V2-I4 Columns & Reviews
By: Jamie Swickard
NORTHRIDGE- With spring break coming just around the corner, many are still left without plans or places to go for the week. Being stuck at home during break won’t be all that bad if you know the cool places to go and the fun things to do.
For both girls and boys, there are many possibilities either could do.
Road Trip: Go somewhere cool! It doesn’t have to be across the country, but even going to Cleveland for the night would be an awesome adventure. Spend the afternoon at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame and, if you’re into sports, spend your night at a Cleveland Cavaliers game! Other unique Cleveland sites include venturing to the top of Tower City Mall, or visiting the Johnstown Mastodon at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Visit http://www.rockhall.com/?gclid=CMmhjrvU57wCFY8-MgodrnAAvA for more information on Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. Visit http://www.theqarena.com/ for information on upcoming Cavaliers games. Visit http://www.towercitycenter.com/ for more adventures Tower City Mall has to offer and visit http://cmnh.org/site/Index.aspx for more information on the museum.
Visit the YMCA: The YMCA has multiple basketball courts, where pick-up games of basketball are played, a pool to play games in, or to just relax. Taking up a new kind of sport, like racquetball, would be a fun and unique thing to learn and play with friends.
Visit http://www.lcfymca.org/ to look at more interesting activities YMCA has to offer!
Spa Day: Go to a nail salon with some of your friends and get a manicure or a pedicure! The Village Spa in Alexandria is the perfect place to get your nails done, a massage, facials and your hair done! They’re open Monday through Saturday with lenient hours throughout the day. Call to make an appointment at (740) 924-6178.
Trip to the Zoo: The Columbus Zoo isn’t far away and is a fun place to visit and look at animals. Explore through Asia and Australia while touring the zoo, or give PePe the Penguin a visit in the aquarium region of the zoo! The Columbus Zoo is open every day of the week, 10 am to 5 pm. A ticket to the zoo costs around $15 plus an $8 parking ticket. Visit http://www.colszoo.org/default.aspx to see more interesting attractions the zoo has to offer.
Visit Sky Zone: Sky Zone is a building where inside, every wall, including the floor, are made of trampolines. Not only is there a never ending row of trampolines to jump on but there is a foam zone. The foam zone consists of a pit of foam that anyone can jump into. Sky Zone’s winter hours are Tuesday through Thursday 3 pm to 8 pm, Friday 12 pm to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 8 pm. Sky Zone is closed on Mondays. Prices start off at $10 per person for 30 minutes, $14 for an hour, $18 for 90 minutes, $22 for 120 minutes. Visit http://www.skyzone.com/Columbus to look at more of the fun activities Sky Zone has!
Go to a Concert: Look to see who is coming to perform during the week off and find some friends who would want to go! Before the concert, go out to eat with friends and maybe even spend the night in a hotel closest to the venue!
Try Something New: During the week off, try something you’ve never tried before! Visit a restaurant that’s not very popular. Even try something like painting pottery! At Easton Town Center, Color Your World supplies pottery for you and your friends to paint for a fairly low price. They’re open Monday through Thursday 10 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 6pm. Visit http://www2.coloryourworldeaston.com/ to see the kinds of pottery that can be decorated!
Whether you plan to go somewhere for spring break or are staying home, any of these ideas are fairly cheap to do with friends and family and guarantee a good time.
Jamie Swickard (’16) is a staff writer for the Viking Vault
Photo credit: google.com
NORTHRIDGE- With spring break coming just around the corner, many are still left without plans or places to go for the week. Being stuck at home during break won’t be all that bad if you know the cool places to go and the fun things to do.
For both girls and boys, there are many possibilities either could do.
Road Trip: Go somewhere cool! It doesn’t have to be across the country, but even going to Cleveland for the night would be an awesome adventure. Spend the afternoon at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame and, if you’re into sports, spend your night at a Cleveland Cavaliers game! Other unique Cleveland sites include venturing to the top of Tower City Mall, or visiting the Johnstown Mastodon at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Visit http://www.rockhall.com/?gclid=CMmhjrvU57wCFY8-MgodrnAAvA for more information on Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. Visit http://www.theqarena.com/ for information on upcoming Cavaliers games. Visit http://www.towercitycenter.com/ for more adventures Tower City Mall has to offer and visit http://cmnh.org/site/Index.aspx for more information on the museum.
Visit the YMCA: The YMCA has multiple basketball courts, where pick-up games of basketball are played, a pool to play games in, or to just relax. Taking up a new kind of sport, like racquetball, would be a fun and unique thing to learn and play with friends.
Visit http://www.lcfymca.org/ to look at more interesting activities YMCA has to offer!
Spa Day: Go to a nail salon with some of your friends and get a manicure or a pedicure! The Village Spa in Alexandria is the perfect place to get your nails done, a massage, facials and your hair done! They’re open Monday through Saturday with lenient hours throughout the day. Call to make an appointment at (740) 924-6178.
Trip to the Zoo: The Columbus Zoo isn’t far away and is a fun place to visit and look at animals. Explore through Asia and Australia while touring the zoo, or give PePe the Penguin a visit in the aquarium region of the zoo! The Columbus Zoo is open every day of the week, 10 am to 5 pm. A ticket to the zoo costs around $15 plus an $8 parking ticket. Visit http://www.colszoo.org/default.aspx to see more interesting attractions the zoo has to offer.
Visit Sky Zone: Sky Zone is a building where inside, every wall, including the floor, are made of trampolines. Not only is there a never ending row of trampolines to jump on but there is a foam zone. The foam zone consists of a pit of foam that anyone can jump into. Sky Zone’s winter hours are Tuesday through Thursday 3 pm to 8 pm, Friday 12 pm to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 8 pm. Sky Zone is closed on Mondays. Prices start off at $10 per person for 30 minutes, $14 for an hour, $18 for 90 minutes, $22 for 120 minutes. Visit http://www.skyzone.com/Columbus to look at more of the fun activities Sky Zone has!
Go to a Concert: Look to see who is coming to perform during the week off and find some friends who would want to go! Before the concert, go out to eat with friends and maybe even spend the night in a hotel closest to the venue!
Try Something New: During the week off, try something you’ve never tried before! Visit a restaurant that’s not very popular. Even try something like painting pottery! At Easton Town Center, Color Your World supplies pottery for you and your friends to paint for a fairly low price. They’re open Monday through Thursday 10 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 6pm. Visit http://www2.coloryourworldeaston.com/ to see the kinds of pottery that can be decorated!
Whether you plan to go somewhere for spring break or are staying home, any of these ideas are fairly cheap to do with friends and family and guarantee a good time.
Jamie Swickard (’16) is a staff writer for the Viking Vault
Photo credit: google.com
Trevor White's Top Ten Albums of 2013
10. Carry On Kid-Worthwhile
This album is exactly what I expected it to be ... smart. With two members of the band being professors at Berkeley University, this band had all the resources it needed to produce a good album. With the lyrics being about hope, heartbreak, and loss, this album has lots of feels, and its perfect for a rainy day. 9. Still-Weekend Nachos This band and album is pure Chicago Powerviolence and the genre name perfectly describes this album. With witty lyrics, catchy riffs, and just being heavy, this album deserved to be on the list. 8. Woke-Legion Being from Columbus I always kind of had some bias for this band but their debut full-length “Woke” is absolutely superb. Even though I’ve grown out of metal, I really enjoyed this record and the fact that it was local made it that much better. 7. What You Don’t See- The Story So Far If I had one word to describe this album it would be “friendly." By that I mean it’s something you can and your buddies can just have fun listening to it together. It’s a perfect soundtrack for breakup recuperation and skating with your friends on a summer night. 6. The Death Card- Sworn In This is the perfect example of the way metalcore should be. After personally losing a lot of interest in the metalcore, genre this album restored it. Tyler Dennen is one of the better vocalists I’ve heard on quite a while and they created a new sound with influences from old Slipknot and new The Plot In You. 5. Whenever, If Ever- The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die When I was first told about this band it was hard for me to take them seriously with a band name that abstract and far from the usual. I thought it would be a bunch of noise that I wouldn’t “get” and in some ways it is. At first I was skeptical of it and didn’t really know if I liked it but that changed after a few listens. This band and album have really brought post-emo music into the mainstream and have influenced many bands to follow in their style. This album is very different and it’s really helped shape my music outlook, which I appreciate. 4. Young New England- Transit Transit really went after a new style with this record and I’m glad they did. Driving away from their more post-rock style they took on a more melodic, catchy style of music and it fits them very well. At first I was worried about how it would sound live but after seeing them perform songs from the album I was very satisfied and that is another reason I love this album so much. 3. The Cost Of Living- Incendiary This album is just so good. It is one of the albums that has led me to love hardcore music so much. Its heavy, has thought provoking lyrics, and just really slams. I cannot wait to see what this band has in store for the future, and I’m sure it will be nothing less than amazing. 2. Youth- Citizen After having friends talk about this album non-stop, I decided to check it out and I don’t regret it one bit. This record is sad, very sad, and Citizen does sad so well. This album is hands down the best thing to just lie in bed and cry to and drive around at night and just think. Definitely recommend this album to everyone. 1. The Difference Between Hell and Home- Counterparts When I first listened to it I was blown away. With relatable lyrics, flawless musicianship, and a perfect production I can’t see this record landing anywhere else on the list. If you’re starting to get into hardcore/melodic hardcore music I highly suggest this is where you start. |
|
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire – Book I)
By George R. R. Martin
Review by Mat Scott
Rating: 5/5
Well-written, very lengthy, and full of fairly graphic scenes, A Game of Thrones is a good choice for mature readers interested in fantasy and intrigue novels. Some of you may know the TV series (which I have yet to watch), and I would guess that the books (there are seven of them predicted; five are published, two forthcoming) are just as good. I enjoyed the switching focus from character to character, as it is something I do not see very often, especially from a third-person point of view. It allows a reader to know what is going on with the various characters without just jumping back and forth within the course of one chapter. I have seen it a few times in a first-person viewpoint, where each character will narrate parts of the story, but seeing an omniscient third party telling everything is nice as well, because the third party is able to say what others are feeling, as well as the focus of the chapter. I also liked the wolves, and am forced to wonder what part they will play in the rest of the series. On the other hand, I had a small problem with the pacing of the book. There are to be seven books in the series, and all six of them are quite long (800+ pages). My fear is that Martin tried to stretch the books too far, and that by book four I will be sitting there waiting for the conflict to be resolved, because I can’t bear to read more of the same for two more books.
A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
A Feast for Crows
A Dance with Dragons
The Winds of Winter (forthcoming)
A Dream of Spring (forthcoming)
Mat Scott ('15) is the News Editor and Web Designer for The Viking Vault, as well as an avid reader.
By George R. R. Martin
Review by Mat Scott
Rating: 5/5
Well-written, very lengthy, and full of fairly graphic scenes, A Game of Thrones is a good choice for mature readers interested in fantasy and intrigue novels. Some of you may know the TV series (which I have yet to watch), and I would guess that the books (there are seven of them predicted; five are published, two forthcoming) are just as good. I enjoyed the switching focus from character to character, as it is something I do not see very often, especially from a third-person point of view. It allows a reader to know what is going on with the various characters without just jumping back and forth within the course of one chapter. I have seen it a few times in a first-person viewpoint, where each character will narrate parts of the story, but seeing an omniscient third party telling everything is nice as well, because the third party is able to say what others are feeling, as well as the focus of the chapter. I also liked the wolves, and am forced to wonder what part they will play in the rest of the series. On the other hand, I had a small problem with the pacing of the book. There are to be seven books in the series, and all six of them are quite long (800+ pages). My fear is that Martin tried to stretch the books too far, and that by book four I will be sitting there waiting for the conflict to be resolved, because I can’t bear to read more of the same for two more books.
A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
A Feast for Crows
A Dance with Dragons
The Winds of Winter (forthcoming)
A Dream of Spring (forthcoming)
Mat Scott ('15) is the News Editor and Web Designer for The Viking Vault, as well as an avid reader.
Newark bumpin' with a brand new IHOP
By Katelynd Havice
If you are ever are in need of a good, old-fashioned American meal after slaving away at school for eight hours or making bank at your part-time, minimum-wage job, IHOP may be the answer to all your famine problems.
What better area to place a brand new spanking IHOP than the beloved Newark, Ohio? It’s where all the cool pizazz is happening. Instead of spending your boring Tuesday evening in the village of A-town or Homer or wherever, just make your way down to IHOP for the best experience of your life.
From personal experiences, this new IHOP seemed to target all older women as waitresses to give it that good “Grandma’s-cooking” feeling. Every single waitress is filled with sunshine and happiness so that you don’t even take into consideration the amount of calories you are about to consume. And the menu is so full of choices it appears to be a novel of delicious food to choose from. You could go with the traditional pancakes or just get a sandwich for lunch. I recommend the bacon temptation omelet and some pancakes on the side. The bacon temptation definitely lived up to its true potential because it was hard to pass by, hence why they titled it the bacon temptation. It may be true (Michelle Obama) IHOP may not be the best suggestion if you’re trying to watch your weight or be “healthy” in some sort of another. But I personally think the 500 calories per pancake is definitely worth it. So if you’re not interested in any sort of health regulations (Michelle Obama), then the new IHOP in Newark is definitely worth the try!
Katelynd Havice is a junior at NHS who enjoys breakfast foods.
If you are ever are in need of a good, old-fashioned American meal after slaving away at school for eight hours or making bank at your part-time, minimum-wage job, IHOP may be the answer to all your famine problems.
What better area to place a brand new spanking IHOP than the beloved Newark, Ohio? It’s where all the cool pizazz is happening. Instead of spending your boring Tuesday evening in the village of A-town or Homer or wherever, just make your way down to IHOP for the best experience of your life.
From personal experiences, this new IHOP seemed to target all older women as waitresses to give it that good “Grandma’s-cooking” feeling. Every single waitress is filled with sunshine and happiness so that you don’t even take into consideration the amount of calories you are about to consume. And the menu is so full of choices it appears to be a novel of delicious food to choose from. You could go with the traditional pancakes or just get a sandwich for lunch. I recommend the bacon temptation omelet and some pancakes on the side. The bacon temptation definitely lived up to its true potential because it was hard to pass by, hence why they titled it the bacon temptation. It may be true (Michelle Obama) IHOP may not be the best suggestion if you’re trying to watch your weight or be “healthy” in some sort of another. But I personally think the 500 calories per pancake is definitely worth it. So if you’re not interested in any sort of health regulations (Michelle Obama), then the new IHOP in Newark is definitely worth the try!
Katelynd Havice is a junior at NHS who enjoys breakfast foods.
Lone Survivor delivers
By Zach Hossler and Hunter Adkins
Lone Survivor is a movie based off of the book about operation “Red wings” that took place in late June of 2005. The operation was carried out by four Navy Seals; their mission was to track down and either capture or kill Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor, wrote the book in 2007 to commemorate and honor the fallen Seals and aviators.
Marcus Luttrell was the only one of the four man team to live. Michael Murphy, Danny Dietz, and Matthew Axelson were killed in the fighting. Eighteen other Seals and Aviators were killed when their “Chinook” helicopter was shot down during the attempted rescue.
The movie starts just days before the operation took place. It shows the bond between the members of Seal Team 10 with subtle jokes and hazing of younger team members.
When the four man team is sent in, just hours before they were supposed to kill their target, they are surprised by sheep herders. The team then has a dilemma, to kill them and carry out the mission or let them go and possibly be attacked. The men let them go and the herders immediately alert the Taliban Commander. Within hours the men are attacked by over 200 Taliban fighters. They fight bravely while having to jump down cliffs and hills to avoid being overrun. All four of the men were shot several times and were filled with shrapnel from rockets. They were also brutally beaten by rocks and trees as they fell down the side of the mountain.
After an inconceivable amount of damage to their bodies, which lesser men couldn’t have taken, Danny Dietz was killed. The other three who were separated from Dietz were pinned down. This is where Michael Murphy facing certain death took to the top of the cliff and made the famous call for help. After he had made the call he was killed. This is where Michael Murphy won the Medal of Honor. As Luttrell and Axelson stood their ground two chinook helicopters of the quick reaction force came in. With no air support one of the chinooks stopped to let the other Seal team members repel down. Before any of them could get out, a rocket hit the helicopter killing all eighteen men inside.
Luttrell and Axelson split up trying to escape; Axelson was hunted down and killed soon after. Luttrell stumbled upon an Afghan man who took him in and bravely risked his life to protect Luttrell until a man from the village was able to notify U.S Marines of his location.
The movie depicts the skill and toughness of Navy Seals extremely well. Luttrell is played by Mark Wahlberg in the movie; he was very involved in the filming and was even in scenes of the movie. In my opinion, the movie cannot fully do the men justice, but it does the closest thing to it. It humbles you on what the men who are fighting the war go through.
The director creates an emotional attachment to the men by showing pictures of those killed, including their wedding photos and pictures of their children at the end of the movie. It also shows that there is nothing stronger than the bond that these men had. The picture is the best war film since Saving Private Ryan, and some people would say it is even better. It is a must see for all American Patriots.
Hunter Adkins and Zach Hossler are reporters for the Viking Vault.
By Zach Hossler and Hunter Adkins
Lone Survivor is a movie based off of the book about operation “Red wings” that took place in late June of 2005. The operation was carried out by four Navy Seals; their mission was to track down and either capture or kill Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor, wrote the book in 2007 to commemorate and honor the fallen Seals and aviators.
Marcus Luttrell was the only one of the four man team to live. Michael Murphy, Danny Dietz, and Matthew Axelson were killed in the fighting. Eighteen other Seals and Aviators were killed when their “Chinook” helicopter was shot down during the attempted rescue.
The movie starts just days before the operation took place. It shows the bond between the members of Seal Team 10 with subtle jokes and hazing of younger team members.
When the four man team is sent in, just hours before they were supposed to kill their target, they are surprised by sheep herders. The team then has a dilemma, to kill them and carry out the mission or let them go and possibly be attacked. The men let them go and the herders immediately alert the Taliban Commander. Within hours the men are attacked by over 200 Taliban fighters. They fight bravely while having to jump down cliffs and hills to avoid being overrun. All four of the men were shot several times and were filled with shrapnel from rockets. They were also brutally beaten by rocks and trees as they fell down the side of the mountain.
After an inconceivable amount of damage to their bodies, which lesser men couldn’t have taken, Danny Dietz was killed. The other three who were separated from Dietz were pinned down. This is where Michael Murphy facing certain death took to the top of the cliff and made the famous call for help. After he had made the call he was killed. This is where Michael Murphy won the Medal of Honor. As Luttrell and Axelson stood their ground two chinook helicopters of the quick reaction force came in. With no air support one of the chinooks stopped to let the other Seal team members repel down. Before any of them could get out, a rocket hit the helicopter killing all eighteen men inside.
Luttrell and Axelson split up trying to escape; Axelson was hunted down and killed soon after. Luttrell stumbled upon an Afghan man who took him in and bravely risked his life to protect Luttrell until a man from the village was able to notify U.S Marines of his location.
The movie depicts the skill and toughness of Navy Seals extremely well. Luttrell is played by Mark Wahlberg in the movie; he was very involved in the filming and was even in scenes of the movie. In my opinion, the movie cannot fully do the men justice, but it does the closest thing to it. It humbles you on what the men who are fighting the war go through.
The director creates an emotional attachment to the men by showing pictures of those killed, including their wedding photos and pictures of their children at the end of the movie. It also shows that there is nothing stronger than the bond that these men had. The picture is the best war film since Saving Private Ryan, and some people would say it is even better. It is a must see for all American Patriots.
Hunter Adkins and Zach Hossler are reporters for the Viking Vault.
Upcoming Technology is a dream come true
By Hugh Prentice
NORTHRIDGE: One of the coolest things I’ve seen popping up is new and innovative technology. Over the past couple of weeks, on various Kickstarter pages, I’ve seen inventions such as the LUCI device that helps a person with lucid dreaming, the Google Glass which is a small step in wearable technology, and the 3-D printer that can print almost anything in 3-D! These are some really cool devices that show just how far humanity has come in the tech field. My personal favorite of those three devices (and I’m not even listing some of the REALLY cool ones) is the LUCI.
The LUCI is a device you wear like a headband that has headphones that go in your ear. The function of the device is to detect REM sleep, or dreaming, and send a quiet signal through the headphones to tell you that you are dreaming. That will induce lucid dreaming, when your body knows that you are dreaming. For example, if you KNOW you are dreaming, then what you think happens. It’s your mental sandbox, and it is extremely fun and can be very relaxing when it works.
The 3-D printer is the only one of the devices that actually does something practical. If your microwave has recently stopped working because it’s missing a part you can go to a website linked to the printer and download the part to print in a couple hours. That is something straight out of a sci-fi movie. You could print toys, machine components, and whatever else you can find on the websites that suits your needs.
Finally, the Google Glass is a pair of sunglasses that has a small screen in one of the lenses and, aside from making you look like a nerdy hipster, it has some cool functions. If you happen to be an avid cyclist, skier, or snowboarder you can look up directions to a destination or the best path down the hill in your glasses. It can take pictures or videos of what you are looking at with voice commands. It has the functions of a Go-Pro that doesn’t require a helmet to get strapped to. Currently Google is working on ways to make Glass look more like Ray Bans sunglasses for the stylish nerd or implement Glass into motorcycle helmets and ski goggles because currently it’s only in glasses form.
Hugh Prentice ('16) is a Staff Writer for The Viking Vault.
NORTHRIDGE: One of the coolest things I’ve seen popping up is new and innovative technology. Over the past couple of weeks, on various Kickstarter pages, I’ve seen inventions such as the LUCI device that helps a person with lucid dreaming, the Google Glass which is a small step in wearable technology, and the 3-D printer that can print almost anything in 3-D! These are some really cool devices that show just how far humanity has come in the tech field. My personal favorite of those three devices (and I’m not even listing some of the REALLY cool ones) is the LUCI.
The LUCI is a device you wear like a headband that has headphones that go in your ear. The function of the device is to detect REM sleep, or dreaming, and send a quiet signal through the headphones to tell you that you are dreaming. That will induce lucid dreaming, when your body knows that you are dreaming. For example, if you KNOW you are dreaming, then what you think happens. It’s your mental sandbox, and it is extremely fun and can be very relaxing when it works.
The 3-D printer is the only one of the devices that actually does something practical. If your microwave has recently stopped working because it’s missing a part you can go to a website linked to the printer and download the part to print in a couple hours. That is something straight out of a sci-fi movie. You could print toys, machine components, and whatever else you can find on the websites that suits your needs.
Finally, the Google Glass is a pair of sunglasses that has a small screen in one of the lenses and, aside from making you look like a nerdy hipster, it has some cool functions. If you happen to be an avid cyclist, skier, or snowboarder you can look up directions to a destination or the best path down the hill in your glasses. It can take pictures or videos of what you are looking at with voice commands. It has the functions of a Go-Pro that doesn’t require a helmet to get strapped to. Currently Google is working on ways to make Glass look more like Ray Bans sunglasses for the stylish nerd or implement Glass into motorcycle helmets and ski goggles because currently it’s only in glasses form.
Hugh Prentice ('16) is a Staff Writer for The Viking Vault.
Ragamuffins Coffee Shop is your best bet on the way to school
By Jamie Swickard
ALEXANDRIA- The "new" coffee shop, Ragamuffins, in Alexandria has already made a big hit in its short time being open.
Ragamuffins is a small, locally owned coffee shop. Budd and Betsy Young, parents of NHS junior Hannah Young, own the cute, neighborhood coffee shop.
Once you walk inside the coffee shop, a warm and homey feeling comes over you. Ragamuffins is a very cute coffee shop that is up to date but also has a vintage look due to the pictures of Alexandria taken many years ago. These old black and white pictures make the coffee shop feel like a one-of-kind in Alexandria.
Ragamuffins has a very friendly group of workers. Everyone there makes you feel very welcomed while you enjoy your purchase. The workers will go out of their way to make sure you have the best experience while you’re at their coffee shop.
Ragamuffins is fast in making your drinks and bringing your food out. While many other coffee shops’ quality would be hindered by the need to make the drinks and food quickly, Ragamuffins isn’t.
While at Ragamuffins you can buy many different flavors of drinks that can be hot or cold, with flavors ranging from peppermint to Almond Joy tasting drinks.
If you are buying a frozen drink, those are available in sizes regular or large. The hot drinks come in small, medium and large.
The new coffee shop also has a wide variety of foods. If you come in the morning wanting breakfast, Ragamuffins will have freshly baked muffins; if you come in the afternoon for lunch, the coffee shop will have hot paninis ready to go. The muffins are baked perfectly so they are still a little moist and have amazing flavor in each bite you take.
Ragamuffins has very reasonable prices for the quality of their food and drinks. Lattes cost anywhere from three to five dollars. The smoothies and frappuccinos cost around four dollars. The coffee shop’s sandwiches cost around four dollars and the muffins around three dollars.
Overall, Ragamuffins is a very cute and locally owned coffee shop. I highly recommend everyone to stop by and try one of their many different items off their menu. Ragamuffins is open Monday through Friday 7-4 and Saturday 8-4.
Jamie Swickard is a sophomore Vault staff member.
Photo caption and credit: Ragamuffins in the heart of Alexandria. Photo courtesy of Hannah Young.
ALEXANDRIA- The "new" coffee shop, Ragamuffins, in Alexandria has already made a big hit in its short time being open.
Ragamuffins is a small, locally owned coffee shop. Budd and Betsy Young, parents of NHS junior Hannah Young, own the cute, neighborhood coffee shop.
Once you walk inside the coffee shop, a warm and homey feeling comes over you. Ragamuffins is a very cute coffee shop that is up to date but also has a vintage look due to the pictures of Alexandria taken many years ago. These old black and white pictures make the coffee shop feel like a one-of-kind in Alexandria.
Ragamuffins has a very friendly group of workers. Everyone there makes you feel very welcomed while you enjoy your purchase. The workers will go out of their way to make sure you have the best experience while you’re at their coffee shop.
Ragamuffins is fast in making your drinks and bringing your food out. While many other coffee shops’ quality would be hindered by the need to make the drinks and food quickly, Ragamuffins isn’t.
While at Ragamuffins you can buy many different flavors of drinks that can be hot or cold, with flavors ranging from peppermint to Almond Joy tasting drinks.
If you are buying a frozen drink, those are available in sizes regular or large. The hot drinks come in small, medium and large.
The new coffee shop also has a wide variety of foods. If you come in the morning wanting breakfast, Ragamuffins will have freshly baked muffins; if you come in the afternoon for lunch, the coffee shop will have hot paninis ready to go. The muffins are baked perfectly so they are still a little moist and have amazing flavor in each bite you take.
Ragamuffins has very reasonable prices for the quality of their food and drinks. Lattes cost anywhere from three to five dollars. The smoothies and frappuccinos cost around four dollars. The coffee shop’s sandwiches cost around four dollars and the muffins around three dollars.
Overall, Ragamuffins is a very cute and locally owned coffee shop. I highly recommend everyone to stop by and try one of their many different items off their menu. Ragamuffins is open Monday through Friday 7-4 and Saturday 8-4.
Jamie Swickard is a sophomore Vault staff member.
Photo caption and credit: Ragamuffins in the heart of Alexandria. Photo courtesy of Hannah Young.
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 gets a thumbs-up
By: McKenzie Messer
If you’re looking for a good movie to take children to, or if you are like me and simply adore animation, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is the movie for you!
Now, most sequels that weren’t intended at the beginning of the first movie are usually awful, but this one is a definite exception.
The basic plot line is the food machine has been reactivated and took over the island to make a new society. Food monsters are roaming freely, and the people are terrified. A special team of scientists come in to take care of it. Just when they’re ready to stop the machine, a certain kindness of the new nation shines through and changes the whole story.
The movie is cute, funny, and witty! The constant pun usage had me in stitches!
This movie is good for any age and is perfect for a family fun night!
McKenzie Messer (’15) is the literary editor, columns editor, and a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
Photo Credit: Google images
If you’re looking for a good movie to take children to, or if you are like me and simply adore animation, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is the movie for you!
Now, most sequels that weren’t intended at the beginning of the first movie are usually awful, but this one is a definite exception.
The basic plot line is the food machine has been reactivated and took over the island to make a new society. Food monsters are roaming freely, and the people are terrified. A special team of scientists come in to take care of it. Just when they’re ready to stop the machine, a certain kindness of the new nation shines through and changes the whole story.
The movie is cute, funny, and witty! The constant pun usage had me in stitches!
This movie is good for any age and is perfect for a family fun night!
McKenzie Messer (’15) is the literary editor, columns editor, and a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
Photo Credit: Google images
V2-I4 Columns/Reviews
How I Wake Up For School
By Lilly Chesser
Every school morning starts with utter confusion immediately upon waking. The state of consciousness between being asleep and being awake is called the hypnopompic state which can be pretty much summed up as the couple of moments in your life when absolutely nothing matters but getting back to sleep. I don’t care what joys await the rest of my day, when my eyes open for the very first time I still think I’m pregnant with Steve Martin’s banjo baby and I just want to go back and talk the situation through with him. Eventually I figure out that my bed, the walls, the ceiling, etc. are the genuine reality. Or I don’t, and I have one of those very metaphysical days.
At any rate, I have to stand up eventually and take my first conscious breath. When that’s accomplished, I take a couple minutes to stare out my window into the darkness. There’s nothing that makes me feel less connected with the natural world than starting my day before the sun has even bothered to give a groggy, halfhearted wave at the bottom of the sky. At this time of day all I see is the moon. “Why are you up” says the moon. “I don’t know, moon” I say. “I guess I have things to do”. Then the moon stops talking to me and goes to do moon stuff with the oceans.
The second staring ritual of the morning is at myself. Seeing myself in the mirror is very disappointing. I always kind of hope I get to see someone else’s face to start my day, but no, my mean, judgmental face is always there to remind me of the entirety of my life, and put all my memories up to that point back in me. My face seems very weathered to me. Seventeen years is a very long time. Maybe it’s not a long time to be alive, but it is a long time. I can’t even conceive of that much time. My face in the morning looks like it’s seen some rough times (it hasn’t), and if I look at it closely enough I become detached and start seeing all my embarrassing, life-changing events from what looks like a very amateurish one camera setup.
So, once my soul has been blown back into my body, the next ten or so minutes are what I call the “hiding phase”. Not that I think a drool-crusted Sara Silverman Program t-shirt is the “real me”, but the process of making myself presentable to the world feels like an attempt at rendering myself unrecognizable as a separate person from the mass of life I’m about to be surrounded by. But middle school teachers still say hi to me, so I’ll take that as a sign that I’ve failed.
Once the hiding phase is complete, all I have left to do is get to school. This usually starts with a few seconds of hyping myself up, which consists of shoving food in my face and tricking myself into thinking I’m going anywhere but the place I’m actually going. Once I’m good and deluded I get in my giant bullet and shuttle through Earth until I arrive at school. Then some stuff happens, and by 2:30 pm I’m wide awake and ready to start my day.
Lilly Chesser ('15) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Every school morning starts with utter confusion immediately upon waking. The state of consciousness between being asleep and being awake is called the hypnopompic state which can be pretty much summed up as the couple of moments in your life when absolutely nothing matters but getting back to sleep. I don’t care what joys await the rest of my day, when my eyes open for the very first time I still think I’m pregnant with Steve Martin’s banjo baby and I just want to go back and talk the situation through with him. Eventually I figure out that my bed, the walls, the ceiling, etc. are the genuine reality. Or I don’t, and I have one of those very metaphysical days.
At any rate, I have to stand up eventually and take my first conscious breath. When that’s accomplished, I take a couple minutes to stare out my window into the darkness. There’s nothing that makes me feel less connected with the natural world than starting my day before the sun has even bothered to give a groggy, halfhearted wave at the bottom of the sky. At this time of day all I see is the moon. “Why are you up” says the moon. “I don’t know, moon” I say. “I guess I have things to do”. Then the moon stops talking to me and goes to do moon stuff with the oceans.
The second staring ritual of the morning is at myself. Seeing myself in the mirror is very disappointing. I always kind of hope I get to see someone else’s face to start my day, but no, my mean, judgmental face is always there to remind me of the entirety of my life, and put all my memories up to that point back in me. My face seems very weathered to me. Seventeen years is a very long time. Maybe it’s not a long time to be alive, but it is a long time. I can’t even conceive of that much time. My face in the morning looks like it’s seen some rough times (it hasn’t), and if I look at it closely enough I become detached and start seeing all my embarrassing, life-changing events from what looks like a very amateurish one camera setup.
So, once my soul has been blown back into my body, the next ten or so minutes are what I call the “hiding phase”. Not that I think a drool-crusted Sara Silverman Program t-shirt is the “real me”, but the process of making myself presentable to the world feels like an attempt at rendering myself unrecognizable as a separate person from the mass of life I’m about to be surrounded by. But middle school teachers still say hi to me, so I’ll take that as a sign that I’ve failed.
Once the hiding phase is complete, all I have left to do is get to school. This usually starts with a few seconds of hyping myself up, which consists of shoving food in my face and tricking myself into thinking I’m going anywhere but the place I’m actually going. Once I’m good and deluded I get in my giant bullet and shuttle through Earth until I arrive at school. Then some stuff happens, and by 2:30 pm I’m wide awake and ready to start my day.
Lilly Chesser ('15) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Under the desk:
A lonely Valentine's Day
By: McKenzie Messer
If you are hopelessly single like I am, well here’s a Valentine’s Day column for you! Just because you don’t have someone to take you out to dinner doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.
Go on a date with your best friend. Go to your favorite restaurant, have a movie marathon, or just a simple sleepover! You could also get together a group of single friends and do the same.
Something I recommend is to bake an entire batch of cookies, brownies, or a cake and eat it all yourself! Yeah, you may gain some weight, but who are you trying to impress anyways? Your extra belly chub will keep you warm these remaining winter months.
You can also get yourself all prettied up and go do something you love. Put on your favorite outfit, do your hair or makeup if you feel like it, get your favorite food, then go to your favorite store and buy yourself something nice because you deserve it!
If you have some extra cash, you can really pamper yourself. Go to a spa to get a facial, manicure/pedicure, or massage. You could even go and just have your hair professionally washed, which is a stupidly amazing experience. If you don’t have a lot of money, go to google and type in “home spa,” and there’ll be tons of homemade masks and the such to pamper yourself!
Two of my favorite things that you could do is go to a coffee shop and/or book store. Nothing says happiness like a warm, soothing beverage and a good book.
No matter how you’re spending your Valentine’s Day, find a way to be happy! Just because it’s a day that is usually for couples doesn’t mean that you can’t have a good day!
McKenzie Messer (’15) is the columns editor, literary editor, and a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
Photo caption: McKenzie under the desk
Photo credit: Megan Hatfield Photography
If you are hopelessly single like I am, well here’s a Valentine’s Day column for you! Just because you don’t have someone to take you out to dinner doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.
Go on a date with your best friend. Go to your favorite restaurant, have a movie marathon, or just a simple sleepover! You could also get together a group of single friends and do the same.
Something I recommend is to bake an entire batch of cookies, brownies, or a cake and eat it all yourself! Yeah, you may gain some weight, but who are you trying to impress anyways? Your extra belly chub will keep you warm these remaining winter months.
You can also get yourself all prettied up and go do something you love. Put on your favorite outfit, do your hair or makeup if you feel like it, get your favorite food, then go to your favorite store and buy yourself something nice because you deserve it!
If you have some extra cash, you can really pamper yourself. Go to a spa to get a facial, manicure/pedicure, or massage. You could even go and just have your hair professionally washed, which is a stupidly amazing experience. If you don’t have a lot of money, go to google and type in “home spa,” and there’ll be tons of homemade masks and the such to pamper yourself!
Two of my favorite things that you could do is go to a coffee shop and/or book store. Nothing says happiness like a warm, soothing beverage and a good book.
No matter how you’re spending your Valentine’s Day, find a way to be happy! Just because it’s a day that is usually for couples doesn’t mean that you can’t have a good day!
McKenzie Messer (’15) is the columns editor, literary editor, and a staff writer for the Viking Vault.
Photo caption: McKenzie under the desk
Photo credit: Megan Hatfield Photography
Why standardized testing needs a change
By: Megan Hatfield
What is intelligence? What is knowledge? How do we measure if people are smart or not, or weather or not they will succeed in high school, or college? Everyone learns, and obtains knowledge in various ways, so measuring intelligence through standardized testing is doing no justice to the students, teachers, or the Board of Education for that matter. While standardized tests can measure obtained knowledge with definite answers in subjects like math and grammar, measuring things like achievement in creative writing, moral philosophy, sociology, and so much more are too difficult to test to find achievement.
It's funny that they call them "standardized" tests when the standards are different from state to state. How can comparisons even be made on a national scale if every state has their own standards? They can't. There are good and bad teachers in classrooms all over the nation. I do believe teachers pay should be based of THEIR performance, not the performance of their students on a test. Students can purposely fail tests, and that isn't fair to teachers. The people grading the tests often have no experience in the field of education at all. Errors and mistakes will happen, whether with people or machines grading. The list of complications is endless.
"There are 8 basketball players on a team. Only 5 can play on the court at 1 time. How many different combinations of players can the coach make?" I do not want the answer to this question because it seems entirely irrelevant to my life. Even if I was a basketball coach, I would not need to know the answer to this question. So why do math problems like this determine if students are basic or advanced in math, or if they will graduate? I realize it's not this one question that determines the pass or fail, but it's questions like these that are all over these tests. Questions that aren't taught in school. Why are they not taught in school if they will be on all these tests? Probably because the questions are useless and do not even simulate real world application.
Standardized tests assume that everyone has the same skill set and everyone is good at all the same things. That makes total sense. That's why everyone grows up, goes to college, and does the same thing. I don't believe testing should completely go away. It is useful in some ways, but the problem is testing has become the center of school. It has had to become the center of school because testing determines students' futures when it comes to graduating and going to college. It also determines some of teachers' pay and state money for the school. Just a test can determine all of that. That puts a lot of pressure on students and staff at schools. The main concern has to shift from traditional curriculum to test preparation because, if it does not make this shift, the school will not be "excellent."
I do not believe these tests should be completely taken away. They do serve as a way to see growth in some subjects, but they determine way too much. The tests that schools are required to give force teachers to have to teach for the test, instead of teaching for future needs and college. I believe finding an effective way to test all students' growth and knowledge over all subjects will be impossible. I have no new plan or idea to propose to make the education and testing system better, but it is flawed, and finding new, and improved ways to evaluate students will only lead to a more effective education system.
Megan Hatfield ('15) is the Features Editor for the Viking Vault
What is intelligence? What is knowledge? How do we measure if people are smart or not, or weather or not they will succeed in high school, or college? Everyone learns, and obtains knowledge in various ways, so measuring intelligence through standardized testing is doing no justice to the students, teachers, or the Board of Education for that matter. While standardized tests can measure obtained knowledge with definite answers in subjects like math and grammar, measuring things like achievement in creative writing, moral philosophy, sociology, and so much more are too difficult to test to find achievement.
It's funny that they call them "standardized" tests when the standards are different from state to state. How can comparisons even be made on a national scale if every state has their own standards? They can't. There are good and bad teachers in classrooms all over the nation. I do believe teachers pay should be based of THEIR performance, not the performance of their students on a test. Students can purposely fail tests, and that isn't fair to teachers. The people grading the tests often have no experience in the field of education at all. Errors and mistakes will happen, whether with people or machines grading. The list of complications is endless.
"There are 8 basketball players on a team. Only 5 can play on the court at 1 time. How many different combinations of players can the coach make?" I do not want the answer to this question because it seems entirely irrelevant to my life. Even if I was a basketball coach, I would not need to know the answer to this question. So why do math problems like this determine if students are basic or advanced in math, or if they will graduate? I realize it's not this one question that determines the pass or fail, but it's questions like these that are all over these tests. Questions that aren't taught in school. Why are they not taught in school if they will be on all these tests? Probably because the questions are useless and do not even simulate real world application.
Standardized tests assume that everyone has the same skill set and everyone is good at all the same things. That makes total sense. That's why everyone grows up, goes to college, and does the same thing. I don't believe testing should completely go away. It is useful in some ways, but the problem is testing has become the center of school. It has had to become the center of school because testing determines students' futures when it comes to graduating and going to college. It also determines some of teachers' pay and state money for the school. Just a test can determine all of that. That puts a lot of pressure on students and staff at schools. The main concern has to shift from traditional curriculum to test preparation because, if it does not make this shift, the school will not be "excellent."
I do not believe these tests should be completely taken away. They do serve as a way to see growth in some subjects, but they determine way too much. The tests that schools are required to give force teachers to have to teach for the test, instead of teaching for future needs and college. I believe finding an effective way to test all students' growth and knowledge over all subjects will be impossible. I have no new plan or idea to propose to make the education and testing system better, but it is flawed, and finding new, and improved ways to evaluate students will only lead to a more effective education system.
Megan Hatfield ('15) is the Features Editor for the Viking Vault
Everyday I'm Hosslin':
Bad luck
By: Zach Hossler
Have you ever wondered what causes bad luck? I honestly would like to know so I can avoid it. Over winter break I had a long streak of bad luck.
To start out, during the first incident of the messed up polar vortex, "It was just too cold" stated by Matt Hudkins(14'). Our furnace decided to take a crap on us, and was unable to be repaired for a week. We kept our house warm by borrowing over ten heaters from friends and family. A few days after our furnace had gone out, I lost my wallet which had in it my license, social security card, bank card, and my Triple A card. These items took almost a month to be completely replaced. A few days after that, my brother's radiator in his truck decided it was time to stop working, so I had to go drive to him and sit with him for an hour for a tow truck to arrive so he wouldn't freeze.
Almost a week later my cousin was in a car wreck where both cars were totaled. Thank goodness no one was hurt. That night my entire basement flooded with two inches of water. The next day my grandmother became ill and had to spend a week in the hospital. All of these events happened within a two week period. The beginning of 2014, to me, was absolutely horrific.
I am a believer in karma, but my family had done nothing for all of this to happen at once. I am curious to the cause of bad luck, or are all things in life planned out before they happen? I feel no one will ever know why things happen to us; we just have to suck it up and look on the brighter side of things. If we did not look at the positives of life, I have a feeling most of us would be crazy by now.
Zach Hossler ('14) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Have you ever wondered what causes bad luck? I honestly would like to know so I can avoid it. Over winter break I had a long streak of bad luck.
To start out, during the first incident of the messed up polar vortex, "It was just too cold" stated by Matt Hudkins(14'). Our furnace decided to take a crap on us, and was unable to be repaired for a week. We kept our house warm by borrowing over ten heaters from friends and family. A few days after our furnace had gone out, I lost my wallet which had in it my license, social security card, bank card, and my Triple A card. These items took almost a month to be completely replaced. A few days after that, my brother's radiator in his truck decided it was time to stop working, so I had to go drive to him and sit with him for an hour for a tow truck to arrive so he wouldn't freeze.
Almost a week later my cousin was in a car wreck where both cars were totaled. Thank goodness no one was hurt. That night my entire basement flooded with two inches of water. The next day my grandmother became ill and had to spend a week in the hospital. All of these events happened within a two week period. The beginning of 2014, to me, was absolutely horrific.
I am a believer in karma, but my family had done nothing for all of this to happen at once. I am curious to the cause of bad luck, or are all things in life planned out before they happen? I feel no one will ever know why things happen to us; we just have to suck it up and look on the brighter side of things. If we did not look at the positives of life, I have a feeling most of us would be crazy by now.
Zach Hossler ('14) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Ask Aili
Q: So a guy direct messaged me on twitter, and he is really cute! The thing is I’ve never met him before, and none of my friends have ever heard of him. Should I keep talking to him?
A: It is always risky talking to someone online that you have never met, let alone someone no one else has ever heard of. If you aren’t careful you could find yourself in a lot of trouble. If you don’t approach this relationship with caution you could become a victim of online bullying, or even “Cat-fishing”, which is where a stranger tricks someone into thinking they are someone they aren’t. Personally, I would not continue to talk to this boy, but I would talk to your parents about it and see what they think. Just be careful and remember to never meet someone you’ve only talked to online by yourself!
Q: I’m all alone this Valentine’s Day. Is it sad to send myself flowers?
A: It is perfectly alright to buy yourself something for Valentine’s Day! Just because you are single doesn’t mean you have to despise this day with every fiber of your being and curse every couple you see all over each other in the hallway. You work hard and deserve something nice every once in a while, even if you are single. Go ahead and make yourself a nice dinner, buy some pretty flowers and those chocolates you’ve been craving for months, and curl up and watch your favorite movie. If you do buy yourself flowers, don’t lie and tell other that they are from a secret admire. You don’t want to find yourself chasing a lie where you have to buy yourself a different gift every week. You will probably only find yourself still lonely, and now broke.
Q: I have no idea what to get my girlfriend for Valentine’s Day. Do you have any ideas?
A: What you get for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day really depends on your relationship with her and how much money you are willing to spend. If you two have only been dating a few weeks or even a few months, you can probably just get away with buying her a single rose, a small box of candy, or a stuffed animal. Remember though, if you pinch too many pennies you will leave your new gal thinking you’re cheap and probably chase her away. If the two of you have been dating for over six months, it is expected to be a little bit more extravagant for this holiday. Bigger is better. Bigger stuffed animals, bigger boxes of chocolates and more flowers are likely to leave your darling with a huge smile on her face. Jewelry is also always warmly welcomed by girls. Don’t forget you can always just take her on a date such as dinner and a movie, or a picnic at the park. Homemade gifts are also always appreciated from us ladies. If you’re feeling a little broke try making your girl a homemade card and dinner. One of the favorite homemade gifts amongst Northridge girlfriends are “open-when” envelopes. These envelopes contain cute notes, pictures, candy, or confetti that your girlfriend can open when she is upset, has a birthday, achieves something great, etc. You don’t have to go all out this Valentine’s Day to make your special someone happy as long as you remind them that they are loved and appreciated.
Aili Barbee ('16) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
A: It is always risky talking to someone online that you have never met, let alone someone no one else has ever heard of. If you aren’t careful you could find yourself in a lot of trouble. If you don’t approach this relationship with caution you could become a victim of online bullying, or even “Cat-fishing”, which is where a stranger tricks someone into thinking they are someone they aren’t. Personally, I would not continue to talk to this boy, but I would talk to your parents about it and see what they think. Just be careful and remember to never meet someone you’ve only talked to online by yourself!
Q: I’m all alone this Valentine’s Day. Is it sad to send myself flowers?
A: It is perfectly alright to buy yourself something for Valentine’s Day! Just because you are single doesn’t mean you have to despise this day with every fiber of your being and curse every couple you see all over each other in the hallway. You work hard and deserve something nice every once in a while, even if you are single. Go ahead and make yourself a nice dinner, buy some pretty flowers and those chocolates you’ve been craving for months, and curl up and watch your favorite movie. If you do buy yourself flowers, don’t lie and tell other that they are from a secret admire. You don’t want to find yourself chasing a lie where you have to buy yourself a different gift every week. You will probably only find yourself still lonely, and now broke.
Q: I have no idea what to get my girlfriend for Valentine’s Day. Do you have any ideas?
A: What you get for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day really depends on your relationship with her and how much money you are willing to spend. If you two have only been dating a few weeks or even a few months, you can probably just get away with buying her a single rose, a small box of candy, or a stuffed animal. Remember though, if you pinch too many pennies you will leave your new gal thinking you’re cheap and probably chase her away. If the two of you have been dating for over six months, it is expected to be a little bit more extravagant for this holiday. Bigger is better. Bigger stuffed animals, bigger boxes of chocolates and more flowers are likely to leave your darling with a huge smile on her face. Jewelry is also always warmly welcomed by girls. Don’t forget you can always just take her on a date such as dinner and a movie, or a picnic at the park. Homemade gifts are also always appreciated from us ladies. If you’re feeling a little broke try making your girl a homemade card and dinner. One of the favorite homemade gifts amongst Northridge girlfriends are “open-when” envelopes. These envelopes contain cute notes, pictures, candy, or confetti that your girlfriend can open when she is upset, has a birthday, achieves something great, etc. You don’t have to go all out this Valentine’s Day to make your special someone happy as long as you remind them that they are loved and appreciated.
Aili Barbee ('16) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.