It's Snowing

                   Yesterday on December 26, 2010 marked the first snow of the season winter. This is a joy to kids of all ages mainly because they don't have to go to school, and they can play in the soft, white blanket that covers the town. Unfortunately for the adults, snow is a pain in the back because of all the shoveling, especially today since the snow is more than a foot deep. That's the most snow I have ever seen.

                    Snow brings out the joy in winter. When you first wake up and get out of bed in the morning, every child loves to see the white blanket covering everything they see. It's quiet and peaceful as the tiny snowflakes makes its way to the ground. Everything is so beautiful it is sometimes hard just to see it all get cleaned up, melted, or having footprints laid on it. Snow is great for so many reasons, what do you like best about the snow?

Lunar Eclipse

                  
                 Around midnight, when it marked December 21,2010, a lunar eclipse was starting to occur. It would last for about five hours. This time it would be a total lunar eclipse from by where we are watching it would be a complete eclipse.

                  A lunar eclipse can only occur when it is a full moon. It is when the moon is behind Earth and is in its shadow. From left to right the moon, earth, and sun are lined up directly. When the moon is in the penumbra of the earth the moon seems to be brighter, and when the moon is in Earths umbra it seems to be darker. Also, during a lunar eclipse the moon appears to be red in color. I hope most of you got the chance to experience the amazing sight last night, even though I didn't.

Debate on Breaks

                   Throughout the year we get many breaks off from school. Some can be as short as a day or as long as ten days. The longer ones are fall, winter, and spring break. These vacation days are to let us spend time with family, enjoy the holidays, wake up as late as you want, and relax from your school life. All three of these breaks last about a week, and of course there is also summer vacation which lasts two and a half months.

                    What I wonder is why do we have week long breaks through out the year and once the school year is done we relax for two and a half months? There is so much of a difference in between that kids forget half of what they learned the past year, and when we have the week long breaks it feels to short to enjoy. Even when we do have breaks we get homework, so how are you supposed to enjoy time off with homework? It's just like having school at home. My cousin who lives in India has a month long break for winter and summer and shorter breaks in between for other holidays. Which break combination do you think is better for our education and our time to enjoy it? Please answer my question in the form of a comment.

Special Blog Post

The Last Book in the Universe

                    For the past two weeks in English class we have been reading a book called, The Last Book in The Universe, by Rodman Philbrick. It's about a boy, Spaz, who lives in the Urb after The Big Shake. The Big Shake was something that wiped out the human species. Now about one thousand years later the planet is split up into two places, the Urb and Eden. The Urb is where normals live and Eden is where proovs live. Proovs are people who were made genetically perfect when they were born. They always think that they are better than Normals, who don't deserve to live in a place like they do, which is beautiful with blue skies and green grass. In the Urb everything is dirty and people are poor. In this book there is adventure, excitement, and love for family.

                   One day Spaz goes to rip off Ryter, a poor, old man, because of orders from Billy Bizmo, the boss of his latch. Ryter has a bunch of papers to create the last book in the universe. ( since this is the future books no longer exist, people now probe which is a way to see something in your mind) Spaz also gets a message from Charly, his foster dad, that Bean, his foster sister is almost dying, she wants to meet him before she does. Spaz goes on this amazingly, dangerous adventure along with Ryter. Will Bean be saved? What else will this book hold? The only way to find out is to read!

                      In my opinion this is a very good book to read. It talks about how important family really is, why people shouldn't be separated into groups, and adventure. This book even has different lessons to learn. I recommend this book to people who love to read about the future 

 and can't imagine living in a world without books. Enjoy reading!

Past Christmas Memories

                   Christmas brings joy all around the world. Every year that passes by I remember hearing the crinkling of wrapping paper, laughter all around, and the delightful aroma of dinner coming up my nose. For each year that passes I remember something different. I might be celebrating Christmas with my dad's family or my mom's, it doesn't matter. My family is together spending unforgettable moments.

                     Since I was five I remember something special about this night. On one of my first Christmas I remember eating at a restaurant with my cousins then coming back home to discover the gifts that Santa had left for us, three lego boxes. Something I always love doing is decorating the tree. Glitter from the ornaments rub off on my hands, while my aunt puts up the lights. On Christmas Eve I would beg my other aunt to repeat the story of Jesus, even though I could remember it by heart. My parents would even take us to New York just to see all the beautiful, magnificent lights on the buildings, and of course the great, big tree at Rockefeller Center, while singing carols in the car. Isn't Christmas wonderful? I can't wait to see what joys it brings this year. 

Blogger Challenge

                   For today's post I will challenge my viewers to a very special contest. In some of my previous posts I have written about my life as a little person. You will write about something similar to what I have written. If you are willing to take on the challenge please read on to know what you can write about. I have chosen four topics.

1. Write about a type of dwarfism (achondroplasia will not be counted). Some types are sudo achondroplasia, diastrophic dysplasia, and primordial dwarfism.
2. Write about an experience you might have had meeting a little person. You can include the type, their troubles, and advantages.
3. Write about an experience when you met someone with another type of disability. Include the things I said in suggestion two.
4. Write about how your life would be with a disability. What would change? Which life would you rather live? Why?

                    To submit your post send a comment on this post. In the comment include your name, grade, the topic you chose, the title, and a link to your blog. The latest you can enter is Thursday, December 23, 2010. I will announce the winner on my blog on Sunday, December 26, 2010. The winner will receive a badge to put up on their blog. Good luck and have fun!

Rachel's Challenge

                 " I accept Rachel's challenge.", were the words we said yesterday when we heard a devastating story about a girl, Rachel Scott, and the Columbine High School Massacre. This happened at Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999. Thirteen people were killed, twelve students and a teacher, and many were injured. Two boys, Eric and Dylan, were prepared to kill as many people as they could. They set bombs around the school and outside Rachel Scott was innocently eating her lunch and writing in her journal. The boys were rapidly shooting their guns when the bullets hit Rachel four times and killed her. They also wanted to kill the school athletes, African Americans, and anyone who they thought had bullied them. After they were done they killed themselves which ended the massacre.

                       Rachel's family did not want to celebrate her death in vain. The family sent the message Rachel wanted the world to hear. She wanted world peace, people to be kind to each other, respect one another, and she didn't want people to be judged by whatever reason. Even if people were mean to her at first she would try to find out why and find the real beauty in them. Yesterday at school, these messages and Rachel's dream was told to us. We pledged to follow them and start a chain reaction. The question is " Will you accept Rachel's challenge?"

Rachel Joy Scott

Meeting Other Little People

                   When you meet someone that is just like you it is hard to let them go. Even if they only have one thing in common with you, their way of life could be the same as yours, and when you hear about it, you can't believe what you hear. This is what happens when I meet other little people. Their life feels the same as mine, even with one little difference about both of us, our size.
                  I have met a few little people before. One of them is a doctor who works at John Hopkins's Medical University. Another one is a girl I met at Walmart. The last one is my next door neighbor's, cousin's, stepsister. Today I will tell you a story about how I met one of them.

                 It was a nice, sunny day. A perfect day to play outside with someone. My brother and I decided to go play with Amanda, our five year old next door neighbor. Her cousins had come over so we had three more people to play with. There was something different I noticed about one of Amanda's cousins. I asked Amanda how old that girl was. She said," She is six years old." There it hit me like a home run at a baseball game. I wondered how could this girl be six years old when she looked like she was two? I figured she was a little person, achondroplastic like me. To make sure I asked her parents and they said yes. 

                  Could this be true? I thought seeing a little person wasn't that common. Having a little person be my neighbor's relative was a real shock. Getting out of my thoughts, I realized I was really happy to meet her and so was she. I couldn't wait to hear my story coming out of her mouth. For we two were both the same, little people.

 This post was entered in The Edblogger's Share Your Blogging Experience

Surgeries

                     If you are a little person you need to go through many surgeries throughout your life. They are to connect your bones and joints properly. That is only one type though. You can also get tubes in your ears to make you hear better. I had to get that done two or three times. This amount is very little to how many surgeries Matt Roloff got. He literally spent his whole childhood in a hospital. Can you believe it?

                     Different kinds of little people have different needs and go through different surgeries. If you are an achondroplasia dwarf like me you usually don't go through many surgeries. If you are a diastrophic dwarf like Matt Roloff the chances are you will go through many. When I got my ear surgery I couldn't bare to stay at the hospital for another second. I couldn't imagine having to stay in the hospital my whole childhood. In Matt's point of view, he longed to see his parents every week in the hospital. To him he felt as if he was trapped in there with some part of his body hurting. I am thankful that I didn't have to go through much pain. It is amazing how much he could endure.

Milestone Place

Kolkata, India

                    There is a place called Kolkata in the country of India. It is found on most maps and many globes on the northeast part of India. Kolkata is my hometown, but I have lived in Edison, New Jersey for about ten years. Until last summer, when I flew there on a never ending plane ride for vacation.

                     I lived on Park Street in a regular apartment with my grandparents. I still remember on the top of my head the day I went back. It was July 5, 2010, another summer day, but not to me. Most of you would have to drive for a few minutes to see your relatives, I had to fly. Finally, I was waiting for this moment for many years. The day finally came for our family to be reunited.

                     Waiting at the airport my brother and I look for any stopping cars. Thirty minutes later, two, smooth, sleek, shiny cars came to a halt. We rushed outside and couldn't wait for the warm welcome we were about get. Feeling the blacktop underneath my sandals I ran as fast as I could. We couldn't believe our eyes. Our family crystal clear right in front of us.

                      First came my aunt, she took my brother and I and carried us both. Then my grandparents who did the same. Next came two average kids who I call, my cousins. Both of them who don't look like they did in the pictures we saw. First my older cousin Devesh who I just said a simple "hello" to with a gigantic smile. My cousin, Ria gave my a card with a drawing you wouldn't think a five year old could do. Last came my uncle who gave me a tight hug. This was it! The moment of my life I desired for. It was finally here. Possibly the happiest moment of my life. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Milestone Event

Going to a Movie with my Friends

                    My parents always took my brother and I to see a movie. This time it was different. I was going with my new friend, Shikha. An nice, ordinary, fourteen year old. Knock! Knock! I walk anxiously to open the door for her. We were going to see Eclipse together with two of her friends. As I step into her car I am as excited as an athlete winning his first race. I had been waiting to watch this movie for weeks. My excitement grew since I was going to watch this movie with my new friend.

                  Finally at the theatre we step out the car to meet the two girls that would be joining us. We get our popcorn and tickets and find our seats. I look next to me and behind me. There weren't any adults watching us. This was common for Shikha but not for me. Crunching my popcorn I decide to stop looking and enjoy the movie. I wished this movie would go on forever like a kid reading their favorite book. Who knew I would be trusted at eleven years old while Shikha was fourteen? It was a great experience to discover. I was trusted to watch a movie with only my new friends.

                  That day didn't seem big. Not many people would think so. Why would they? To me, it was a time to be remembered. A day when I only had my friends with me, nothing more. Just four friends and a movie.                                        

Milestone Interest

Reading

                   I love reading almost as much as I love eating ice cream on a scorching, hot, summer day. All I need is myself and any book I can choose from my shelf. If I could I would read all I want. Unfortunately, I can't until my mom yells from the kitchen "Dinner time!" or "Go to sleep!" I would always insist on reading the remaining pages of the chapter, but it wouldn't work.

                   Once I grab a book from my shelf, I run upstairs to my room, adjust my blanket and pillows, then finally open then cover to reach my destination in the magical world of reading. It could be any book. A mystery, fiction, non fiction, or biography. As soon as I read the first word I am sucked into a vacuum. No one can get me out. I love that feeling, no one can get in your own secret palace.

                  A couple of times I used to find myself dreaming about the book I had just finished. I was in the story along with the other characters who seemed to come to life. If I came across my favorite part I would watch it over and over again in the little t.v. I have in my head. While repeating the scene my endless dream gets interrupted by a little monster I'd like to call, my brother.

                   Soon, I would be able to read the book of my choice. Soon, I would know what happens in the next chapter. Soon, I just kept repeating all the possibilities because of the joy I have for reading.

Milestone Person

My Best Friend,

Margie

                   Margie was just another ordinary third grader. I never would have thought she would be my best friend, even today when I think about it. She didn't talk much, until we sat at the same table. We said "hello" and started a conversation.

                    Two years later, in fifth grade we were still like chocolate and vanilla. Once I met her again we immediately started talking. During summer vacation she explained to me that she was going to move this year. The only thing in my mind was to cherish the moments I had with her. I knew that nothing could break us apart.

                     Everyday at recess we would talk and play. We wouldn't let the bad news get the best of us. Meandering across the blacktop, saying anything in our heads, we keep wishing these days would last forever. Every moment was precious.

               The dreadful day finally came. A day which I will always remember. I saw her slowly walking out the school doors. " Good bye," I told her. She was speechless, almost about to cry. I hugged her, then she left. Not a day goes by that I don't miss being with her.

Milestone Object

My Patrol Belt

                     When I was ten I was picked to be a patrol. We were recognized by a bright, green belt we wore. It had the words, safety patrol, on it and a badge. I couldn't wait to put on the bright, new belt that was about to be mine. Once the belt was wrapped around me, perfect size, it felt like this wasn't real.

                      When I was in kindergarten I knew my desire was to be a patrol and that dream came true. I felt the smooth, shiny badge and knew this was reality. It was finally my turn to be one.

                       I had to try many different posts before I was chosen to do the announcements. My heart was pumping, sweat was rolling down my forehead, but I did it! My new responsibility was going to be with me till the last day of school. Breath in, breath out I told myself. My mind just wasn't getting this fact in my head, but I knew it was true. It had to be. I was finally a fifth grader and a patrol. My dream was what I was living. I couldn't have been more happier that day when I got my brand new patrol belt.

                        From that day on I knew that if you work hard enough your dream can come true and anything is possible. 

Happy Halloween

                   Trick or treat. Don't you just love getting candy? I know I do, and soon one of my favorite holidays is coming up. It is finally October and you know what that means. Halloween is just three days away, can you believe it? I love to go door to door and get candy. Hershey, skittles, and starburst is what I hope to get. We'll find out soon. Another thing I like about Halloween is dressing up. This year I am going dress up as a witch. What about you? Oh, and remember, get as much candy as you can, and always remember to say, Boo! Happy Halloween!

Wonders of Sleep

                     

                Sleep is very important. Some of us whine right before we go to sleep because we aren't tired. Your body says that but your mind says "no". Then when we wake up we don't want to. We just want to stay in bed, which is the opposite of what you felt last night. This is perfectly normal, everyone experiences it.

Here is a little scenario most of us have gone through. Enjoy!

                Walking up the stairs to my bedroom I am not tired, but that isn't in my dad's vocabulary. Reluctantly, I put on my pajamas and plop onto my warm, comfy bed. I reach out my hand to turn my alarm on. Then I put my cozy blanket over me. Ten minutes later after continuous tossing and turning to get in the right position I am off into a deep sleep. While sleeping I go into a world where anything is possible, the world of dreams.

                 A few hours later slowly, my eyes are drifting upwards to check the time. It is 2:45 A.M. "Yes!" I whisper,"I have plenty of time left. DRRRIINNG! DRRRIINNG! My alarm rings. I wake up immediately to turn it off. What! Wasn't it 2:45 just a minute ago? How did it get to 6:30 already? Disappointed, I tumble off my bed, raise the blinds, then head into the bathroom. Then I realize it is Monday. The weekend seems so far away like a fading dream I can never replace.

Appropriate Terms

                    There are a few terms to address a little person. Some are acceptable but there is one where little people can't stand. Do you know which is the appropriate term? It is okay if you haven't heard it before. Just guess before you read the next paragraph. Is it dwarf or midget?
                    If you guessed dwarf you are a hundred percent right! I know you have all heard the term dwarf, but I'm guessing some of you haven't even heard the word midget. I dwarf is someone who has short stature from birth who grows up to be about four feet tall. A midget is a person who is slightly smaller and in some cases belongs in a circus. Most of the time when someone is called a midget they are made fun of. I hope you con predict that the lesson here is you always have to think before you talk.

Bill an Jen Klein

Everyone is Different




Roloff Twins
Jeremy and Zach
(Zach has achondroplasia like his mother)

 

                     You may have heard the term "nobody's perfect" which is true. Everyone is different in their own special way. It is just that you might not take the chance to notice it. On the outside you might seem like a regular person, but is that true for you on the inside. Of course, all of you now know that I am a little person. Now let's find out what is special about you.

                     There are many adjectives to describe just one person. You could be tall, short, fat, skinny, smart, fast, slow, funny, serious, and talkative. Now I know those are a lot of words, but let's see if one fits you just right. You can look at yourself in the mirror and describe yourself that way, or you can even ask your friends and family and see what they think of you on the inside. That way, you will get many answers. Try doing this at home today and send me comments of what you heard and saw. Always remember this, nobody can be perfect but you can always be your best! Thank you for reading!







Jeremy and Zach Roloff



Stares, Opinions,and Questions

                     When kids see me something goes on in their mind. They think why am I so short. It would probably be the first time they have seen someone like me. They often can't keep it in their head so they phrase it in a question and occasionally make fun. Here are some examples of what they say or do.  "Why are you so short?", " How did you get that way?" and the most common question, "How old are you?", if they don't ask questions they giggle. Here are the are answers I tell them. Answer number one: "I was born that way." Answer number two " I just am." Answer number three, the most non-believable and frequently asked  one, I would tell them my current age but they don't believe me, so I might just say the age they think I am and let them be happy.

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions please ask and feel free to give me any ideas for  new post!

Special Blog Post

                                                             Autumn              
              Whoosh! The wind is blowing. The leaves are changing color. The people are thinking, "What is going on?" There is just one answer, autumn. To many kids, fall is special because of Halloween and Thanksgiving. To me, all these beautiful colors make autumn special. I love to see yellow, red, and orange leaves on the trees, the wind pulling them down. It even has varieties of weather. There is a nice breeze and no mosquitoes. School also starts. Which reminds me... DING! That's the bell. Gotta go!
           

Thank you for reading. Feel free to comment.

           

Autumn Landscape

Achondroplasia

                   Achondroplasia? What does that word mean? Achondroplasia is a type of dwarfism that I have.  It causes short stature. You get short arms and legs, and an abnormally large head. Some of you might be thinking "Did you get it from your parents?" The answer is no. You can, but in this case I didn't. Right now I am about three and a half foot tall. By adulthood, you can only grow to be about four feet tall. I need help with reaching things like a light switch.  It might not be easy being little, but in one way or another you can make it work.
      Thank you for reading!

Amy Roloff (left achondroplastic dwarf)
Matt Roloff (right diastrophic dwarf)

       

Fun with Piano

                                                              

Antique Piano



           Everyone has something they love. It could be a place, a hobby, 

even a pet. You get a feeling that you love, something that you can't live
without. For me it is playing the piano. It is one of those things that your
mom tells you to stop and have dinner, but you don't listen. I love that
feeling.
          I've played many songs on the piano. I have two books full of
them. Once you get the tune to the song that you are playing you don't
want to stop. You just keep playing the song over and over again. I
have gotten that feeling many times. Two of my favorite songs to play
are Fur Elise and Nocturne. Fur Elise is written by Beethoven. He is my
favorite composer. Nocturne is slow and soft. My advice is keep doing
what you love.
                                     Thank you for reading my blog


Grand Piano