Kristin's Essays

The first block of text below, contains information that I researched four years ago concerning stunt kites.

Kites

Kites, devices that are flown for pleasure or scientific purposes, are very fascinating. For many years, people have made and flown kites on special occasions and used them to test weather conditions. Nowadays, kites are more specialized and are flown for fun or in competition. There are a variety of different materials used in making kites. For someone just starting to fly a kite, there's not much to learning how to fly it. Of course, for those of us who are more experienced kite flyers, stunt kites can be purchased instead of using cheap plastic ones. It all depends on the person.         When purchasing a kite, the materials are generally inexpensive. Frames can be made of wood and the body of paper, plastic or cloth. Shapes of some kites include: box style, triangular, or sleek triangle shapes for precision flying. The most popular shape is the triangle. For someone who wants quality, other materials such as nylon, fiber glass, and cloth are used to make the kite. There are many things to take into consideration: color, size, quality, shape, and weight. Specialty stores are recommended for better quality. The size of the kite can range anywhere from a one foot wingspan to over twelve feet! If flying a larger kite, stronger line is required. Line is usually measured in pounds. A prospective kite flyer has so many things to consider carefully before the final decision!         After the kite has been chosen, the next logical step is learning how to fly it. First of all, a flat field with no trees, buildings, power lines or cars is a safe place to fly. The kite can be flown in any season, even winter. When a spot is chosen, make sure the line or lines are attached to the kite and handle(s). A reel can be used instead of handles. Next, place the kite on the ground or get someone to hold it up. Unwind the line, hold the handle(s) firmly and stand with the kite downwind. If flying a stunt kite, it will require two lines of equal length, which are held apart when preparing to fly. All there is to do at this point is to pull on the line(s). With a stunt kite, never cross one's arms. To make the kite turn, pull the right or left line towards or away from one's self. A little bit of practice and patience is all it takes to fly a kite.         Stunt kites are a little different and more challenging to master. Usually, the kite has just two lines, but in some cases four lines will be used. The main difference is that stunt kites are steerable. They will go right, left and do loops. Four strings allow the kite to maneuver up and down as well as right and left. Common stunt kites are somewhat triangular and have a bar in the back for shape. Good quality bars are made of fiber glass. Prices range anywhere from $14 to more than $400! Wind speed is very important. Some kites have a limit to how fast the wind should be blowing. The larger the kite, the less wind needed. Also, kites can be stacked one on top of each other using bridles around three feet apart. For someone just starting out, stunt kites aren't strongly recommended.         Ever since the time of the Egyptians, people have been flying kites for a variety of different reasons. Today, kites are mainly used for pleasure and competitions. Unlike some sports, kites are safe and easy to handle when used properly. A fair amount of thought and research should be put in before the final decision, of which kite to buy, is made. After flying a stunt kite, one will never want to go back to flying a single line kite again! With the right weather, equipment, and attitude, kite flying can be a very relaxing and enjoyable hobby.

This is an essay I wrote while attending an English Composition course at UCC.

Secret Sanctuary

In the summer, when I was just a child of nine or ten, I had a special place I would go when I wanted to be alone. At the time, I didn't appreciate how unique and unspoiled it was, but now I realize how difficult it is to find a place with that degree of peacefulness. When I was there, I felt safe and protected. The tangible simplicity of nature was the one fundamental quality that made my retreat truly special.         The area itself was rather large in comparison to the residential lots that bordered its length, but it was well hidden. Although others seldomly visited the area, a well-worn dirt path marked the small entrance framed by leafy bushes. After a steep climb to the top, I would enter what felt like another world. It was immediately apparent that the thick layer of branches absorbed all the busy sounds of the real world and sealed me off from reality. Even time itself seemed to slow as I made my way in deeper, down the winding path bordered by towering evergreens. High in the branches I could make out the occasional squirrel and sometimes catch a glimpse of the tiny birds that filled the air with their cheerful songs. The pleasant aroma of wildflowers penetrated my clothes as I wandered towards a small clearing illuminated by several streams of sunlight that managed to shine through the intertwined growth above. To the left, stood a makeshift fort that I had constructed out of tall branches and broad-leafed fern fronds. At the far edge of the clearing, a giant oak tree loomed above me and marked the beginning of my descent towards the creek.         Powdery clouds of dirt puffed around my feet as I neared the water's edge. Even in the heat of summer, the water was quite refreshing, but too deep to cross in most areas. It wound its way around the trees and disappeared through a cluster of thorny bushes. Along the banks hung numerous varieties of ferns, vines, and weeds that had obviously never seen the likes of any garden tools. The lush, green vegetation reminded me of the undomesticated atmosphere found in a jungle. Every so often, a soft rustling would spread through the air like an all-encompassing blanket, spewing a myriad of diversely pigmented leaves to the grassy earth. A few would spiral slowly from the treetops and gently settle on the wave crests. Like miniature vessels on an uncharted voyage, they would sail around the haphazard arrangement of pebbles and succumb to the swirling whirlpools. Perhaps the most intriguing part of my private exploration was the old rusted pipe that served as a transport for the meandering waterway.         Careful to avoid the spiny vine tendrils that partially obstructed the opening, I ventured in the damp pipe. My footfalls echoed and reverberated off the slimy walls, disappearing into the darkness ahead. I had to bend over to escape the stringy cobwebs that clung to the twisted vines I had previously navigated. Overhead, I could hear the muffled rumbling of passing cars as the pipe vibrated under the alternating pressures. I pressed on until a flicker of sunlight was visible at the other end, remembering that the pipe veered off to the right. Because the current was flowing from the end I had entered, I had to be cautious in my departure. The sudden drop from the pipe to the creek bed below was approximately six feet, but the depth of water exceeded any wading limitations. My only option was to return to the safety of my secluded sanctuary. I would then be able to relax in the quiet solitude knowing that my secret hideout was not accessible to the outside world without my knowledge.         Now, as I look back on the time I spent innocently enjoying the serenity, I realize that we often take such experiences for granted. It was neither technology, nor popularity that made it satisfying, but the fact that it was virtually untouched by anyone else. Everyone wants to feel like he has a place to go where he belongs; a place that is really his. I was extremely fortunate to find such a place at a time when I could appreciate it, even if it wasn't to the full potential that I have realized today.

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