Crazy Little Thing Called Love

It's all around us, this love, floating around the air making its way into people's lives even though sometimes they don't realize it. Yes, it is also a very commercialized holiday, but take away the blush-colored cards, chocolates, and bouquets of flowers and there is real love. A love that cannot be explained in even the most crafty of talking cards, or in any of the Dove chocolate foil wrappers. A love that is true, and should be shown not only on Valentine's Day, but the whole year through.

I know that I've given my mom a good card when she starts tearing up and nods her head like she knows exactly what I meant to say, even though it may have been masked by the card companies cheesy sayings. Although sometimes I have to judge by my grandmother because my mom gets emotional over everything I do, even if it's my report card. But I guess that's what love is. Being proud no matter what of someone, because of who they are, not what they've done. Love is unconditional, it is free.

This Valentine's Day, I think we should all take a minute and appreciate the love that surrounds all of us. The kind that doesn't shine through in flashy cards, or bright red roses, but the kind that for the most part goes unnoticed. The love that is there no matter the weather or age, that withstands and withstood everything for people. It is important to remember this Love, for we can only trust upon it to live in the world today.


Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

-"M"

"What was my second grade teacher's name again?!?"

The digital age is upon us now, and with all of the technology comes protection. Protection from counterfeiters, theifs, and the occasional bored human being. Numerous accounts are activated with different purposes and passwords, like email addresses and bank accounts. Not only does one receive a password or number, but a question to go along with it in case you forget the password to a very important account. These are usually known questions and are quite random, but what if you forget your password along with the question that is used to jog your memory? Remembering a teacher or first telephone number can be hard to recall. Is there another question? Does the company have a picture of you? Without a password log kept with a lock and key, how is one expected to remember an advanced, top secret code?

You would think the people who make these questions are more careful with the wording of their "security questions". The common questions of "what is the name of your dog?" or "what is your favorite color?" are a little too common for comfort. The first thing one tells another upon meeting them is perhaps their favorite color, or that their dog Shelby has gotten ticks from a recent hike along their favorite trail. Who knows, the person who hacks your account may well be your best friend or someone who knows a lot about you. It makes sense after all. Your friend that you've known since kindergarten knows who your teacher is too, did they ever think of that? Security questions should be secret, but they must also remind one of their own password, that is the challenge. However, a password such as redShelby is not so clever as one would assume.

Another misconception is using one password for every account and anything in need of being secured. Although we might think that no one will be able to crack the code, it can be done, and it has many times. Break through one code and they have access to your entire cyber world.

Security precautions are also found regularly on smartphones. Plug in the code and again, you have access to a small computer. What I don't get however, is why the phone practically begs you to try the password again after you have failed the first time to acess the phone. My phone says "try again" like it's antagonizing the person at its keypad to give it another try, after all you know they want to. This makes me feel a tad unsafe, so I think I'll change my password now.

That is all

-"M"

Nicknames

There comes a time in a person's life when they are known for something, good or bad, and it sticks with them for the rest of their life. Some nicknames are harmless, but most serve as an excuse to humiliate one in the future. All because your name was hard to pronounce or you did something when you were seven, you are mocked by a pet-like name for the rest of your existence.

The thing that really irritates me the most, is when people think they have grown up, but are clearly still attached to their childhood; when they go by their real name, but smack in the middle of their birthname, in quotations, is their nickname. Always lingering. What happens to these people when they decide to get a job, or go to a class reunion? Are they forever chastised about their other name? When they walk into a room does everyone say, "why hello, Sparky or is it Steve now?" making fun of what used to be a cool thing. How are employers dealing with this? I can only imagine what people put on job applications. Bosses everywhere must be taking advantage of these embarrasments by saying, "Oh it's Big Dog's shift this afternoon? Well tell him to punch out on time today, or else I'm going to have to put him in the kennel." or things of the like. Maybe it was funny in high school, but in the real world do you really want to be named like you are a Persian cat?

When I think back on it, I don't think I've ever taken anyone who has quotations in the middle of their name seriously. Are they trying to hide the fact that they have a weird name, by jazzing it up a bit and naming themselves after something they've done. The type that completely disregard their first name by saying, "I'm Joe, but you can call me thunderbolt." as if a rumble in the sky had anything to do with the person. Do they know that their newfound nickname will result in even more explanation than just giving their real name? Obviously not.

I guess nicknames make one feel wanted and special, but that novelty wears off and all that's left is a name. An embarrassing addition to oneself. Think about it, whenever these fake names are said about a person they don't scream for joy, rather they hide their face that is turning pink as a rose by the minute. But could you blame them? How would you like to be called lightening if your real name was Kevin?

That is all

-"M" or should I say, Mollie

No Driver's License, Not Even a Permit.

I knew someday this summer would turn about sooner or later, and it's here. It's the summer where being the younger kid stinks like a dirty pair of socks even more than it already did. As of now, I don't have my driver's license, or my permit. Most of my friends and classmates have their permit, and if they're lucky, they even have their license. I try not to let this get at me, but lately, it's been hard not to think about it. Next month, thirty four days to be exact, I'll have my turn to take the permit test, but still that seems like ages from now.

It isn't all that bad - I still have legs - which I use to walk to places, like the park with my friends, or just around. And I have plenty of homework to keep me busy, which surprisingly I haven't had the most interest in lately; I have no idea why, well maybe because it's the last thing I want to do on a vacation away from school. Studying the Driver's Manual is something that I also must start doing, in order to pass the exam and finally get that special paper that will allow me to drive on the road. Yeah... I have to get to that.

I suppose it could be worse, I could be in my neighbor's situation - they have three cars and a riding lawn mower, that the youngest child motors around on, up and down the side road. I mean, I'm not that anxious to drive, but on the other hand, maybe I am. I wouldn't take it to the extreme of flinging rocks onto other people's lawns, just because I wanted to practice driving, but yeah I need my license!!!

This brings us to another dilemma, the most important part in driving - the car. I don't have one, nor the money to buy a shiny new one. So what, may you ask that I do? Enter every car giveaway that is available in town. So far I've entered one and, no luck, but there is another drawing coming up and all I can do is hope. Also, my aunt suggested that she keep her car, a red Nissan, for another year and then sell it to me; this I think is a splendid idea.

Sooner or later it will come, the time where I don't have to get a ride from my parents to anymore, I can drive myself. This time is coming up fast and will be here before I know it; I only wish though, that this time would hurry up a little, I don't want to resort to a lawnmower as my first vehicle.

You're Not Answering the Questions With Your Feet, You Know!

Have you ever taken a test, that you worked so hard to study for and you just want to get through the test in peace, but still have time to go back, check your answers, and think out things clearly? I'm sure we all have. Well today I took one of those very important tests - my history final. I was doing well; I took the seat in the front of the class, because if anyone sat in front of me, with my luck, they would be very distracting and if they were done with their test before me then I'd get more nervous than I would have to be. I thought I was all set, ready to pass this test. Unfortunately for me I sat between two foot-tapping maniacs.

At first I was so intent on my test I didn't realize the distraction that was my two classmates. Then my eyes became tired of staring at the bubble fill-in sheet, and if I didn't look away I surely would have walked out of class with cross eyes. But looking up was possibly the worst decision I could have made, for then I kept seeing out of my peripheral vision the feet of the people next to me bouncing up and down with no stop in sight. How can they not notice that what they're doing is beyond distracting?!?! Maybe, they think they're the only ones in the universe trying to focus, but really they're hindering everyone else in their ability to focus. Every question I had to read over about three times before I knew what it was asking, not to mention trying to answer them! Finally one of the bouncing-foot twins decided that they should stop, and thank goodness they did. However the other one continued to shake like they were having a seizure, but only in their foot.

I tried not to think about it, and focused in on my test - but it didn't work. I tried acting like a horse with it's blinders on, and put my left hand on my head so I wouldn't have to see what was going on around me - that helped, but didn't stop the noise of the rubber shoe squeaking against the ground. Finally I became used to it after a while and gained enough confidence to finish my test. And if I may also add that I finished exactly on time; I was finishing the last sentence of an essay I had to write when the bell rang. So there! Even though you were distracting, and obviously were confused about how to answer questions, because there's no buttons on the ground to press for the right answer, I finished before you!!

If anyone reads this, thanks, for reading about a venting session for my final exam in history!

That is all

-"M"

A Food Fight at School? Hah, I'll Believe That When Chili Flies

Today was filled with nostalgia as everyone was walking through the hallways, in and out of classes remembering the times that were had this year. Finally, the last day of classes, which we thought would never come, is over! This day however could not be complete without some sort of mischief unfolding at some point during school. I thought it was going to be a nice and memorable day, I was right, however the latter is unforgettably true.

After babbling over our last classes, my friends and I headed to what was going to be our last lunch of the year. We walked into the cafeteria slowly, trying to breathe in all of the school lunch smelling air that we could for the last time before summer. Lunch was going great, we all had good lunches and the conversation among my friends and I was a mix of laughter from exhaustion and just random silly facts we just happened to blurt out. Then all of a sudden a banana peel came flying through the air and landed, splat on the floor in between our lunch table and the one behind it. It automatically caused a stir, and the table behind us decided to respond by throwing a role, or something of that sort back at the other table. Then it really got heated, not just because we were in the cafeteria, but because people actually got mad over air-borne food. One girl from the table that food was thrown at came over with - the worst food in this case, chilly, and said, "Whoever threw that better be ready to get chilly thrown at them." she was not taking this sitting down.

Just when things started to seem like they were returning back to normal, another food was flung across the room and everyone sort of all stood up at once. This was a time for duck and cover. You know, the history videos of kids in World War II taking cover from atomic bombs under their desk? Yeah, that's basically the choice we had, unless we wanted to risk running out of the cafeteria getting hit by who knows what on the way out. So, my friends and I took cover under the lunch table, accompanied by the ancient gum wads stuck there also, all to protect ourselves from the madness that was ensuing.

Suddenly our principle came running in and the chaos ceased. My friends and I only suffered minor casualties - a little bit of chocolate milk stains, and that was about it. We were the lucky ones. At least we didn't get smacked with chilly, or apple juice which was rumored to have hit a few people. Long story short we finished our lunch in the chorus room.

Such an adventurous day in the lunchroom! Finals are tomorrow. Wish me luck, I'll need it for the ninety minutes of chemistry testing; I'm really hoping my hands don't fall off.

That is all

-"M"

Do You Have The Bluest Eyes?

Do you remember when you were a child around Christmas time or your birthday and something caught your eye in a store? The colors of whatever it was twisted and twirled in your brain until it was the only thing you talked about in hopes of one day receiving it. You wanted it so much that you would do anything, even take a triple dog dare to get it. But what if the thing you wanted was out of reach - impossible to acquire. Would you go simply mad by yearning forever for the gift that can never be given? This is what Pecola Breedlove did.

The little girl wanted to be like the blue-eyed, blonde hair girls with pearl skin that she saw everyday at school. She didn't see the beauty in her own eyes that she was born with.

Is it our immature selves that want things we don't have, envying others who have what we long for? The growth throughout life seems imperative, to see things on a macro scale rather than our own little perceptions of what life truly is. Children and some teenagers may feel like they're missing something, that they're somehow incomplete; they can't see how they are uniquely special and don't have to be a cookie-cutter kid.

The character Pecola Breedlove, from the novel 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison felt this way. Eventually she drove herself to be exasperated, contstantly thinking of the eyes she wanted and the eyes she had. No one was there to tell her she was beautiful the way she was. We are stubborn though; never believing what is told to us about ourselves unless we really are able to accept it.

Little Pecola Breedlove did not except the fact that she was an individual and should be excepted. She was considered the lowest class back then - a female African-American child - if she could have only seen that she was worth something.



(This is a post about the amazing novel I just read for English class. I was given complete freedom with the assignment for it, so I chose to express or explain how Pecola acts, and how sometimes we may take things too seriously. Wanting what we can't have, and not being satisfied with who we are as people.)

That is all

-"M"

Spring Fever, or Rather Sumer Fever.

It's that time of year at school again; everyone is anxious and ready to leave school behind for the summer. The only problem is, we're all sneezing, coughing, and too busy with our runny noses to even notice how fast the days are actually passing by. It's that time at school where our immune systems fail us, due to the lack of sleep going on because of all the homework that's being assigned. Also, something that has been looming around every sophomore student and teacher's head all year is a little thing called MCAS. Oh yes, it's back! That exclamation point was in no way meant to express excitement. MCAS - round two - math.

It's the last thing any teenager wants to do when summer is quickly approaching. It's like we, the sophomore class, are daydreaming out the window at the beautiful blue sky just waiting to be free, when all of a sudden MCAS walks over, clamps the window shut and expects us to answer seven billion questions in two days. This is the last year I will ever have to take MCAS, and I can't tell you how amazing that is. Sophomore year at my school is a huge testing year; midterms, finals, and english, and math MCAS. I can't imagine the feeling putting my pencil down, hands about to fall off, almost to the point where I think I have carpal tunnel, and never having to take the MCAS again. It's going to be great!

Right now, though it's crunch time. Our math teachers are going over absolutely everything in the curriculum, and assigning more homework than ever before. And let's not forget finals, still swirling around in people's minds - the preparation for that has also begun taking place. Sleep is rare, and the work load is heavy, but that's all apart of being a student, and a successful one at that. Eventually we'll make up the hours of sleep lost on chemistry lab reports, research papers, etc., and the overall experience of school will make us feel accomplished. Until then, our lives will be spent with a lack of sleep, too much homework, eating Ramen Noodles, and sinus colds when the seasons change. It's a part of life. But every once in a while, we should always look out the window, before MCAS or anything else can wrap it's fingers around the handle and close it.

That is all.

-"M"

Code Red

There's a little problem us girls run into once in a while, well, actually once a month. If by now you don't know what I'm talking about please just think, I'll give you a second. If you don't understand by now, don't even bother continuing to read this post. This is a post about my friend who experienced a time when she wasn't prepared for code red.

My friend and I decided a few weeks ago, to go out to lunch. The sad thing is that while we were trying to be more mature, our parents still had to drive us to the restaurant . We were enjoying our lunch, when my friend told me she had to use the restroom; the look on her face when she came back was anything but happy. She explained the situation, so we ventured out to find pads, tampons, anything.

The tricky part was that neither one of us expected to be walking far distances, so our footwear was not appropriate to be trekking around in. My friend in heels, and myself in ballet flats went off to a sporting goods store, hoping to find a female associate to help solve my friend's problem. Of course, just our luck, there were no women working at the store, so we had to resort to asking a guy. Luckily the worker my friend found was nice enough and felt bad about the situation, but unfortunately for us the store did not carry what we were looking for. The only place closest, was the grocery store across the street. So again we were off - hey, you have to do what you have to do.

We crossed the main street and basically ran for the grocery store, sand flicking up into both of our shoes. Rushing through the store like maniacs, we finally found what we were looking for, and my friend took off to the bathroom. I decided that if I ran too, that I would have blisters on top of my blisters, so I nonchalantly fast-walked behind her. Finally, everything was okay, and we headed back to the restaurant, I think they got sick of us coming in and out so often, but oh well. Mind you, our parents, if they knew about this little adventure would never let us go to a restaurant by ourselves again. So this is our little secret. But what an adventure! It's definitely something that doesn't happen every day, that's for sure.

That is all.

-"M"

Lobster rolls - the beginning to a tragic love story?

Some women think old men are cute, if this senario were to be switched in both gender and age, is it still accepted. You might be wondering why this is of importance. Well, my italian teacher, who is elderly, seems to have eyes for the young italian intern who is teaching our class. I don't think anyone could blame her, he is very good looking, but it's funny to see her comment on his quirks and personality.

The most recent interaction in their relationship, was when our italian teacher invited the new intern to the play we are putting on at school. I'm in it, in the background, but nonetheless still in it, so this news was exciting to me. Professoressa (our italaian teacher) even asked him out to dinner, including a fine dining experience of lobster rolls! How can you turn down that deal - dinner and a play.

Sadly, Professoressa only bought tickets for her husband and herself. Which meant that even if it meant that we (my friends and I) had to buy the intern's ticket ourselves, that was what we were going to have to do. The next day my friend bought a ticket for him and another friend of mine and I payed for half of it. We wrote a note in secret code, cursive, and put that along with the ticket in an envelope. Professoressa knew we were hiding something, and we finally gave in to telling her what exactly we were up to. She nonchalantly gave the envelope to the intern and he seemed to want to go. We'll see tonight if he actually shows! But who wouldn't? A free ticket to a great rendition of West Side Story shouldn't be passed up.

Turns out that this love story is very tragic, but Professoressa still raves over him, and probably will continue to. If there are any new twists to this story, you know I will be sure to document it.

That is all.

-"M"

"A secret society" Otherwise Known as Texting

From a teenagers perspective parents do not understand anything; about school, friends, and most commonly, they don't understand anything about technology. When it comes to my parents, the latter situation is what they can't seem to wrap their minds around. I guess I can sort of understand where they're coming from; when they were kids, cell phones, if they were even around, were the size of a shoe box and couldn't do half of the things a generic cell phone can do today. The thing that is most annoying, though is when a parent doesn't get the technology and becomes nervous about it. They turn into helicopter parents, always hovering, because the truth is they really can't tell the difference between texting and e-mailing.

Last night for example I was texting my friend, when my dad went into helicopter mode, and decided to ask me who I was texting. I told him, and then he proceeded to ask what I was talking about. When I answered with the general answer, "stuff", my dad went off about how secretive texting is. Even saying that texting is "a secret society", my only reply to that was a hearty laugh. I do get his point though, it is annoying when someone next to you is texting and they start to laugh - the only thing you think is that they must be talking about you.

When I become a parent, I'll probably be like him; completely over protective. By the time I have kids, cell phones will probably be even smaller than they are now, and teenagers will have become more antisocial. I can only pray that this doesn't happen, because in a way our parents may be right - what happened to talking to people? But for now, it's agitating to have helicopter parents, always in your business.

Another advancement in technology that some parents do not get is Facebook. My parents don't have Facebooks and probably never will, unless they decided to get one when I go to college which, sounds like something they would do. So when I'm on Facebook, and random people I haven't talked to in forever decide to post a picture of something they thought was interesting, my mom also finds it just as interesting. She walks into our living room, nonchalantly, and then hovers around the computer chair actually reading updates and asking me about them. Then, when I try to scroll down she thinks I'm trying to avoid showing her something and questions that too. Mom, I don't care if this person put a picture of a bird on Facebook, I haven't talked to them since I was in about third grade, so that is why I am scrolling down. Honestly, there has to be an explanation for everything I do.

Parents are entertaining, and they keep us in line. My english class can attest to this; we have a regular parent venting session, oh about once a month, where we talk about the crazy antics of our parents. They try to make sure that some of their good habits rub off on us, like making our beds in the morning, so that we will be prepared for life. But I really don't think I will ever make my bed in the morning, what's the point? Especially if it's a Monday.

That is all

-"M"

No, that extremely bright flash does not help my headache at all

Tonight I attended my school's version of American Idol. I was really looking forward to it for two reasons - one, it gave me a break from chemistry homework when I thought my brain would explode, and two I wanted see how talented people at my school are when it comes to singing.

When the doors of the auditorium finally opened, my friend and I found seats that we thought were good, turns out we were wrong. It never fails; it's always either I get someone who is tall to sit in front of me, because I'm short, or the people in back of you are annoying. Tonight I encountered the 'I'm a parent and I need to take ten billion pictures of my kid' situation. I can not tell you how much of a headache I have even now, an hour after the show, from that mom's camera. The flashes shot across the room and bounced back and hit me in the eye, with every flash, I could feel a migraine coming on. When her kid was up, every twenty seconds there was a flash, but at least there was a warning - the red light some cameras make before the flash erupts from it. Every pose, and every move the kid made on stage, flash goes the camera. Lady, I know that you are proud of your kid for singing a song on stage, but seriously, documenting it that much is a tad on the ridiculous side.

Most performances were great, some were very shocking. One kid, I'm assuming, thought the song he was singing would sound much better if he screamed it. Again, adding to my headache. The majority of the people performing did really really well, some had me singing along too. At the end, after all of the performances, a video of the auditions was shown. I was surprised that our school had the technology to show a video on such a large screen, with the internet unreliable and the network frequently crashing at school, this was shocking.

Overall our school's rendition of American Idol was done very well. They even were able to get the theme music of the actual show, which was a nice touch. After at least seventy flashes, I am going to go and try to get rid of this headache.

P.S. Will Ferrell on The Office tonight is hysterical, if your reading this now, it's still on, watch it!

That is all

-"M"

The MCAS Syndrome

Walking around the halls of school today all of the sophomores, myself included, looked like they had come down with a cold. Indeed they had come down with something, it's a little thing I like to call, or just today started calling, the MCAS syndrome. After being in the same classroom, with the same people, looking at the same test and book for roughly three hours and fifteen minutes, you can see how one would feel a little, for lack of better terms, whimsical for the rest of the day. Even now, at three in the afternoon, I feel like the morning is still not over.

For those who do not know, the MCAS test is given to every student in Massachusetts in varied subjects. It's a state test and is a requirement to pass to graduate from high school. For the next two days I will be taking the english MCAS, today was the composition portion of the test. After pre-writing and then writing my final essay there was still fifty minutes left of the time we were alloted, so I decided to read my book. It was better than staring out into blank space, like the other kids in the room decided to spend their time doing - I was the only one who brought a book. Once time was up, we passed onto fifth period. Thankfully, we didn't have to do anything, so once again I started to read my book. By the time the bell rang for lunch, my head felt lighter than it had before, and I felt very very tired. I decided to look past it and move on. However that was the first symptom of the MCAS syndrome.

Symptoms experienced by people who have had the MCAS syndrome include - hearing the faint sound of bagpipes, hearing dogs barking in the distance, when in fact there are no dogs on school grounds, and lastly misinterpreted phrases. All of these came true, when I was talking with my friends after lunch. When I heard bagpipes in the distance, I thought it was absurd that someone brought them to school this late, after all St. Patrick's Day was five days ago. Thinking I was absolutely bonkers, I asked my friend if she had heard the same thing and she also heard them. Coincidence? I think not! Not long after that did my other friend "R" hear dogs barking, and after that "B" heard me say something that I most certainly did not say. All of this because of a test that lasted 196 minutes. Thank you MCAS, for making us all delirious because of the brain power that you try to exert from us way too early in the morning.

That is all

P.S. MCAS syndrome is obviously not real, but we actually did hear bagpipes and dogs barking. Weird...

-"M"

Is Putting a Video On the Internet Really This Hard?

Over the weekend, I had my friend "B" come over so we could film a video of a dance she came up with for an english project. You're now probably wondering how english class has anything to do with dancing whatsoever, but it does. Our assignment was to display the meaning and themes of the movie Bowling For Columbine in any artistic way that we wished. I chose to write a poem, where "B" decided to dance to a song that represented the themes in the movie. It shouldn't be too hard right? And this is where my assumptions were wrong.

Making up the dance and then recording it to music is only the half of it; getting it to our teacher on time is another story. After finally getting the routine down, it was a bit dark out, mind you we were doing this outside in three degree weather. I turned on my porch light and another light that successfully provided sufficient light so that you could see "B" in the video. The song "B" chose to dance to was playing in the background, but on the video you can hardly hear it. This was fine, because we just assumed that we would somehow mute the original video and put the song in. Easy? Not for us. Once the video was all recorded it was about eight thirty at night, when we finally posted it to our teacher's Facebook page it was about ten o'clock. It took numerous tries and guesses as to how we were to put music in the background and how we were going to send it to our teacher.

Eventually we made a Youtube account, which was new, and after many tutorials and exploring we finally posted a video on the internet, except without music behind it. This made the ordeal even harder to accomplish. In order to view the video the correct way, you have to look up the song and have it playing in the background at the same time you are watching the muted, original video. Thank goodness for Facebook, or else we wouldn't have been able to do this. "B" and I wanted to watch the video back, just to laugh at it, and did we laugh. My camera didn't so much pick up on the sound of the background music, but it did when "B" had to fall at one point in the video. It was hysterical listening to it; one second you would hear music and the next, a loud thud and "B" on the ground. Overall it was a learning experience, who knew it takes that long to upload a video to Youtube? I certainly didn't. Or maybe that's just my nine-year-old computer.

That is all

-"M"

Dogs + Puddles = Not a Very Good Combination

My dog, Rubie, loves to go for walks. Whenever I pretend like she actually understands what I'm saying, and ask her if she wants to go for a walk, she runs excitedly to the door. Then she proceeds to whine the whole time I'm tying or putting on my shoes, because she wants to go outside that badly. Today, because it was about fifty degrees out, I decided to take Rubie for a walk around my neighborhood.

A dog who is almost two years old should be mellow by now, but Rubie on the other hand is a completely different story. I live on a hill, and sometimes I feel like a dog sled person, except I got left without a cart to stand on. That cocker spaniel of mine pulls me up the sidewalk, which isn't so bad, if you haven't done Pilates in gym class a few hours ago, and your arms don't already feel overextended like mine did. After we made it up to the top of my street, to the elementary school, avoiding how complicated that could be, Rubie and I decided to take a new route and go down a side street. Before we even got on the street I regretted ever walking down it. This street was full of puddles and at points, was a little bit muddy. It seemed my dog was a magnet when it came to puddles and walking right through them. It's like she didn't even care or realize that she was walking through a filthy puddle and then on to the next one. I feel bad for yanking on the leash to get her away from puddles, but it's ultimately for her own good.

My many attempts at trying to get a crazy red-haired dog out of puddles didn't succeed in the least. We came home and I looked at what Rubie had done to herself, she was a completely new dog - half red, half brown. She's in the kitchen now, drying off. I think a bath is in order for that puppy, maybe she'll like it, it has to do with water after all.


That is all

-"M"

Never Thought I'd Be In a Car With an Eighty-year-old Who Passed a Tractor On the Road, That's For Sure

My parents, like a lot of other parents, work during the day so my transportation home from school is my grandmother. I could take the bus, but why take the bus when I could be home earlier and not have to worry about finding a seat by taking a car, plus I love seeing my grandma. I am really close to my grandmother; she lives down the street from me and is the only grandparent that I have left. The others passed away either before I was born, or when I was too young to remember them, so my grandma, Memere, which is grandma in French, means so much to me. Anyway on with todays story about how Memere and I got stuck behind a tractor on the way to the super market.

I walked out of school today and the temperature outside was surprisingly warm! It was about fifty degrees out which is fantastic, since we have been reaching temperatures lately of numbers in the single digits. I felt a little odd, since I prepared myself to brace the cold with a scarf and winter jacket only to step outside into a nearly spring-like climate. I got into my grandma's car and we were on our way to my house. Memere told me she had to go to the super market to return soda cans, so since I had nothing better to do, and no homework for once, I decided to join her. After I dropped my school stuff off and let my dog outside to do her business, we headed to Harry's Super Market. Rounding the corner onto another street we found ourselves behind a big green tractor, that was going extremely slow. I'm pretty sure the guy driving the green mammoth knew what he was doing too; he could have made that thing go a little faster, but no, obviously he's the only one that was on the road today. After a little while of being impatient and making comments about the tractor moving very sluggish, Memere decided to pass it. Mind you, my grandma is eighty years old. So sure enough when the road on the other side was clear she passed the green tractor. After that I was just glancing out the window, when my eyes happened to look over and see what? Oh nothing just a police officer waiting for speeders, or others not abiding the law. It was a good thing he seemed like he didn't see us, otherwise this story would have taken even more of an interesting twist. I can see it in the news papers - Eighty-year-old woman passes tractor on road jeopardizing lives all because she wanted to recylce her soda cans. Anyway we made it to the store fine after that incident.

I hadn't been to this store in a really long time. It's a store that has been open for several years so the elderly people in my city trust it because it's the only thing they've known. My grandma was like a celebrity in there; everyone knew her name, it was sort of funny. We were walking down an isle and she knew almost everyone there, all were about her age so she must have known them from when she first moved here from Maine. It's weird to think about your grandparents when your not with them. Like what other people think of them, if they think of them as just old people, but to you they mean so much more. Anyhow, I really enjoyed my time with my grandma today. It's not very often that I go to the grocery store with her, so that was nice. February vacation is almost here!!! I'll probably post during vacation about snowmobiling adventures with my dad. Stay tuned :)

That is all.

-"M"

My English Class

It's fitting that this class is at the end of the day - seventh period. I love to laugh, and this class has me leaving school every day with a smile on my face that could stretch for miles. It does help that English is one, if not my favorite subject, but the people in this class really make it what it is.

There is truly a wide variety of teenagers that come to room 119 every day at seventh period. We range from the Family Guy watching, video game playing, and anything computers guys, to the theater kids, to the "shy" only around certain people kids, but the funny thing is we all mold together. The classroom would not be complete if anyone was missing from the picture. The teachers label us "Honors kids", and indeed we are, but we are also just young souls being who we really are - unique.

In this class it is a challenge to stay on topic because of all the funny quips from the guys in the class. They always seem to have a great line at the tip of their tongues, waiting for just the right moment. And when that moment is right, the whole class bursts out in laughter that can be heard from several classrooms away.

Storytelling is something that is also commonly done in my English class. It all starts usually with our teacher, I'll call her Ms. S., she loves to tell us about her experiences with things that we go through as teenagers. And eventually it causes a snowball effect, the whole class piles on story after story, each hoping to top the one just told. The snowball effect also doesn't just happen with stories, it always happens with the amount of laughter in the room too.

Ms. S. is probably the most relatable teacher that I've ever had. She is young and closer to our age, so she knows exactly how to run a classroom of sometimes stubborn teens. Our multiple personalities are just part of the package. You see we come as a deal, all of us or none at all. We are like a crayon box; even though some of the colors are vastly different from others in the box, they are still grouped together without question. If one of those crayons happens to go missing, then it's not a complete box, it's completely different.

As you can see I'm trying my best to describe this class on paper, or rather on a computer screen, but the fact of the matter is that I really can't do it justice. The people in my class have so many characteristics and qualities about them that it's really quite difficult to put them in print. All I can say for now is that next year I'm going to miss this class, not because of the assignments, and not because it was tenth grade, but because of the people who made Honors English 10, with Ms. S. so great.

That is all

-"M"

I'm Sorry, But I Don't Think I'm the Only One Who Doesn't Want to Contract E. coli From a "Perfectly Cooked Piece of Meat"

Is it just me, or do you also cringe when watching a cooking show, and the host bites into a enourmous burger that is called with great sarcasim "medium rare"? In reality though, it's not medium rare at all it's just plain rare and is almost the same color as it was in the pakage a few minutes ago! People actually like their meat cooked this way? I have only one question - what is the appeal?

It might be just me, but I don't want to risk anything I put in my body that's going to make it not function properly, and could make me very sick for a long time. Another thing about that big juicy "medium rare" burger is that some of the juices in it are blood from the meat, which is completely repulsive. Part of the cooking process is to sterilize the food; to cook away anything that could potentially harm the person about to consume it. Cooking the meat on each side for only a few minutes doesn't seem like it would kill any bacteria on the meat, except for on the surface.

Vegetarians do not eat meat for numerious reasons, one of which is that they do not want to see a animal carcas sitting on a plate in front of them. I also do not like the reminder that the burger in front of me was from a cow, so naturally looking at a rare burger disgusts me. Maybe this notion was passed on from my parents, because they too do not like the look of raw meat. My mom has this quip that is quite true and funny about a rare hamburger, it goes something like this, "This burger is so rare I can still hear it mooing." yes, that's my mom. Still I ask what is attractive about a rare burger.

Another thing, why is it okay to have a medium rare burger, but it is always wrong to undercook pork? The danger from raw beef is still the same as the dangers from undercooked pork, so why do we think it's okay to have a rare hamburg. Also steak tar tar.Completely raw no cooking involved? What were people thinking?I haven't tried it before, maybe it tastes fine, but I would be too scared to try it.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it won't hurt you that much. But I don't think it's wrong when I send back my burger to the kitchen at a resturaunt for it to be cooked well done and not served "medium rare".

That is all

-"M"

On Tuesday I Lost My Wisdom, Along With Four Teeth

Wisdom teeth. Why do they even call them that, when they don't increase your brain capacity or size by being rooted in your gums? I had to have my wisdom teeth removed this past Tuesday, and oh what an experience.

I was nervous, like any normal person, and when they make you wait in the waiting room for any amount of time it makes you even more hesitant. I heard my name called, so my mom and I went to the back room to get ready for the procedure. I sat down on the comfortable dentist chair and tried not to look at all the sharp instruments that were sterelized and about ready to be used to poke and prod through my mouth. I also didn't want to think about the IV. That scared me to no end. I have no idea why because after all it didn't hurt more than a normal flu shot. So once the IV was hooked up I heard the dentist or oral surgeon say "Now you're going to start to feel a little funny." I agreed, thinking good, I don't want to feel any pain whatsoever. Then I heard, "Are ya feeling funny?" once more I agreed and that was the last thing I remembered about the procedure. Which was a blessing. Until, what felt like two minutes later, I was woken up and told, "We are going to start walking to the recovery room." I still have no idea how I got to the recovery room.

The next thing I knew, my mom was there and everything was turning out fine. Until I felt a little queasy. Mind you I don't really have a good gag reflex. So long story short, the gause they put in my mouth to stop the bleeding, and prevent more bleeding was the problem, so I got sick twice in the recovery room. Then after the car ride home - a bumpy ride home, I got sick again. This experience was not turning out as peachy as I thought it would.

The pain was really bad the first day, but it slowly began to get better. After a nausea pill, and medicine for the pain, things became more tolerable. Today I got dressed and went for a ride in the car, which was amazing because I haven't been out of the house since Tuesday morning. Plus, also on the bright side I look less like a chipmunk! My cheeks are swollen still, and I can't laugh, which is impossible for me so I suffer through a laugh and then put ice on my face. I can't wait until this is all over. I couldn't have done this without my parents. My mom did everything I needed and more, which is why I am feeling so much better today. So I am truly thankful to her, and my dad who has also been here too.

That is all

P.S (My friend wanted me to give her advice on what it was like to get wisdom teeth out, so she can prepare for when she gets hers' out. I have no idea what to tell her. I'm not just going to say it was great, with hardly no pain, when I got sick six times the day of the operation! Well maybe I'll tell her everything that happened to me and then just say, "But everyone is different." Yeah, I'll say that. It's true after all.

-"M"

Christmas Time

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. I love snow, as you already have found out, and the ultimate gift was given on Christmas, better than any sweater or new cd, Jesus Christ was born. It is because of Him all of this is possible. Plus it's a time when you get to see all of your relatives, which for the most part is a great thing.

Christmas was at my house this year. Usually we travel to my aunts house and have it there, but not this year. Fitting thirteen people into a small house with a one-year-old Cocker spaniel is not as easy as it may seem. One thing about my dog, is that she pees. Yeah, I know it's normall, but it's really not when she does it whenever she gets excited over new people coming into the house. It always happens, no matter what, and it can be a little irritating. Besides that everything went according to plan - the food, the decorations, compliments on gifts. My aunt, who loves having a neice, because her only child is a boy, always wants to see what I received for Christmas. So I showed her everything; all the sweaters, perfume, dvd's, all of those things. My parents went completely crazy this year and bought a surplus of everthing. I wanted a few sweaters, to prepare for the upcoming snow storms, and I received about six. There wasn't much left on my list that I didn't get.

And now, what we in Western Massachusetts have been waiting for, the snow storms! So much snow has accumulated overnight and into this morning, the people on the news stations are calling it The Blizzard of 2010. I think they said at one point that we were getting hit with snow at a rate of three inches per hour - and that was last night. Today the snow has piled up, even on the windows, so that there is a layer of snow halfway up on the pane. Right now it's about nine thirty in the morning(yes I know, why am I up so early during vacation?) and the snow is still continuing to fall. I was going to take my dog for a walk, but until after it stops snowing, if it stops snowing, I'm going to stay secure and toasty in my house.

This snow is amazing, it seems like it has no end. It just keeps floating down from the sky, and who knows when it will stop? I hope it doesn't stop, mostly because I love it, and partly because I have to get my wisdom teeth out tomorrow. I've heard a lot of horror stories about wisdom teeth, but I try not to think about them, because everyones experience with them is different right? Well I'll find out tomorrow. All I know is I'm going to be completely knocked out for the whole experience, which is probably going to save me from most of the pain. I'll post more tomorrow, afterall I won't be able to talk, so why not write about it?

That is all

-"M"

My Dog Has a Love For Snow Like No Other

Finally, finally, finally it snowed this week! The city I live in usually gets pounded with the feathery white flakes this time of year, so no wonder why I am so excited for it. It also may be due to the fact that my dad founded a snowmobile club, has been riding them since he was a teenager, and the fact that I have been riding them since I was three. Yes, that wasn't a typo, I was three when my parents bought me my first "sled" as we like to call it in my family. It was a black Articat Kitty Kat; and yes I know that's quite a few cats to swallow, sorry for the tongue twister. That snowmobile was very tiny, and didn't have much power, but to a three-year-old it did. So for about the first few months I had it, I would only sit on the machine on a roll away piece of wood with the engine on, that's it. Soon, when I was a bit older I upgraded to the Articat Z 120, which was lime green. I remember zipping along my side yard in this sled and crashing on every other turn. This machine is where I aquired enough skill to eventually inherit my mom's snowmobile, which is the one I currently ride now. So it is safe to say that I grew up with snow, not literally, it wasn't my pal in school, it's just that my parents were also fanatics, so it certainly rubbed off on me. I love it though, the beauty of the first snowfall of the year. The substance is light, like feathers and as it accumulates it shimmers if you look at it just so. At the moment I can't think of a better word to use, but I adore snow, a lot.

If you are someone who pays attention to the titles of things then you must be wondering why I'm not talking about my dog, well, I also am wondering that same exact thing. So I suppose I will stick to the topic and tell you about my puppy. Her name is Rubie and she is one year old. She is a Cockerspaniel, and has red fur. I cannot tell you how much the red colored fur suits her personality. If you would like to see a picture of her, I posted a few last year in a previous post. She is rambunctious, insane, peppy, loves to jump, and is an escape artist. When we went to the pet store to look at her, she almost always escaped her little body out of the pen and ran throughout the store. Even now, she is one, and still she is a very hyper dog. And as everyone knows with snow comes shoveling. Yesterday was the day it really started to snow, it was light though, light enough to shovel my whole driveway in less than twenty minutes. I like shoveling, I think it's a way to relieve stress, so with all the homework I had yesterday and today I still went out to shovel. To accompany me for the shoveling, was none other than Rubie. I had to let her outside anyway, to go to the bathroom.

This dog absolutley, like me, adores the snow. She is small in stature, so when she jumps through the snow, she looks like a rabbit. Between leaps and bounds, that Cockerspaniel of mine runs by my side and catches every piece of snow that falls behind my shovel. Then she will quickly run in front of the shovel,sometimes even bark, to try to either stop me from shoveling or eat the snow that I am about to fling on the grass. But most likely because she wants to eat the snow. Then she pushes her face in the snow. Standing in the middle of the yard she makes tunnels with her nose, and tries to burry her head in the cold, white, snow.

We weren't outside that long today, but still when we came inside I found little snow balls draping from the back of Rubie's feet and her ears. The dog who was once a firery red is now red and white. All together with the color of my cold hands made the colors of the American flag - red,white,blue. Rubie is currently in the kitchen defrosting, and hopefully not eating all the snow attatched to her fur, because then, who knows? She might even get a hair ball. Imagine that a dog getting a hair ball!

That is all
P.S. 17 days until Christmas!!!!!

-"M"

Well I Never Thought I'd Be Getting An X-Ray On This Fine Friday

Gym class. It's gym glass. Why get so competitive, when you're not getting paid for it and you're not actually on the school's team? I had gym today, and the lovely sport we are playing this quarter is something called Broom Ball. Don't mind my tone, I actually like playing this sport a lot, but from my experience today, things have changed a little.

It was third period and we were all ready to play this intense game. This game can get so intense, it is the only game in gym class that you are required to wear shin pads at all times. Caught without those shin pads and you have to sit out the entire class. Broom Ball is similar to hockey, the only difference being that instead of a puc they use a small deflated looking soccer ball thing, and instead of a hockey stick with the curved piece of plastic on the end, there is a hard rubber part that is not curved. Most kids in my gym class get super competitive, to the point where they get mad because the other team scored a point on their team that was already winning five to zip. And of course they are the ones that hog the ball all time, and hardly, if ever pass the ball to others. Anyway, the game started and things were going fine, and before I knew it my team was winning four to zero. I find myself getting better and more agressive at this game every class. It was time for a face off because our team had scored and it was my turn to play offence(forward). And then it happened. I'm not sure how, but it did. I felt a sharp pang go through my right thumb and that hand. I immediatley stopped and realized I couldn't move my thumb. So I went off to the side and got an ice pack from our coach, and even the pressure from the ice pack made it hurt worse. So I went to the nurse.

The nurse's office is a place, I'm glad to say, I don't visit much. The office itself is fine and our school nurse is nice, but I hate it when there are sick people around me; the ones who cough and sound like a cat hacking up a hairball. Yuck. So I told our nurse the whole story. She called my mom, and long story short, my mom made an appointment for the doctors, and I left school early. But I did complete two out of the three tests I had to take today, using my pointer finger and index finger. It hurt though, when I wrote, so my letters and numbers looked like a four-year-old's drawing from daycare.

My dad and I went to the doctors and waited in that waiting room for a little over a half hour before I was called. Again I told the docotor the story, and here I am again telling it to you. Then she pressed on my thumb and asked if it hurt. Well yeah, it did hurt, a lot. So she sent me down to X-Ray, with a thumb that probably was hurt even more. I got an X-Ray, waited in the waiting room for another good twenty minutes only to find out nothing was wrong with my hand, or thumb. So I am typing this now with an ace bandage around my hand, that's it. I thought I would have more to show for it, but that's it. Maybe I'll get a bruise or something. Yeah, I actually would like a memory from this. How am I typing your asking yourself? Well according to my parents and the doctor I have a very high tolerance for pain, so this is actually working out, until in about five minutes my hand will start throbbing and swell. But until then I will continue to type.

It's safe to say I wasn't expecting this at all today. I thought it was going to be normal, but turned out to be anything besides that. Well I am going to stop typing now, for the sake of my thumb.

That is all

P.S. 21 days until Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

-"M"

Thanksgiving (A story about my thanksgiving day this year)

As we were in the middle of four lanes of traffic, my parents were conversing about what lane was best to go in, my mom said to my dad that he needed to get "gutsy", as she put it, when driving. Although this same word to my dad means "smashed", as he said. As usual I assumed we would be late to my aunt's house because at that point in the trip we had about another hour to drive, and the holiday traffic was horrendous. Knowing I had all this extra time, my shoes came off and my feet were in the comfort of my fuzzy socks. Oh, those fuzzy socks, you know the ones; the ones you never for the life of you want to take off, because they are so warm you think the moment you take your feet out of them you're bound to get frost bitten feet, yeah those ones. As I was enjoying the warmth and comfort of these socks, we pulled into a rest stop. And can I tell you how much I hate rest stops, unless completely necessary. They are almost always busy and it takes forever to leave because of the traffic. My dad wanted to get more coffee, even though we had already stopped before we actually "hit the road", he felt like he needed more. Finally dad comes out of the convienience store, and we are on the road again!

Whoever invented fuzzy socks is a genius. And it was very strange that I wasn't wearing shoes in the car. When I was little and my family would travel long distances in the car I always asked my dad if I could take my shoes off. I thought that was cool of course, having no shoes on in the car. But being the over protective parent type, my dad would always reply with something along the lines of "If we ever get in a car accident, I want you to have shoes on in case we have to walk any where and there is broken glass on the road." yes, that's exactly what he would say. So now having no shoes on actually did make me feel cool.

We were almost there, so my mom decided to call her sister and tell her where we were. When my mom talks to her sisters, it's almost like they were kids again. They talk for hours on end and they laugh really really hard, harder than you have ever heard them laugh normally. So my mom called and instead of the usual hello, or hey, she always says "Hey Lo!", my aunts name being Lorraine. At this point, when I heard "Hey Lo!", I couldn't wait until we got there. And the surprising news from Aunt Lorraine was that we were actually ahead of my other aunt and uncle on their way! Early for once! Well beside the fact that we were actually suposed to be there a half an hour ago.

We finally arrived at my aunt's house and could smell the feast waiting for us as we walked up the stairs to the dining room. The room was filled with bone-crushing hugs and chatter, don't forget the chatter! Then all of a sudden I heard someone whispering. I thought I was going mad until I saw a man struggling to make conversation to my cousin in the kitchen. This man was my aunt's friend who has had laryngitis for three weeks. This poor man; besides having laryngitis for three weeks, he also had a Boston accent, which made it doubly hard to understand him. The whole time he was there it felt like he was whispering to us, but the fact of his accent made it hard not to laugh. The rest of my family had never met him, and it was completely awkward, one because of his voice imparment, but two because we had no idea who this guy was. He even made stuffed mushrooms, which I kindly refused, well because the man had laryngitis for three weeks, and I had no plan in catching it. Overall I felt bad for him, until he went outside for a cigarette, and then I didn't feel so sorry.

Thanksgiving this year was great. I was surrounded by my family and that is all that matters in the end. Good food, family, a warm house, it doesn't really get any better than that.

That is all

-"M"

What Time Is It?

Time is always a good thing to be aware of. But when you're at my school, there is no way of knowing what time it actually is, unless you have a cell phone. Because almost all of the clocks in the school are either too old to function or just don't work, most likely you won't be able to tell what time it is at any point during the day. Except for homeroom, first period, and the last period - seventh, those are easy because you either just got to school or are just leaving. And it is very hard to keep track of the time while your in class actually trying to learn something.

In the beginning of the school year everything is new again and you probably don't remember what you had for breakfast that morning let alone the bell schedule. So what ends up happening is you begin looking for signs. For example I know when to get ready to pack up for Chemistry class because another teacher walks down the hall at the same time everyday to go to a class, I'm assuming, and then I know that there is at least five minutes left of class. Five minutes = enough time to get my enormous Chemistry binder into my even larger school bag. The classic time marker though, is this; when you hear metal chairs squeaking across the floor, and they sound restless, then you know class must be over soon, because the people in the History class above you just woke up. I am so used to school without real time in every classroom, that I can't imagine school with working clocks. Unless I need to know the exact time it currently is, I am all set. In that case I either have to ask my friend what time it is on their phone, or check the time on mine, which I don't like doing all too often. Other people might think it's easier to just look at their phones, not me, I kind of like judging time by different things. If anything every happens to the clocks we have in the school now, like we actually get new ones, I would be a wreck, and probably late to class everyday, or too early. Well, let's just hope the school stays the way it is until I graduate, which is a safe bet.

That is all

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!

-"M"

From the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown to The Grinch In a Matter of Three Weeks? The Holidays Must Be Approaching

Holy cow it's November! I actually had to put on a winter jacket today and a scarf. It is that time of year again, a time of year that everyone looks forward to, well at least I do. Halloween is over and the annual "watching of The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" has already happened in my family. It's hard to believe that in less than a month the stores will be filled to the brim with people, rushing in to receive early holiday savings. Speaking of early, the other day while in Chemistry class I had an urge to watch The Grinch when I returned home from school. Unfortunately I had too much homework, so I will have to save the classic for another night, perhaps a little closer to December twenty fifth.

Holiday shopping is always fun, but getting it out of the way this early might be being a little too eager. But who can help it if stores advertise this early right? Stores must take down Halloween/Thanksgiving decorations and trinkets one day and then put up Christmas things the next, or that is just how it seems. Just today I was talking with one of my friends and we both agreed that Christmas is too commercialized these days. When people think of Christmas most just think of presents, which is a large part of the season, but what we should be thinking about is the people that mean a lot to us, not the things they purchase for us.

Every time I turn the television on now, there is a new advertisement for a new product or holidays sales, that "won't last for long". Even walking into a pharmacy lately one is bound to run into a plastic candy cane filled with some sort of tooth decaying candy. And it's too early! Don't get me wrong I love Christmas, and all of the festivities that come along with it, just not the stores pushing consumers to buy, buy, buy.

People on a mission to get the Christmas shopping done, can sometimes be humorous, so let me share with you an experience I had today at Walmart. I had just picked up a book by David Sedaris called holidays on ice, hoping to hear some of the things he encountered around the holidays. My parents had to go to Walmart to pick up a few things needed around the house, so I stayed in the car to dig into my new book. While in the car, I was semi-people watching, but just incase they had any idea that I was watching them, I would quickly look down into my book as if nothing ever occurred to me. What I learned is that people in big and small cars often get rowdy when it comes to their holiday shopping. It's funny how you can determine what kind of a person is behind the wheel, by the vehicle they are driving most of the time. They race to get a decent parking spot, and then what ends up happening is someone else will get there a little earlier, and the person hoping to get that spot will be steamed and then take their anger out on the car. Either by laying on the horn or racing somewhere else to get another spot and yelling, at some poor helpless old person that is trying ever so hard to back out of a parking spot. Their language is foul, temper's are fair, and all this for what? The latest toy truck or the last box of stuffing? Obviously this isn't all people; this was just the majority of people at Walmart on a Saturday afternoon. While I was sitting in the car, trying to be discreet a car horn went off at least twice every few minutes, and there was never a shortage of loud booming voices. I didn't go in the store and I couldn't have imagined what went on in there that I didn't see.

Any way the book is very good, as always, David Sedaris never ceases to please me for a good read. I will try to update this blog as much as I can, things have been busy and hectic lately, but science fair is coming up, and exciting things might come out of that. So stay tuned!

That is all

P.S Happy almost Thanksgiving!

-"M"

Fall. Really? Its already here?

Yes, it's that time again. Leafs, pumpkins, Halloween, back-to-school, it's all apart of the fall season. The one thing I can't stand about fall this year, though is all of the rain that we have had in the last week or so. The rain makes everything colder, and makes people less motivated in the morning to get up and go to work or school. Yes, I am from Western Massachusetts and I should be used to the cold by now right? I have lived here my whole life and I shouldn't care if I have to start wearing my clothes in layers from now on right? Well, I hate to say it, I really do, but I'm just not a fan of all this chilly weather. Everyone complains about it too, all the time. Even though, I don't like the cold that much, I don't think I'll ever move to Florida when I'm eighty with my husband, as most characteristic old people do. Fall isn't that bad, there are leafs, which I like a lot in the fall. I like going driving places and looking at all of the different color trees painted across the mountains. Other perks of the fall season would have to be apples/apple cider. There is nothing better than going apple picking in the freezing weather, and then going inside the orchard store and warming up with their hot mulled apple cider. Maybe this weather isn't the best, but everything else that comes with the fall is.

That is all (sorry, it was a very short post)

-"M"

The Dentist

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live next door to a dentist's office. No one likes going to the dentist, that I know anyway, so I think it would be interesting to watch out a window. While at the dentist today, looking out the window, I thought of the nursing home that I could see just next door. I thought that the elderly people living there might have a time of day, or day of week that they have come to notice gets really busy at the dentist, and they pull a chair up to their window to sneak a peak of what pain the person in the chair might be going through. Now that I think of it, most of the windows in the nursing home had the blinds open, so maybe they do watch. I can immagine them popping pop corn and, some of them, taking their denchers out to eat it, all the while keeping a close eye on the action at the dentist. Kind of like the fish in the movie Finding Nemo, the old people would watch at the window, hoping to see a kid, like me, given the news that they have to have their wisdom teeth out. They see the expression on the child's face and remember why they are thankful all of their teeth fell out already. I live on a busy street, and nothing ever happens, all that does is the occasional kid on an electric scooter that beeps so loud, that you have time to run inside and turn on music, before they pass by your house. When college is over and I buy an apartment in the city, I will make sure there is something interesting outside my window, that way I can pull a chair up to my window with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the free entertainment, I won't even have to buy a t.v.! Well, maybe I won't have to buy a t.v.

The Traveling Trumpeter

Have you ever been in an awkward situatuion in which you were seated, maybe at a table or perhaps on a lawn, and someone playing an instrument, or singing came up to you and started playing only to you? Well this instance almost happened the other night. I, being a good piano student, attended my piano teacher's jazz ensemble performance - plus I am sort of a fan of jazz music. The night was perfect, a cool breeze floated across my face after a long, scortchingly hot day looking after little campers at Girl Scout Camp. The band was playing really well, and then the trumpet player decided to take a few paces forward because he had, really, the only moveable instrument. It reminded me of people in plays or musicals that sometimes step off stage and torture an old guy by standing next to him while the spotlight beams down on his bald head. It just makes the person feel more awkward and bathed in sweat than before. The trumpet guy in my piano teacher's band was approaching people that looked uneasy about the idea, so he returned to his small patch of grass in front of the other players. The sighs of relief filled the air, and everyone returned back to the, by now, accustomed routine of reading their books and only looking up after a song had been played to applaud. Overall the music was very enjoyable, and I look forward to the next Thursday night at seven p.m.

That is all

-"M"

"The Hottest Number In Town" I Guess?

It's always fun to go to my Dad's work, not only does the company provide free coffee and hot drinks for its workers(which means I get a chai every time I go) it also has a wide variety of employees. Including the office - people who deal with phone calls, customers, and get to stay in the air-conditioned space all day long while my Dad and the other technitions work on the boilers. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that my Dad is a furnace tech and also fixes air-conditioners. We went back to visit the office to get my Dad's check because he is on vacation and that means that I had to encounter all of the co-workers. It's kind of like going to a family reuinion and distant relatives that you never see come up to you and tell you how they haven't seen you in so long and how much you've grown, only you don't feel so bad for not remembering them because you're not in any way related to them. The first person my Dad and I saw was a guy that acts and almost looks like David Spade, only with brown hair. Our first, "Hi "M", how are you?", and then he made fun of my Dad because he's just a happy-go-lucky guy who really has nothing to be made fun of, except for maybe his 70's style transition glasses. Next we traveled outside, and back into the humid summer of Western Massachusetts. Some of my Dad's buddies were outside working in their vans, so we decided to take a trip down the road to say hello. Right off the bat they all said "Wow you're getting so big, why is your dad driving?". They were all shocked to hear that I don't have my drivers liscence, but really it isn't that surprising. Then, while still sitting in the car I looked to the right and stared at these weird statue things that are on the top of the main building. One is a cave man and the other is a demon-like creature whose eyes light up at night, which makes it even the more creepy. Then I tuned back into the conversation that my Dad was partaking in with his friends at work. It was pretty boring so again, I tuned back out. All in all the trip to, "the shop" as my Dad calls it, was as usual - entertaining and a bright spot in the day.

That is all. Sorry not much today. But it is summer!!!!

-"M"

For All of Those Who Have Doubted It Before, Big Brother Is Definitely Watching You Now

It's a novel about a crazy, uncontrolled yet somehow freakishly controlled community and how one citizen hopes to rebel against their authority figure, otherwise known as Big Brother, a telescreen located everywhere in the community, controlling everything and every person living within its boundaries. 1984, by George Orwell was the first book we read this year and it was a really amazing book. Most of our class was into the book, interested, and biting at the bit to read the next chapter, or at least I was. There is a saying in this book and it goes like this "Big Brother is watching you." referring to the screen watching all of the people and their actions; creepy yes, but it's only a book, until today when I walked into English class. Spray painted and slightly crooked was a picture of Tom Selleck and the print under him read 'Big Brother is watching you' in big bold block letters on the left side of the back wall which is facing the whole room but mostly the row that I am near. The picture is black with white accents and it looks a little creepy to a person who hasn't read the book. All I have to say is wow, and what will the incoming ninth grade think when they walk into Mr. G.'s room next year?

There probably would have been a scene dedicated to Romeo and Juliet in the place where Big Brother is painted if the Shakespearean play was not so violent, and inappropriate as our class has discovered. There are the few characters in it like the nurse who just have a lot to say and most of it doesn't turn out so proper.

It is true I am not that loud. While in school, what I think to be talking really loud is so quiet I normally have to repeat it to others. Outside of school however my friends can't get me to, for lack of better terms, shut up. This shyness is portrayed by many guys in my class because they, like any other male teen, don't want to read a love story like Romeo and Juliet. So, a guy came across a line in which he had to scream JULIET! But did he do it? No, obviously he said it flatly, "juliet". Focusing on emphasis our teacher told him to read it something like, "JULIEEEEEEEETT" and he yelled so loud that our crazy, slightly off his rocker history teacher came in the room just to make sure things were okay. I swear anyone walking by the classroom or in the classroom above us could hear our teacher. It was very bizarre because our English teacher never yells. Anyone who was sleeping in our class or the class next to us was awake after that.

That is all

-"M"

Well This Would Be My Day

Wardrobe malfunction. This is what started my day off. It is finally warm out so I decided to wear my new sandals to school. Not even to my locker yet I scuffed my right sandal on the floor and the top of it separated from the bottom. So I hopped to my friends "B" and "K" with my shoe making a sound worse than flip flops. The only solution that we could think of at seven in the morning was to glue my shoe which would have been fine if we used something different than Elmer's glue and let it dry over night. Unfortunately we didn't have that much time to spare. My friend "K" took the sandal and went to glue it leaving me shoeless on one foot in the hallway. I could have hopped, I get that, but it would have looked even more awkward so I set my right foot on the cold, filthy floor and headed to homeroom. People started coming into my homeroom so I had to hide my shoeless foot behind my other leg while sitting at a desk. Finally "K" arrived with my newly glued sandal and I put it back on my bare foot. Home room ended and I was feeling confident when all of a sudden I felt a slip and the parts of my shoe, again, separated. So I continued walking my sandal flopping all the way to math class. My teacher noticed my limping and my discombobulated shoe and had the best idea all day. Stapling it held the two pieces in place and allowed the glue to dry without the disruption of me walking. Thank you Mrs. J-P!

Then some wise guy decided to mess with the keyboard I use in computer class and they jammed the delete key, switched the p and k keys, switched the r and t keys and the a and l keys. However I didn't notice because in that class we aren't allowed to look at our fingers while typing so I typed everything correctly but then looked at the keys after and it messed me up even more and took me even longer to finish my resume. Thanks to the person who had nothing else to do in the class before me for that it was great to deal with.

A typical symbol describing science or science class would be a flask bubbling held by a crazy looking scientist guy right? Well this picture in my head came true today in Biology class. We are making yogurt and one of the ingredients needed is obviously milk. You have to heat it and then add powdered milk and a little bit of yogurt to it. Our teacher was heating the milk in containers on a burner during class and she went to turn one of them off. But instead of turning it off she turned the temperature up. This scared us all when we heard someone in the back of the class say "Uh it's bubbling". The milk bubbled over and poured all the way down the cabinets to the floor. This was the only time this year I heard a teacher swear. She quickly ran over to it and took it off the burner and had to mop up the mess. The rest of the period was spent listening to people go by in the hallway saying "who burnt toast?" because the milk had spilled the burner which had something that was burnt on it and it smelled exactly like burnt toast or burnt popcorn.

Oh English class. It is almost getting as hilarious as History class. Almost everyday conversations about the lesson spiral off into something completely irrelevant. For example today while talking about Shakespearian Vocabulary we came across the word Sirrah I think and our teacher mentioned how he thought it was used in the movie "Ants". This was ironic because the word was under the category for our notes "Words Nobody Uses". So for a while our class talked about the first spiral of conversation the movie "Ants" and then there were some people who thought that the movie "Bug's Life" was apparently better and actually had changed their life. Then the conversation turned into tiny talk - what I mean by this is that everything mentioned had something to do with something small. So the next thing to talk about and waste class time was the movie "Honey I Shrunk The Kids" because all of the people were small, I suppose it had something to do with the topic. Then going back to the first topic someone mentioned how there was a cute, chubby caterpillar in either "Ants" or "Bug's Life" I can't even remember now I've gotten myself too confused to try to recall all of this. And our teacher was completely lost for words, sitting down at a desk just waiting for the conversations to end. Eventually we got back to the lesson and I figured out that the word I have criticized my Dad for using around dinner time, "Sup", from the Shakespearian Vocabulary actually means "To eat". Sorry Dad I guess you were right after all.

That is all

-"M"

Why Shopping Malls Are So Awkward

It is a public place where everyone is free to be themselves because they don't know anyone around them especially in a different town and could care less what they think. This place is a mall the hangout place for teens and elderly folks on weekday mornings. I payed a visit to one of these last Sunday after serving mass at my church. Yes I'm an alter server and it's pretty enjoyable except for last Sunday when I was refilling the wine holder and I spilled it on my hand but most of it landed on the carpet. Thank God the wine was not spilled on the alter and thank God that the carpet was red. I had to wash my hand though because I was going to my aunts house with "B" and we planned to go to a mall near Springfield, MA.

My aunts can do two things very well when they get together with my mom and that is shop for hours and talk your ear off. Yes we all have a lot to catch up on but sitting at a restaurant already finished with your meal for about an hour and having to listen (because no one can get a word in edgewise) for at least four hours can be a pain. It was a nice outing but our tailbones hurt after a sitting and waiting for that long. After exploring the huge JC Penny store and going up the down escalator "B" and I decided to head out to the rest of the mall. Once we were done looking around the rest of the mall we went back to JC Penny and guess who was still on the first floor of the store in the same section? Yes, they were still looking at washcloths and things. What else was there to do then sit on the display couches in the store and people watch? "B" and I watched as people went by and we tried to guess their life story. Our first contender was a boy about six years of age who was picking his nose. At first he was all by himself but his parents, as interesting as their child, came along soon after. We decided that his mom was a reader and wanted the perfect child which was obviously not the booger picking six-year-old. But don't fear they had another child who was not even a year old this kid was destined to be a moma's boy. Their father was normal and there was sadly nothing to make up about him. Laughing about our assumptions because they were probably completely false we saw another couple coming through. This couple was so boisterous that we actually know the husband's name. Dale was trying to show his wife the products he saw on t.v. by saying "You come over here this on t.v.!" Dales wife replied, "Nu uh I ain't comin over there." Then Dale ran away off into the store. Dale's wife, "DALE! DALE!" And I'm not sure he was ever found. Poor Dale, he wanted to show something to his wife that probably meant a great deal to him because he saw it with his own eyes on t.v. and she wouldn't go over to see it. It's probably also the reason why he ran away.

Yelling throughout the store, now this is something I wish I had the courage to do, but I don't. The trip was quite an unusual one. But on the other hand when isn't a trip to somewhere different unusual?

That is all

-"M"

When the Most Hated Subject Is On Its Way to Becoming the Best Part of My Day

What do you think about when you hear "History Class"? I think of sitting in a room for way too long, listening to a lecture that has gone too far into detail. I also think of a teacher who is so old that they could be one of the people in the books the school gives us to read. But having a goofy, slightly off his rocker, old teacher isn't, I have found out, always a bad thing.

My class this year has been filled with crazy things that just brighten up my day. For example the other day our teacher just randomly started screaming, which jump started our heartbeats and anyone else in the two classes beside ours could hear the man. Then yesterday we had yet another reenactment only this time I was a runaway slave. Three guys were called to the front of the room as well as I and I was given a stuffed animal moose, which was the same one that was thrown around the room in the first blog post. The moose I was told was my baby and I had to run away from the slave catchers. When our teacher said go I walked to the end of the room carrying my 'baby' that looked nothing like me whatsoever, trying to escape the ever so scary ninth grade boys. It was great none of us or the class could keep a straight face. Today the antics continued. There is a kid in my class who normally just goes by his nickname which is A.O. - his initials - very original I know. Our history teacher found out about the kid's nickname and started using it. Another kid in our class yelled out "So what are we going to call you Bob?" Bob is our history teacher's name. Then someone else said "I know we can call you B.O.!" This was a brilliant idea I think and the class showed their approval with their laughter. I could not stop laughing at this even when the class stopped, which was a little embarrassing so I ceased my laughter. The class I used to hate is slowly becoming my favorite part of the day, who knows what will happen tomorrow.

Changing the subject to walking. As you know my friends and I are speed walkers. At school we are like those people who walk around the mall numerous times for their workout otherwise known as "Mall walkers" usually middle-aged women and sometimes even older. "B" and I walk around our school which is shaped like an "H" every morning waiting for the homeroom bell to ring. I swear by the end of this year we will have walked at least 100 miles, well maybe not that much but still. This becomes a problem when freshmen boys block the hallway. Their usual standing spots are in front of my or "B"'s locker or in front of the double doors of the hallway. I am the more shy person and "B" is a lot more forceful than I will ever be. So they usually get yelled at or hit with the door and we manage to get through. I wouldn't be too surprised if we have a name with the guys like "The walkers" or something of that nature. But I love to walk and it is a good way to wake up your brain in the morning if your not so overly tired that you fall over into a door or nearby locker, which has happened to a friend of mine.

Anyway

That is all

-"M"

Bugs Should Stay Outside

Most may not know I have a thing about butterflies and they don't really appeal to me. Yes I suppose they are pretty to look at but they flutter and there is a chance they will land on your shoulder, head, or even worse your nose. I guess I don't like insects in general because they crawl and most of the time have multiple legs. My phobia turned into a reality the other day in math class. While doing an assignment my eye caught something large, black as the night sky, and with many legs and crawling straight towards my school bag. My eyes widened and I had to warn my other friends about this crawling creature. It kept crawling down the aisle of desks and each of my friends, one by one saw the thing and got up and headed to the back of the room. The little shrieks we made brought the thing to the guys attention and it would soon be gotten rid of. Personally I didn't care what they did to the beetle I just didn't want it in my sight any longer. But going against my wishes of just killing the darn thing they, politely, moved it on a napkin and brushed it out the window. The rest of the class was spent flinching thinking of the bug's relatives that might be crawling around as well.

After the bug incident I had to use the bathroom so I asked my teacher if I could go. She said yes and gave me her key to the bathroom incase it was locked. And guess what? It was locked. There was a senior outside that got kicked out of class and I didn't pay any attention to him most likely smirking at me - the freshman who couldn't open the bathroom door. I turned the key this way and that but nothing seemed to work. I eventually got the door unlocked to a pitch black bathroom. I found the light switch and let go of the door that squeaked close. There were numerous keys on the key ring and after I went to the bathroom I did not remember which one was the right key to lock the door again. So after trying two keys upside down and right side up the last key was the one. I locked the door and finally made it back to class.

The most annoying thing to run into when you are in a store trying to buy something is the person in front of you in line that complains and complains just to save a few dollars on something completely pointless. This happened to me the other day at Walmart trying to get pictures that I had developed. The woman in front of me was trying to find the item she ordered online and had shipped to the store. After many complaints and quoting other associates that "promised" her the order was at the store we still had to wait. When they finally found the order the price "Seemed to be wrong", so again more waiting was in store for me as well as the other people in line behind me. Even when the clerk let me go in front because I was only there to pick up pictures the lady still had to wait for another associate.

Everyone knows those situations in which they "had to be there" to get it, this happened in English today. While reviewing terms for an upcoming poem test an outburst of laughter came from the left side of the room. My classmates were laughing so hard about something that they couldn't even begin to tell the rest of the class why the uncontrolled snickering had begun. We reviewed by playing a game in which there were teams of two students. The guy in front of my group apparently said or did something extremely humorous that the rest of the class missed and the laughing of only two students continued for a while. The laughter created a chain reaction throughout the room, because the people who were laughing had such explosive laughs that everyone else, even though we didn't know what the cause joined in as well. Finally catching their breaths the class got back to fighting for a Snickers bar for a reward of knowing our Poetry Terms.

April! It is already April. Which means only one thing - rain. But so far the weather has been pleasant and summer-like, for New Englander's this means eighty degrees or higher. Hopefully the weather will continue and the sun will stay.

That is all.

-"M"

A.P. = Advanced Placement or an Absolute Punishment?

If you have read the blog entry a ways back entitled "Mid-terms Part Two" you know that I am not very fond of History class. Then why was I one of the eight kids pulled out of class today to inform us that we were all chosen for an A.P. or Advanced Placement U.S. History 2 class for next year? This was a crazy idea at first thought, but then again I was recommended, the other students in it are up to my maturity level and I have the grades to support it. So after talking about it with my parents I have decided to take the class! We will see how this goes, but even though it is a bit of a challenge being a college course I think I can manage. After that news was given to us by our current history teacher about five of the girls in my class including me were told to stand in the front of the room. So, we did, wondering what else was in store for us today. Our class is currently studying women's rights so we were going on strike in the front of the room with blank posters in our hands chanting some ridiculous saying that our teacher made up that all of us were too shy to say so we just stood there shyly. Then, oh then, we got 'arrested' by the obnoxious guys in class but they were also too shy to put us in the slammer. They seemed at first like they were serious, taking off their sweatshirts and jackets to the effect of "I'm a tough guy and oh yeah I'm a freshman too." But the reenactment was discontinued and it was time to get back to class.

American Idol is one of my favorite shows of all time. Say what you want, say it's rigged and the judges are too critical and it was better when Paula Abdul was on it but I still love it. It has gone downhill since season seven, but I still continue to watch it. At my school every year there is a singing contest, much like American Idol. Students can come and laugh at the people who should never open their mouths to sing and be amazed at people in school who really have a talent, and then vote on who they think is the best. Rehearsal was today after school and I had planned to stay after school for math. While doing my math homework I heard funky disco music being played ever so loudly outside of the classroom door. They were rehearsing in the hallway, and oh boy was it a challenge to do Algebra while upperclassmen are running up and down the hallway. It was funny though to hear the music being played, my math teacher even started dancing, which was a bit odd but good for a laugh. Then when I was done with my math and about to leave school I was stopped by the performance in the hall that I was trying to pass through. I, lucky me, got to see the whole performance, which was actually pretty cool. Then when the upperclassmen were done dancing to the funky music I passes by even more excited to see the show coming up.

That is all

-"M"

I'm not blind but there is a slight chance I might be deaf

"Really I could have sworn you said..." Is a phrase that I've come to use on a daily basis. I could be going deaf, but it could also be that people don't speak up. I sound a lot like my parents now; asking people to repeat things that were said too fast or things that they just can't understand, because they "whispered" or "mumbled". "B", though happens to think I need hearing aids. Just in time to test this scenario the Scoliosis, hearing, and vision test was taken today at school. We were called down during 7th period three at a time to the nurses office. I have a really straight back, I even get criticized, which I think is pretty funny, from my friends in school about how I sit up so straight that they can't see over my head. My response to this is "When you are crippled and so bent over from slouching that your fingertips almost touch the ground, I'd be glad to open doors for you." The woman who checked me for scoliosis said that I tilt slightly to the right, mostly because I am right handed and I carry my book bag on my right shoulder with all of my books in it. After that check it was on to vision and hearing. I went out of the first room to the next, when I see my friend, lets call him "P" sitting outside with a worried look on the other nurse's face. I asked "P" what had happened, turns out he broke the headphones for the hearing test. Lovely now I can't even take the hearing test, they have to reschedule it! It was hilarious though how "P" didn't mean to damage it in any way, he was just putting the headphones on when he heard a crack and they basically fell apart. "P" apologized many times with the only reply from the nurse being "You better be". Then she asked him why he did such a thing. Poor "P" now the rest of my class has to take the hearing test on another day. My hearing or lack there of will be proven to be false on a later date. I am not deaf "B" I can hear you just fine! But you may have to speak up sometimes.

Pull Up Your Pants Please

Well at least it was a nice day out today, but we again had another fire drill. It came at the perfect time - fourth period History class. We were just about to start taking notes when all of a sudden we felt relief, hearing the obnoxious siren ring out. Our class quickly shuffled outside, but on our way there one kid in my class let's call him Pants Boy didn't remember to pull his pants up this morning. I guess this is the new fashion, but in my opinion it is very lazy plus a hazard. Pants Boy had his jeans at his knees jumping to pull them up anytime they got too low but eventually they did as we were rushing out the door for the fire drill. Red-checkered boxers and all, Pants Boy was hopping along not really all that embarrassed of exposing his back end to the whole class. He finally pulled his pants up to his waist when we got outside, but they wouldn't stay there for long. Along with getting thrown to the ground in this game that they guys were playing, Pants Boy's pants once again fell to his ankles. I think next time he should buy jeans that fit him better or wear a belt and hoist them up to his waist for once! Another fire drill but at least we were outside for some time during the beautiful weather we are having.

When a child finds out a new noise to make they just keep making it over and over again, or when they realize that a certain thing they do annoys somebody they will, again, do it over and over. While writing an essay that none of us felt like writing, let's call him Squeak was making his shoes squeak by moving them back and forth. Once he found out that his shoes made this noise that was the only thing he did for about five minutes.And that was the only thing I could hear when I was attempting to write a five-paragraph essay. I tried thinking the words in my head that I was going to write "Out of all of... SQUEAK... the...SQUEAK...poems." and it drove me nuts. Thankfully he finally stopped being amazed at what the friction of rubber and cement can do and the squeaking stopped. Overall it has been a humorous and great day. Not much happened though. Maybe more tomorrow.

That is all

-"M"

Fine, Pinch me. I'm not Irish!

Happy St. Patrick's day everyone. Almost everyone was clad in their green clothes today and their green earrings, necklaces, socks, and so on. But what does one do when they are not Irish? My biology teacher heard this morning a disk-jockey on the radio allowing a pinch to be given to any person that was not wearing green. And yes, today I wore purple so I was pinched in the arm by my friend "K" and not so gentle was she. But what can I say I'm Italian! My mom's friend always used to say "Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's day." Well if this is the case then shouldn't everyone also be a fool on April Fool's Day. Plus I wore the only green shirt I have on Monday, forgetting that Wednesday was the day devoted to this color.

The sun was shining bright today - a break for the lot of us living in Massachusetts, for we have had storms and dark weather for what seems like a very long time. I am a speed walker and this can get annoying especially in the hallway of school. When people travel at their leisure and don't mind being late for class is what I dislike the most. Or when I am speed-walking and the person in front of me just stops in their tracks to talk to someone or to think about something, yes I guess they aren't good at multitasking, and then I bump into them. Or the drifters, the people that go from one side of the hallway to another and mess up everyone's path in the process. I guess now I know why at my middle school they had tape down the middle of the hallway and why teacher's would always say "You have to do the 'right' thing and walk on the right side of the hallway." This does in fact make perfect sense and I think high school students need to be told this. Today I was trying to get to a class that gives detention if we are late. So my speed-walking kicked in and I was passing people fine until I came to the middle of the hallway, which means there are a pair of doors that have to be opened. Destined to pass the guy just in front of me and beat him to the door my strides got even longer and my footsteps faster. I got to the door and opened it, feeling accomplished for about five seconds until I heard a thunk. What I didn't notice when I was about to open the door was that the guy behind me still had his head in the way of the door. Yep, I hit him square in the forehead. Apologizing frantically I said "I'm sooo sorry, are you okay?" He shook his head yes and I hoped he wouldn't have a red mark on his head for the rest of the day. I felt so bad, after all the poor kid had to go to class after this incident.

Finally I reached Biology class. This class has a wide variety of students and it is very common that something unusual will happen. For example, today as we were leaving the song "Lean On Me" came into someone's mind and they just started singing it out. The the rest of the class chimed in, and why not, being sixth period and almost time to go home we all need someone to lean on. All out of tune our class even continued to sing this song throughout the hallway passing to seventh period. They continued to sing until all I could hear was a hum in the distance.

Again happy St. Patrick's Day!

That is all

-"M"