There was a star danced, and under that was I born. - William Shakespeare

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful person ever that was born 15 years ago yesterday! Ha can't you tell I am bored and coughing out my lungs well you can't really tell that I am coughing up my lungs but whatever here's a poem just for you:
The Birthday Cake
Today is my birthday
I think I'll make a cake
Mix and stir, stir and mix
Then into the oven to bake.
Here's the cake so nice and round,
I'll put icing on so white.
I'll put on all the candles
To make my birthday bright!

You like it yes no maybe so?
Another?

The Wish
Each birthday wish
I've ever made
Really does come true
Each year I wish
I'll grow some more
And every yearI DO!

Do you like this one? Let me know? I am not so sure? But guess what I am going to Pandolfo's to night to celebrate my birthday that was yesterday. send me belated birthday wishes....I love you!
Mercedes

Fate* will find a way. ~ Vigil

Fate*, Predestination, Fortune, Kismet, Destiny, or whatever YOU want to call it!

The Question:
What role has FATE* (Mrs. Knight's Favorite word) played in William Shakespeare's tragedy,Romeo and Juliet?

"For never was there a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo." (Romeo & Juliet, V, iii)

The main theme of fate*, in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is shown throughout the play within subtle comments made by characters, the imagery in the stars, and different writing styles. The prologue describes Romeo's fate*, as well as Juliet's, which appears many times later in the play. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet unwillingly realize their love has no chance in their current situation of war and hate. A tragic fate* awaits them. The two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, are rivals throughout the entire play, until this tragic fate takes its toll on the lovers.
There are multiple events that foreshadow Romeo and Juliet's tragic future together. As early as the first scene of the play, there is evidence restating the information given in the prologue. "Romeo:?And makes himself an artificial night".This passage is a foreshadowing of Romeo's suicide. Montague adds to the effects of foreshadowing when he states, "Unless good council may the cause remove" In the first act, Romeo is introduced. His great sadness is obvious and the theme of love is presented. Through Romeo's mellow mood we see how desperate he is for love. Romeo falls in love with Juliet, the daughter of the "all mighty" Capulet. Romeo and Juliet were ultimately the ones responsible for their own deaths. The destinies of these two "star crossed lovers" were set from the start of the story, and almost all events that took place brought Romeo and Juliet closer to their inevitable fates.
There were entirely too many coincidences throughout the play, which further support my educated guess that FATE* has played a bigger role throughout the plan than Romeo and Juliet themselves! The first coincidence was that Romeo and Juliet, the two lovers, shared the unfortunate fate that they were from feuding families. The two of them were a perfect match, and were completely in love with each other, and the odds that one was a Montague and one was a Capulet were incredibly slim. They both showed their grief when they learned that the other was from the opposite family. "O dear account! my life is my foe's debt." (Act 1, Scene 5), and "My only love sprung from my only hate." (Act 1, Scene 5) were the two expressions that Romeo and Juliet exclaimed. Juliet had the right idea when she showed her frustration with the feud, and its influence on R&J's relationship, in her soliloquy on the balcony, and said, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet..." (Act 2, Scene 2) Besides the fact that they probably would have never been able to live a peaceful life, none of the tragedies would have occurred had they not met in the first place. The scene, where the Montagues find out about the Capulet ball is another twist of fate*. The servant of Capulet, who happens to be illiterate, was given the job of telling people about the party, but only those specifically on a list written up by his master. Since he could not read, he was forced to ask two strangers to explain it to him. Those two people could have been anyone, but they just happened to be Romeo and Benvolio. When Juliet is "buried" twenty-four hours before Friar Lawrence planned, it gave Friar John less time to get the message to Romeo. Beside that, Balthazar came in on one day only to see how Juliet was doing. If Juliet would have been able to take the potion as scheduled, Balthazar would have seen Juliet doing well and been able to come back to Romeo with a report of good news. Romeo would then have had no reason to buy the poison and commit suicide. Friar Lawrence would have sent another messenger and all would have been well. Although Romeo and Juliet were responsible for their own physical deaths, fate* still played a big role in getting the two to even think about committing suicide. The most obvious example of fate was the quarantine in Mantua. Friar Lawrence's plan was that Juliet would be laid in the tomb, appearing to be dead, and when she woke up, Romeo would be there to meet her. Friar Lawrence was supposed to get a message to Mantua, where Romeo was at because of his banishment, and inform the boy about the plan. This is a seemingly perfect plan, and gives the readers a sense of hope, but the plan is ruined when the they discover that there was a quarantine in Mantua, and Romeo was unable to get the letter. This was the point in which Romeo decided that it would be best if he committed suicide. William Shakespeare had countless times where he could have saved both of them, but he does not. He gives the reader a little hope that the two will survive, but with each event, that hope is crushed. Although Romeo and Juliet did not have to kill themselves, none of the the tragedies would have occurred, had it not been written by such an unpredictable mind as Shakespeare's. Truly, fate* is the most dominant force in the play, and is most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Fate* played the most significant role in the horrendous events that seemed to follow Romeo & Juliet everywhere they went. From whether it was the day they met at the Capulets' party or the day they both committed suicide, fate* was practically there leading the way. In conclusion, this whole play revolves around fate*. All the main characters in this tragedy have a fatal flaw that eventually leads to their doom or grievance. As said by William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar, "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."

*=Mrs. Knight's favorite word of all time (JK)

Love Always and Kids Remember Hugs NOT Drugs!,

Mercedes :-)

Merce's Fortune Cookies (ALL ORIGINAL)

My Brilliant Word Of Wisdom Don't Lose Them!
Stereotypes are by-products of a simple minded society.
--Mercedes Z.
Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.
-- Mercedes
Understanding that you know nothing, is the key of great knowledge.
-- Mercedes
Why is there never time to do it right, but always time to do it over?
-- Mercedes
A single tear can flood the heart.
-- Mercedes
First you must believe...in order to achieve!
-- Mercedes
Shoot for the moon -- even if you miss you'll still be among the stars!!!!!!!!!
--Mercedes Z.
To all of you idiots who try to steal my quotes without asking...well lets just say I see a knock out in you future!
Hugs Not Drugs,
Mercedes

A Place to See...Verona,Italy

In Fair Verona where we lay our scene is how Shakespeare begins his classic play of the two star crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. And Verona has been living on the reputation ever since. One cannot go to Verona without stumbling over artifacts (or supposed artifacts) of the story. Yet, Verona is more than just the venue of a teen aged romance gone very wrong.

Verona, Italy, the pulchritudinous city, in which Romeo and Juliet takes place has remarkable history dating back to 89 B.C., which is a long time ago I might add. Verona is and was still very active in the art department. I decided to go a little more in depth and explain myself. I searched the Google, Yahoo, Ask, and Answers search engines and managed to get a microscopic amount of information so I am not going to give you an exact web page, at the end I will name a few. Well here goes nothing, Verona has preserved a remarkable number of monuments from antiquity, the medieval and Renaissance periods, and represents an outstanding example of a military stronghold. The 15Th century takes place from 1401 to 1500 as I hope you would know this was the period that would be considered as the Renaissance, let me add that this was the only information in which www.wikipedia.com had offered! During the Renaissance, Verona produced major artists, (remarkably these are just minor examples) the architects Giocondo and Sanmichele and the painters Pisanello and Paolo Veronese, who embellished both Verona and Venice. Life in Verona in my opinion would be like something out of a fairytale, many architectures such as Juliet's balcony (see above) really this is pretty and all but the way it is described on the web page makes you believe its the most beautiful thing you could ever see (I don't believe that), and The Duomo (this will be pictured at the bottom).

Now for a little more information about the arts and all that hogwash. The Dominican church of St. Anastasia is a mine of wealth in early examples of paintings and sculpture, and one of the finest buildings in Italy of semi-Gothic style. It consists of a nave in six bays, aisles, transepts, each with two eastern chapels, and an apse, all vaulted with simple quadripartite brick groining. It was begun in 1261, but not completed till 1422, and is specially remarkable for its very beautiful and complete scheme of coloured decoration, much of which is contemporary with the building. The vaults are gracefully painted with floreated bands along the ribs and central patterns in each cell in rich soft colours on a white plastered ground.

Now lets hear about 15th century royalty (yay!) In the 15th Century we find an "Antonio Serenelli" is noted as a member of a delegation chosen by Bergamo, and is sent to Venice to request transfer of authority from Milan to Venice. On May 6th, he was present at the transfer of Power, which was a ceremonial transfer of the key to Girolamo Contarini. The Venice Government allowed Bergamo to retain their laws and allowed them many privileges, immunity, distinctions and one magistrate was appointed as a representative of the Venetian Government to Bergamo. In 1450 most of the family was in Verona. On August 11, 1450, in Verona we note the presence of "Bartolomeo Serenelli", son of "Sereno", who was son of "Pietro Serenelli", mentioned by Torresani, in a document notarized by Benassuti. Below as I said Before is the Duomo I think, personally that this is one of the lavish buildings I ever had the chance on seeing on the web.

Okay Now to the religion part. The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th through the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of western Europe. It encompassed a revival of learning based on classical sources, the development of linear perspective in painting (I remember doing stuff like that for the Renaissance fair in 5th grade), and educational reform. The Renaissance saw developments in most intellectual pursuits, but is perhaps best known for its artistic aspect and the contributions of such polymaths as Da Vinci and Michelangelo, who have inspired the term "Renaissance Men". The Renaissance received a major boost in the 15th century, when the Fall of Constantinople and the closing of its university by the Ottoman Turks forced thousands of Greek scholars to flee to Italy bringing with them the majority of the texts of Hellenic and Roman literature and law, that still survive today.

The Links:
www.the-orb.net/textbooks/muhlberger/15c_religion.html
www.southernct.edu/~ils69314/Radioshake/webquest.htm
http://www.wikipedia.org/
www.answers.com/topic/verona
http:/encyclopedia.jrank.org/VAN_VIR/VERONA.html
www.citylightsnews.com/serenelli/serenelli-history-eng.htm
www.1911encyclopedia.org/Verona
www.wga.hu/database/glossary/cities/verona.html
and of course to get the guelling assignment
knightsenglish9rocks.blogspot.com

*For the record this assignment was excruciatingly frustrating and detestable in so many ways I can't even explain. I managed to take in some imformation in though. I hope this is what you were looking for and that being said, to be honest I couldn't find class systems and occupations; the rest was not easy but arduous and backbreaking but upbeat. This was probably not the best work I have done so just be far warned if you are deeply chagrined after reading this, I will undividedly and completely agree with you. So have a great day, night, weekend, or whatever it is when you are reading this.

Hugs Not Drugs,

Miss Mercedes

MeRcE...YOU KNOW THE REST

Go Crazy Aahhhhhhh Insanity= Doing something the same way over & over again & expecting different results!

Insanity is everyday life for example, have you ever..., don't even say you haven't walked into the kitchen and opened up the refrigerator and left with nothing in your hands, then five or ten minutes later walk yourself back out into the kitchen & open the fridge and have you not realize NOTHING absolutely nothing has changed! You still leave empty handed. Insanity can be described as doing things over and over again and expecting different results. This applies to all of us as human beings its in our nature to be considered insane. Believe me I know another example is the other day I was moving and unpacking my room downstairs and rearranged it several times and each time was just as worse as the last! What I didn't realize that no matter where I move anything I will always get the same results. But since I am utterly insane I forget to think but who cares..... Everyone is crazy in their own little way its just a part of life its like breathing, you can't without air and you can't live without insanity. Goodness gracious I think that deserved an Oscar ha ha ha.
Hugs Not Drugs ,
Merce...

Obviously Shakespeare is Taking O'er This Blog!

This was an extremely tiring assignment, just so we're clear it took me most of last night because I didn't want to come back from N.C. to a mountainous amount of homework. Before reading I decided to do Scene V but, after reading Act I, I decided to cool it because it would have taken me twice as long. I had to unpack my dictionary and thesaurus just to get this assignment done. Now that I have got my point across here is my introduction:

Scene IV-A Street I picked this one because it seemed reasonably short and Jaye is doing scene III & I didn't want to copy so... And P.S. I sort of abbreviated Romeo and called him Romes in some areas, and I called Mercutio Merc in some and maybe I should call Benvolio benny boy...Are you ready for an absurd version of Romeo and Juliet Scene IV?

Scene IV-Aka The Corner Block Where The Party Was Hoppin'
Romes- Should I introduce myself in a speech?
Benny Boy- Ha...no, we are just going to dance and then bounce after awhile, let them appraise us, and we'll return the favor.
Romes- For goodness sake can't you see that I am having a freaking breakdown? But, just give me the torch and I'll spread some light.
Merc- No, Rom, you have to dance.
Romes- No, but thanks, as the song says I Don't Dance.
Merc- You're a flame. Strut you stuff, pick a chick and dance til you can't dance anymore.
Romeo- I'm not in the greatest mood leave me be, if love was water I'd have drowned by now...I sink.
Merc-But dude listen, ya' win some ya' lose some get over it. Don't let it control your life.
Romeo- Is love a fragile thing? It's too rocky, too cocky, too obnoxious, and like a beautiful rose cuts you to catch a glimpse of bloodshed.
Merc- If love is so rough with you return the favor, cut it back, if it stings you sting it back, grill it so bad you beat it to the ground. A mask for a mask it's what my face is like. Who could notice how repulsive my features are? Here you see, are the bushy brows that make fun of me.
Benny BOY - Get over here and bust a move.
Romeo- Let's all dance until the night grows old. Since this isn't fair, no matter how fun it can get, I won't be the slightest at all phased.
Merc- My goodness, just lie low,as the po' po' (police) would say. We'll save you from your respected love. Let's go.
Romes- ugh...no I don't think so.
Merc- I mean to say we waste our precious time in vain. Try to understand what I mean by this, it shows that you have more "smarts" than anyone can see.
Romes- We're going to this party, even though it' against my better instinct.
Mercutio- And why is that?
Romes- I had a dream.
Merc- How odd, so did I.
Romes- Tell me yours.
Merc-People who seem to dream consistently lie.
Romeo-But, when they sleep, every single dream is true.
The fun part...
Merc- I saw Queen Mab. The fairies' midwife. She's extremely petite almost like thumbelina. She had her own little posey of tiny creatures. Theflew over mens' noses whilst they where snoozin' for a cruisin'. Her getaway vehicle, her Mercedes-Benz 2008 SLK55 AMG Roadster..pretty cool car might I add. It had custom made spinners looking like spider legs. And invisible grasshopper wings helped it fly. The car beamed like moonlight reflected off of a beautiful lake. She rides all night, through lovers' minds and their dreams fade into ones about love. Over lawyers' fingers who may dream of fees; over girls lips, who dream of kisses; sometimes she rides over a soldier's neck, he them dreams of cutting throats. Then drums start to bang, and he awakes, sweating off about 20 lbs. and mutters a prayer or two then rushes back to bed. This Mab causes trouble in and out tangling horses' manes and old mens' beards. This chick, that when young ladies lie on their back, that presses them and learns to bear giving them good posture. Then she...
Romes- Knock it off Merc, now ... please stop talking you're driving me to drink!
Merc- I talk of dreams, these children with pathetic, lazy minds, nothing but vain fantasies, which is as thin as an anorexic chick refusing a glass of water.
Benny boy-Oh shut up. Supper is done, and honestly I'm hungry so let's go.
Romes- I'm scared because my thoughts are misleading me. Consequences through in and out are driving me mad. With tonight's delight and expire the term, of a cursed, hateful life locked in my chest by a pugnacious surrender of death, cutting my life short.
Benny Boy- Strike drum. duh duh duh duh...

FIN... The End!
P.K.,
This was a learning experience, let me tell you. Even though I was completely DUMBFOUNDED by "Benny Boy's" last line, so I didn't bother to change it. I also modified the horse and wagon thing to a new Mercedes-Benz, creative no? I hope this is what you were looking for and made you laugh because I sort of chuckled when I wrote it. I think you did a good job managing this assignment kudoos go out to you. I actually think this assignment helped me understand what the heck I was reading (even though I knew what I was reading of course). But anyways... Have a magnificent SPRING BREAK and a glorious and fun loving Easter. See ya' Wed. I hope?
Hugs Not Drugs,
Love Always,
Miss Mercedes

Courage and Cowards....dedication to P.K.

This an obvious poem related to...(none of an outsiders business) and if by any chance they are reading it...ahh, thats good anyways, you can read it if ya' want, because I am such a wonderful person! :-)

“Courage and Cowards”
Courage is doing what is right
Without having to be told
Courage is manning up
When you know you've done something wrong
Courage is looking the enemy in the eye
And telling them to just bring it
Courage is having fear
But still staying strong
Courage is facing adversity
But being able to overcome it
Cowards need to stop and think
Enough to listen open their eyes and blink.
Courage is what they lack
Disrespect is all they have
And It’s exactly what will cause a break
In their very obvious mental state!
<3>
~Miss Mercedes~

Teachers vs. Shakespeare....The world collides!

I have decided to critique a web page on Mr. William Shakespeare instead of Romeo and Juliet ;( WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?*..) anyways being as how I never read the book I couldn't possibly see how I could critique something by other people's biased opinions and reviews, haven't no clue as to what to believe having no opinion made yet! I decided to choose the site www.bardweb.net which I found on the Google search engine.
This site www.bardweb.net has given me information beyond a reasonable doubt and personally I was surprised to say the most although still the very least. First this site provided me a slight bit of information about the site itself and then proceeded with different links such as: Shakespeare's biography; Shakespeare's Works; Shakespeare's Language; Shakespeare's Will; Authorship debate; The Globe Theatre; Shakespearean Study; Reading List; Theatre Companies; and other links involved with Mr. Shakespeare. As I continued to click on the various links I found information that I never knew before (well duh...) anyways, here I am quoting a specific detail in which I read and found mildly interesting: " For the seven years following the birth of his twins, William Shakespeare disappears from all records, finally turning up again in London some time in 1592. This period, known as the "Lost Years," has sparked as much controversy about Shakespeare's life as any period. " I like interesting mysterious stuff and this I guess fit the bill. Some of the links took me to read some of his other works, this simply believe showed how diverse Shakespeare's works are, from his 154 Sonnets, to his Comedic plays and Tragic works. Personally since I am a fan of well written sonnets I enjoyed these above all. Another thing about this web page that I liked was that the author of this webpage had a guide on how to decipher Shakespeare's language into our English today (which is not very good). I also liked how they gave you links to other things like theatres ,debates, and many other Shakespearean things you could only dream to discover!
Overall, I'd give this site an 8/10 because of its structure and ability to keep me hooked, wondering, and informated about Mr. William Shakespeare. I really learned a lot. I would give it a 9 but the pop ups were driving me mad and I don't like them so ergh..... Other than that the page was a beautiful, informational,perfect place for me to expand my feeble yet fertile mind in the world of Shakespeare. <3
* whats' love got to do with it= "P.K."'s Romeo and Juliet aka
*P.K.,
Don't let your students get ya' down this blog thing was actually a good idea. For once I actually don't mind HW, even if it did make my compuer move as slow as a very injured snail. Well let's not think of such things. But don't ya' worry there are some of us in the world that know you are trying but there are some idiotic "cowards" that won't give things like these blogs a chance and are just spoiled rotten little brats..don't get me started. But anyways I like it and just thought you should know not all of us are anti-p.k.!..................Haha just for a laugh
~Miss Mercedes~

How Fort Cherry makes ME feel!

Even though I have only been attending Fort Cherry for a short while, but I have my own opinions of whether or not F.C. is preparing me enough as a college student. My opinions vary day to day so if it changes I'll let ya' know. I feel that Fort Cherry is not giving me the opportunities that I seek day after day. Since I seem to move a lot I have experienced a lot of different curriculums throughout my school days and I think that some schools (not mentioning any names) are further exploting the minds of children trying and hoping for a better education and F.C. is just not cutting it! Since I tell it like it is this is true! I hope this will change in the future!
M.Z.