by Triston Swindell
My favorite post on the Eagle Express is the one about Six Flags. It’s my favorite theme park of all time. It meant a lot to me to share my opinion. If you’ve ever been to Six Flags, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I felt like my post gave a clear description of what Six Flags is supposed to be. I can assure you it will be one of the most interesting on the Eagle Express website.
Me, flippin’ out for the Mets!
BY TRISTON SWINDELL
Man, where do I even begin? I guess should start from the beginning. The outside of the stadium was built up pretty well and huge for a stadium. The inside was really fancy. In fact, it looked more like a museum than a stadium. There was a giant 42 statue and there was a mini baseball Hall of Fame and a gift shop. Plus we got free beach towels. The field was larger than I anticipated. In the field, both teams were practicing for the game. I was really impressed. These players were pros, they were catching baseballs from 10ft like it was nothing. They were throwing baseballs up in the stands and spectators caught them.
After batting practice, we went to go get some food. I wasn’t that hungry, so I only ate a slice of pizza. My brother and I talked for little bit and then it was time for the game. Everyone in the stadium was going wild. They had t-shirt cannons and the crowd was chanting “Let’s Go Mets!”, it felt like a party. Our seats were on the top, and I could see everything from up there. I was pumped up and ready to see the Mets embarrass the Marlins in front of every body. In the 1st inning, the Mets earned a run. During the second inning the Marlins scored 2 runs. The Marlins scored another run in the 3rd inning and in the 4th inning they scored 2 more points. The Mets scored 4 runs in the same inning. However, neither team scored any runs in the next 2 innings. In the 7th inning the Marlins earned 2 runs. In the 8th inning no one earned a run. In the 9th inning the Marlins scored 2 more runs which sealed the deal, Marlins beat the Mets.
Despite the unfortunate loss, I still had a great time. The game wasn’t even the main reason why I had a good time! The energy, excitement, and high spirit of the crowd really took it home for me. This is an experience I will not forget. If I get another chance to go to a ball game, I think it’s safe to say that I will not be saying no.
by Mr. West
We got to the ballpark early to make sure we got our towels!
To celebrate springtime and reward our kids’ efforts this school year, Journalism teacher Mr. West organized a field trip to Citi Field to see the New York Mets. As you might know, the Mets have currently asserted their presence in the National League playoff race, led by an exciting young pitching staff and powered by slugger Lucas Duda. It was a good day to get to the park early: Mets Beach Towel Day! The first 15,000 fans at the arena received their own free beach towel with the New York Mets logo on it. We were among the first few hundred people in line, and all of us got our very own towels (see below for pics)!
It was a warm, sunny, breezy day, and the sun shone brightly as Mr.West, Ms. Jeannie, Mr. Nazario, Mr. Shelem, Mr. Ramirez, and Ms. Domeville watched the teams take batting practice with a whole host of Eagle kids. Angel Ramos, of the Eagle Academy middle school baseball team, even went home with a baseball!
This was Mr. Nazario’s first MLB game!
After batting practice, we went down to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and checked out the baseball museum inside the stadium. There was tons of gear on sale, as well as old memorabilia from baseball’s earlier generations. There was also a huge blue number 42 in the rotunda area, in honor of the great Jackie Robinson.
After the museum, Mr. West took the group on a little walking tour through the park. We checked out Shea Bridge, named after the stadium where the Mets played for a couple of generations before it was recently replaced by Citi Field. Shea Stadium was the site of most of the greatest moments in Mets history, including Endy Chavez’ famous Game Seven catch as well as both World Series victories and tons of other memories. Next to Shea Bridge is a big area where fans congregate to watch the game from center field…and it’s also where the stadium’s biggest food court is! Citi Field has a wide variety of tasty food, and our field trip camped out for an inning so the kids and chaperones could have a bit of lunch. While we were enjoying our food, the Mets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead!
After lunch, we migrated to our seats. The Marlins took a 5-1 lead, as slugger Giancarlo Stanton his a booming line-drive home run. But the Mets roared back with a thrilling four-run comeback in the middle innings. The stadium was jumping, and our staff and kids made tons of noise to cheer on the home team (except for a couple of stubborn Yankee fans)! Two of our journalism students, Triston & Torrae Swindell, each wrote their own accounts of our trip. You can link to Triston’s here and Torrae’s here.
Mr. West and the crew. Let’s go Mets!
After the Mets’ thrilling comeback, it was back and forth for a little bit. There were a couple of nice defensive plays, and overall the game was really exciting. And during the 7th-inning stretch, the whole stadium joined in a singalong of ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame’…see below for a series of pics of Ms. Jeannie and Mr. Nazario helping fuel the vibe!
Unfortunately, Stanton hit his second home run of the day, and the Marlins dropped four late runs on our beloved Amazins. But everybody had a blast, and after the game the kids continued to bop around and enjoy themselves as our field trip migrated down to the exit. Check out some more pics below.
Thanks to our chaperones (including a few of our kids’ family members and a couple of our teachers’ loved ones) for a great effort on a day that went off without a hitch. And thanks to our kids for being generally awesome and providing a day full of smiles, cheers and good vibrations. Let’s go Mets!
Nice Mets towels, everyone!
Enjoy some more of our photos below, and don’t forget to check back soon for Triston and Torrae’s personal stories about our trip 🙂
By Triston and Torrae Swindell
The 1/4 of the Disney cruisesTorrae swindell
Intro:
The Disney company, with all its movies, sponsors, television shows, video games, beloved theme parks around the world, and resorts in designated countries and states, is very respected. But what makes the company even more successful is their very own cruise line. Seriously, when are they ever going to run out of money? Never, I guess. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I am going to tell you about the Disney Cruise Line. Even though I have never actually been on the cruise, I have done a fair amount of research about it, and each cruise line is not exactly the same, which is a good thing. So, without further ado, let me explain how awesome the boat is.
Activities:
Okay, so the main reason of why a cruise is so much fun is all of the activities. Well you’re in luck, because the activities on the S.S. Disney has activities for boarders from the youngest child to the oldest adult. Even grandma can join the fun. There are clubs, pools, parties, and nurseries for the kiddies. For mom and dad there are adult clubs and restaurants to get a break from the kids. There are clubs for teens and pre-teens as well. They can play video games, watch television, surf the web, and listen to music. There are also pools and water slides to beat the heat. There are playgrounds and pool movie screenings too. Goofy’s Sports Deck is a great place on the cruise, where you can play mini golf, and basketball. There’s even broadway-styled plays about your favorite Disney movies with plenty of songs. There are way more activities, but I don’t want to bore you so let’s move on my friends.
Dining:
Hungry for food? No problem, there are plenty of restaurants and mini-bars with grub you can sink your teeth into. The only catch is that not all restaurants are welcome to kids, which surprises me. There’s the animators studio eatery, a family club with plenty of food, also the food is nice and they serve almost everything and all the restaurants are allergy friendly. There are oodles of sweet creamy crunchy desserts like ice cream and cake, though you do have to pay for it. The restaurants also even provide e
ntertainment while you eat your succulent mouth-watering meals. The cruise provides burgers, hot dogs, pizza, potatoes,vegetables, fruits, and breakfast cuisines as well, and it’s fun for everyone!
Atmosphere:
The friendly atmosphere is guaranteed to make you feel comfortable while you stay on the Disney cruise. In each room there’s a queen-sized bed and two other beds that are inside a couch. Each room also has two bathrooms. In the main lobby there are meet and greets with your favorite characters and princesses. There are also statues of Minnie and Mickey made of metal. The cruise even has an elevator that goes up 12 decks and everywhere you go has a certain vibe or theme to it, and some paintings play Mickey Mouse cartoons when you walk by it. It’s pretty cool and innovative, if you ask me.
Commentary:
So, that’s my opinion about the Disney cruise line. It’s for all ages, and I’d really want to hop on board and sail away on one of those puppies. In fact, the only reason why I’m talking about it is because a few days ago I entered the Disney Channel teen beach 2 cruising away sweepstakes! If I win, I’ll get to go on one of those cruises, so I REALLY want to win. It will be the first time for me to get out of America, and I always wanted to see other parts of the world. Thanks for reading my post, you can make a comment if you like. See you real soon!
BY TRISTON AND TORRAE SWINDELL
Journalism class is every subject, but expressing yourself through complete paragraphs. Like my Nintendo character countdown, our happiness posts, or the why Six Flags is awesome post. I don’t care what you like, just write it down and own it like you actually mean it. –Torrae Swindell
I think journalism class is an activity when you can express your feelings about what you like. You can be 100% honest. Journalism is my favorite class because because you can put your thoughts to work. –Triston Swindell
Kindness is actually strength because violence is way too easy to show. So when you’re kind to someone who is being mean to you, you are showing more strength than them. –Torrae Swindell
The way kindness is strength is that kindness can affect other people if you are kind to each other. Kindness can help you achieve your goals. If you help other people with kindness, then it will help people to be kind to each other and there will be no violence. A final way kindness is strength is that kindness will help other people in their lives. The reason I say this is because this could stop bullying and it could support people if they are sick and make them feel better. –Miguel Garduno
Kindness is powerful because it takes you places and you can be a friend magnet. Kindness is happiness. Don’t mistake me, people can take advantage of you. But kindness is one of your strongest weapons. –Triston Swindell
I believe that kindness should be a strength because you get more respect. I believe that we should be kind because you are supposed to be a good person. –Tylik McCullum
K.T.D case
by Triston Swindell
What makes me happy is Winx Club, and music from video games. Winx Club puts me in a good mood with its charming characters and its most hated villains. It flushes the rage out of me. The show can be childish at times, but that’s not an excuse to not give it a whirl. Music from video games is the sugar right there. Some are very soothing, but some get you so pumped up that you forget it’s not even real. Here are some recommendations: ”Attack”, the boss battle theme from Kirby Triple Deluxe, level 2-2 from K.T.D and Hyper-Nova-All-Stars from K.T.D as well. You can find these themes on YouTube.com.
All the winx together
Six Flags logo
By: Triston and Torrae Swindell
Intro:
For the most part, everyone has been to Six Flags, but that doesn’t mean that everyone loves it. Today, we’re here to explain why Six Flags has a spot on our list of awesome places. Throughout this post, we’ll not only give you reasons as to why this place is extremely fun, but we’ll even show you the rides, shows, and last but not least, the food. Who doesn’t love food right? So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
The Rides
Okay, the number one reason why most people even go to Six Flags is for the rides and roller coasters. I mean, who doesn’t, right? Anyway, the rides are awesome, plain and simple. As a matter of a fact, go to the dictionary and search for the word awesome, you’ll see six flags in the definition. Some of the best rides featured are The Batman Coaster, El Toro, and Nitro. Those are pretty fun rides, but if you want to reach a new level of excitement and terror, there’s nothing to worry about. Six Flags is home to the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the United States of America, The King Da Ka. Its top speed is 128 MPH at an outstanding 456 feet tall. There’s also a pirate ship ride, a swing ride, and other classic amusement park rides.
Shows:
If intense excitement and extreme heights isn’t your type of thing, Six Flags can still easily accommodate your needs. Six Flags is not just a thrill ride theme park. It has other things to do like watching good old rock bands and animals preforming tricks. There’s a dolphin show, and a couple of rock bands here and then. It really slows down the excitement from all those rides plus the shows are free of charge. There are Looney Toons character meet and greets, and Becky G and Fifth Harmony perform there as well.
Games:
What makes a theme park a theme park? Games of course. It’s a perfect way to take a ”fun break” from all those roller coasters , and its definitely not like those rigged carnival games you see on television. There’s good old whack-a-mole, test your strength, and the water target game. There are plenty of other games too like Lazer dodging and the Crane game. Plus there’s a reward for your victory of winning a frustrating game, a nice big teddy bear you could never win for your girlfriend that night when the state fair was in town.
The Bizzaro roller coaster
THE FOOD:
You hear that? That’s your stomach grumbling and howling for some good old classic Six Flags cuisine. So many options to choose from like burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and nachos, but that’s the old boring dog food that you always find in regular amusement parks. Besides that, Six Flags has Mexican and Chinese food. So many things you can sink your teeth in. Also for all you rowdy adults out there Six Flags serves Bud Lite beer–but please don’t get drunk, no one wants to have thrown up beer on their shirt on a roller coaster! And don’t you get bored, there are plenty of fattening and teeth decaying treats to scarf down on like good old funnel cake and hot fudge sundaes topped off with whipped cream and a cherry on top.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Well, that’s our thoughts on Six Flags. If you still don’t like it, chances are you had no childhood. We gave all our reasons, but thank you for reading our post anyway, it means a lot to us. Well, peace out ya’ll!
by Triston and Torrae Swindell
Nintendo is one of the most successful gaming companies in the video game industry today. Question: What can make Nintendo even more successful? New games, new characters, new villains? No, my friends, how about a Nintendo Theme Park! For those of you who have played a Nintendo game, which every one has, you might be thinking what I’m thinking…the opportunities are endless! I mean, the Mario Franchise alone can be a theme park by itself, but now imagine all the other Nintendo characters together in one big, magical, and epic place. Let me break it down:
Mushroom Kingdom:
Welcome to the magical and mushroomy land of Mario. The entrance starts off at Peaches Castle and you go through it to enter (sort of like Disney World). Here are some of the rides. First off, there’s Mario Kart. This ride will be based on Mario Kart 8. There will be an illusion where you’re driving upside-down (much like the game), the experience will be unforgettable. It will actually feel like you’re driving in a hardcore racer. If that’s not your sort of thing, then head on down to Luigi’s Mansion. Professor E. Gadd will tell you how to use the poltergeist. The walls you walk through are screens, and ghosts will appear on the screens and you have to catch them. You can also collect money and the objects are interactive. For example, if you use the poltergeist on a vase, the vase will move as if it were there.
Water Temple:
If the weather is getting the best of you and you need to cool off from all the excitement, make your way down to the Water Temple, a water park based on the Legend of Zelda Ocorina Of Time. It will be an indoor water park that will have a lot of unique slides. I’m not going to say anything else, because I want to keep it suspenseful, but lets just say they don’t call it the Water Temple for nothing.
Throw Back Arcade:
Welcome back to your childhood! When you set foot into the Throw Back Arcade, you’re back to playing with power! For the adults who have a hidden inner child, and want to re-live their memories of the first Nintendo gaming consoles, head on down to the Throw Back Arcade. Featuring every single Nintendo gaming console, from the Game And Watch System to the Nintendo Game Cube, along with all the the top hits, this arcade is the only one of its kind. You’re welcome.
Conclusion:
That’s all for today guys, however that was just a sneak peek. If you thought those ideas were good, you are not prepared for the amazing assets of this theme park. One more thing: there is going to be trivia contests about Nintendo, in which you’ll be able to win awesome prizes. There is not a doubt in my mind that you will be planning your second visit before you leave. With that being said, I’ll see you there. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to call Kirby so he can pick me up on his warp star and take me home.
Bloom in sirenix form from season 5
by Triston Swindell
Hold on to your pixie dust and fairy wings, that’s right, we’re talking about Winx Club! Winx Club was once on the network 4 kids TV, and now it’s on Nickelodeon. This is going to be a long review, so woo-hoo!
THE STORY
Winx Club is more like realistic fiction mixed with fantasy. Please keep that in mind as I give you the story. One day a girl named bloom and her pet rabbit named Kiko (that’s a weird name for a rabbit) go to the park on the first day of summer vacation. Bloom is just sitting down eating an apple, probably not the best way to spend the first day of summer vacation, but then again this is coming from a guy who spent the first few days of summer sitting at home. Anyway, Bloom’s nutritious, golden-delicious, apple-eating snack time is disrupted when her rabbit Kiko starts making rabbit noises. It sounds like Golem from Lord of the Rings gargling his own vomit. Kiko was using body language in order to tell Bloom that something was wrong. Bloom goes to see what Kiko is talking about, and sees a teenage fairy, named Stella, fighting an Ogre, who looks like some kind of rejected Shrek. Anyway, bloom jumps into the fight and she discovers she has magical powers, and then she goes to Alfea, a college for fairies.
CHARACTERS
1. Bloom: Bloom is a sweet-hearted redhead who is the fairy of the dragon fire. I’ve always wondered if her powers ever affected her eating habits. Does she ever eat spicy food?
2. Stella: Stella is somewhat of a nice blonde princess who has a thing for fashion. In fact, half the time that’s all she ever talks about. (But hey, I’m not a hater) She is the fairy of ”the shining sun”.
3. Flora: Flora is very nice person who loves plants and has a vast knowledge of them. She is the fairy of nature.
4. Musa: Musa is a cool girl who knows how to make some sick beats and knows how to get down. She is the fairy of music.
5. Tecna: Tecna is a magenta hair-colored girl who loves technology. It’s even in her name. Not be judge-mental or anything, but I can’t believe there’s a character who is named after something she loves. It’s like naming a guy queso because he likes to eat a lot of cheese. But like I said before I’m no hater.
The whole Winx Club in sirenix form
COMMENTARY
The reason I like the Nickelodeon version of Winx club is because the characters are charming. The transformations are beautiful, especially believix, and the characters have this charm that makes you feel good. The show is sort of funny and there are villains you will love to hate.
Well, that was my review about Winx club. If you want to learn more, you can watch the show on youtube or go on a website that’s all about Winx club. See you dudes later.
PEACE OUT!
The Eagle Express 