Since my last post...

It has been some time since my last post (which was April 6/11), so I am going to inform you of what has happened to me since then.

The weather. Holy cow. The snow melted, but then it snowed AGAIN, and not just a little bit. It was blowing around, causing my volleyball team to be unable to drive to Portage through that horrible weather. Thankfully, it melted quickly enough, and we had some very nice days. But all over the province, it's flooding. Which is causing people to evacuate from their homes. Not me though, fortunately. But my family in Ellie has gotten an evacuation notice, so they've got to get out of there.

Also, since my last post, we've had Easter. On my mom's side, we celebrated Easter at my auntie and uncle's house in Carberry. It was a lot of fun. Plus, great food. We were playing this memory game outside, but I could never make it past the 2nd or 3rd round.  On my dad's side, we celebrated Easter at my grandparents house. It was good to see my cousins from Winnipeg again. A guy from Australia, who is working at the farm for a few months, came with his girlfriend for supper. It was interesting to learn some things about Australia.

Anyway, volleyball finished up last weekend when we went to Nationals in Saskatoon. Let me tell you, that is one busy city. I didn't get much shopping done, though I did buy several books from the bookstore. It was a really exciting experience. Also tons of fun. Most of Club West was staying at the Sandman Hotel, which happened to be attached to Denny's. It was 11:00 p.m. (Saskatchewan time) on Friday night , and we wanted supper. So, we (Rhyan, Mackenzie, Adrienne, Stephanie, and I) trooped down to Denny's. Each of us got an appetizer, and then we all shared. There was smothered cheese fries, nachos, very spicy chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, and wings. It was delicious, and after that meal I was stuffed. We didn't end up leaving until 12:30.  The next day, we didn't play until 4:00 p.m. or so, so we decided to go shopping. On Sunday, we played at 8:00, so we had to be their by 7:30. Unfortunately, my mom and dad (who drove down on Saturday) weren't feeling too well on Satuday or Sunday. They think that they got food poisoning when they went to Denny's for a late lunch on Saturday. My dad was only affected a little bit on Saturday, but my mom wasn't feeling well Saturday and a few hours Sunday morning.  Thankfully she was feeling better and was able to make it to my last 2 games on Sunday. We ended up winning bronze in Tier 3. It was a very good feeling.  In my van on the way home, we had Stephanie, Adrienne, Kacee, and myself. We watched The Proposal, and John Tucker Must Die. We finally got home at about quarter after 10. I slept very well that night, but I didn't feel like getting up at 7:00 a.m. for school Monday morning. Sometimes you have to do things that you don't want to do. E.g. Waking up for school on Monday morning.

This Friday, all the grade 8 students are having a 30 Hour Famine. It is going to be amazing. I am very excited. It will be quite the experience to not eat anything but small amounts of rice over 30 hours.

That's it for now. Bye.

It was already 8:30 in the morning, and I had only a couple minutes to finish getting ready for school. Since it was the first day, I wanted to look my best. In order to do that, I needed my headband to look perfect with my outfit. Luckily for me, I had just bought a new Lululemon headband. It complemented my shirt nicely. I just finished packing my backpack, managing to stuff my lunch kit in, along with the rest of my stuff when all of a sudden I heard a sound like fabric tearing. I glanced over to see my backpack wide open, with a brand new hole.

"Mom!" I yelled, "my backpack just ripped. I need you to sew it."
"Okay, but if you don't hurry up, your going to be late for school," mom said.

I then proceeded to quickly to switch my newly ripped backpack with my sister's old backpack. I ran to the car and mom drove me to school. That morning was not starting out very well.

The rest of the day went on without a hitch. I got a lot of compliments on my headband. When I got home I saw my backpack lying on the bench, all sewed up.

Kidnapped

Number one:
My legs were beginning to cramp as I sat motionless in my hiding place. I tried to slow my breathing, but I could hear my heartbeat drumming in my ears. I wondered if it could be heard in the deafening silence. I felt my calf muscle tighten painfully and as a reaction, I shifted my weight. The sound echoed and it was my fatal mistake…

I heard them before I saw them. Their approaching footsteps getting louder with every step. My kidnappers opened the door to the closet in which I was hiding.

"I told you not to run. Now you will face the consequences," my captor said, as he pulled something out of his pocket.

I didn't say anything. I was frozen in fear. I never should have told the police anything. I didn't know! The officer said no one would hurt me if I said anything. He was wrong. They were all wrong.

I told them that they would hunt me down, and  kill me for what I did. But they didn't listen. No one did, and because of that, I am going to die.

It all started when I was walking home. I had just gone to the local grocery store, to get some snacks for my moms class(she is a Grade 5 teacher, and every Friday she brings snacks for them), and a bag of Salt & Vinegar chips for me. It was only 8:30 at night, but already it was dark. I shouldn't have gone out, but I can't change that now. Anyway, I was passing an old, abandoned house, when I heard a sort of scuffling sound. Then someone shushing someone else. I could see a faint light, too. It was very out of the ordinary for anyone to be in there. Well, I didn't think anyone ever went in there. I crept across the grass, and peeked through the broken window. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

"HOLY CRAP," I whisper-yelled. I saw a guy from school, Jimmy, lying on the ground, flailing around, while this other guy I didn't recognize, had his hands wrapped around Jimmy's neck. This guy I didn't know, looked quite muscular, and I know I couldn't stop him if I tried. I ducked down so that guy couldn't see me. I took my phone out and quietly reported the crime to 911, who told me they were sending cops, and an ambulance.

My brain was scrambled. Again, I peeked into the house. Even from a distance I could hear the cop cars. But so could that guy strangling Jimmy in there. He jumped up and ran out the back door.  Jimmy was lying on the floor, not moving at all. I couldn't even tell if he was breathing. Thankfully, the ambulance showed up, and a few seconds later, the police. Most of the cops raced out of their cars and took off in the direction of the attacker, which I pointed out.  I probably looked like a mess, but that is what seeing an attack will do to you.

An officer approached me, "Are you the brave young woman that called in this crime?" he asked me.

"Y-y-ya," I choked out.

"I am Officer Gerald McClancy. We are going to have to ask you a few questions down at the station. We can call your parents from their," Officer McClancy told me.

He led me to one of the cop cars, and opened the passenger side door. I climbed in slowly. Once we got to the police station, he led me to a small room, told me my mom had been called, and then offered me a doughnut. I declined politely. I just witnessed a horrific attack, does he think I want to eat right now?

My mom entered the room about 15 minutes later, along with a short man, who I quickly noticed was not wearing deodorant.

They asked me a lot of questions. Then they had me tell a detailed description of this guy.

Finally, I realized I hadn't asked the most important question.

"Is Jimmy dead?" I asked hesitantly.

"We aren't releasing that information yet, sorry," the short, smelly guy answered.

"Has that guy been caught," I asked next.

"We are doing our best to find the suspect, Miss 




Allison

Being a Decorator

Last Tuesday, March 8, was the day on which my class (the students in Mr. Wilson's room), came together with Mr. Oldcorn's class, to present some poems. This was called the Poetry Slam.

My job, along with Shaelyn and Jasmine, was to design and paint a sign saying Poetry Slam 2011, plus others, if we wanted.  It was a fun task. 

We worked in the art room, using brushes, and occasionaly, our hands. It was really fun.  I thought that our signs looked amazing. 
The hardest part about this job, was probably getting the letters big, but still looking nice. 


The Poetry Slam went pretty good. Only a couple people (including me) forgot some of their lines, but pushed through that and continued. It is hard for some people (also including me) to go up in front of both classes and recite 2 poems. It was a great time, and I think everyone had fun.

Running After Dark

My mother once told me, "Don't go running by yourself after dark." I should have listened. I always told her nothing would happen, since we lived in a safe neighborhood. I was wrong. Because I didn't listen, I had to face the consequences, which, in this case, was get kidnapped.

It happened a little over a year ago, when I was 15. I was an active, outdoorsy person, so I went walking every morning and every night. That night, I was a few blocks from home, and the houses around me had not even a single light on. I was rounding the corner when a big, old van stopped right beside me. A middle aged man stepped out of the passengers seat. The man was of average height, and was a tad overweight. He had thin, greasy, salt and pepper hair. Gross. I picked up my pace. He started walking behind me, his pace a little faster than mine. Soon he caught up with me.

"Hello," he said.
"Um, hi," I replied, sounding unsure.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Emma. Why are you wanting to know?" I said. He didn't answer. I looked over my shoulder. That old van had been following us. It was only a couple meters away from us.
The van came to a slow halt beside us. I paused, pondering whether or not I should run. When I look back now, I wonder why I had been so stupid, not to run when I had the chance. The greasy, overweight man was standing  right beside me. I again looked over my shoulder. Wrong move. The man opened the van door so quickly, and quietly, I hadn't even know he had done it. Not until I turned around, just in time to see him swinging a shovel over his head.  Quick as a lion, he took that shovel and hit me on the side of the head.

I fell to the ground, and blacked out. How long I had been out, I will never know, but when I did wake up, I was in a cramped little room, with only one tiny window. My head was throbbing. Why would anyone do this to me? What do they want? Oh, my, God. They are going to kill me. The pain in my head was nothing compared to the pain I now felt in my heart. I was never going to see my family again. For the second time in 24 hours, I blacked out.

The next time I woke up, I was tied to a chair. I could barely breath, it was tied so tight. In front of me sat two men. I recognized the one from last night. Wait, I think I remember seeing that other man before too, at my dad's office.

"Good, your awake," the man from dad's office said.
"Now we can get to that phone call," the other said.
"Why are you doing this?" I interupted.
The one with greasy hair looked annoyed, but answered, "We need money fast. Your dad, Stephen, has money. But the only way to get it was either to steal it, or kidnap you, ask for ransom, then kill you once we got the ransom. Kidnapping seemed easiest."
"My parents will never let that happen. The cops will find me. You guys will get caught," I told them.
The man from dad's office laughed, "Quite the contrary, actually. No one will ever know it was us. The only person who witnessed this kidnapping was you. It all works out; you'll be dead, and we'll be rich."

He was wrong about me being the only witness. On the night of my kidnapping, a frail, old lady had been peering out her window, when she saw these men take me. She was too slow to stop anything from happening. Although she got the liscence plate number, and called the police. That night had been a slow one for the cops, so they were able to arrive quickly, unfortunatly though, it was not quick enough, and my kidnappers were no where to be found. But they continued searching my small town.

Back at where I was being held, my kidnappers were now dialing my father's cell. He didn't pick up. They next tried my home phone. My mom answered.

"Hello," she said through sniffles. Poor mom, I thought
It had been decided that the man with the greasy hair, who said his name was Phil, would talk, "I need to speak with Stephen."
"Okay," she managed to get out through loud sobs.
My dad came on the phone "Stephen here."
"I have Emma. I want 3 million dollars by 3:00 this afternoon," Phil said.
"Emma," dad whispered, "Wait, how do I know you really have her?"
"Would you care to say hello to your daddy?" Phil asked. He shoved the phone in front of my face. "Say something," he hissed.
"Dad," I said, almost crying.
"Emma," he choked out.
"Don't do anything they ask, just tell the police it was Phil Harper, and Gary Wells, " I said in a rush.
Those two idiots should not have told me their names. Why would they think I wouldn't tell anyone when I had a chance. I mean, they were going to kill me!

"You little b-," Gary started, but was cut off when a bunch of cops rushed in through the back door.
"Hands above your head," one shouted.
Phil and Gary were cuffed and led out. A bunch of paramdics surrounded me. I was taken to the hospital were I was reuntied with my family.

Now, a year later, I tend to run in the mornings with my dad. I listen to my mom about running after dark.

I took back everything I had said.

Best Memory

I have a lot of memories, but I can't pick one alone that is the best.

One of them would probably on Halloween this year, when Marc and Brett dressed up. I doubt I'll forget that one. It was pretty memorable(and disturbing).

Another memory would be when my family and I went to Winnipeg to accept the Farm Family of the Year award, and it was located at the Red River Ex. The day before we were supposed to accept the award, we went on some of the rides. Andrea, Mackenzie, Kyle(Elliot) and I went on the Mega Drop. They sat in a row by themselves, so I had to sit next to some stranger. Anyways, while we were at the top, waiting for it to drop, I was freaking out. Then when it started falling, I thought I was going to die. Afterwards, I was shaking and my heart was racing. Just a tip, don't look down when your on the Mega Drop and falling.

Christmas Break 2010/11

This year, I had Christmas on the Chapman side, and the Jonasson side on the weekends before the Break. That meant that I could be at home on Christmas morning.

On Christmas morning, I got up at quarter to nine, and the rest of my family was already up. But, my dad had to do chores at the farm, so we had to wait for him to get home, which he did around 10:45.

Finally, we were able to open our presents. My sisters and I got a Wii, which I am really enjoying. We immediately opened the box containing the Wii up. My dad started reading the instructions, but fell asleep. Eventually, we got it set up.

After lunch, we played Just Dance 2, which is my favourite game so far, and the other games we had gotten until supper.

My mom had prepared a big supper for us, with turkey, potatoes, peas, corn, gravey, stuffing, buns, and pie for dessert.

The rest of that week we mostly stayed at home.

Except for on Tuesday, we went to Winnipeg.

On the last Tuesday before school started, I had to babysit my 2 cousins from 8:15-5:30. It was a long day.

On the Wednesday, I had dance at 12:45-1:45, and after dance, Allison, her mom, and little brother came over for a visit. I beat Allison 3 out of the 4 songs on Just Dance 2. Then, at quarter to 4, I had to go and babysit my cousins again, until 5:30. 

That was my Christmas Break.

New Year's Resolutions

1) Do what my mom or dad asks, when they ask it.

2) Save my money, instead of spending it.

3) Clean my room bi-weekly.

4) Don't procrastinate.

5) Be more patient.