I love thee, I love thee

November 14, 2015 - Eternity

A year ago today, my brother made a vow that would last a lifetime. He was blessed to marry his childhood sweetheart. Only at 14 years of age, they knew it was love at first sight. But how could one be so certain, so young? I guess when you know, you know. Love is funny that way. Sometimes, people find themselves searching and searching until one day, it smacks you in the face (figuratively speaking).
Short distance and long distance, their love prevailed for ten years before tying the knot. It is often rare to see relationships survive for so long given the circumstances. Some say that everyone needs time to find themselves before finding the right person. Well, this theory has been debunked! James and Dillon found themselves within each other. They not only grew up together but they grew in love. I have never met a more fitting couple, complementing each other in ways you would only see in the movies.

In June of 2014, my brother proposed in a garden memorialized for William Shakespeare; a true romantic! One of his poems recites,

I love thee, I love thee 

With a love that shall not die 

Til the sun grows cold

And the stars grow old.   

This quote will forever cause me to think of the love that my brother and, now, sister-in-law share...til the sun grows cold and the stars grow old. 

Vocabulary:
figuratively (adjective) - not real, symbolic
prevailed (verb) - to win or succeed
tying the knot (verb phrase) - to get married
debunked (verb) - to prove wrong
complementing (verb) - to add to or make complete
romantic (noun) - an expression of love
recites (verb) - to state

Vocabulary Exercise: Using the vocabulary above, complete the word search.

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Grammar Point: Many poems often entail words that rhyme. Rhyming is usually indicated when word endings sound the same. For example, cold and old  sound the same. Therefore, they rhyme. Using this knowledge, think of 3 words that rhyme with love. 

Running: Creating a Positive Experience

Running was never something I was ever too fond of. In fact, I dreaded it! Hearing the word “mile run” in gym class or at a sports clinic made me cringe. There was just something about it. I guess it was the way running made me feel. Every time I would run, I felt like my heart was beating out of my chest! Other times, my legs would suddenly feel limp or I would get a cramp in my belly. “How could so many people love this?” I thought.

It was only recently that my experience of running converted. I wouldn’t say that I have a reinvigorated LOVE for it, but my negative viewpoint has changed to one that is more positive. I can now say that sometimes I enjoy a nice run on a brisk day. Beginning to live a healthier lifestyle caused me to educate myself in different aspects of well-being. I figured I should start by working on my running abilities.

After doing some research, I found that runners actually have to follow a proper posture (maybe that’s why I was always achy). A runner also has to be aware of the placement of their foot when it hits the floor. If one focuses on landing on the middle part of their foot, the chances of getting injured is decreased.

Having this knowledge allowed me to improve my ability to run. In the past, I wouldn’t even make it a mile before I began gasping for air. Now, I can run three! It is crazy to see what a little hard work, perseverance, and some education can do. Next time you find yourself in a predicament, think to yourself, “how can I make this a more positive experience?”

Vocabulary

Fond (adjective) – having a liking for

Dread (verb) – to anticipate with fear

Cringe (verb) – to bend one’s body in fear

Limp (adjective) – without strength or energy

Converted (verb) – changed

Reinvigorated (adjective) – renewed  

Perseverance (noun) – determination

Predicament (noun) – conflict

Vocabulary Exercise: Unscramble the given vocabulary word.

1. I was never too ________ (ndof) of running.

2. A sense of _________ (raedd) would fill me whenever I thought of running.

3. The idea of running a mile would make me _________ (egrinc).

4. Running often made my legs feel ________ (mill).

5. My views of running __________ (nervctoed) once I started living healthier.

6. Some might say that my love for running was ______________ (igedtorreinv).

7. I order to succeed, one must have ______________ (anceseveerp). 

8. When in a ____________ (caidmentpre), try to see the positive side!

Grammar Point: The Past Tense. Verbs in the past tense describe actions that have already been completed. These verbs typically have an -ed ending. Some examples seen above are dreaded, converted, reinvigorated. Using this knowledge, please compose 3 sentences describing actions that you have completed in the past.

Keeping the Balance; Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health

Usually when someone refers to being healthy, they think of being physically in good shape. Well this is not the only case of well-being. In order to have overall health, one must have physical, mental, and emotional wellness. But what does this all mean? How is this obtainable?

To acquire physical wellness, one must maintain physical health (such as not getting sick or injured) and participate in physical activity. Some activities include playing for a sports team or going to the gym. A person with good emotional wellness is able to constructively deal with their feelings and have a positive self-concept. Typically, those with good emotional well-being are very optimistic and determined. They often portray themselves in a confident manner.

Defining mental wellness may be confusing being that there are so many parts. Some include being intellectual, interpersonal relations, and a sense of spirituality. Intellect can be referred to as having common sense. So, if someone told you to go jump off of a cliff, would you do it? Answering a question like this would indicate if you have common sense or not. I hope you all answered “no”…

Having interpersonal relations means that one is able to make and keep friends. This requires being a good listener, supportive, and friendly! So, cheering up a friend when they are down or saying a friendly hello to someone would all be indicators of positive interpersonal relations. The spiritual may refer to one’s religion but not in all cases. It can also mean having a set of beliefs, morals, and values.

As seen, there are many components involved when achieving overall wellness. It is so important to try your best to balance each aspect in order to live a healthier, happier life. My motto is, “a positive attitude = a positive life.” There is nothing we can’t do if we set our minds to it. So, in times of struggle, give it your all, push through, and stay determined. Life is what you make it so let’s make it a good one and stay healthy!

Vocabulary:

acquire (verb) – obtain or achieve

constructively (adverb) – positively or helpfully

concept (noun) – an idea

optimistic (noun) – hopeful

intellectual (adjective) – smart

interpersonal (noun) – relating to relationships

common sense (noun) - ability to make good decisions 

indicate (verb) – to show

components (noun) – parts

Vocabulary Exercise: Complete the crossword puzzle using the above vocabulary.

Grammar Point: The above passage has many cases where it uses commas to separate multiple ideas. An example is "Being healthy means having physical, mental, and emotional well-being." As seen, the structure of the sentence entails separating the words physical, mental, and emotional by commas. Commas are used in this way when combining three or more things. Another example would be "I like to swim, dance, and skii."  Having this knowledge, please compose 3 sentences using commas to combine three or more ideas when referring to your health. 

Deaf Culture

Deaf culture is essentially a community that is brought together through the association of deafness and the use of American Sign Language, otherwise abbreviated as ASL. When I was in college, I received the opportunity to intern at an institution that embraced this culture with open arms. This place is called Helen Keller National Center. For those of you who do not know who Helen Keller is, she was the first blind-deaf person to earn a Bachelor of Arts. She was quite brilliant especially given her limitations. The one thing I love about her story is that she never gave up. She pushed herself to stay determined in her studies and really tried her best to reach her full potential. Her success has been shared in schools across the world. In effect, she proves to be a role model to many. Helen Keller National Center praises her accomplishments and declares a mission to assist others who are apart of the culture. One of many classes held at this center is American Sign Language. This is a language that is communicated through the movement of one’s hands. Personally, I find this to be one of the most beautiful languages. When communicating, it appears as though one’s hands are performing their own dance routine, one act after the other. It is simply mesmerizing to watch. During my stay, I had the most amazing experience. I was not only able to learn a little bit of ASL but also to gain a different perspective on this culture.

Vocabulary:

association (noun) – a connection or link

abbreviated (verb) – to shorten

intern (noun) – a student who works to gain experience

institution (noun) – a place with a particular purpose

Bachelor of Arts (noun) – a college degree in liberal arts

potential (noun) – abilities that lead to future success

mesmerizing (verb) – to hold the attention of

perspective (noun) – a point of view

Vocabulary Exercise:

1. association                                          a. a student who works to gain experience

2. abbreviate                                           b. a college degree in liberal arts

3. intern                                                  c.to hold the attention of

4. institution                                           d. to shorten

5. Bachelor of Arts                                 e. abilities that lead to future success

6. potential                                              f. a connection or link

7. mesmerizing                                       g. a point of view

8. perspective                                          h. a place with a particular purpose

Grammar Point: A proper noun is a name used for an individual person, place, or organization. Proper nouns are always spelled with initial capital letters. The passage above has a few examples such as Helen Keller, Helen Keller National Center, and American Sign Language. Please list 6 proper nouns. Use each listed noun within a complete sentence.

"Braciola"

One meal typical to the Italian culture is known as "braciola," often served in accompaniment of pasta and homemade tomato sauce. This Sunday necessity entails a large thinly sliced piece of meat, stuffed with goodness and all tied up. Coming from an Italian family, we don't typically give out our recipes but before I start salivating...here's what you need:

Ingredients:
1                  Beef "top round cut for braciola"
1/2 cup        Bread crumbs
1/2 cup        Grated cheese
1/4 cup        Plum tomatos (in pieces)
4                  Eggs
2                  Scallions (chopped)
1/8 cup        Golden Raisins
1/8 cup        Pignoli Nuts
dash             Pepper
3 leaves       Basil (chopped)
24 inches     Cooking string
2 tbsp           Olive Oil
1 can          Tomato Sauce

Directions:
It is important to initially prepare your ingredients. I advise to first hard boil 2 of the eggs so that once they are finished, they can be placed aside to cool off before using. Cut the tomatoes in pieces, chop the scallions, and the basil. This will allow for better organization once the ingredients are needed. The "main act" of this dish is the stuffing. It is actually quite simple. To begin, combine the bread crumbs, cheese, tomato pieces, 2 eggs, and half of the chopped scallions. Mix until all components are integrated into a moist consistency. Then, add the raisins, pignoli nuts, basil and pepper. Mix again. Place the meat on a dish where it is easily accessible... and get ready to get dirty! Lay the stuffing mixture directly in the center of the cut meat. Once all of the stuffing is placed down, cut the hard boiled eggs in half and lay them on top of the stuffing mixture. Grab the sides of the meat and fold them over the mixture, making sure that none of the stuffing is sticking out. Take the cooking string and wrap the meat in a circular motion, tying the ends together.

I advise washing your hands before continuing.

Take out a large pot, add remaining scallions and olive oil, bringing the heat to a medium flame. Add the braciola to the pot and sear. Once browned, add the sauce and bring to a boil.
After this step is completed, take the cooked meat out and place it on a plate where it cool. After about 5 minutes, slice the meat vertically so that the resulting shape is one similar to circles. Douse in tomato sauce.

BUON APPETITO!


Vocabulary:
accompaniment (noun) - something that compliments something else
salivating (verb) - to secrete saliva in anticipation of food
"main act" (noun) - the most important part
integrated (verb) - combined
consistency (noun) - the way a substance holds together
douse (verb) - to pour over in large amounts
buon appetito (phrase) - Meaning " have a good eat" in the Italian language

Vocabulary Exercise:
Use this word puzzle to look for the above vocabulary words.

Grammar Point:

Most recipe instructions are written in imperative form. This means that the sentences are composed in a commanding manner. Some examples include, "Cut the tomatoes" or "Mix the ingredients." Notice, there is no specified subject in either of these sentences. There is an imaginary, implied "You" that the command is being directed to. Using this knowledge please compose four sentences in the imperative form.  

The Love of Cooking

Growing up, I was always in the kitchen with my grandmother. Many profess, “My grandma is the best cook!” Well, this statement is definitely validated once tasting any of my grandmother’s savory dishes. She just has an innate way of combining ingredients that simply makes your taste buds explode! Eating food that good makes it very hard to stop. It feels as though each piece is screaming, “Eat me! Eat me!” as if your stomach is a bottomless pit, being stuffed “to infinity and beyond!” 

My whole life, I have attempted to recreate her wonderful recipes but I could never produce an exact replica. Often times I have thought, “It’s good, but it’s not like grandma’s.” I’ve realized that I have been missing a fundamental ingredient: love. Every dish my grandmother creates is made out of affection. She doesn’t cook to flaunt her abilities but to nourish the bodies of her loved ones. Creating her masterpieces signifies a particular message. Each meal is like a love letter that expresses all the warmth and happiness she feels when she thinks of us, wrapped up, and sealed with perfection. To my grandmother, feeding our family is her art. It is her modality used to explore her creativity and most importantly, share her passion.

Vocabulary:

validate (verb) - to prove correct

savory (adjective) - having a pleasant taste or smell

innate (adjective) - natural

“To infinity and beyond!” (prepositional phrase) - a quote from the movie Toy Story; going past the thinkable world

replica (noun) - copy

fundamental (adjective) - necessary, important

flaunt (verb) - to show off

nourish (verb) - provide food for growth and health

signifies (verb) - to mean something
modality (noun) - mode, way

Vocabulary Exercise: Match the correct vocabulary word to its definition. 

1. validate                                                           a. provide food for growth and heath

2. savory                                                             b. copy

3. innate                                                              c. mode, way

4. to infinity and beyond                                     d. to mean something

5. replica                                                             e. having a pleasant taste or smell

6. fundamental                                                    f. natural

7. flaunt                                                               g. going past the thinkable world

8. nourish                                                            h. to show off

9. signifies                                                           i. to prove correct

10. modality                                                        j. necessary, important

Grammar Point: Quotations represent words spoken, or written, by someone typically other than the writer. The passage above uses this literary technique often. For example: Many profess, “My grandma is the best cook!”  There are a few important grammar points to keep in mind when writing a sentence with a quotation. Notice, a comma is placed before the opening quotation mark, the sentence within the quotation marks starts with a capital letter, and the punctuation is placed before the ending quotation mark. Using this knowledge, please properly compose four sentences with quotations.

Watercolor Painting

Watercolor is a particular medium that artists use to paint with. It comes in many shapes and sizes. It may be seen in tube, pan, liquid and pencil form. Since this medium is water-based, it is often harder to control unlike other media such as a pen or pencil. One might find this to be a freeing experience; letting the water splatter and create the unexpected.  Other users might find comfort in structure causing this medium to be irksome. It is found that the more water added, the more difficult the paint is to manage. A large addition of water may also effect the paper used, making it particularly important to have durable watercolor paper. When experimenting with watercolor, it is noticed how the amount of water also changes the value of the hue used. For example, one may start with a beautiful cobalt blue. As more and more water is added, that blue turns into a hue similar to the sky on a clear summers day. In this case, the use of water allows the artist to depict colors comparable to the deep blue of the ocean as well as the airy light blue of the sky.  Although this medium may be laborious, when mastered, it has the ability to illustrate a beautiful masterpiece with fluidity, movement, and wonderful value scales. 

Vocabulary

medium (noun) -- a material used to create artwork 

water-based (adjective) -- composed of or including water

irksome (adverb) -- bothersome, annoying

durable (adjective) -- sturdy, long lasting

value (noun) -- lightness or darkness of a color

hue (noun) -- a color

laborious (adjective) -- requiring hard work, difficult

masterpiece (noun) -- an artist's best work 

Vocabulary Exercise: Fill in the blank with the correct vocabulary word.

1. Watercolor is a ___________ that many people find ___________ and ___________.

2. Having ___________ paper is very important when creating a successful watercolor painting.

3. Cobalt blue is a  ___________ very similar to that of the ocean.

4. Adding water to a color allows the artist to change its ___________.

5. As noticed in its name, watercolor is a ___________ material.

6. When an artist creates a beautiful piece of artwork, it is called a ___________.

Grammar Point: Adjectives are words that describe nouns. There are a few adjectives in the vocabulary list above as well as in the passage such as wonderful, beautiful, airy. Think of four adjectives on your own and write a complete sentence using each word.