20 Minutes + Random Words = A Very Strange Short Story...

You would never have guess what happened today...
It seemed like an average morning. I was walking to the bus stop to go to school. I arrived at the stop, and no one else was there. I was rather confused because usually I just catch the bus by the skin of my teeth, but I guess not today. I waited for a few more minutes when there was this sudden ringing in my ears. I was so loud and strong that I could barely stand. My mission was to get to school, because I had to hand in my culminating photograph project. At this point, I was on my hands and knees, the ringing still unbearable. I started to crawl to school; my photography teacher would never believe me if I was late because I had to crawl to school.

Things only got worse as I started to crawl to ended up behind a spider crawling in the same direction as me. You see, I'm terribly arachnidphobic. I could not get any closer to that spider than I already was. To help get me through my slow journey to school, I struggled in my pocket to reach for my iPod. I was really hoping the music would drown out the ringing in my ears, but that spider was still freaking me out. I was in luck! The spider crawled up the stop sign at the end of the street. SUCCESS. With the spider out of my way and the iPod drowning out the ringing, I was finally able to stand up. The crawling on my hands and knees made my jeans all dirty. Good thing I was hardly out of my neighbourhood, I aggressively ran back to my house of hopes that I could still make it to school on time.

I made it up the front steps, went to open the door and just my luck, there was a blue bin on the other side of the door and I couldn't get in. I was locked out. I couldn't worry about my jeans anymore, I had to get to school. I changed my iPod music to my work out playlist and ran as fast as I could to school, taking the shortcut by turning left at the main intersection. I must have made a mistake, my school was no where in sight! I was going down a country road, and since it had recently rained, my shoes were now covered in mud. At least my shoes now matched my pants.

I was stressing out. I had to do something for my photography teacher so she wouldn't kill me for being late. I suddently had a brilliant udea--my teacher adords McDonald's cheeseburgers! I got back on track to get to my school, almost late, and stopped at Mcdonald's on the way. I ordered 20 cheeseburgers to-go, and from there was on the homestretch to get to Orchard Park Secondary School. I was in my seat before the bell even went. When my teacher saw the cheeseburgers, her eyes lit up. She gave me 100% on my project because of the cheeseburgers, and for never ever being late for class.

And I swear, that was exactly how it all went down.

the SIRENS sound as my SISTER CATCHes me EATing the whole REFRIGERATOR...or the bookshelf...

1. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

This book is a true story by Elizabeth Gilbert. The idea came to her when she got divorced and lost the balance in her life. Already being a writer, she thought the best way to find herself again was to propose to her publishers a book about the journey of finding herself through love (food!), spirituality and balance. The first word of the title tells it all: Eat. Elizabeth Gilbert spent three months travelling Italy to experience her true love, food. She gives detailed descriptions of each decadent meal she eats, each meal getting better and better. Her adventures in Italy leave you salivating, longing to eat the foods she had the luxury of enjoying. Maybe by eating her words I can taste some of Italy?

2. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

It's a classic novel, and I probably would have enjoyed it if I didnt have to read it. Unfortunately, it was the novel I chose to read for my ENG 4U ISU assignment. Apparently my time management skills were a little off during the busy semester one-October crunch time, where it seems like all of your teachers have an evil plan to ruin your life by giving you enough tonnes and tonnes of homework. I had read about 94 pages out of the 453-page novel, and only four days to get through those last 359 pages. It was unbearable. I spent hours each night reading (and re-reading, because I'd zone out too often) until my brain went numb. Now when I think of Catch-22, I just wanna rip the book to shreads with my teeth. Oh well.

3. Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

Ironically enough, it's a book about notes on a refrigerator door...the home of the vessel that holds my stomach's desires! However, this book sends me running to the refrigerator for comfort food, because it gets me crying anytime. The book is a series of small notes, so it's about a 45 minute read, but keep some chocolate close by, or you'll probably eat the book itself.

4. Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut

Two reasons this book would be delicious! First, almost the entire first half of this novel takes place on Mars. There is a very, very brief mention of a cookbook that was made for space travellers eating strange creatures from various planets. Weird, I know...but how cool would that be?! I'm so down for any crazy, culinary experience! I would use that cookbook and find a way to space if I could have that opportunity! Second, any novel by Kurt Vonnegut is simply amazing, and I love his books so much that I could eat them right up!

5. Get Cooking! by Sam Stern

Last, but most definitely not least, a cookbook! Possibly my favourite cookbook, too! Sam Stern is a only a teenager, but has published 4 cookbooks already! I guess it helps when your mom is a top-rated chef (Bonnie Stern) but they boy is a prodigy. Every single recipe in this book is better than the next and just looking at the pictures makes me lick my lips and want to eat the pages! I'll refrain from doing that though, I want to try making some real food myself!

25 THINGS I LIKE TO WRITE ABOUT

1. Myself
2. Day-to-Day Experiences
3. Food! ♥
4. 2006 Hyundai Sonatas
5. Current Events
6. Movie Criticisms
7. The Middle East
8. School
9. Crazy experiences
10. Religion, especially Judaism!
11. Music
12. Schedules
13. Lists
14. Anything to Keep Me Organized
15. Texts
16. My Water Polo Games
17. Comparison Essays
18. My Future/What I Want To Do
19. TV Shows
20. Travel Experiences
21. Fun Facts!
22. Research Reports
24. Celebrities
25. Random Political Stories

The World of Rachael

Hello, Rachael here...

This blog was originally used for Grade 11 Media Studies, but is now going through a crazy transformation for Grade 12 Writer's Craft!

So as previously mentioned, my name's Rachael. I'm graduating from Orchard Park Secondary School this year, and am on the senior girls' water polo team.
I like to cook and eat crazy foods (FUN FACT: I once cried at a restaurant because the meal was so beautiful), and travel. I totally embrace my nerdy side and love learning random facts about anything. I appreciate good movies (anything by Richard Kelly is great!) and well-written books.

I'll be updating this blog a lot of fun Writer's Craft stuff, so enjoy!

The New Proposed Driving Laws are More Reckless than the Accidents that Caused It

As of today, a new law was proposed by Dalton McGuinty to target young drivers (ages 16-21). This law includes the following,

-zero blood alcohol level, always
-drivers ages 16-19 are only allowed to drive with one other young driver in the car, with the exception of siblings.
-zero speeding tickets; one ticket and you’re off the road

Personally, I understand the blood alcohol level part of the proposal, and the speeding ticket proposal is a little bit ruthless, but I understand. As for young drivers not being able to drive with more than one ‘teenage’ passenger in the car; I am outraged.

First of all, the government claims they’re working hard to save the environment. Well this law would just backtrack itself, since carpooling is going to be virtually impossible for anyone under the age of 19. Second, it doesn’t make sense that at age 18 you can vote, join the army, be in college or university, etc. But not be able to drive with more than one ‘teen’ passenger in the car. How are you considered an adult and be able to take on tasks that could change the future/safety of your country, but you can’t be trusted driving a car with more than one teen passenger in it? Third, this is an insult to university students. As many choose to go away for school, it’s extremely common to carpool to get back to hometowns, or to extra-curricular events. Also, by third year university (yup, even someone almost out of university can be affected by this law) can’t even go out for a glass of wine with a friend. People ages 20 and 21 aren’t even teenagers anymore, why should they even be considered in this law? Fourth, the economy is bad enough. Carpooling was a great solution to saving money on a new car, or gas. I guess it won’t be any more if this law goes through.

This is an incredibly unrealistic law to pass. If passed, the government will be demanded for refunds for G2 exit tests, parking passes, car insurance, and pay for parking or public transportation fares.

Personally, if this law passes I’m not even going to bother getting by G2. It’s not right that I’m being punished and judged because of my age. Just because some teenagers can be careless doesn’t mean we all are. You don’t pass your G2 driving test by slacking off. You have to work hard for it and deserve it. I don’t see much of a reward anymore.

Thanks, Dove

As random as it is, promoting positive body image is very important to me. When people, mostly girls, tell me things they don’t like about their bodies, I don’t even know how to respond because 99% of the time there’s nothing even wrong with them .


I truly commend Dove for putting together these self-esteem commercials promoting positive body image, and boosting self esteem. Females in today’s society are still taking on such a negative image, and I like to see someone trying to change that.


and my personal favourite Dove ad..

It's Not Just Fast Food

I know you’ve been to one...fast food restaurants like McDonalds, Wendy’s, Harvey’s, Burger King, and all the other thousands out there. In this message, I’d like to represent every teen employee at one of these restaurants. Most fast food employees are between the ages 15-19, and for many of us, it’s our first job, and we do in fact try our hardest. We work for minimum wage, and have to balance school work, a social life, family life, and a work schedule. I don’t understand what possesses full grown adults who should know better to treat teenagers working with such disrespect. Even this evening, working 3:30 to 8:00pm, I had numerous customers act incredibly rude towards me.

Some examples of the ridiculous complaints and actions my co-workers and I have faced:
-we don’t serve multi-grain buns for breakfast, therefore our managers were “stupid”
-we don’t accept $100 bills; I was brutally ridiculed for this one.
-accidently handing out the wrong change, and being intensely yelled at even after accepting responsibility
-not accepting an expired coupon
-having burgers thrown at us in frustration
-being an incompetent employee because we weren’t serving breakfast anymore (lunch at McDonald’s begins at 11:00am. The customer came in at 10:58am asking for 2 hotcake orders, and 2 egg mcmuffins)
-“I thought it was fast food”
-“The computer added up the total wrong”
-being asked if we’ve even graduated high school since we’re working at McDonald’s
And I’ve thousands of other ridiculous complaints.

Now, I know working at a fast food restaurant isn’t the most glamorous job in the world, but someone has to do it. But hearing degrading comments and being treated without respect by customers actually brings us down, and makes us not want to try. Personally, I get thrilled when a customer starts a conversation with me or thanks me for doing a good job. I’m not asking for praise every order I take or for every burger I make, but a simple thank you and a smile is so appreciated. Yes, it is called ‘fast food’ but trust me, it’s not as easy as you think.
Think about it.

Thank you.