RiddleQuest-the first of many.

Onward!  Alas, a plague of riddles is upon us!  I am Sir Saladin, the only knight in the kingdom who has not quested to vanquish this plague.  Maybe, with the help of you, we can conquer it and free the trapped knights!  There will be a rich prize for the one who completes all the riddles!  If you do not want to go along on this perilous journey, then turn back!  If not, onward!

Here comes the first riddle!  Quick, get out your thinking cap!

A window to nothing,

A door to emptiness,

A person not really there -

But I'm round and square.

What am I?

I think we are safe for now…whew!  I know an sage who lives just yonder.  She will know the answer to all the riddles.  We should check with her, so we are sure that that beast won't come back.

The Riddle Quest

I have concocted an ingenious plan!!!
A riddle contest…on here!  As you can see on my title, it will be known as "RiddleQuest".

If you are a riddle lover, or want to win treasure (I just said the magic word), you have to solve all the riddles I post until I officially declare the RiddleQuest over.  At the end of the contest, there will be one SUPERhard riddle that will be the key to winning the contest.  Here is what you have to do to participate:

1. Solve each riddle as I post it.
2. Write the all answers neatly and clearly on a piece of paper (keep it secret and safe so no one can steal your anwers)
3. When the quest is over, put your answer sheet into an envelope.  Label it "RiddleQuest" and put you name on it.
4. You have a three day window to give the RiddleQuest envelope with your name on it to me.
5. After the three day window is over, the winners will be announced.

There will be rules to the RiddleQuest, and if you break them you will be disqualified.

1. You must get 80% of the riddles right to win.
2. Be sure to turn in* you RiddleQuest envelope (with your name on it - you can't win anonymously) within the three day time window.
3. Do NOT share your answers with ANYONE until the quest is over.  I trust you not to!
4. You may not work together with ANYONE (a repeat of #3)

Good luck on you quest…it starts NOW!!!

*If you live outside Granbury, it must be postmarked to me within the three day window.

Musings

After Spending the Night at MawMaw's...
I have increased my scientific knowledge.  You see, there's no point in watching Nick@Nite, because that's when all the reality shows are on.  However, the History, Science, and Discovery channel have all kinds of interesting things on after nine.  What kind of things?  Let me name a few:

• Myth busters (including a Halloween special on the undead)
• Big Dangerous Rockets (Top 20 {includes flying pigs, a steam powered jetpack, and an air borne portapottie})
• A preview for a new series coming out called Futurescape (premiers Tuesday, November 19) which is SO going to be recorded by me.
• Mermaids Uncovered (a extremely unrealistic hour long special - an hour I will unfortunately never get back of my life)
• Uncovering Ancient Secrets (includes the possible evidence that King Tut was murdered, how to figure out if a skeleton is male or female, and retired FBI agents)

Naturally, I watched the Science channel - why not?

Any who, I have been making my point with attempting to post on a regular basis.  I wonder how long it will last?

BIG NEWS in my world (see the all caps for "big news"?  That means BIG news).  I'm NOT going to public school anymore.  Period.  And the crickets chirp.   What the school knows:  my parents randomly pulled me out of school after a two day sick leave.  Fortunately for you, I know a wittle bit more than the school.  What really happened:  my parents saved me from going on an already delayed fieldtrip to let me try out what is called a homeschool co-op.  It is like a part time school (on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) with customized schooling and it's really small.  I felt...welcome.  I've only been there twice and I've already made at least three friends.  It was the happiest I've felt for a long time.

Not that it really matters at this point, but my second report card came in from AMS.  I got all above 95% in all eight classes.  My parents pay me $5 for every above 95%.  It doesn't sound like a lot at first, but that's forty dollars going right to my WiiU fund.  Which is what I am saving up for right now.

Have you ever heard the saying "talking just to hear yourself talk"?  Well  I'm allowed to do it on here, right?  Kinda?

I've writing three books right now.  One is a magic book (fiction) one is a school story (fiction) and one is a diary book (fiction, but based off MEEEEEEE!!!)

Ok, I am done now.  You can stop listening reading now.

Musings

I had a Interesting Morning...
I wake up, get dressed, go back to bed, get up, put in my contacts, and walk out...only to see that there are COWS in my BACKYARD!!!  There were two, probably escaped from a neighboring house.

I got a really cool gift for my birthday: a tree house equipped with a real live zip line!  It's really funny and cool.

So alas the question:  is it safe to zip line with a cow in the vicinity?

I have to go now,
Bye.

P.S.
Comment what you think: to zip line or not to zip line.

Musings and Ads

Hello,
I know it has been (uh….) 29 days since I posted, very sorry about that!  School has been so busy….

Today I am here to post the following ads on here.  I know they are ads, but please read because I think you will finding them interesting.

Spa Heaven! The Place to Be!
Here at spa heaven, we do what you want, when you want it and where to.  We do all spa services:

• 1 Zone massage….50¢.
• 3 Zone massage….$1.50.
• All Zone massage….$4.00.
• Nail filing….25¢.
• Hair brushing….50¢

We also provide pet care:

• Teeth brushing….50¢.

We are located at Matherne Private Resort Bed&Breakfast.  Come and see us today!

Zones are: neck, back, arm (each arm is one zone), leg (each arm is one zone), and feet (each foot is one zone).  Nail filing includes bubble bath soaking and lotion, NO PAINTING!!!  Hair brushing included Spa Heaven Secret Recipe spray and all tangles removed guaranteed.  NO GELLING!!!  Tipping will be appreciated.

Nature at it's Best:  Matherne Private Resort Bed&Breakfast!
Welcome to Matherne B&B!  Here we can provide refreshing spa treatment, with daily music, an all-you-can-eat buffet, a private pool, and nature viewing on all good weather days.  Our nature viewing is complete with a state-of-the-art above-ground deck (with a pulley for phones, cameras, and sketchbooks and comfortable seating).  We also have a free zip lining course.  Please come visit us today!

Bling's-the-Thing

New Set, New Poll, and New Jewelry!
Hiya, Miss Rose here to dazzle you with our new set!  If you don't remember, a set is a specific color that can be found in all departments (pendant, bracelet, and necklace).  Our current sets are Watermelon (coral and lime green), Countywide (red, white and blue), and Rainbow Bliss (All colors*).  But now we have a NEW set!

Pirate Jewel

Support Granbury Pirates by buying this attractive set!  Its colors are purple and gold.  You can order this pendant in anyway you want, and if you want it, we get it.  Available in all departments.

What else is new in Bling's-the-Thing:  We have a new poll coming up: what should be our next set?  Here are the choices:

• Nature's Best - a collection of natural colors, dark green, lime green, and sky blue.
• Machine made by Hand - a collection of modern colors, black, white, and light blue
• Floral Fun - a collection of floral, girly colors, pink, lavender, and purple

Contact me or comment** on THIS post ONCE.  We will not accept more than one vote from the same person.  No votes will accepted after November 1st. Votes will be counted up on November 2st, 2013.  On that same day, we will announce one person who voted.  This person will receive three free items of their choice***.  So vote today!

As promised, new jewelry will be coming in soon!  We hope to come out with a line of rubber band necklaces and bracelets.  We will post again soon with more information!

Bullying

What it Is, How to Stop It, & Other Stuff

Bullying is a Problem: But What is It?

According to Google search (see ‘what is the definition of bullying’) bullying is the “use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants.”  In short, it means that a bully is a person who has a form of power and is abusing it.  A victim is the object of the bully.  This is the person the bully or bullies pick on.  The bystanders are people who are observers (or witnesses) of bullying.  Remember, there is no such thing as an innocent bystander.  There are many different kinds of bullying:

• Physical bullying:  physical bullying is when a bully actually physically hurts you.  Kicking, punching, slapping, hitting, and shoving are all forms of physical bullying.
• Verbal bullying:  this kind of bullying is when the bully uses words to hurt you.  Forms of this bullying are threats, insults, and blackmail.
• Covert bullying:  with this kind of bullying, the bully also uses words to hurt the victim.  The difference between verbal and covert bullying is the bully uses gossip instead of blackmail and insults to hurt the victim.
• Cyber bullying: this is a difficult form of bullying to deal with.  The bully uses electronic devices (phones, computers, tablets, etc.) to bully.  They may do this through blog posts, texts, emails, or other forms of communication.  It is very hard to track down cyber bullies.

Remember that if you said something back, it isn’t bullying: it’s a conflict.

What are the Causes and Effects of Bullying?

There are many reasons kids bully.  Perhaps the bully does not have a good at-home life; they may have been abused as a child.  It may be hard to believe, but sometimes the bully doesn’t actually know they are bullies.  A victim is usually a smaller, less-popular kid.  He or she probably don’t have many friends.  As for bystanders, if you didn’t take action, you’re guilty.  Why wouldn’t someone take action?  They may be scared of being bullied themselves, or worried about not being in the popular group.  They might not actually know how to help.

What should you do if you you see someone being bullied?  If you are too scared or don’t know how to stand up, talk to an adult - maybe your parents, guardians, or a teacher.

How does bullying affect kids like you?  It makes kids have a low self-esteem, and it can lead to bad grades.  For the bully, it can lead to an inflated self-esteem.  The bystander may be left feeling guilty.  Remember that if you didn’t stand up, you are guilty.

Our Program (and maybe yours)

There are many different kinds of bullying, and many different programs to put a stop to it.  Here is one thought of by four 6th graders at Acton Middle School, Granbury TX.

The SIBIS Project:

This is a program specifically designed to be used in middle schools.  “SIBIS” stands for “Stop-It-Before-It-Starts”.  It should stop current, semi-future, and future bullying.  Our logo, the star, represents the five parts of the SIBIS project:

• Part 1: Make help boxes in the cafeteria, outside the building, or in the bathrooms - try to make it a somewhat private place so kids using the help boxes can do so in privacy.
• Part 2: Talk to current students about bullying.  Stress the difference between conflict and bullying and also what the different kinds of bullying looks like.  It would help if the speakers were also students from that school rather than adults.
• Part 3:  Put up posters to remind students to speak up when they see bullying.  If your school has an art class, perhaps they could make these posters.
• Part 4:  Talk to future students (especially fifth graders) about bullying.  This will get Stop-It-Before-It-Starts’ information in their heads before they come to your school.
• Part 5...has already been done.  Make a website with information about bullying, the SIBIS Project, with links/books we found helpful, and videos with interviews (such as we did)  If your school has a technical applications class, they could perhaps make another website and update it.

Volunteering

There are many ways you can volunteer for SIBIS (if your school uses it or your are at Acton Middle School)  If you don’t know how to volunteer, here are some ways you can:

• making posters
• updating the website (or making one)
• talking to students (current or future)
• making help boxes
• fundraiser

Here is an interview with AMS school counselor D. D. Loftin.

Our Interview with D.D. Loftin, M.ED., LPC:

Interviewer:  What is your opinion towards bullying?

D. D. Loftin:  It’s been going on a really long time.

I:  If the school put you in charge of stopping AMS bullying right now, what would you do first?

D:  Educate people.  That is what we are trying to do now with Rachel’s challenge.

I:  How have you dealt with bullying in the past?

D:  Talk to the bully.  Talk to the victim.  Warn the bullying that punishment will only get worse.  Put the victim in a place of power.

I:  Anything else you would like us to know about bullying?

D:  We have done a better job of dealing with bullying here at AMS now more than ever.  Programs like Rachel’s Challenge are helpful.

Check out these links to find more information on bullying.

www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/index.html

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/bullies.html

http://pbskids.org/itsmylige/friends/bullies/

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/bullying_factsheet-a.pdf