~ Sara Bareilles ~

I know I have been writing about rock music and rock groups in all my blogs. However, there is a softer side to my character. I am a devoted fan of Sara Bareilles. She has such a beautiful voice. She is an American singer-songwriter and also plays the piano. She started her success in 2007 with her single "Love Song", it was an instant hit.
Last year, my friend and I tried to go to her concert but tickets sold out within a week of going on sale, it was unbelievable. Needless to say, we did not get to attend the show. We were so upset about it, we attempted to go on other websites to try to purchase tickets, even called friends to see if anyone had extra tickets. No chance, we missed the show. As i was browsing through Ticketmaster's website, I came across a show that Sara Bareilles is playing in Central Park at the end of the summer. I am elated because this will be the year I get to see her and in Central Park no less. Picture this....a warm summer night, the sweet sounds of Sara Bareilles playing while surrounded by my best girlfriends. I can not imagine it gets much better. I am extremely excited to attend this show and I know my friends are as well.

Vocabulary:
Character (n)-The distinctive nature of something
Devoted (adj)-Very loving or loyal.
Unbelievable (adj)-extraordinary
Website (n)-A set of interconnected webpages
Browsing (v)-To inspect something leisurely and casually
Imagine (v)-Form a mental image or concept of

Fill In the Blank:
1. Please close your eyes and _________ you are somewhere that makes you happy.
2. He is a _________ baseball fan.
3.It was ______ how he made that play to home plate.
4. She went to the library and was _________ through the fiction section.
5. he played a ________ in the Sound of Music.
6. I love that ______, it lets you play free games on the internet.

Grammar Points:
In class, we talked about conjunctions. A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. Please circle the conjunctions in the sentences above and write your own five sentences and then circle the conjunctions you used in them as well.

JaHsTiX

One Sunday afternoon, I went to a local restaurant with a friend of mine. The tropical sounds of Bob Marley tunes consumed my head. What was that amazing sound I thought to myself? I inquired who he is from the waiter and he said "It's Jahstix, he plays here all the time. One of the best Reggae/SKA musician there is".  As I listened to his music, it brought me back to an island or maybe it was the margarita I was drinking; either way, he sounded phenomenal, his voice mimicked Bob Marley exactly but with his own little touch on it. I had to find out where else he performed, especially because he plays places where I live. He has a great vibe and he would definitely be someone to watch in the summer time. When we were leaving the restaurant, we were stopped by a woman who had nothing but praise for Jahstix. She said he us superb and one of her favorites, she even booked him for her daughter confirmation. He must be some kind of wonderful I thought to myself. We only got to hear a little bit of his set but I will try to find out where he is playing next. I highly recommend checking him out if you live on the south shore of Long Island.  

Vocabulary:

Consumed (v)- To absorb; engross

Inquired (v)-To seek information

Phenomenal (adj)-Extraordinary; outstanding

Mimicked (v)- to copy

Praise (n)-Expression of approval

Superb (adj)-Of unusually high quality; excellent

Find the verb in the sentence and correct the tense:

1. She walk to the store.

2. Every time he listen to the music, he dance.

3. The cat chase the mouse.

4. Wake up in the morning is hard.

5. Jahstix play the guitar perfectly.

6. He read the book as he fall asleep at night.

Grammar Points:

We talked about verb tense this week. M
ake up five sentences that use different verb tenses in them, please use at least three different types of verb tenses.

Snoop Dog!

OK, I know the entire blog has been about rock music but classic rap never hurt anyone. It was last Saturday night, I went to a party at Ciprianis on Wall street to celebrate the rookies of the NFL draft pick. I hesitated at first, but looking back I am happy I went. When I got there, there was tight security at the front door and once inside, you were not allowed to renter. The place was magnificent and then people were dressed in fabulous cocktail attire. Instantly, I went to the bar and got myself a cocktail. After some socializing with the athletes and perusing the buffet tables, the DJ got on the microphone and announced that there was a special guest. All of a sudden, the light cut out and when they turned back on, Snoop Dog was on stage with three dancers singing all his hits. This night had just gotten a whole lot better. The crowd was dancing and singing his songs, it was such a blast. The night was filled with an abundant of free food and drinks, and a free concert by a rap legend; you can't beat that.

Vocabulary:
Celebrate (v)- to rejoice
Draft (n)- a player selection
Socializing (v)- to mix with others
Perusing (v)- examine carefully
Magnificent (adj)-Impressively beautiful, elaborate
Abundant (adj)-Existing or available in large quantities; plentiful

Underline:
There are many verbs used in this blog post, please find the verb in each sentence and undeline it.
1. He went to the store.
2. We like to rejoice at a party.
3. He was very thorough when he proof read his paper.
4. Sandy is a fast runner, she can run a mile in under six minutes.
5. Henry is a very smart studnet, he reads and writes at college level.
6. Please place you towels in the hamper when you are finished at te pool.

Grammar points:
In class, we are learning about verbs. A verb is an action word. Please write a paragraph using at least six verbs. Underline the verbs in your paragraph to show me that you understand what a verb is.

. . . . . Seether . . . . .

I got a phone call from a friend a few days ago, he told me that he has two extra tickets to the Seether show at the end of May. I have never seen this band before but I have been a fan of theirs for quite some time now. I have been told that they have remarkable stage presence and always put on a great show. Now, if you have been reading my blogs you would know that I will not turn down an opportunity to see a show, especially a band that I have been wanting to see play. Unfortunately I am in a volleyball league this summer and the season starts the night of the show. So I find myself in a bit of a predicament. I would welcome opinions and advice. It will undoubtedly be a great show but do I disappoint my team and enjoy an amazing rock group or do I be a team player and head to the beach for some volleyball?

Vocabulary:
Remarkable (adj)- worthy of being noticed, especially as being extraordinary
Presence (n)- the condition of being present
Unfortunately(adj)- undeserved bad luck
Predicament(n)-a situation, especially an unpleasant
Undoubtedly(adv)-without question
Disappoint (v)-to fail to satisfy the hope, desire, or expectation of.

Fill in the blank:
1. ________ I am sick, so i can not come to your party.
2. You look ________ beautiful in that dress.
3. My ________ is always welcome.
4. What would you do in this ___________?
5. It is ___________ what you have done to your room, it looks wonderful.
6. I do not want to ___________ my team.
Grammar Points:
In class we are discussing how to properly write a story using the correct format with an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. For this story, please think of a time when you had to make a decision, what was it? how did you handle it? please use at least three of the vocabulary words in your response.

A Perfect Circle

This band is amazing; it is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by Tool's front man Maynard James Keenan and guitarist Billy Howerdel. They have three albums released to date; they are Mer de Noms, Thirteeth Step, and eMOTIVe. The band went into hiatus in 2004, so that the band members could work on other projects. So you could imagine my excitement when I found out they were coming to play in New York City in June. I quickly got tickets and I am patiently waiting to see them again. I had the pleasure of watching them preform in 2001, so i believe it is time to see them once again. Maynard is a genius. He is the front man/ vocalist for both Tool and A Perfect Cicle with talent that exceeds most rock musicians across the board. I highly recommened attending the show, if there are tickets still available. It will be an amazing night for sure.

Vocabulary:
Released (v)- to set free
Hiatus(n)- a break or interruption in the continuity of work
Imagine(v)-To form a mental picture or image of
Patiently(adj)-exhibiting calm endurance
Pleasure (n)-state or feeling of being pleased or gratified

Fill in the blank:
1. She went on ______ due to a illness.
2. ______ you are in a warm place right now.
3.He was ______ waiting for his turn.
4.The _____ was all mine, your welcome.
5. Sandy went to open the door and ______ all the puppies.

Grammar Points:
In class this week, we discussed synonyms. Synonyms are different words with almost identical or similar meanings. Please come up with your own synonyms for each one of the vocabulary words.

Thin Lizzy?

As my posts continue, the bands I write about are eclectic in their music style. This band is no different. Thin Lizzy is an Irish rock band that formed in Dublin in 1969. Their music reflects a wide range of influences, including country music, psychedelic rock, and traditional Irish folk music, but is generally classified as hard rock. One of their most popular hits is called "The Boys Are Back in Town", this song went worldwide with its popularity. I would classify it as soul rock. Thin Lizzy is not a band I am fond of. I had never heard of them before the night I went to the show. My friend invited me to the show and I never turn down a concert, so I decided to go. When I got to the Best Buy Theater in Times Square, NYC, I felt like a true VIP person. My friend met me at the door, walked me in with a comped ticket, tossed a laminated backstage pass around my neck, and we headed straight through security onto the stage. I was standing on the side of the stage with the bass player of Anthrax, three music executives, and a former New York Yankee named Bernie Williams. I simply looked at my friend and smiled, I knew this was going to be a great night. After the show we went backstage to hang out with the band. The guys were so sweet, not the kind of rock and roll night you probably had in mind. This was a lot more mellow. The guys are older and have been around a while, so the scene was calm and relaxed not chaotic and intense. All in all it was a great night.

Vocabulary:
eclectic (adj)- choosing from various sources
classify (v)- to organize by class
fond (adj)- having a liking or affection for
comped (n)- free of charge
laminated (adj)- constructed of layers of material bonded together
mellow (n)- a state, atmosphere, or mood of ease and gentle relaxation

Fill in the blank:
1. talking to my friends really makes me ______ when I need to relax.
2. I got a ____ copy of the CD I've wanted.
3. My teacher _______ our hall pass, so it wouldn't get ruined.
4. I am _____ of my dog, Rover.
5. How would I _______ my style of clothing?
6. I have an _______ taste in cuisine.

Grammar Points:
This past week, we learned about adverbs; adverbs are  words that often tell when, where, why, or under what conditions something happens or happened. I will give you a topic and I want you to use at least six adverbs in your paragraph. I would like for you to write a paragraph that explains a night where you thought it wouldn't be fun, but it turned out to be great. Please use at least three of the words from above.

COLD

Throughout each one of my blog posts, there is a constant theme of music. If you have been following my blogs, you will understand how important music is to me and how much I enjoy it, especially live. Well this blog post is no different. Cold is an amazing band. I started listening to them in the year 2000 when they released their second studio album called 13 ways to bleed on stage; this album was an inspirational part of my life and it definitely altered my views on reality. Some of my favorite songs from this album include Just Got Wicked, Its All Good, Anti-Love Song, Bleed, Send in the Clowns, and No one. Their other albums which are equally amazing, are called Year of the Spider, Self-titled album, and A different Kind of Pain.

I am bringing this band to your attention, not only because they are one of my favorite but because I will be attending their show in New Jersey. I go to their concert every year. One year, I think it was in 2009, I got the chance to see them three times in one year. That was a great year, especially because I got to meet the lead singer, Scooter Ward. When I was standing next to him, I could not speak but I knew I had to say something. All I said was, " Your Scooter Ward. I want to thank you for makeing your music, especially 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage. That album changed my life." He replied  "Thank you, That means a lot to me. We do it for the love of music and hope that it moves people emotionally, like it has for you." Then we embraced in a big hug. That night was an amazing night, the show was fantastic and meeting Scooter Ward was unimaginable. It was a night I will never forget.


Vocabulary:
Constant (adj)- Continually occuring
Inspirational (adj)- Of or relating to inspiration.
Altered (v)- To change or make different; modify
Emotionally (adj)- Of or relating to emotion:
Embraced (v)- To clasp or hold close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection
Unimaginable (adj)- Difficult or impossible to believe

Matching:
(Match the vocabulary word with its synonym)
1.Unimaginable                                               ________ Hugged
2.Altered                                                        ________ Continuous
3.Constant                                                      ________ Inconcievable
4.Embraced                                                    ________ Changed
5.Inspirational                                                 ________ Passionately
6.Emotionally                                                   ________ Stimulating

Grammar Points:
In class we talked about adjectives. An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun. Please use four vocabulary words and six of your own adjectives to explain a moment in time where you were your happiest.