THE LAST POST (for now)

"...they had fixed a hut in which they had waited four long months."

If Dora the explorer had been on that voyage she would have broken into song.  

Sadly she wasn't though :( while Shackleton left to get help, Wild stayed with the rest of the crew and fought the elements to stay alive. The fact that they lived for four (<homonyms)  months on their own shows just how motivated (<vocab word!) they were. So, they had given up hope on being rescued; they were alive and rescued in the end.

The only movie i can think of where someone is ship wrecked and builds a formidable shelter is Disney's Tarzan (also one of my favorite movies). The house they make is phenomenal.  Plus there are tons of other similarities. Both boats sink, both face unpleasant water, and both have to live off the land. The difference is that they shipmates didn't have to learn how to speak gorilla. How cool would a gorilla sound be in a brittish accent? Food for thought that is...Video number two for this post:

And that's the way the cookie crumbles. (Bruce almighty might be my favorite movie.) Until next time, Peace Out Girl Scout

Part 7

"So he suggested they slide."

The three of them (Shackleton, Worsley, and Crean) did what everybody does in the winter. They slid down a snowy slope. The difference is the reason. e do it because its a lot of fun. They did it to except the fact that they might freeze to death. (We also don't have to worry about the slope doing a straight dive and plummeting to our deaths.) The fact that this was an unprotected, not findable, and contained the element of a possibility of DEATH made it less then appealing but, it was still the best option.

This reminds me of last summer. The xc (cross country) team went cliff diving in St. Paul, Indiana. I am petrified of heights. It took a whole lot of convincing plus a full sprint with my eyes closed to go off the 40ft. jump. I don't plan on doing it again nor, do I think Worsley and Crean would redo their scenario if given the chance.

Part 6

"Thus, at 3:10 P.M., Schacketon gave the order to come about."

So close and yet so far. The crew had reached their destiniton with very little correction needed. Once more though, they had to wait even longer to land. The whole part where they would die on the breakers may/may not have had something to do with that decision. So, they had to retreat and wait for better weather.

After two days of fighting, they did it. They reached land. Slightly a bitter sweet moment though. They had to abandon part of the crew before they left.

Another movie reference :D

This reminds me of scrat from Ice Age. He continuously got close to retrieving the nut but, he would lose it when he got close to success. See for yourself:

BONUS POST

"Launch the boats"

The stage is set. All the pieces are in place. A sudden hush falls over the crowd. All of the sudden, it begins. How such a momentous moment in the journey of the crew can be taken so lightly is beyond me. Imagine you were on those boats. You dont know if they float, if the ice will smash you into a billion pieces, or if youll ever find land and be forced to eat each other! (slightly dramatic but, i feel it sets a good mood < vocab word!)

This situation is bigger then any suspenseful event you have ever and possibly will ever participate in. Unless you place your life into the hands of 8 other men and place theirs lives in yours when none of you, not the bravest, smartest, strongest, smallest, or tallest, have any idea as to wheteher you will make it throught the night, then you can not know this feeling.

In todays world, the armed forces put their lives into each others hands day in and day out. They know this suspense. They live it, breathe it, embrace it, and over come it. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!

Part 5

"Wild and his five men confirmed the fact that this was truly an inhospitable place."

Fear- the greatest of motivators. The speck of land they had camped upon was awful and, this was the only motivation (that which compels a character to act) they needed to change location. As happy as the crew was that they had found land, the whole risking their lives thing was a deterrent. They opted for a slightly more livable place 7 miles up the island. In reality, it is a wise choice. The other island still has seals, penguins, and most importantly is "solid, unsinkable, immovable, blessed land."

WARNING: MORE LORD OF THE RINGS

After Gandalf falls in The Fellowship of the Ring, the rest of the fellowship escapes safely. After a brief moment of security, they are forced to move again. The impending danger forces them to get over themselves and move on.

Part 4

"For the first time in 497 days, they were on land. Solid, unsinkable, immovable, blessed land."

The setting (time, place, and environment in which action takes place) ever since they had left England had been on the water. Therefore, the crew was at the mercy of the wind and current. Now, finally, after countless days of drifting and worrisome nights, they were finally safe. No one can put their feelings into words. The entire mood (emotional atmosphere of a work) of the crew was lifted. The crew was genuinely happy for the first time in a long time. Many of the crew had thought that their friends, the crew on the other boats, had been lost forever. Seeing the othr boats and their crew is like seeing an old friend raised from the dead.

Part 3 ended

"Hope tells a flattering tale."

Personification endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics. After favorable weather, the crew began to have a positive outlook on their situation.  There were signs of life all around...flocks of birds, penguins, and they had even killed two seals for food.  Everything was looking good for the Endurance.

     But,as always, nothing good can last. As a matter of fact, this is a knock on wood scenario. Without intent, Worsley (the man who said this quote) foreshadowed bad fortune...the floe that the crew had camped on was gradually sinking, at times, splitting down the center causing the relocation of the camp. The crew was afraid that winds were taking them away from their desired location...and then...open water