SOL 31/31

Although I wish I could take credit for these pictures, they were all taken by my twin brother, Daniel.

On a trip to Hilton Head exactly one year ago, (last spring break) We went on a boat tour around a lake to look at the various animals. Here is the result: 

Later on the trip, we took a boat to Daufuskie Island. There were no cars on the island, so we rented a golf cart to explore the island. It had old decrepit cemeteries with graves dating back to the late 1700's, an old lighthouse where a woman had killed herself, old slave quarters, a beach where fifty indians had been massacred, and scattered remnants left by civil war troops. On top of that, a section of the island was dotted with mansions. It was truly an amazing and unique place - brimming with history, with beautiful but eerie scenery. The island had an unsettling feeling because of it's dark past and because of the thick and dark forests. The island was of the grid - and with all the historic sites, it del like a step back in time. Except for the mansions and yachts, of coarse. Here are some more pictures:

SOL 30/31

"Daniel, turn it around!"

"I can't! It's not working!"

"Come on, it's going to far!"

It was a few days after Christmas in 2009. I was obsessing over my present which I had gotten on Christmas - a large remote control Air Force One. It was three feet long, and had at least a two foot wingspan. It had four electric engines. We took it out to Crestmoor park, which had a small layer of snow. We had to run while someone else started up the engines, then throw it forward while the person with the remote forced it upwards. Most of the time it didn't get enough lift and smashed into the snow, but occasionally it kept going.

It flew thirty, forty, or even fifty feet in the air - and it usually got a couple hundred feet away from us before we had to land it because it couldn't turn very well. We each got to fly it, and it was a lot of fun. That is of course, until Daniel took a turn. He was good at flying it, but made a fatal mistake. Someone ran, and he started up the four mini engines as they threw it. It arced upwards, and across the park. It went over the trees and over the street, and over the neighborhood.

It flew into the distance, shrinking and shrinking. Daniel lost control, because it went out of range - he couldn't turn it around. However, then engines kept running, so the plane kept flying into the distance until it became a small black dot, and sunk into the horizon. Daniel was embarrassed and felt very guilty. Especially as I fought back tears from losing my new present, and Alex yelled at him.

We searched the neighborhood for weeks, scanning the tops of houses and searching construction sites. We put of flyers, and searched some more - but to no avail. It was gone, and I began to forget about it. Three months after we lost it, we mentioned the plane to a neighbor who said they saw it in a tree. The tree was on the way to school - we had driven by the lost plane for three months and been oblivious to the fact that we went past it everyday. My parents scaled the tree and returned it to us. My present was returned - and the case of the missing air force on was solved.

SOL 29/31

"Aw, you died. Should have been paying attention." He jeered.

"Aaron, Aaron, this is just to easy." He teased.

"Nope. Not going to beat me." He gloated.

I couldn't take it any longer. I stared at him as he stared at the screen, a grin on his face. Anger built up inside me. He killed me over and over in this game, and then teased me. We had been neutral for the past week that he had been back - but now I could barely contain my temper. Without thinking, a victim or my anger, I threw it at him. I tossed my remote with a flick of my wrist, and it hurled through the air like a ninja star. It hit him in the jaw. It was all worth it just to see that grin turn into a look of surprise and shock. Just to wipe that smile form teasing me off his face.

He jumped up, his anger building, mine dwindling and being replaced by fear. He lunged over to me, and I immediately recoiled, putting my arms and legs up in self defense. He reached around to push and hit me as I kicked and punched to keep him away. Neither of us would give up. We hit, and wrestled - we fought dirty, too. It hurt. I scratched him hard. We were both completely fuming until my dad came down.

Suddenly it hit me what I had done. Shattered the fragile connection we had, and lost the confidence in my parents that we could get along. It was basically the same scenario me and Alex had been through a million times before he went to college - we treat each other horribly until eventually fight, and yell at each other and get in trouble. Then it repeats.

This time he yelled at me for starting a fight and not containing myself. I yelled at him for teasing which strained out fragile truce, and I yelled at him for not stoping the fighting even though he was bigger. He also yelled at me for not stopping. Neither side was just, but neither of us would admit defeat. Alex was completely convinced it was all my fault - and he claimed that he was the victim. I began to give in, and stopped yelling. I didn't care anymore. He would leave in a week or so - why make a fuss?

I was so emotional as we yelled, a mix of disappointment in myself, anger, and overwhelming hurt. It was just like we had done before, be rude, then yell and fight and not give up. I went upstairs and cried. It had been a long time since I had cried. Now I was crying hard -  didn't know why exactly. Maybe I was mourning the loss of our relationship. I was just so upset, and angry, and hurt. I stayed in my room alone for a while.

A week later when he left, I hugged him. I wanted to cry again, but for a completely different reason. I missed my older brother.

SOL 28/31

This is a scary movie that I made with my twin brother Daniel, as well as Sarah and Jason. Daniel filmed and played a small role, and me and Jason both played small roles throughout the movie. Sarah had the main role. We all contributed to writing out a basic script, then we just filmed. It was fun to make - and if it doesn't scare you, you might get a laugh out of it. Enjoy.

SOL 27/31

"Hey, wanna see something cool?"

"What is it?"

"It's just cool, come over here."

He walked back towards us, illuminated by the lazy afternoon sunlight. He crouched down and crept under the counter. We were in the back room of extended care, out of range of the teachers. We built up one blocks to make a little cave, just suitable to our second grade self. Me and Dee Dee waited in the shadows as the boy crept towards us. Once he was far enough in, we smiled to each other. He had been lured into the trap.

"So what is it?"

"Look. It's cool."

Me and dee dee got several colors of chalk and drew all over a small green chalk board in the dim light as he watched. He had no idea of what he had walked into. Once it was covered, we erased it all, until the erasers were covered in chalk dust. It was time to initiate our devious plan to our hapless victim.

"Now!" Me and Dee Dee yelled.

We covered our faces with the tops of our shirts and banged our erasers together. Colorful clouds of pink and yellow and blue dust billowed out, filling the room, creating a soft moving haze. They coughed and sputtered as we laughed maniacally, and as they stumbled out of the cave and into the warm light, we gave each other high fives. Our pointless mission was accomplished.

Unfortunately, I crime spree came to a close a few minutes later after we'd been told on. However, the charges were dropped.

SOL 26/31

It was the last day of my debate matrix, and we were doing fun debates as a little celebration. I was debating with Kyra. We Were debating against two other people, although I don't remember who. The debate was: Who is better? the wolf from little red riding hood, or the wolf from the three little pigs. Our argument was that the wolf from little red riding hood was better, and there argument was that the wolf from the three little pigs was better.

They made some kind of ridiculous argument, like: The three little pigs wolf is big and strong and destroys houses with his breath! or something like that. We countered their argument, and argued that are wolf was big and scary and sneaky. Just before the debate was about to end, I delivered one line that I am proud of to this day. I said: 

"The wolf from little red riding hood is scary, and sneaky, and smart. Their wolf, however; well he just blows."

After a short pause, several members of the audience yelled out, or laughed, or cheered. My opponents looked frustrated and surprised. I had a huge grin on my face.

SOL 25/31

Endangered

Sophie was not particularly excited to visit the Congo. The only reason she went was to visit her mom, who was the head of a Bonobo sanctuary there. Sophie's feelings change when she buys and injured, orphaned Bonobo. Her mother is somewhat upset because buying the ape promotes orphaning and selling Bonobos, but for Sophie, it is worth it. As Sophie begins to have a deep connection with the ape, who's name is Otto, a rebellion breaks out in the country. When the violence spreads to a nearby town, and the sanctuary is attacked, Sophie flees with the ape after refusing to be evacuated. She heads into the sanctuary, and into the jungle - hoping that the she can escape the rebels, and the apes within the jungle.

This book was exciting, and exhilarating. It's a survival, adventure book - but also has a lot of information on Africa and Bonobos. I read the book because I read the sequel to this book, (which is unrelated) and was very good. This one was better, and more exciting. I would recommend this if you like easy, but exciting books. I really liked it - and I think just about anyone can enjoy it.