Home :)

Finally after being away for so long we can finally return home!! What started out as a innocent military service has turned into a life-changing journey!! This morning we said good bye to Odysseus. It was harder than we had imagined but I guess after spending 10 years with someone you do get pretty attached!! We should be home in a month if all goes well. But after sailing with Odysseus for 10 years, who knows what is going to happen!!!

Until later,
Lysander, Tadd, and Zander
P.S.- This is the complete story of our travels-pretty cool huh?

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Macho Men

The three of us like to take some credit for the success of Odysseus, even though it was mainly his doing... First off we helped him with his costume so that he could be disguised when he went to the Great Hall for the competition. We stood far off so that we were not seen before Odysseus had won the competition and begun the massacre of suitors. At that cue we ran into the Hall and helped him kill all of the men who were vying for his wife. When we arrived he had already killed Antious the leader of the suitors. The four of us killed all 100 suitors, although we have to give Odysseus credit for killing most of them!!

Later that night Penelope gave Odysseus the final test to prove that he was her husband. She spoke as if their bed had been moved and Odysseus's reaction proved his "authenticity". He rejected saying that the bed could not be moved because it had been built into a living tree. Odysseus was the only one who knew this secret of the bed because he was the one who built it. His knowledge proved that he was indeed Odysseus, King of Ithaca, Wife of Penelope.

We are so happy to be home we really can't find words for it, what a JOURNEY!!!

Yay!! Home home home at long long long last!!!!!

For now...

Tadd, Zander, and Lysander

P.S. The photo is of our land touching our sea :)

Arriving on Ithaca

We arrived on the island of Ithaca today with Odysseus, the three of us are the only members of his crew that survived . When we got there Penelope was holding a competition for her suitors to see which one would become her husband. The challenge was to string Odysseus's bow and shoot it through the holes in 12 axes. Odysseus dressed as an old beggar so that he was unrecognizable, and the three of us hung back so that we were not seen. Odysseus went to the great hall where the challenge was to be held and only reveled his identity to his son and two of his servants in privacy. They than went down to the great hall where the suitors laughed at the "old beggar" saying that he was a joke. Odysseus ignored the rude comments knowing that they would be showed soon enough that he was no joke. The only joke about the old beggar today was his identity for he was no old man but rather the strong and powerful Odysseus. Odysseus strung the bow and shot the arrow with incredible accuracy right through the 12 axes. Without so much as a touch to any ax the challenge was over. Odysseus's identity has not been reveled so far, but we can all tell that the suitors are nervous and sceptical about this old man who has the same strength as Odysseus. All will know soon enough and they will wish that they had never commented on the "old beggar" for there comments will hardly go forgotten.

Until then...

Lysander, Tadd, and Zander

Abandon Ship

We've landed on the Island of Circe. She is the goddess of enchantment and has enchanted our captain!!! For weeks he has talked of nothing but home- but now he seems content to stay here and um shall we say be with Circe alone. So much for missing his wife!!! Us men are content but how long are we to stay here? I (Lysander) want to return home to marry you o fair Rosalie. Tadd has overheard Circe and Odysseus talking of what has to happen before we can return home. First we had to travel to the underworld to get advice from the blind prophet's spirit. We saw many untold horrors. Later Zander over heard Circe telling Odysseus of more dangers that were to come before we could return home. First we were to pass demon sirens that would sing and tempt us to listen. Listening will cause us to lose hope of home and want to go to the demons. They will promptly eat us for they are carnivorous beasts. Next there will be a strait that we will sail through with a demon whirlpool on one side and a 12 legged, 6 headed beast on the other. Either way, we die. The beast is immortal so there is no way to kill this so called Scylla. The whirlpool will either suck us into the depths of the sea or spit us onto the rock. Either way we will perish. If we are to survive this, then we will arrive on the island of the sun god. His cattle and sheep graze here. Us being men will want to eat these, but if any of the livestock are to be slaughtered, then all of the crew will perish. We have gotten to know the crew over the past three years. (yes its been that long!!!!!!) They go mad listening to no reason when they here cattle mentioned. We don't want to die!!! There must be a way to escape. We are going to talk to Circe. More later.

Lysander, Tadd, Zander

P.S. That is the Scylla!! Ahhh!! don't want to meet it!!!

Wind at our Backs

Ah we bring to you a wonderful story- sure to entertain for hours. After the near escape with the Cyclopes, we wound up on the island of Aeolus. Aeolus is the King of the Winds. He gave Odysseus a west wind to blow us towards Ithaca. He also gave a mysterious bag to Odysseus. Us men decided that it must contain a treasure of some sort. We thought that it was unfair for Odysseus to keep a treasure from us his trusty, loyal men who have been by his side through it all!! We went to open the bag only to realize that it contained winds that carried us back to the island of Aeolus. Odysseus never really said anything to us about it but I wonder what he feels like. So close to being home, yet so far. They say that he hasn't seen his wife in over 12 years. Oh we are sailing now to Zeus knows where. I'll let you know when we land somewhere.

Lysander, Tadd, Zander

P.S. Go check this out- we look good huh?

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On Our Way

Hello!!!


This is such a great idea that the gods have put into our heads!! While we are away serving military duty for our great country, we will be able to keep in touch with you. Today we met our leader Odysseus. He seems to be a great man. A little controlling but a great military leader. He and his original men have come back from fighting the great Trojan War. They want to return home to Ithaca. It should be an easy service and then we shall sail straight back home. We hope that we will return to find everyone well. As soon as we can, we'll 'post home'!!!


Sincerely,

Lysander,Tadd, Zander

P.S. The Picture is the ship that we are sailing on.

The Sweet Escape

Greetings all!!

After being at sea for a couple weeks we have finally reached land. The land seemed to be inhabited by strange one eyed beasts. One of the more learned men new that these beasts were called the Cyclopes. Odysseus wanted to go ashore to satisfy his curiosity of the beast, and to find food. We have just returned from this life threatening adventure. At dawn we left the ship with 12 of the best fighters. All three of us were honored to have been chosen. We rowed ashore and climbed up into the cave of one of the beasts. Upon entering, we discovered that cheeses and sheep were inside. What luck we thought to find the beast out and a cave of food. We begged Odysseus to take the food and return to the ship. But our captain O captain, let his curiosity get the better of his judgement. The beast returned and to his delight found dinner, standing right in his cave. With out hesitation, he swooped down and grabbed Tast Dee and Jue Cie. He and Odysseus talked for a while, but us men ran to cover in the back. The next morning Deeli Cious and Medium Rare were breakfast. Odysseus told us as soon as the beast left of his plan to escape. We were to fashion an olive tree into a spear to poke the beasts eye out. That night Odysseus gave the beast wine until he became drunk. While in this drunken stupor, we blinded the beast with our spear. This was scarier than any battle we had ever fought in. The next morning, Odysseus tied us to the bellies of the sheep. When the monster went to let the sheep out, we escaped without him ever getting an inkling of what we were doing. Traveling on the underside of a sheep is not the way to go!! We made it safely back to the ship and loaded all the sheep. For a long time we will be able to have meat and milk. However as we were headed out to the sweet sea, our captain decided to have to the last word. Calling to the beast who he was, gave the cyclops our bearings and he threw a hillside at us. This caused a giant wave to send us back to shore. The men begged Odysseus not to say anything more but he of of course did not listen to us men. He called back one more time and who knows what consequences this will bring in the future.


We hope that everyone at home is in good health and that we will see you all soon.


Sincerely,

Lysander, Tadd, Zander

P.S. The sheep is our new pillow. We decided not to eat him because he is the sheep that Tadd hid under. He seems to have a sense of humor because he stole Odysseus' cape.