I never thought I would like the desert, but I have lived in Arizona for five years already, and I find the most amazing scenarios wherever I go. I took these pictures when I visited the Tonto National Park. It was spring time an during this time the plants and cactus start blooming. The colors and texture of them are so delicate that take the breath away. The cacti can live in these deserts without water for a long time. the cactus are tough and full of thorns, but when they bloom, they have beautiful flowers that look very fragile. The ocotillo has those beautiful orange flower. The saguaro, the most amazing cactus of all, stars blooming after its first branch is grown. That happened after seventy years of growing, and its flowers are white.

Final Thoughts

1. The main characters are: Saul, Ruth, Sue, Caroline, Captain Marrs, Dick Lane, Peter, The Controler, and Marc. If I could choose a character, I would be Sue, because when I see something that is unfair, I always have a voice. I always say what i think. Sometimes this makes me be in trouble. I usually act against something I don't like. During the last years, I've learned to be cautious and defend what I think is fair in a diplomatic way. I usually get what I want, but not without a fight.

2. His reactions was very normal, since he was in his routine and he liked it. He got mad because he didn't have time to react to what Ruth said. Everything came on him so fast and suddenly. He found himself in a situation he didn't like. When he had time to think and digest his situation, he decided to act.

I felt angry as Saul did. I don't like to be push in a situation by somebody. I don't like when people impose their ideas and make me feel uncomfortable.

3. The setting in the book is futurist. In the year 2051 everything is managed by computers. The book manages virtual life. The world is crowded, many people, few jobs, to hot to go out without protection, not social contact with people, and everything is controlled by a small group. The actual world is different because we contact people all the time. People goes to work to real places. The relationships with people are real and not virtual. To travel, people go to real places. The environment is not dangerous yet that people need protection to go out.

4. When I was reading this book, I felt surprised about the virtual word and relationship between Saul and Sue. People can't live alone. I also felt sorry for the people that lived in the tunnels that were obligated to work without pay and live there because they had questions about the world. I felt sorry for the dolphins. Many people sacrifice animals just because they want their skin, or head, or any part of them.

5. I think the main character of the novel is Saul Grant. I'm like him in the way that I'm independent. I like to live comfortable. I like to work without disturbances. I like the commodity's and privileges I get with my job paycheck. I feel mad when something unfair happen, and I want to fix that unfairness. Like him I don't like to be push to do something and I don't like boss around. The difference between Saul and I is that I don't like to write about music. I have my own thoughts. U prefer to have my own ideas about the world.

6. Dear Saul,

You need to take risks. Don't believe everything people tell you, have your own mind. Think about all the information people tell you and rationalize it. About your girlfriend, you need to know her better. Virtual relationships don't work. You have to know somebody in person. Don't give your love without knowing well the person you choose, or you may have a surprise. Enjoy the real world as much as you can. It is beautiful out there.

Susana

The Pursuit to Happiness

When I watched this movie, I was in anguish. All the bad thinks that happened to Chris Gardner. He couldn't sell his machines. His wife got mad at him. He got many parking tickets. His car was towed away, and he didn't have the money to get it back. One of his machines got stolen, that meant no food for the whole month. His wife left with his son. He was thrown away from his apartment because he didn't pay the rent for three months. He was arrested because he didn't pay his parking tickets. The IRS got his money from the bank. He was thrown out again from the hotel where he lived because he didn't have money to pay for the room. His friend didn't want to pay him his money. He had to go to sleep in a public bathroom with his son, and then he had to go to a shelter to sleep. He even got hit by a car.Good things also happened to him, but not by accident. He got his son back. He could get and internship without pay in a competitive stockbroker training program. He could get into this program because he insisted. He almost chased the guy in charge to give him an opportunity. He demonstrated that he was smart enough to be there. He went to the interview all dirty and without proper clothes. He worked really hard to be in the program. He saved as much time as he could to make as many sales as possible. He made friends with the executives making them all kind of favors. At the same time he had to earn some money to live. He worked during the weekends and evenings. He took care of his son at all times. Finally, he got the position he was looking for. He made excellent sales. At the end, he became millionaire, but thanks to his hard work.

He succeeded because he pursuit to succeed. He worked hard. He had a goal and didn't give up, therefore the circumstances were against him. Nothing comes from nothing. People have to fight to get what they want. If people sit to wait for good thing to happen, they won't happen.

When I was watching this movie, I thought about my own experience. When I came to USA, I didn't speak English and, I had to sleep in a room with five more people. I didn't have a car, so I had walk to go to work. Then, I went to live with my aunt, who assigned me to sleep in a room that wasn't totally built and had holes all over the place. I had to work in sawing factories with all kind of uneducated and mean people. In the mean time, after twelve hours of work, I went to the school at night to learn English. I started the ESL program in a Elementary School because it was free. Then, I could buy an old car, but at least, I didn't have to walk to go to different places.

I kept going to school. I got my GED Diploma. I went to High School to get my High School Diploma. I just had to take the English, and USA History classes because they took all my subject from High School in Mexico. After three years of being learning English, I could go to work at a K-mart. When I got married, I kept going to school to study Medical Assistant. When I got my diploma, I could work in a clinic. After that, I got pregnant. I didn't want anybody to take care of my baby, so I quit working. At that time all bad thing happened. The cars got broken, not job, not enough money to pay bills and food. The utilities were disconnected. We had to move from place to place.

When my daughter was four years old, I started working again. I cleaned houses. It was a disgusting job. I didn't like it, so I started working as a Teacher Assistant in a Public School. I also started working in my certification as a teacher. I worked hard at that. After a few years, I got a position as a Pre-K teacher, but with the same payment as teacher assistant in a private school. I got pregnant again, and I kept going to school. I started a Master Degree Program. I worked hard at that too. We bought a house and apparently everything was going well. Suddenly, bad things started to happen again. My husband abused a girl. He got a warrant for his arrest. He didn't want to face charges and disappeared. He left us alone.

That was a very hard time for me and the girls. My mother and sister came to live to our house to help me with the mortgage, but we were like visitors in my house. I didn't have enough money to pay all the things I had to pay. I had a salary of $1,200.00 dollars a month, and $2,000.00 dollars expenses. I was overwhelmed by the pain for what it happened, and all the things that were over me. I was afraid because many bad things kept happening. God made miracles. I don't know how. I can't explain how because It does not have a logical explanation, but God helped me to pay what I had to pay. I didn't loose the car, or the house. I didn't stay without food for my daughters, or myself.

I finished the Master Degree. I got a better job. I could buy a new car. I moved to San Antonio. I'm not depress any more. Things are better now, and we are optimist about the future. I could relate to the movie because to get what I have now, I had to work hard and pursuit on my purpose. I never gave up, and I hope never give up in the future. I plan to get a PhD Degree and work for a college, or university.

Letter-Something that happen

Hello Anna,

I hope you're doing well. I have to tell you something I can't hold any longer. As you know, my daughter plays the piano, and she loves it. Well, she was invited to play for the Scenic Hills Church Orchestra. She was very excited and nervous at the same time. She practiced at home and she went to all the rehearsals and everything. Last Sunday was the concert and was amazing. I cried, cried and cried, I was very moved and touched seeing my daughter performing for a big orchestra. I couldn't believe she was doing it so well. I was so proud. After the concert she received many congratulations because the good work she had made, that I started crying again.

It is really incredible when you see your efforts rewarded. I hope she can do something with her talent and love for music. I'm planning to keep her studding piano and now that she started flute and violin, encourage her to keep on practicing and doing her best.

Bye Anna, I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of my daughter.

Bye, God bless you,

Susana

Tradiditional Authority

The traditional authority is a very strong authority because rules the way people behave at all times. In the past, people are been affected by tradition that are carry to the next generation and so on, generation after generation. Like in the Hispanic culture, we carry traditions that have their origin long, long time ago.

Respect for the parents and grandparents is one of those traditions, where they have authority even when the children are grownups. Old parents receive the care and attention, and they are not abandoned in a nursing home. They stay in their house, or in any of their children's house until they die. Religion is other tradition that is carry for many generations, and when a child decides for different religion, he has disowned the family. The parents get very angry at this change. Sometimes they break the relationship with this child. The foods are traditions that are pass generation after generation.

The holidays are traditions that are follow at all times. They are observed religiously in the way they should be done. The food that is eaten at that particular time, the ritual always has to be the same, etc. everything has to follow a procedure. Sometimes the process can vary a little but usually is the same.

Other tradition that is very particular from the Hispanic culture is the personality behavior. Hispanics are very happy and expressive people. They are very friendly, and they are not afraid of showing their feelings and emotions. They love to listen music very loud, sharing it with all the neighbors, and sing it very loud. Their way of talking is also very particular. A bad tradition from Hispanics is that usually, they are late for everything, for school, for work, for visit, etc., with some exemptions, of course.

All this traditions are part of the Hispanic heritage, that makes us unique compared to other cultures.

Idiom - Out of Shape

It means not in a good physical shape. It is used when a person can't do any physical activity with eficiency, like running, walking, swimming, aerobics, or any other physical activity. This person gest sofocated and says, "I'm out of shape". It also applys when something doesn't work propertly, it can be said, "It is aout of shape."

Examples: a) The studens couldn't keep up their pase in the walk-a-thon. They
are out of shape.
b) I got so tired after swimmming practice. I think I'm out of shape.

Idiom - In the nick of time

Idioms are common expressions people use to express a complete taught in few word. In the Nick of Time means at the last possible moment, just before is too late. It is also used when you want to say that you will do something in a very small amount of time, that you will finish it just in a few minutes, and won't take much effort on your part to do it. Examples, a) I will finish reading my chapter book in a nick of time, and then I will help you to do your work.
b) I forgot to write my report, but I will do it in a nick of time.
c) My brother is delayed, but he will be here in a nick of time.