Depression

Im stuck in the shadows until you appear,

Ill wait till you're on the verge of your tears

When someone dies, or tells terrible lies

Ill be there to consume you, if you let me inside

You climb my walls, and try to get out

But my walls are infinite, nothing you can mount

Scratching the ground will give you bloody nails

You can't dig through the words that bring you down

Your friends, your family joins  the fun

As well as the schoolwork you haven't done

They love the sensation, of high expectations

All you can do, is slowly chase them

You can't outrun me, can't escape me

For you are human and I Roam your dreams

You imagine a tsunami, killing your family 

You're trapped by the paranoia of it happening 

No-one can help you now

For I make sure no-one finds out 

I plant these ideas in your mind

To end it, once and for all

Just free yourself from the misery

The future, the mystery 

I'll teach you a lesson

For I am depression

You know, I hate those good memories

And dreadful  savories

That ruin my plans

To say you can't 

When in reality my walls can be breached

With one big leap and a big trampoline 

And the bad dreams can be just memories 

Replaced by the future and great mysteries

"Just Keep Swimming!"

Swimming is not as easy as it looks, especially competitively on a team! Focusing on ONLY the freestyle stroke, here is what you need to know! Whether its keeping your cap and googles on when you dive in, or timing the moment when you flip turn, having the correct form, or just simply breathing ( *cough *cough*)! 

When you dive in, form is key! If you dive in incorrectly, "belly-flopping" is the most common effect. Belly-flopping is when the front of the body hits flat on a surface; in this case, water. This is very painful, especially when you have to swim with the after-math. I would say, it's like a sunburn that slaps you. 

Another key effect of diving in is the loss goggles and caps. You may not dive in incorrectly, but your cap/googles may fall off, and you'd have to swim with chlorine( if swimming chlorinated  pool) in your eyes! Many swimmers can relate to the stinking sensation! Swimming without goggles can lead you to swim into the wall, or run into the lane-lines. Also, the sting stays with you so it's best to keep eyedrops on you!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9eaJ8u99A3c 
-some people who made the mistake of belly- flopping!

Timing the right moment to flip turn is difficult! Flip- turning is when a swimmer approaches a wall, does a front- flip, and pushes off the wall with both feet. It sounds simple, but is complicated. To do a correct flip turn, it is best to start flipping within 2- meters of the wall. If you flip too early, the "push"off the wall wouldn't be as strong as it should be. If you flip too late, you end up bumping the wall with your butt, or injuring your ankles. A perfect flip-turn can be the difference from winning and losing a race!

Most swimmers have a breathing pattern when they swim. Most beginning swimmers breathe every two strokes because of the strenuous work-out. Some breathe every three strokes, some four, and some even five! When a swimmer exhales, they do so under water, with their nose.  When it's time to inhale, the swimming turns their head to breathe when they reach their stroke count. Let's assume that a swimmer breathes every four strokes.  The swimmer could hold their breathe for one stroke, exhale for two strokes, and come up to exhale on the fourth stroke.

Having the correct form is very important for speed and avoiding injuries. The correct swimming technique differs for different strokes. When you swim freestyle, one should kick with their legs slightly bent, but not like a bicycle. The arms should go up,one after another  over the swimmers shoulder and down when they swim. When the arms are underwater, they " pull" the water.  Pulling and kicking is essential for maximum speed. You can perfect each skill by using a buoy for pulling, or a kick board for kicking. 

Swimming may not be easy, but is very fun! Not to mention it's an incredible workout! 

The Chinese New Year !!

Chinese New Year is around the corner! The biggest and most important day of the year is coming up and it calls for celebrations, cleaning, and bonding! Some traditions like the tet festival and the dragon dance has been passed down from generations. 

A tradition that is practiced for the Chinese New Year is the dragon dance. The dragons scare away evil spirits and they bring good luck. Some dragons can range from a few meters to 100 long! The dragons symbolize the storm clouds and life-giving rain. As they preform and dance to the crowds, people would occasionally "feed" the dragons.

 

The Chinese New Year is a family holiday. Families get together, sacrifice to the gods, and eat. The tet festival is one place they could get together to watch the dragons dance and preform. Also, it is custom for elders to give money to the young for good luck and health for future generations of the family. 

All around the world, you can find celebrations such as the tet festivals and dragon dances.  Come along with your family to celebrate! The new year starts Feb. 19,2015!  

Growing Up

There is a time for everything, and it's time to grow up

They're all waiting for you and your suitcases

Their love has shrunk, no hugs or kisses,

but at least  you have someone

Who misses your appearance.

I don't want her to leave, I want her to stay

My sweet little child is going away

No, I must act strong

No hugs or kisses 

she must grow up on her own

Oh! How I miss how she was once small.

You're going away on your 19th birthday

You start to feel nervous

Your parents wave goodbye as they release a small sigh

"You'll make it through college in no time" they relay

But sometimes it's better to have nothing to replay

When all you remember is what you didn't do, nor didnt say, that day

If only she had said more than "goodbye"

I would have told the truth- that I wanted her to stay

Oh! I'd die if I don't see her again!

She is my child, at least in my eyes

Saying that she'll go grow up, is a bunch of lies

To think im coming back home tomorrow

Who knew I'd grow up so fast 

No faces, nor texts, on the day I arrive,

Too late, I see, my family has died

Who knew they were driving in such a hurry

To see my face again, now  not able

My eyes fill with tears, and my vision becomes blurry

How am I supposed to be mentally stable?

It's cold- No I'm cold, and I'll forever stay this way

Perhaps I sped too fast to see her again

The sweet little child that will never regain

The same love that I've given to ease her pain

This is not what I wanted, it's not what I meant

When I said "I'll die if I don't see her face again."

Now,I must grow up once again

But I know I'd be lying

If I said I knew how to keep going

But all I know is-

I want to cry

So I guess I'll stop growing and go back in time

To when I was a child, and my mom was alive

WaterPolo

Waterpolo

Waterpolo is a competitive and aggressive competitive sport that involves swimming, and scoring goals. With seven players in the pool ( including the goalie, each team competes to score the most goals. However, the game only consists of four quarters ( 7minutes each for varsity and 5 minutes each for jv). Women play in a 25m x 20m pool, and men play in a 30m x 20m pool.

Fundamentals ~

To play fundamental waterpolo, one swims head up and egg-beats to tread water.  Egg-beating is a simple motion, in which one leg moves in circular motions while the other leg goes in the opposite direction. Being able to egg beat is one of the most important things to learn before going on the field. When you catch a ball, you must only use ONE hand ( not including the goalie).

The Water-Polo Ball~ 

Some may say that waterpolo is played with a volleyball because of the ball's size and shape. However, a water polo ball is slightly heavier and is hard to hit ( or to be hit by). The men's waterpolo ball is also clearly bigger than a volleyball.

Rules- A typical game consists of two refs. that call a foul or an ejection. Fouls are usually minor, and the defender must back off of the offense. A player has no limit of fouls they can make. An ejection is a serious offense such as hurting a player on purpose.  If one gets an ejection, they must go to the ejection box. If a player gets three ejections, the player is no longer able to play for the rest of the game.

Positions and lines-

There are six positions that surround the goal in a rectangular shape. The set, and the three outer players are the most necessary players in a game. The two players closest and to the side of the goals usually stay for rebounds. The three inner players are set up by the two meter mark which is a red line, and the upper three positions are near the five meter line.

Playing waterpolo is not exactly the easiest sport out there,  but playing on a team, and having fun makes it the best sport I can ever think of playing.

Source

http://www.usawaterpolo.org/resources/understanding-the-game.html

Guitars and It's Perks

The guitar

The guitar is an international instrument that plays beautiful harmonies. With the six strings that it has (and sometimes twelve) , you can play an amazing amount of songs! You can play a variety of electric guitars, or play one in the traditional type. The cords are plucked or strummed all around the world today, warming people's hearts with the melody, or sending them to jump with excitement.

The oldest guitar-like instrument known is called the Tanbur, and was originated in Mesopotamia, Southern or Central Asia. It was owned by an Egyptian named Harmose. The three string instrument can be found today in the Archeological Museum in Cairo.

A guitar for beginners

When you start out playing, you can either play an electric, acoustic, or both, but what is the best guitar to start with? If you play an acoustic guitar, pressing down the strings may be difficult for weak fingers.

       On the other hand,  the electric guitar has thinner strings, thus making it easier to do so.  In addition, the electric guitar has a long neck, which is easier to handle when playing, and the sliding of position of the hand is easier too.   If you want to join a band, consider the electric as your go-to instrument.     

            Although this may be true, the acoustic guitar is more portable, and costs less because of the lack of an amplifier. If you want to be a song writer, the acoustic is perfect.

The traditional guitar 

Acoustic guitars are played with a softer and deeper melody. With brass string guitars, which are made since the 1900's, the ability to play loudly without the amplification of an electric guitar is possible.  The prices for an acoustic range from fifty to thousands of dollars according to http://www.guitarcenter.com/Acoustic-Guitar-Guitar.gc .

The electric guitar

The electric guitar can be used for more high pitched songs, as well as more advanced songs. Players in a band typically use an electric guitar. The price range for an electric guitar ranges from a hundred to thousands of dollars according to 

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Electric-Guitar-Guitar.gc .

 

Buying your first guitar can be pricy, but in the long run, playing the guitar can award you with the hearts of the people around you, and maybe earn you some cash from being in a band or just playing alone.

Warning: playing the guitar is very addicting and fun.

Sources:

• http://www.guyguitars.com/eng/handbook/BriefHistory.html

• http://blog.jamplay.com/common-questions/92-acoustic-vs-electric-what-guitar-is-best-for-a-beginner

• www.guitarcenter.com

Christmas shopping O-O

Christmas. It's just a matter of time till everyone tackles you for the present that you'd didn't get them. Oh! How I love the Christmas spirit. The special drinks at Starbucks, the snow that you see elsewhere, and the presents. Right, the presents that you dismissed yourself from getting.

The thing about presents is, at least for me, is looking for something that person would like... But everyone knows dreams and wishes aren't cheap. So you settle with a gift card BUT you think to yourself and wonder if you're being too inconsiderate. I mean, it's the thought that counts right? NOPE! For me, I don't want my present to be thrown out or kept in the back of the garage. I need to find a unicorn. YES.

Maybe, I could wish for snow, like the kids do in those movies. I could learn how to fly and just throw piles of ice down right? It's pretty much the same thing to me. I could also read someone's mind and give them snow because some dreams have to be made. You can have anything you want! But you have to build it! With what you ask? You guessed it! SNOW! Just let it snow dreams.

Alright, maybe frozen cold liquid isn't the best choice.. But you know, I think I'll just give candy to everyone. If they don't like candy, they can give it to their dentist. He/she would be glad to accept the sugar.. right? Maybe they can even wrap it up again after a bite or two and give it to someone else. Half a candy bar isn't that noticeable!

Alright, alright, alright. Ill tell you now. DO NOT. Do not learn not learn how to fly and throw ice down at me. Ice hurts people.Second, do not give your dentist candy. You will never see sweet skittles again. Last but not least, find and buy a magical being as soon as possible. A unicorn, a mermaid, a bunny.Wait. Bunnies aren't magical? Or are they ??? A bunny! Buy one and give one to everyone you know. Trust me, as someone you can't trust. Buy one for everyone.

Why you ask? Because magical things are what we humans want the most. Right?