A Day of Volunteering at Hillside Park

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Hi! Today I’m going to be recapping my day volunteering with Keep Durham Beautiful.

We started off by making posters about various topics, like waste management and water pollution. I decided to make a poster about water conservation. After about an hour of coloring, tracing, drawing, and erasing, I was finally done. The final product looked amazing. I was super proud of my poster and really enjoyed making it.

After that, we all loaded onto the buses to go to Hillside Park. After a short ride, we arrived, and we all grabbed gloves and safety vests. We gathered around to listen to a couple of volunteers tell us about the history of Hillside Park. We learned interesting facts like that Hillside Park High School was built there in 1922. It was the first high school in Durham to serve black students. We learned that it had an incredibly important legacy, so it was really important to keep it clean.

Next, we all get into groups of three and start planting trees. I work on carefully removing the sapling from the pot it’s in whilst the other two girls in my group work on digging the hole. We’re the second group to finish, our tree safely secured in the ground. Unfortunately, at this point, it starts raining, sheets of water soaking our hair and clothes. Cold and wet, we drag our shovels back to the truck. After that, we collect other groups’ tools, allowing them to finish the final steps of planting their trees whilst we take care of their equipment.

Finally, we go back to the bus, shivering from the frosty air. I could tell that a lot of people regretted not wearing raincoats. It was hard work, and a true test of our mettle, but we persevered. It was an incredible experience, and it taught us the value of hard work. I’m really glad we had the opportunity to participate in this project.

Horseback Riding Camp

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Hi! This is a story about how I got a concussion while horseback riding.

Over the summer, I went to a horseback riding camp. We would tack up and ride our horses in the morning and clean tack in the afternoon. My favorite horses were named Raven and Maximus. Raven was sweet and gentle, while Maximus was easy to ride, but quick to get scared.

My instructor told me I would be riding Maximus that day. The other girls were riding Raven, a well-behaved chestnut named Heidi, and a temperamental bay named Paddy. We get tacked up, mount our horses, and ride up to the field. My instructor warns us that horses are more likely to spook in the field.

With that, we start riding around, trotting at a brisk pace. The girl on Heidi shouts, “Race you down the hill!” We canter down behind her and stop at the bottom. My horse pauses for water, and I watch as the others race back up the slope. They stop at the top, chatting with one another about their horses while I trot Maximus back up. The girl on Raven suggests we race again, and the girl on Heidi quickly agrees.

We start cantering down the hill yet again. Suddenly, Maximus is galloping, bucking wildly as he whinnies. I catch a glimpse of Paddy bucking as I grab fistfuls of hair in an attempt to hold on. A yell lodges in my throat as I’m thrown into the air. There’s half a second where I’m pressed against his side, holding on for dear life as sweat slathers his flank. Then, in the blink of an eye, I’m on the ground.

My vision goes fuzzy, my breath sucked from my body. I hear my trainer’s voice, but it sounds distant. I’m acutely aware that my helmet’s visor has broken, and that my head throbs like it’s been run over by an elephant. A scream finally escapes, ten seconds late. I’m confused, looking for my trainer. Spots flare in my vision as I try to sit up. Slumping limply, I turn my head to see my trainer crouching over the girl who was on Paddy, the girl screaming that she can’t breathe over and over. Her yells slice through my mind like steel, and I wince. Turning my head, I see Maximus and Paddy cantering down the hill towards Heidi. The girl on Raven has dismounted, leading her away from the chaos. The girl on Heidi panics, hyperventilating as her horse takes control, calmly trotting away from the chaos. The girl continues to sob hysterically, dropping her reins and clinging to Heidi’s neck.

My trainer is on the phone, but I can’t hear much through the ringing in my ears. My vision goes blurry, spots glaring brightly. The girl who was on Raven is comforting the girl on Heidi, holding her horse while she panics. My trainer puts her phone away, helping the other girl stand up. The other two trainers come running up, one of them rushing to calm Maximus and Paddy while the other comes towards me. She helps me sit up and asks how I feel. For some reason, I say that I’m fine, and after testing me for a concussion, she believes me.

She takes me down to the lounge, and I eat a popsicle while I wait for my parents to arrive.

After going to the doctor, we found out I did indeed have a concussion. So, in case anyone was wondering, that’s why I lease Raven instead of Maximus. I think it was for the best that it worked out this way, since Raven is the sweetest pony I could have asked for. Anyway, that was my third time falling off, and it was also when I learned that you’re supposed to get a new helmet every time you fall off. Hopefully, I don’t get another concussion anytime soon.

Snow Day Post #2

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Hi! We just got hit with yet another snowstorm, and, honestly, I’m happy to have the snow, but I’m getting a little sick of doing remote learning days.

On an unrelated note, this is the first snow day we’ve had in a while that’s actually snow and not just sleet and ice. For the first time in forever, I could make a snowman, go sledding, have a snowball fight, etc. It was a great change of pace.

Anyway, after playing in the snow, I decided to make a marshmallow cake. It’s safe to say I failed miserably. I filled a glass tin with Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Cream and chocolate bars. Next, I stuck it in the microwave…for five minutes. When it came out, it was charred, but it tasted really good. Kind of like a burnt s’more. The cleanup was horrendous, though.

I’m still not sure how I managed to burn it. I probably never will be. In fact, the only thing I learned from this experience was to never microwave marshmallows. Other than that debacle, my day was pretty great.

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

Mario Kart World Review

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Hi! This is a review of the new Mario Kart game for Switch 2. I love this game, and I’m so excited to share it with you.

I love this game, and it’s so much fun to play with your friends! The outfits are super cute, and the new game mechanics are awesome. I love being able to drive on walls, roam around this well-developed world, and do knockout tours solo or with friends.

There are so many small details that make the world building incredible, such as stars falling from the sky and NPCs reacting when you go past them. In particular, I love that towns aren’t built around the race track and are instead filled with winding roads and easter eggs. Also, the inclusion of the restaurants and the detail that each one serves a different type of food really makes it seem thoughtful.

The level designs are enchanting, and the variety of obstacles still astounds me. It’s an incredible experience, and I recommend it to both new and returning players. The character models and gameplay show such intricate attention to detail. Overall, I’m really impressed by this game.

That being said, I do wish a couple of the features were more intuitive, such as the ability to drive on walls. I know this is a small thing and very persnickety of me, but I could see it making it hard for new players (or returning ones!) to unlock the full potential of this game.

All in all, this is a great game. I think you should play it at least once, since it’s an innovative spin on the classic Mario Kart game. Even if racing games aren’t your cup of tea, you should give them a shot.

Snow Day

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Hi! There’s been a lot of snow recently, at least here on the East Coast of America. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed my days off from school. That being said, the icy roads and cold conditions have caused a lot of problems for a lot of people. While I’ve been relatively unaffected, I haven’t been able to ride for the past three weeks due to the cold and snow.

Yesterday I was scheduled for a riding lesson, and when I got there, I was informed that we would just be brushing and feeding our horses, and that we wouldn’t be riding. So, I went and got my horse from the field, brought her down to the barn, and brushed her. I noticed that she had thrush on one of her feet, so I went to get the spray only to find it was frozen solid.

Annoyed, I left it under the headlamp and decided to go into the tack room and clean her tack while I waited for it to thaw, only to find the door crusted with ice. I heaved it open on my third try, only to realize that the power was out, which meant the room was doused in darkness. Abandoning that endeavor, I went to check if the thrush spray had unfrozen yet. Unfortunately, it was not even close. I decided to go ask my instructor what I should do, and she responded that it was fine and that I should just take my horse back up to the pasture.

Disgruntled that I had wasted so much time, I took my horse back to her pasture, in the process gaining a new appreciation for the word slippery. I was going as slow as a snail, yet still managed to slip down the hill five times. I am grateful for my horse’s sake that her lead rope was so long.

Long story short, be careful out there! The ice is more dangerous than it looks.

Pokémon Z-A Review

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Hi! This is a review of the recently released game Pokémon Z-A. This is a great game, but it has a couple of issues I’d like to address. If you haven’t played and don’t want the game spoiled, this is your warning. With that out of the way, let’s dive right in!

Let’s start off with the positive! I love the setting, and it’s a ton of fun gliding across the rooftops. You have easy access with holovaters and ladders, letting you explore the city fully. Also, I am in love with the new character customization features. It’s super refreshing after being stuck in a uniform for all of Pokémon Scarlet! (Plus, in my opinion, the clothes being sold are more appealing.) I love Mega Evolution as well!

Also, I love the selection of Pokémon here! While the wild zones are a little limiting, there are tons of hidden gems. Plus, the batting mechanics are a lot of fun! They add new depth to the game and prevent you from spamming the same old move over and over again. They force you to think strategically about the battle and learn about your Pokémon and their moves.

While this game is great, it isn’t perfect, and there are a couple of issues that really stand out to me. First, the storyline is all over the place! Your dialogue options don’t matter, and you’re kind of forced to go along with Urbain/Taunie. They also try way too hard to redeem all the ‘bad’ characters at the cost of the plot. (ie. Corbeau.) Plus, in Pokémon Scarlet, you had multiple interlocking storylines, and here the plot is really linear.

Next, the wild zones are really obnoxious. If any random wild Pokémon spots you, you are barred from flying away. Also, early on, the alphas steamroll you and prevent you from leveling up or catching new Pokémon. In a similar way, the promotion matches are really limiting. The fact that there is some random side quest attached to every match past Rank F really bothers me. On an unrelated note, it bothers me that the starters don’t match the region. I know this is kind of nitpicking, but it bugs me.

Also, I loved the picnics in Pokémon Scarlet! I was super disappointed when I found out I couldn’t make sandwiches or wash my Pokémon, or kick a ball around. All the potential replacements, such as eating at a restaurant or sitting on a bench, are poor at best, considering your character is locked in place, and you can’t interact with your Pokémon.

Based on this review alone, you’d probably assume Pokémon Z-A is horrible, and you shouldn’t play it. However, it’s a great game and a lot of fun! It was just overhyped and expensive, so I assumed it would be close to perfect and was a little let down. I would definitely recommend it to someone new to the series or someone who has played Pokémon Scarlet or Violet, as the concept and controls are very similar. I hope that games like this continue to be produced, and I really do think it’s wonderful and worth your time.

My First Horse Show

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Hi! If you love horseback riding, this post is for you!

So, I was recently at a horse show at Triton Stables. I was competing in the walk-trot-canter division. I was really nervous, because it was my first show. I went there with my mom, decked out in show gear. It was surprisingly hot, and so I was sweating through my riding jacket, and my horse was drinking a ton of water. We were supposed to show at around ten in the morning, but the start got delayed to two. My horse was not enjoying being tied to the trailer in the sweltering heat.

Finally, the announcer says over the intercom that the walk-trot-canter group should head to the arena. We start with a poles course, and I’m sitting on my horse fretting about how good the other girls are. When it’s finally my turn, my horse is on her best behavior. She’s a little lazy, but by the end of the courtesy circle, she’s at a brisk trot. She clears the poles and slows to a walk for the closing circle.

We exit the arena and wait outside while the last girl finishes up. After that, we all go back into the ring to do some flat work. While the other riders struggle to get their horses to canter, my horse gets right to it. After a lap of beautiful cantering, we glide to a walk and meander to the middle. We have our backs to the judges, and I’m nervous all over again, worst-case scenarios rushing through my head. First, they announce who won—the girl next to me takes four blue ribbons, two reds, and she wins first overall. Next, they announce the Champion of Reserve—that’s me! I get two blue ribbons and four red ones.

Once they finish the rankings, I’m sitting there proud of myself—and then I hear the girl on my other side crying quietly. She got last place in everything, and I feel bad for her, so I tell her it’s alright. Then, the girl on my other side decides to butt in. “Hey, at least your ribbons match!” Ouch. I can’t tell if she means well or is rubbing it in, but either way, it makes the girl cry harder. (By the way, the girl who’s crying is eight, and the other one is twelve). I shoot the crying girl a pitying look, and then I’m swept into the crowd of people exiting the arena. When I get back to the trailer, my trainer is congratulating the girl who won, a fifteen year old who won Champion of Reserve in another division, and I.

I wish I had gone back and comforted the crying girl, but I didn’t. I just sat there and smiled while I was congratulated. I get up and start to un-tack my horse instead of letting myself dwell on that awkward conversation. I’m putting her saddle back on the saddle rack in the trailer when I trip, and suddenly I’m on the ground, and blood is everywhere. I panic and start screaming at the top of my lungs. My trainer rushes over and helps me up, but I’m still whimpering in pain. Blood drips down my chin as my mom holds a cloth to my bottom lip. Someone hands me a Tylenol pill, and I shove it in my mouth. My mom helps me into a chair while my trainer takes care of my horse. Eventually, the pain dulls, and my mom helps me into the car. We drive home in silence.

It took two weeks for my lip to heal. I still have a scar there today. I won’t ever forget that horse show, for more reasons than one.

Long story short, my first-ever riding show went horribly wrong.

Book Recommendation

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Imagine a world in which magicians hide amongst normal people, and kids use magic candy to complete life-threatening missions.

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull is one of my favorite books. It’s about four kids who stumble into a world of magic candy and conflict. The main characters are super relatable, and this book blends character development with magic and humor in the best way possible! The story follows middle schoolers Nate, Summer, Pigeon, and Trevor throughout their peril-filled journey. This high fantasy adventure is worth reading, no matter how old you are. It is very well written, and you end up really caring about the characters.

The Candy Shop War is a masterpiece, and I cannot overstate how good it is! Everyone should read it. If you like Harry Potter books, you’ll love this! It is an incredible fantasy book, great for readers of all ages, and it is impossible to put down. This action-packed page turner is truly entertaining. I really hope you take the time to read this book! I give it ten out of ten.

Have you ever read this book? If so, what did you think about it?