The Undead Army

"Here's your key, sir." Matt took the key from the worker. He was going to room 159 in the Piggy Banc Hotel. The Hotel was pretty fancy, and very cheap. Nari had given him one hundred Wurms to rent a room, and taught him the system of money for the country he was in, which she said was called Asarina. Snigs were bronze coins, they held the smallest value of the coins. Silver Wurms were equal to fifty Snigs. Gold Wiks were equal to ten Wurms. And Slunts, which were so rare that most people never get to see the platinum coins, were equal to one hundred Wiks.

Matt's room was pretty small. He had a bed and a table. That's it. It was only fifty Wurms so he still had fifty left. He had no weapons or clothes to drop off so he put his coin sack on the table and left the building. He walked around the village, noticing that since the morning a few more people had arrived. He enjoyed the shops that were scattered around the village. Especially the Smith's. The Smith sold his metal works as well as equipment for other smiths. But the reason Matt loved the Smith's shop wasn't because of what it sold. It was because of the Smith himself.

The village's smith was named Gannon Isaacsson. Gannon was a kind man and had given Matt a small daggger for free, claiming he made it when he was only eight years old. And Gannon allowed Matt to try his hand at Black Smithing (which Matt found very fun, but extremely difficult). And Matt left the shop with a burn running the length of his arm.

Upon returning to the hotel, Matt saw a notice board with a poster that caught his eye. On the poster was the image of a knife. Just below the image read the words "All lawbreakers and rebels are to be reported to any member of King Slamon's army." He liked the dagger and was pondering the words when he noticed a wanted criminal poster. This poster had the image of Chief Copun on it, and below the image was the word WANTED and the reward. The reward was very big. 500 Wiks.

The Glass Castle

I recently finished the book the Glass Castle. This book is amazing. It's a brilliant memoir by Jeanette Walls. Her sad story is turned into a masterpiece. The book tells of Jeanette and her family. Her Mother, an artist who doesn't want the responsibility placed on a mother, her father, who is always drunk and isn't exactly law-abiding, and her brother and sisters, Brian, Lori, and Maureen.

The Glass Castle tells of how the kids learned to look after themselves and each other, while their parents live their messed-up lives. There are tales of crazy kids, crazy events, and even crazier adults. The book holds memories like the time Billy Deel attacked them with a BB Gun, and when Denitta Hewitt bullied Jean in Welch, the Chiristmas she got Venus (the planet), and many many more experiences.

The book is exciting, touching, and extremely interesting all at once. To be able to turn your sad life story into a wonderful masterpiece is an amazing gift and Jeanette Walls has done exactly that.

The Secret Keepers

I always thought of Disneyland as magical. I thought Adventureland was an amazing place where kids could have... well ... adventures. I thought of Toowntown as hillarious. Frontierland was the cozy, old fashion town I just loved. Fantasyland was classic Disney, and i loved it for that. I loved them all. I loved the Pirates of the Carribean, the Haunted Mansion, and the Mad Tea Party. And I always wanted to know what happens in the park after dark. But the book the Secret Keepers changed that wish.

The Secret Keepers is about a boy named Finn and his DHI friends. DHIs are the new Disney Host Interactives, holographic kids who act as tour guides for Disneyland guests. When Finn gets a job as a DHI, he thinks that all he has to do is pose and let the tech guys make his hologram for free tickets and some money. His thoughts were way wrong. He ends up being woken up in the middle of the night by nobody. It would be fine, he just woke up at night big deal. It would be fine, if he hadn't woken up in the middle of Disneyland! He's suddenly thrown into an adventure, coming to the park at night and fighting evil Disney characters led by Malifecent the witch.

The Secret Keepers is extremely thrilling, it's the kind of book that keeps you up all night. It's loaded with personality and full of adventure. Magic castles, mysterious characters, and Disneyland like you've never seen it before.

Playing For Change.

I've been listening to the Playing For Change CD a lot recently. It's really amazing. So many people with so many instruments and cultures. It's really amazing. They traveled all over the world to find music, to see talented musicians play. All connected some how by their songs. It's really so very truly amazing. So many people just playing music, all playing the same tune. It shows how so many cultures and races can be brought together by one thing. In music, we can find peace. No matter who you are or where you live. Small things can bring us together. Remember that the next time you sing, strum your guitar strings, beat your drums, or play your piano, someone on the other side of the world is playing that exact same tune.

The Undead Army (continued)

The store was full of hunting items. Bows, arrows, daggers, spears, and other weapons. The store also had hunting maps, woodland camouflages, water skins, packs, medical kits, and a lot of other hunting gear.

"Does your father own this store?" Matt asked Nari.

"Actually, I do. I run it and clean. I buy the stock and make sure there are new sales and items every once in a while."

"Why would your father have you run the store?"

"Because...he doesn't live in the village. He's fighting in Slamon's army," replied Nari.

"What about your mother?"

"I never knew my mother. She left us after I was born." Matt hadn't any idea what it was like not knowing your mother. He suddenly felt pity for Nari. A young girl without a mother whose father is far away.

"I'm fine on my own. I can go out whenever I want and hunt and eat whatever I want. Now come, I'll show you upstairs." They went through a door behind the counter and up the stairs behind that door.

The house had one bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room. The bedroom had a single mattress and a small cupboard. The kitchen had a small stove and a counter with groceries on it. The living room had a table and a few chairs. That was it.

"I don't have much. I don't really need much because I'm never really home.," Nari said. After a short tour, Matt got hungry. He realized he hadn't eaten for a full day.

"If you have nowhere to stay, which I'm guessing you don't, you can check Piggy Banc Hotel. They have a resturaunt on the ground floor."