Madison’s personal blog post.

There are so many things I want to do with my life before I die. I love to travel. I have never been farther than china, which may be the farthest I’ll ever go. I love China, It is so cultural and interesting. Many tourist will never get to see what I did because of the wonderful people I know. I loved to see the world as I sat by the windows in the plain on my way there and back. My favorite place in china was Jinan. I saw the hundred food Golden Buddha, and saw most of the famous spring and rivers. It was beautiful.

I live in Utah. I think Utah may be the most beautiful place in the world and I don’t know why, but I don’t think I could live five years at least without looking at these beautiful mountains. My favorite place in Utah is Capitol Reef. The red rocks makes me feel worm. I love the insects in capitol Reef as well. I don’t know everything about Utah, but that is another goal I have decided to pursue. My dame is Madison Barksdale and I am a mormon. L) ha ha.

Madison's personal blog post

My favorite thing to do in my spare time is watch bugs do their thing, painting with watercolors, hiking or playing the cello. My favorite hiking place is the foot hills in front of Timp. My favorite things to paint are bugs and cows. My favorite song to play is Bach's Prelude#2. I love to watch snail behavior cause I think their pretty and I love the way they move. I love to listen to opera and classical music. I love to play chess with my brothers. I love to play basketball with my friends after school and I love ICE CREAM! my favorite ice cream is plane vanilla with sprinkled coco on it. I have been on a lot of back packing trips with my mom. Our hardest hike was the Pariah River in AZ. We walked 45 miles in 3 days when one of our hike mates broke her leg and we had to walk faster to get a helicopter. I love the outdoors. I love spring and am so excited that it is finally here. I have a lot of fun watching movies with my brothers and I am also excited for a new brother or sister who will be arriving in September. I absolutely love my family. My favorite thing to learn about is INSECTS. I have watched every documentary on nature you can find. My favorite insect is the dung beetle. They are stinky, but are so pretty in their own way. They work hard to complete their goal and I admire their abilities. My favorite class at school is Seminary. Well, see you all in class. Did I mention I think Snails are the coolest :)

The Tell Tale Heart Alternate Ending

“It is the beating of his hideous heart!”

The planks lie next to the cavity below. There, he lays dead and deformed. My mind increased with headache. I finally began to realize what the future may hold because of what I had done to the old man. But still, my future would not have an involvement with that vulture eye. The gripping that eye had on me all this time, it was finally over, It was finally over! He would bring the cold chilling feeling to my body no more! But as the officers looked down at the old man, all three had that same expression of terror the old man had showd me before I killed him. They looked down and then slowly back to me, and stood frozen as if they could not believe what they saw before them. The four of us stood still and frozen with terror. Finally, they slowly took out there chains and came towards me. I fell to the ground. I groan but accept their violence upon me to bound me. They said nothing, but picked my whole body off the ground and led me out of the house away from the old man, but finally, away from that old man’s eye.

Maddie: This is the way I would have ended the story. I would want to show the officers fear and more of their involvement in the story. I would have wanted the reader to know that the killer never gets away with murder. He though he was so cunning and clever. He said His senses were so acute, but I believe he truly was crazy. I believe his emargination got the best of him. The old man should’t have died just because someone was afraid of his ugly vulture eye, that is just ridiculous. But I do admire the writers passion for excitement in the writing, especially towards the end when he can’t take the suspense and he could not hold it in any more! This Is my favorite story I have every read from Alan Poe! I LOVE IT! I would necessarily change the story, but add a bit to it if thats all right. I also love the man telling the story. He sounds like a narrator and he greatly invites the audience to feel that terror and suspense with him. So cool!

Madison's self portrait poem

Madison-

Creative, Adventurous, positive, brave,

Sister of Morgan, Bridger, Landon, Cade, Sarah, and unknown on the way,

Lover of the new morning rainbow, the arrival of the fresh spring flowers

and the early morning sunrise overlooking the mountains,

Who feels restless before the last school bell,

excited when mom gathers everyone for family dinner,

and inspired when listening to Mischa Maiskey and Bach,

Who needs rain clouds, adventures, and family,

Who gives advice, aunesty, and friendship,

Who fears the death of a loved one, the end of the worlds, and defeat,

Who would like to see my aunt healthy, a knew and inspirational me,

and someday, a better educational system with less judgment,

Who lives in a small blue home with a large living

room window viewing all of Timpanogus mountain,

Barksdale-

Madison's Book Review. The Help

What is most interesting about this novel, is that the movie mimics the book more than any other movie I have ever seen. I wish I would have red the book first. I pretty much know what is about to happen in the book, but the writing and the way the stories are told still interests me and is still gripping my attention. The sad thing about the book is that their are still people who treat african Americans disrespectfully. One sad part of the book was when Aibaleen discovers the baby has had to spend all night and morning with a messy diaper because her mother never had it cross her mind that her child is still a baby. I love the part when Skeeter mouths back to Hilly that "maybe we should just build you a bathroom outside Hilly." I also love how loving and understanding mister johnny is when he had known about the lying and sneaking Celia and Minny did behind his back, which is relieving because most men back then would probably get aggressive and abusive because of that. I am currently on page 282 chapter 19 in Skeeters perspective.

Book review

The Help

The help is wonderful. Very creatively written and well organized. I spend at least 20 minutes a day reading through the pages as carefully as I can so I can get as much out of the book as I can. I am currently on page 206 chapter 13. I am very excited for tomorrows English class because I get to just simply read for 80 whole minutes! My thoughts about the book are all positive, except for of course the sad stories and the hard times I know people had back then. I think a lot about what I would do in some of the situations the book describes. For example, when Mrs Skeeter is pressured to write a book she doesn't know she should actually even think about. Or actually breaking laws and risking others lives for something that might not go through the publishing room. I think If I were the ambitious writer, trying to create something I believe in, I still wouldn't have the kind of courage Skeeter did when It came to asking the help for help. The movies is great as well. Of course, even though the book is always going to be better, the movies sets a good perspective as well. The movie is what lead me to the book. My mom is always pushing books in my face saying “You would really like this one Madison, it’s got some insect information in it.” This book I was glad was not pushed in front of me, it is one that you can enjoy and feel good about reading, knowing your not wasting your time. It had taken Kathryn Stockett 5 years to complete the book and went through 60 different hands saying no to it being published, but I am glad she decided to stick with it. Most books I like are suspense, adventure, science fictional, but never love stories. But this book has almost everything, adventure, suspense, excitement, funny moments, sad moments and not to much of that lovey-dovey stuff.

Today, I plan to go easy before reading it for English tomorrow. I am very excited about this novel.

Madison's book review.

I had seen the movie version first. It may be my favorite movie so far. The book could become the best book I have ever read. Leading through the fourth chapter, I can already feel the pain and excitement of the characters. My favorite character is Minny, a 35 year old colored maid trying to make ends meat, but still holding on to her famous attitude. School and homework have been the only things keeping me from reading. Even during lunch break I cant put this book down. I estimate the book will be fully read in about 3 weeks, maybe less at the rate I'm going.

Top Tens

Top ten Insects

1. Bumble Bee

2. Praying mantis

3. Cicada

4. Huechys Sanguinea

5. American Hornet

6. Ants

7. Blue bottle fly

8. Stag beetles

9. Dung Beetle

10. Luna moth.

Top Tens

Top ten Scary moments.

1. 2 hundred pound rock avalanches during Timp base climb heading towards me and my

brother

Bridger. Age 14 and 12.

2. Flying alone to China and through the airports alone.

3. First night at Chinese orphanages.

4. Realizing I lost all my money after losing my international bank card in China. Ate only apples

and porridge for two weeks.

5. Getting lost at the zoo at age 6.

6. Dreaming my brother as a stabbed victim.

7. Watching my dad fall down Timp mountain not knowing if me and Bridger would be able to hold onto the side of the mountain before he takes us down with him while being tied to each other.

8. Catching scorpions in the Dessert with my aunt Bri.

9. Riding a camel at the Jinan Chinese zoo.

10. Ducking for life as a herd of deer stampedes over me in my backyard.

My top tens

Top ten Adventures

1. Xian Chinese Orphanage. Age 16

2. Jinan China Market place. Age 16

3. Beijing China Great wall. Age 16

4. Hiking through the bottom of the Grand-Canyon. 22 miles in 1 and 1/2 days. Age 15

5. Escolante river back packing trip. 36 miles in 3 days. Age 14

6. Pariah River Dessert hike. Age 11. 45 miles in 3 days.

8. Climbing Timp base hike. Age 12, 14, 15, not reached the top yet.

9. 5 mile hike to grand daddy lake. Age 15 and 16, very cold lakes up there.

10. 24 hour plain trip to China alone. age 16