of the beach which makes people want to visit is the pier, the pier is 1,471 feet long and is great for good views of the ocean and the water. The people are another reason it is great! So many nice folks to talk too and conversate with. One of the biggest reasons Pensacola beach is so great is the Blue Angels Airshow. The Blue Angels are a group navy men and they do amazing airshows for places around the United States and they are based in Pensacola and always have shows on the beach. This is known as a local holiday because everyone from here and people from neighboring states visit the beach to see the blues fly.
Blue Angel flying over Pensacola Beach
What to do while on Pensacola Beach.
There are so many fun things to do on Pensacola Beach and endless amounts of fun! The obvious thing to do would be to go lay on the beach or go swimming which is always fun but here are other things you can also do at Pensacola Beach. You can visit the Fort Pickens Military base which was used all the way until the end of WWII. The boardwalk is another place where you can get ice cream,take pictures, and get clothes or souvenirs
Video of Pensacola beach
Places to Eat on the beach
Casino Beach Bar
Flounders
Paradise Bar and Grill
Sidelines
These are all popular places to eat on the beach. Most of the food on the beach is the usual beach cuisine but it is very good here.
Casino Beach Bar
Overall, you can see Pensacola has more than enough to offer for a fun weekend or place to live. Pensacola is one of the best beaches in Florida and now you know more about it!
The sound of soft waves crash against the dock while a small sailboat drifts by. The sunset is slow, but admiringly calm. As an hour passes, you’ll start to notice that the orange and pink colors have faded, it is now black with white splatters across the canvas.
The sound of the waves are still there; However, accompanied by the chirping of frogs and crickets. The sailboat has been docked next to a yellow house, but is slightly drifting with each wave.
A cold breeze passes with the smell of salt and rain. After the wind passes, the sound of thunder echoes in the dark sky above. The white splatters slowly disappear, for the clouds have been painted over.
After an hour goes by of the continuous thunder, the rain starts to sprinkle against the dock and the water. The ripples in the water are repetitive and slow. When the clouds start to pour more rain onto the dock, a flash of lightning is seen. The purple lines break into the sky every once a minute along with thunder in the background.
The smell of rain becomes more protruding after the small shower has passed. In the night, the sounds of the frogs have become silent.
A woman comes out to stare at the small waves just before sunrise. She sips from her cup of coffee as she stares into the black skies. Once the first streak of orange seeps into the sky, she embraces it.
To the sea is where she finds her peace. The luminous ball of flames rises once again and she walks back to her home; listening to the birds start to sing and breathing in the aroma of flowers and morning dew.
The island of Sint Maarten. A place that takes your worries away, and takes relaxation to the max. This small island in the caribbean is not known by many but is truly a hidden paradise. Not only does it have some of the most beautiful beaches, but it’s filled with a lot to do. There’s a long list of why this island is a paradise. The people are all kind hearted and helpful, the island is filled with life, adventure, and hidden secrets. The most special thing about the island is it’s sunsets by far. The people of the island are really something else. They are all super friendly people, they don’t mind helping with anything. Not only that but most people of the island speak up to five languages. I met one interesting man named Alexander. He worked at the resort I stayed at, and in his free time he was a tour guide. My family and I went on one of his tours, and the shear sight of some of the places he took us to just put a sense of relaxation in your soul. Again the island is a magnificent place to see the most beautiful sunsets. The feeling you get when you get to just sit and indulge in one of the most eye opening things you’ve ever seen is like nothing else.
The shear feeling you get when you see a sight like this is nothing other than extraordinary. The way it takes away all thoughts other than wanting to enjoy the moment with others. It’s truly is a breathtaking sight. The views on this island aren’t just limited to the land either. It continues into the sea, with its underwater secrets and remarkable sea life. Sint Maarten has some unbelievable snorkeling and scuba diving spots. There’s nothing else like it. I have personally never seen so many different colored fish in my life. It was magical; it’s own underwater paradise. Sint Maarten is truly a hidden unknown paradise.
It takes a whole lot of time and experience to feel as this kid does after a fresh hit!
More or less how it was for me!u003cbru003e
When I had first indulged in the devils lettuce I did not whatsoever look like this. I looked more like someone that drank for the first time. I could not stand straight. all these vibrations started to go every which way. at one point I felt as if I was the one controlling which way they went. I felt the only thing to do is lay down. It was not the most comfortable feeling but it was not scary at all. I kinda felt as if at any moment I would float off the couch; at the time I was laying on, and be suspended in air. It kinda blew my mind.
Since the first time I have yet to feel that way again. Able to feel waves of vibrations rolling through you was beyond cool to me.
After having this awesome experience I wanted to know what had just happened! Where had my mind just blasted off too?
From there began the start of my dealings more frequently with the devils lettuce
From then on I would be searching for the feelings of waves, rushing through you, and when you wanted to change the directions of the waves all you would have to do is think about it.
Ever since the first time I have not felt the waves coarse through my body, but i have come close with edibles. The only thing is I either forget I ate an edible; and partake in other methods after, and pass out, or just keep eating edibles and pass out. I learned that this place I was trying so hard to get to was CLOUD 9!
Tis the life
My journey has been a great and positive one. That is why I would recommend more people opening up and accepting CANNABIS for what it is….it is just a PLANT! P.S…sorry not sorry we found ways to make the plants all females….which in return make better buds and higher thc
With cannabis becoming more and more accepted across the world, I hope that one day you and I can light up with no worries of someone trying to prosecute you for a plant.
Something that could grow without the help of human interaction is not something you should get in trouble for
One day though it will be allowed, to run out into your backyard and rip off some of the nice big colas you have been waiting to harvest, and go hang them and wait a week or so then enjoy what you have created!
But until then you have to enjoy on your own time, and be responsible so you make sure not to screw it up for the rest of us.
Also word of advice before I leave my fellow humans alone……Get in now before it gets stronger and also be safe and know where your stuff comes from!
It takes a whole lot of time and experience to feel as this kid does after a fresh hit!
More or less how it was for me!
When I had first indulged in the devils lettuce I did not whatsoever look like this. I looked more like someone that drank for the first time. I could not stand straight. all these vibrations started to go every which way. at one point I felt as if I was the one controlling which way they went. I felt the only thing to do is lay down. It was not the most comfortable feeling but it was not scary at all. I kinda felt as if at any moment I would float off the couch; at the time I was laying on, and be suspended in air. It kinda blew my mind.
Since the first time I have yet to feel that way again. Able to feel waves of vibrations rolling through you was beyond cool to me.
After having this awesome experience I wanted to know what had just happened
From there began the start of my dealings more frequently with the devils lettuce
From then on I would be searching for the feelings of waves, rushing through you, and when you wanted to change the directions of the waves all you would have to do is think about it.
Ever since the first time I have not felt the waves coarse through my body, but i have come close with edibles. The only thing is I either forget I ate an edible; and partake in other methods after, and pass out, or just keep eating edibles and pass out.
Tis the life
My journey has been a great and positive one. That is why I would recommend more people opening up and accepting CANNABIS for what it is….it is just a PLANT! P.S…sorry not sorry we found ways to make the plants all females….which in return make better buds and higher thc
With cannabis becoming more and more accepted across the world, I hope that one day you and I can light up with no worries of someone trying to prosecute you for a plant.
Something that could grow without the help of human interaction is not something you should get in trouble for
One day though it will be allowed, to run out into your backyard and rip off some of the nice big colas you have been waiting to harvest, and go hang them and wait a week or so then enjoy what you have created!
But until then you have to enjoy on your own time, and be responsible so you make sure not to screw it up for the rest of us.
Also word of advice before I leave my fellow humans alone……Get in now before it gets stronger and also be safe and know where your stuff comes from!
English Composition I - Multimedia Project 
