My very own creeper. Sure he hits on the rest of the living female population, but I'm slightly more special. It all started at band camp his freshman year, my sophomore.
I didn't notice the creepin' very much, in fact, he wasn't that bad. He sat with me on the bus once or twice, but I listened to my iPod and he did help with moving instruments. Still, a little too much hugging even by my standards. At the Unionville football game, a rag-tag bunch of us including Tom Hunter and Saxy Matt went to the snack stands. It was a rather long line and as it was a very chilly night we penguin huddled and talked to a friend we had made, Christina Clarinet of Unionville. I asked her if she knew Savy. She did! Hooray! I could finally be reunited with my friend from the beach! At this point we had broken up the huddle because the line was moving, and yet Danny persisted in keeping an arm over my shoulder. Hurriedly I dashed from the line to attempt to meet my lost friend leaving him and his arm alone. I spent the next twenty minutes looking for her, and Danny spent the next twenty-five looking for me. It was a good game, although I think that was the time we lost to Unionville. I later found out from Danny, that someone at Unionville thought I was his girlfriend. "Woah, that totally couldn't be right," he said. "That's weird if you think about it, you and me?"
Then we learned he was making out with our dear Lauren P. Ok, so maybe she has a thing for the youngins. It's not like we don't know anyone else like that and the world rejoiced because Danny was no longer hitting on other girls.
Then she broke up with him. Possibly had something to do with him being a creeper.
Every B-Day band as the trumpets sit in front of the pit, "Hey, Chloe, my girlfriend broke up with me and I'm pretty down." Yes, tragic I thought, you're allowed to hit on me again.
Then, I didn't see him as much and I didn't particularly care why. The times they are a'changin' and suddenly it was time for the Memorial Day parade that passes in front of my house. I wasn't even thinking about him being a problem. I'm in the honor guard, he's a trumpet, safe. WRONG! While waiting in the shade at the nearby auction, he comes over to where Matt, Abby, Sarah, and I are. We successfully ignored him, but he was there none the less. Ugh. Alright, we started marching and all was right with the world. We marched, listened to a speech, and then went to get our church provided lunches. Rebecca and I had to return to the band bus so we could deposit the banner and were some of the last people in line. Lucky for him, so was Danny. I legitimately hadn't conversed or acknowledged him in the last few weeks, so a hug wasn't too much to ask. We were standing next to each other waiting in line, making small talk. His hand far too often rubbing against mine. I turned behind to talk to Rebecca about nothing in particular, and then read a bulletin so he couldn't touch me. I think he complimented me on my astounding abilities to deduce that the mens room was nearby because I saw a sign. He complained about the availability of simply turkey sammiches, and as we walked out, he learned where my house was. I was having a party, and someone was about to come and talk to me about it, but I roughly told them later and dashed across the street to sanctuary.
He was leaving for Hawaii with the rest of band! Sadly, my many of my friends would be gone, but Molly, no good Shana, Jeff, Gina, and Kacey would be here. It was a fine and dandy birthday week. I got a txt from Matt at approximately 12:00 here. That would make it six A.M. Hawaii time. "Danny's already creepin'." He had been hitting on Maggie and probably everyone else ever that early. He asked about me three times.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Notes I Wrote
This is my journal entry describing my feelings about band. It is dated Saturday, October 28th, 2006.
"The band, which has led to "Pit Parties""
I joined the school band at the end of eigth grade, although I didn't play a specific instrument in the band, I knew the notes on a piano, so I started playing xlyphone, which will now be referred to as mallets, or "The Spawn of Satan." Music in the band was simple for percussion, and was a good challenge for a beginner. Learning my music in time for the spring concert, I preformed with the rest of the band. During this time, I was also in chorus, although I didn't like it much, because although many of my friends were in it, those who weren't my friends I am not fond of at all. Taking up too much time now, and not wanting to devote credits to it in the high-school, I dropped chorus and devoted myself to band.
An excellent decision on my part, I first met the high-school bandees at the first day of marching band camp, July 12th. I already knew Kacee, even though I didn't know she was in the pit, so she became my senior awesomeness cool of a homie and introduced me to most of the bandees. Taking sometime to get used to everyone, I continued looking at my music until our first full week of band camp, at the end of august. Spending some time getting to know each other, supplied with cake or other goodies, the Pit became a loving place, where Democrats reigned freely (With the exception of zac)(Zack?). Our drum majors, though crazy seemed fine, but it didn't matter because we never marched. Because a band who is friends outside of the band performs better, the yearly tradition of "Pit Parties". Where discussion poltics, sexual liberation, band politics, people, and bottle cap wars became both enjoyable and slightly unsettling. Section leaders Jeff and Nikki lead the way with excellent performances and benevolent dictatorships.
Our awesomeness is spreading to other bandees, included beloved drum major, schlicter, who, to our enjoyment, was the recipiant of an obscene phone call. Much funny. For those who were there. Ewww... schlitcter... The (beloved) members of the Pit Included: Jeff, Nikki, Kacee, Trisha, Sarah, Zac (Zack?), Alana, Molly, Rebecca, Ally, and Meg. New members include Emily and Automm. My unbeloved member is Dave Shwarts.
To the ULTIMATE PIT!! Honorary members. Viv, once the "Official Honorary Member" is now momma Viv of the "Officially Official Pit" and beloved by all who know of her. Cora Cora, my much loved semi-not-even-a-bandee, but who cares? Also, Steph, of the cymbols, Loved by all, and the best cymbolist this band has ever seen. SUPER HONORARY member of the PIT is Abby J. who spends more time with the pit than Dave (and probably Trisha).
Homecoming is tomorrow and the band, included the Pit disguised as honor guard, will march valiently from somewhere, to somewhere else, I don't really know.
Post Script: I spelled just about everyone's name and "cymbals" wrong in this, but the message is relatively clear.
"The band, which has led to "Pit Parties""
I joined the school band at the end of eigth grade, although I didn't play a specific instrument in the band, I knew the notes on a piano, so I started playing xlyphone, which will now be referred to as mallets, or "The Spawn of Satan." Music in the band was simple for percussion, and was a good challenge for a beginner. Learning my music in time for the spring concert, I preformed with the rest of the band. During this time, I was also in chorus, although I didn't like it much, because although many of my friends were in it, those who weren't my friends I am not fond of at all. Taking up too much time now, and not wanting to devote credits to it in the high-school, I dropped chorus and devoted myself to band.
An excellent decision on my part, I first met the high-school bandees at the first day of marching band camp, July 12th. I already knew Kacee, even though I didn't know she was in the pit, so she became my senior awesomeness cool of a homie and introduced me to most of the bandees. Taking sometime to get used to everyone, I continued looking at my music until our first full week of band camp, at the end of august. Spending some time getting to know each other, supplied with cake or other goodies, the Pit became a loving place, where Democrats reigned freely (With the exception of zac)(Zack?). Our drum majors, though crazy seemed fine, but it didn't matter because we never marched. Because a band who is friends outside of the band performs better, the yearly tradition of "Pit Parties". Where discussion poltics, sexual liberation, band politics, people, and bottle cap wars became both enjoyable and slightly unsettling. Section leaders Jeff and Nikki lead the way with excellent performances and benevolent dictatorships.
Our awesomeness is spreading to other bandees, included beloved drum major, schlicter, who, to our enjoyment, was the recipiant of an obscene phone call. Much funny. For those who were there. Ewww... schlitcter... The (beloved) members of the Pit Included: Jeff, Nikki, Kacee, Trisha, Sarah, Zac (Zack?), Alana, Molly, Rebecca, Ally, and Meg. New members include Emily and Automm. My unbeloved member is Dave Shwarts.
To the ULTIMATE PIT!! Honorary members. Viv, once the "Official Honorary Member" is now momma Viv of the "Officially Official Pit" and beloved by all who know of her. Cora Cora, my much loved semi-not-even-a-bandee, but who cares? Also, Steph, of the cymbols, Loved by all, and the best cymbolist this band has ever seen. SUPER HONORARY member of the PIT is Abby J. who spends more time with the pit than Dave (and probably Trisha).
Homecoming is tomorrow and the band, included the Pit disguised as honor guard, will march valiently from somewhere, to somewhere else, I don't really know.
Post Script: I spelled just about everyone's name and "cymbals" wrong in this, but the message is relatively clear.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Notes I Wrote
This is a journal entry about how we abdicated our grade. It is dated Monday, October 30th, 2006.
"Homecoming parade"
The Homecoming parade was moved 'til Monday and I'll tell you about that but first I have to talk about Sarah's party.
On Saturday night after homecoming dance when we crowned Steve homecoming king. It's so awesome, we must be one of the only schools to have a gay homecoming king. I wasn't at the dance but I heard there was some drama between my friend Abby and her "boyfriend" Will, but they were never really going out so that's why it's in quotation marks.
Sarah's birthday was on Saturday and Matt M. came over for about an hour until he had to leave at Midnight, later, at about 12:40 we went in the hottub, quite warm, then we played truth or dare, but that didn't last long and we just began asking questions. We were going to play Ouija but we didn't really need to know anything because the dance basically left nothing unanswered. We basically were like ahhh!! Guys suck, so at the end of the dance we all wound up single.
So, the homecoming floats, the Freshmen: Urban, Sophomores: Arctic, Juniors: Under the Sea, Seniors: Jungle. I thought the seniors had the best float but the sophomores were really good too, they won best float, they did have "snow" though. Our freshmen float was so horrible that many of the bandee freshmen denounced our grade and formed, "Those who will graduate in 2010, but are a separate and superior grade of its own right."
"Homecoming parade"
The Homecoming parade was moved 'til Monday and I'll tell you about that but first I have to talk about Sarah's party.
On Saturday night after homecoming dance when we crowned Steve homecoming king. It's so awesome, we must be one of the only schools to have a gay homecoming king. I wasn't at the dance but I heard there was some drama between my friend Abby and her "boyfriend" Will, but they were never really going out so that's why it's in quotation marks.
Sarah's birthday was on Saturday and Matt M. came over for about an hour until he had to leave at Midnight, later, at about 12:40 we went in the hottub, quite warm, then we played truth or dare, but that didn't last long and we just began asking questions. We were going to play Ouija but we didn't really need to know anything because the dance basically left nothing unanswered. We basically were like ahhh!! Guys suck, so at the end of the dance we all wound up single.
So, the homecoming floats, the Freshmen: Urban, Sophomores: Arctic, Juniors: Under the Sea, Seniors: Jungle. I thought the seniors had the best float but the sophomores were really good too, they won best float, they did have "snow" though. Our freshmen float was so horrible that many of the bandee freshmen denounced our grade and formed, "Those who will graduate in 2010, but are a separate and superior grade of its own right."
Notes I Wrote
This is a journal entry concerning another pit party. It is dated Monday, November 16th, 2006.
"Another Pit Party"
There was another pit party on Saturday, it was kind of boring because Kacey love, steph, and eric weren't there. Then it got me kind of sad because Jeff was saying how he had a close call in his car once and he thought erin (sp?) was going to be hit and killed and was never more scared of anything in his life. We were all thinking, "That's so sad!" because he said it really seriously and then he went, "Wow, that was really depressing
Post Script: I can't believe I spelled Erik's name wrong, and not Erin's. Also, I didn't actually end the last sentence, so:
"Wow, that was really depressing." There, proper punctuation.
"Another Pit Party"
There was another pit party on Saturday, it was kind of boring because Kacey love, steph, and eric weren't there. Then it got me kind of sad because Jeff was saying how he had a close call in his car once and he thought erin (sp?) was going to be hit and killed and was never more scared of anything in his life. We were all thinking, "That's so sad!" because he said it really seriously and then he went, "Wow, that was really depressing
Post Script: I can't believe I spelled Erik's name wrong, and not Erin's. Also, I didn't actually end the last sentence, so:
"Wow, that was really depressing." There, proper punctuation.
Notes I Wrote
This is another short entry about Hi-Q. It is dated Wednesday, November 15th, 2006.
"Hi-Q"
Yay, our Hi-Q team won our practice match. It was from last year's questions and the first half team won, the second half team tied, but we totally won. Our host team was really good. I love my sweater...
"Hi-Q"
Yay, our Hi-Q team won our practice match. It was from last year's questions and the first half team won, the second half team tied, but we totally won. Our host team was really good. I love my sweater...
Notes I Wrote
This is me writing about Hi-Q Math. It is dated Friday, December 8th, 2006.
"Math Hi-Q Question!"
I finally got a math question first in Hi-Q. WOOO!!! Then, I almost got two more in a row!! At least I got them right at the end.
"Math Hi-Q Question!"
I finally got a math question first in Hi-Q. WOOO!!! Then, I almost got two more in a row!! At least I got them right at the end.
Notes I Wrote
This is a journal entry about Hi-Q, Christmas caroling to the mall, and general thoughts. It is dated Saturday, December 16th, 2006.
"Bernoulli's Principal"
In Hi-Q I remembered the most awesome thing ever from 7th grade. We had to build water rockets and learn about Newton's and some other peeps laws. So we divided up the vocab amongst our group and I got Bernoulli's Principal. That was a question in Hi-Q the other day and I got and felt really special. There's a pit party tonight!! WOO!! I have a field trip on Monday to the mall and small peeps' schools with band and we're bringing the scary woo-WOO-woo-WOO-woo vibraphone and Matt wants to bring a fog machine, that would be cool for indoor but not Christmas carolling to small children. It hurts your ears when you play high notes consecutively. I learned tap-city yesterday, it's worse than Summertime. At least summertime has pattern and a clear rhythem (sp?). I hope Viv doesn't have any trouble learning it. I love Viv more than Abby and Sarah and Viv's shoes prove it.
Post Note: I can't believe I didn't know how to spell rhythm, and "I love Viv more than Abby and Sarah" means I love Viv with more love than they love Viv. Not that my love for Viv is greater than my love for them.
"Bernoulli's Principal"
In Hi-Q I remembered the most awesome thing ever from 7th grade. We had to build water rockets and learn about Newton's and some other peeps laws. So we divided up the vocab amongst our group and I got Bernoulli's Principal. That was a question in Hi-Q the other day and I got and felt really special. There's a pit party tonight!! WOO!! I have a field trip on Monday to the mall and small peeps' schools with band and we're bringing the scary woo-WOO-woo-WOO-woo vibraphone and Matt wants to bring a fog machine, that would be cool for indoor but not Christmas carolling to small children. It hurts your ears when you play high notes consecutively. I learned tap-city yesterday, it's worse than Summertime. At least summertime has pattern and a clear rhythem (sp?). I hope Viv doesn't have any trouble learning it. I love Viv more than Abby and Sarah and Viv's shoes prove it.
Post Note: I can't believe I didn't know how to spell rhythm, and "I love Viv more than Abby and Sarah" means I love Viv with more love than they love Viv. Not that my love for Viv is greater than my love for them.
Notes I Wrote
This is a short, silly journal entry about a pit party at Jeff's. It is dated Monday, December 16th, 2006.
"Great Pit Food"
The pit party was awesome and Jeff had cookies, swedish fish, sour patch, root beer, chocolate milk, and a piano. Yeah, it was pretty kickin'
"Great Pit Food"
The pit party was awesome and Jeff had cookies, swedish fish, sour patch, root beer, chocolate milk, and a piano. Yeah, it was pretty kickin'
Notes I Wrote
This was a journal entry about the '06 to '07 New Years Eve Pit Party. It is dated Monday, January 1st, 2007.
"NEW YEAR'S EVE PIT PARTY!!"
Ok, so last night was New Year's Eve, so I went to Viv's house with the rest of the Indoor (Abby, Trisha, Sarah, Viv, Jeff, Nicki, Hetty, Alana, Eric, Joe, Drew, Dana)Oh, and Pat, I don't really know Pat but he's quiet and looks shy so I guess he's Ok. We talked up until about 11:57 then we turned on the TV to watch the ball drop, we watched for 4 minutes and then turned it back off. Trisha was awkwarded out by all talks of sex, or even random things like,
"Jeff, you haven't shaved in weeks!"
"I know."
Abby and Jeff threw bottle caps and bottle, at each other and Jeff and Viv got some pretty good pictures of Abby and I looking drunk, fighting over the Sparkling Cider Bottle. So I think Jeff fell asleep first, Alana was up last knitting a glove. I don't know how that's possible, knitting a glove, it must take a little bit of magic. Then we woke up to a racialist breakfast courtesty of Jeff and pineapples in the yogurt dip... Viv's pancakes are heavenly and might just fly away they are so light and fluffy. I slept in my down bathrobe. It was a fun night.
"NEW YEAR'S EVE PIT PARTY!!"
Ok, so last night was New Year's Eve, so I went to Viv's house with the rest of the Indoor (Abby, Trisha, Sarah, Viv, Jeff, Nicki, Hetty, Alana, Eric, Joe, Drew, Dana)Oh, and Pat, I don't really know Pat but he's quiet and looks shy so I guess he's Ok. We talked up until about 11:57 then we turned on the TV to watch the ball drop, we watched for 4 minutes and then turned it back off. Trisha was awkwarded out by all talks of sex, or even random things like,
"Jeff, you haven't shaved in weeks!"
"I know."
Abby and Jeff threw bottle caps and bottle, at each other and Jeff and Viv got some pretty good pictures of Abby and I looking drunk, fighting over the Sparkling Cider Bottle. So I think Jeff fell asleep first, Alana was up last knitting a glove. I don't know how that's possible, knitting a glove, it must take a little bit of magic. Then we woke up to a racialist breakfast courtesty of Jeff and pineapples in the yogurt dip... Viv's pancakes are heavenly and might just fly away they are so light and fluffy. I slept in my down bathrobe. It was a fun night.
Notes I Wrote
This a journal entry I wrote about the ATP Challenge kids taking a tour of the high school. It is dated Wednesday, January 31st, 2007.
"Newest Freshies"
I knew of only one 8th grader in ATP who I loved, yet her fate was doomed to be stuck in the horrible twisted ATP Challenge Program. Touring with the older students, many tried to convince the wayward children to turn from their wretched path. Few have succeeded in changing their minds, but I feared for my wee one. Jeff, Wasiq, Amora, Kristin W, and Susan M tried to change their minds, but to no avail, seldom are the children saved. Although I had not seen her in over a year, I chanced to see my precious newblet in the hallway. Trying to influence her bried encounter as much as possible, I passed onto her the only wisdom I could in our short meeting, don't take it. Already changed beyond my short warning could convey, she had turned away from the jagged edges and towards the path of enlightenment. She had been reached by the single person knowingly eliminating the class from the inside. Leader of the pit, Hi-Q team, and Salutorian of the graduating class had saved my soon to be freshie from impending doom.
Post Note: She did eventually take the class. They all did.
"Newest Freshies"
I knew of only one 8th grader in ATP who I loved, yet her fate was doomed to be stuck in the horrible twisted ATP Challenge Program. Touring with the older students, many tried to convince the wayward children to turn from their wretched path. Few have succeeded in changing their minds, but I feared for my wee one. Jeff, Wasiq, Amora, Kristin W, and Susan M tried to change their minds, but to no avail, seldom are the children saved. Although I had not seen her in over a year, I chanced to see my precious newblet in the hallway. Trying to influence her bried encounter as much as possible, I passed onto her the only wisdom I could in our short meeting, don't take it. Already changed beyond my short warning could convey, she had turned away from the jagged edges and towards the path of enlightenment. She had been reached by the single person knowingly eliminating the class from the inside. Leader of the pit, Hi-Q team, and Salutorian of the graduating class had saved my soon to be freshie from impending doom.
Post Note: She did eventually take the class. They all did.
Notes I Wrote
This is a journal entry I wrote about the hot tub party. It is dated Saturday, February 10th, 2007.
"HOT TUB PARTY IN FEBRUARY"
It was really cold, and at first thought we believed we would have to fit up to 16 people in a hot-tub designed for 6. Only twelve came, but two couldn't go in so we just fit in 10. I color-arranged the M&M's so we ate them in the hot-tub quite carefully avoiding a technicolor explosion. We decided to visit Erik so we all trunked over to his house in an awkward fashion. Abby was directly lined up with the window so if we stopped suddenly she would fly out the window. I believed I had a worse position because should we stop suddenly, I would get a face full of saxy crotch. Luckily for all three of us, Erik doesn't live far away and Jeff can drive pretty well. After we got there, I realized my shoes were lost into the void that is a dark car, so Viv carried and held me at the door to keep my toes from freezing, much credit to Meg and Automm.
"HOT TUB PARTY IN FEBRUARY"
It was really cold, and at first thought we believed we would have to fit up to 16 people in a hot-tub designed for 6. Only twelve came, but two couldn't go in so we just fit in 10. I color-arranged the M&M's so we ate them in the hot-tub quite carefully avoiding a technicolor explosion. We decided to visit Erik so we all trunked over to his house in an awkward fashion. Abby was directly lined up with the window so if we stopped suddenly she would fly out the window. I believed I had a worse position because should we stop suddenly, I would get a face full of saxy crotch. Luckily for all three of us, Erik doesn't live far away and Jeff can drive pretty well. After we got there, I realized my shoes were lost into the void that is a dark car, so Viv carried and held me at the door to keep my toes from freezing, much credit to Meg and Automm.
My Room
There's something magical about my room. Most people get that I suppose about their own hiding spots. Walking around, I look at everything, and realize that everything doesn't mean very much to me without the stories behind it.
On the back of my door is a Beatles Palladium Poster. Underneath it is an attempted acrylic paint mural of Wish You Were Here. Every time the door opens it squishes my wonderful maroon bath robe, black cape (a combined gift from my aunts Karen and Jeanne), and the '07 drumline uniform. The nightstand holds a tiny, slinky filled stuffed rabbit I got at the now empty Zany Brainy, a solar powered bobble head I got from Noop Dawg for my birthday, and a tiny Spongebob stuffed square that fell off of Lala's sock. My favorite, literal, albums are also there. Wish You Were Here, Animals, Rubber Soul, and three I got for Christmas, The DOORS Greatest Hits, Greetings from Asbury Park, and Born in the U.S.A. In the first drawer nightstand is my music binder from 6th and 7th grades. A YAMAHA soprano recorder. Some old hair clips. The second drawer contains what used to be my jar of "beautiful things." Things nobody really wanted. Discarded earrings without mates, foreign coins, and loose, cheap, fake gold pendents. My Junior Park Ranger Badge and Pin are in there too. My broken Nortel phone, Eguardo, is in there. He was free from the teacher's lounge. The entirety of tourist stuff Hetty gave me is in there too. My yellow, "brown heroine" looking dirt/sand is in a mint tin. All of the Prado advertisements are in there too. I once tried reading their Summer collection in Spanish. I got pretty far. That last drawer also holds my Valentine's day present from Joe. Above the nightstand is a metal shelf, with the book I have permanently "borrowed" from my aunt Andrea. "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkin, that I "temporarily" traded Scott for my copy of "god is not Great." A recycled-paper diary that looks really cool that my mom's friend Eileen got me from Disney World. My lightsaber and practice mallets are up there too. Plus, my all time favorite jar of dirt. The summer cover on my bed has been there forever, and the winter cover, which I received as a gift from my aunt Jeanne and cost an extravagant $92 and I couldn't believe I owned something that expensive that wasn't a Gameboy Advanced, is in storage. The heavy blanket I've had so long I used to sleep under it back at my kindercare, Mr. Jim's, is under that. The sheets are a light blue satin that I got for Christmas. Under my mattress, I occasionally store quarters or a wish I've written down on paper. I don't think there's anything there now. Under my bed, there are two boxes. There also lies my two pairs of chucks. One clear, plastic box used to contain those little frogs you get at stands in the middle of the mall or on vacation. The other is my memory box. In it are my baby booties, and a broken Mardi Gras beaded necklace that my brother won from a baseball game and gave to me. I don't remember breaking it.
On top of my large armoire is a picture frame I meant to give to Katie in sixth grade. Because of a misunderstanding, she thought I was just showing it off, and I didn't have the heart to tell her I had bought the cheap crap on sale at Old Navy for her. Also, an egg with a tiger painted on it housed in a glass box that's been in my house for as long as I can remember. My dad was going to throw it away, but I kept it. The parasol I got at the Renaissance Faire with Katie and Ally W. is also up there. Inside is my old scarf collection. I've lost most of them, and I don't know where to. Beneath that is my "Pokemon Drawer" with action figures, drawings, and overall information I've hoarded over the years. Then comes the "Christmas" drawer. I'm going to send out the cards someday. Then comes folders and old school supplies. Various art supplies, whatever I've thrown in there. Below that is my figurine collection. Some Siamese cats, a porcelain lady, and a turtle that I sculpted and have no idea when. Next to this armoire is new table with drawers. There's not much in it yet, but on it is the old, rusty saxaphone I found on my rainy day adventure. On top of its case in my crappy little keyboard.
On my cork board, there is a collection of old photos. One of my mom as a 17 year old. Her and my pop-pop. Me in 4th grade. Darrell took that picture at recess and I was avoiding him all day and it was cold and windy so I'm scrunching my face, but I was wearing my favorite dress. Movie tickets from the last 10 or so movies I've seen. The ticket stub from the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. The stub from riding the Ferris Wheel in Toys 'R' Us. My Dresden Dolls concert ticket. A paper doll that my aunt Jeanne made for me when I was four. I got the blue ballerina's dress, and my cousin Laura got the pink one, and I was jealous. I'm glad now. Some old comics I find applicable to my life, my birthday horoscope from the last two years. I'll be putting this year's up there when I get a chance. The tag from one of my Pokemon shirts is up there too. Above it is a framed section of Newspaper, right after 9/11, where my poem made it into a compilation of sympathy.
My desk. I don't know when I got it, but I think my dad picked it up out of some trash. It's fantastic. I was so amazed, because it had both and adjustable lamp and heights. On that is my rock collection, my thimble collection, a porcelain cat that I chipped, some recycled paper we made in Mrs. Nic's class in 6th grade. The gold bracelets my aunt Jeanne gave me are in a little box. My other jewelry box contains a wheat penny, a Centennial Quarter, a Susan B. Anthony, and a broken earring I won from Katy in a bet when she still lived in VB. Under it is my Hi-Q stuff, several sketch books and assembled venting journals. A pink, circular hat box that I never received a hat in contains my old iPod accessories. There's also a plastic, white series of drawers. In the first one, there's my music. The second one is silly things, like my Pokemon and Yugioh cards, a rainbow bouncy ball I got from the dentist, and some more action figures. I gave away all of my Pokemon cards to Camille in 5th grade. Possibly the dumbest thing I've ever done. The lowest drawer holds everything Darrell ever gave me. The note we had to write in Penmanship thanking a friend. I hope I thanked him. If not him, Kirsten.
On my bookshelf, I have my few CDs. My favorite is my "totally not pirated, that's not a sharpie cover" Dark Side of the Moon from Matt. There are two music globes with turtles in them next to it, followed by my favorite literature. The War of the Worlds, The Communist Manifesto, My Survival Guides, The End of Faith, my Roget's Thesaurus, America: A Citizens Guide to Democracy, two copies of 1984, Brave New World, Catch-22, and Animal Farm. Above that is my CD Player/Radio that changes colors. Next to it is my collection of Teenie Beanie Baby Bears that surround a music globe with bears in it that Mike Farah gave me for my 9th or 10th birthday. The top holds a Valentine's bear I got from my favorite teacher at Mr. Jim's, Ms. Valerie. I think it has a note attached to it, but I'm not sure what it says. There's a pom-pom I found at a football game my freshman year at Sun Valley. I remember because they had a really good snack bar. Hanging off the top are my many, many Mardi Gras beads I "earned" at Sarah's b-day party. At the bottom of all this is my "summer themed shelf." There's a conch shell with some gum on it. I didn't put it there, in fact, I can't remember it not being there, and we've had it since before my parents were divorced. There's a monkey I got in a Happy Meal. A family picture of my mom, brother, and I. One of those plastic weight holders that's filled with glitter and shells I stole from my brother. It was given to him by my Nana after her and Pop-pop went on a cruise together. I got a hemispherical paper weight with a dolphin and glitter in it. I took it to school once, and a boy broke it. It's actually oil in it, so it got everywhere. The teachers thought I broke the boy's toy, and I temporarily hated them for it. I took my brother's. He's never noticed, nor does he remember. There's a small bottle of water from "The Fountain of Youth" that the friend who got me the journal picked up for my mom who then gave it to me.
On my dresser is a deck of UNO cards, a Penn State stuffed basketball I wanted to give to Mr. Knight, two back massagers I got on the same Christmas from different relatives, an Edgar Allen Poe action figure I got from Katie, a framed picture of me and my mom at a Super Bowl or New Years party, a picture of my brother and I being little, a box of aromatic bath soaps I've never used, some lavender hand wash, a picture of Darrell and I at Chuck E. Cheese, even though we were supposed to go to the Crayola Factory, but his mom had promised Kimmy we would go there. That was fine with me I think. The picture of my mom and I used to have a picture of me and a lot of other girls I didn't know who were older than me at a party sitting in line on an exercise machine. I look like a crazy person with a full toothed smile. My fake year books from 7th and 8th grade are there too. The Bug Vacuum my uncle Mike got me as a gag gift for Christmas once is there too.
Above my headboard is The Who poster, with everyone looking a tad bit sultry, confused, or child molest-y. On the wall bordering my bed that is not above the headboard, is my Led Zeppelin, "Plane" poster, where everyone's pants are a tad too tight. Above me is my favorite poster, Abbey Road. Next to my keyboard is some Pink Floyd Pop art with painted women. My mom was gather proof of me being a lesbian with that poster. If only. Above my desk is a World Map. I've got three more posters on their way up from Myrtle Beach, S.C.. A black and white Princess Bride, a colorful sketch of Jim Morrison, and another black and white of Bob Dylan. I still need the Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and maybe Bruce Springsteen. Above my book shelf is a colored drawing I did in K-4 with a patriotic raccoon and rabbit. One is playing a drum, but I'm not sure which. It has a sticker on it from a TV series I watched when it was on PBS. I don't remember it's name, but it was basically a cartoon Aesop's Fables with a buffalo and other (woodland?) creatures.
My stuffed animals are scattered all about my room. My two most important, that I've had since before I had reached my first birthday, are Bobbers and Mr. Bear, also known as Bear Bear. Bobbers was a 1993 Crayola/Hallmark Easter Holiday bunny that my nana got me. I managed to find a replication on eBay and I bought it for 17.50 by Money Order. That one, which I renamed Bobeese because I gave the original to Gabrielle C. the summer before third grade on the condition we both bring them to school on the first day. She changed schools that year and I only saw her one more time. I saw her mom once, and I recognized her. I think she gave me her number, but I lost it. The bear I got from Joe for Valentine's day is there. His name is David. I've also got a large stuffed dog I received from the Wallace Twins for my 11th birthday. A stuffed kitten and rainbow Beanie Baby fish I got on the same day from them. Two kittens I got at Candy Kitchen in Rehobeth with my mom and brother. A fuzzy black lab named Toby with a Pound Puppies collar, even though he's not that brand. A stuffed rhinoceros I got from "the dentist" a.k.a. a round-about gift from my mom to get me to stop sucking my thumb. An orange Beanie Baby tiger. A tiger I got from Darrell on the last day of 4th grade. It was supposed to be a birthday present, but Darrell found out he was going to Dallas during that week. We hung out some other times that summer. A snow tiger I got from Toys 'R' Us, a bigger snow tiger I got on a different trip, and one my brother won at a carnival. A singing, shaking pumpkin I got for Halloween from my pop-pop. I got mad once and threw it, and it stopped vibrating and I might have cried because he had died. Another time I tried it and it was working again. There's a smaller pumpkin I got on the same Halloween from him. A Mini Mouse Darrell got for me on his trip to Disney. He also got me a necklace with my name on it. I lost it once, and I felt horrible. However, on the week I could've gone to Disney with Katy, she got me the same necklace, so I pretended it was from him still when he was around.
I'm sure I can't express anything close to how amazing and detailed everything is. I'll have to take pictures when I go to college, because I might not be able to come back.
On the back of my door is a Beatles Palladium Poster. Underneath it is an attempted acrylic paint mural of Wish You Were Here. Every time the door opens it squishes my wonderful maroon bath robe, black cape (a combined gift from my aunts Karen and Jeanne), and the '07 drumline uniform. The nightstand holds a tiny, slinky filled stuffed rabbit I got at the now empty Zany Brainy, a solar powered bobble head I got from Noop Dawg for my birthday, and a tiny Spongebob stuffed square that fell off of Lala's sock. My favorite, literal, albums are also there. Wish You Were Here, Animals, Rubber Soul, and three I got for Christmas, The DOORS Greatest Hits, Greetings from Asbury Park, and Born in the U.S.A. In the first drawer nightstand is my music binder from 6th and 7th grades. A YAMAHA soprano recorder. Some old hair clips. The second drawer contains what used to be my jar of "beautiful things." Things nobody really wanted. Discarded earrings without mates, foreign coins, and loose, cheap, fake gold pendents. My Junior Park Ranger Badge and Pin are in there too. My broken Nortel phone, Eguardo, is in there. He was free from the teacher's lounge. The entirety of tourist stuff Hetty gave me is in there too. My yellow, "brown heroine" looking dirt/sand is in a mint tin. All of the Prado advertisements are in there too. I once tried reading their Summer collection in Spanish. I got pretty far. That last drawer also holds my Valentine's day present from Joe. Above the nightstand is a metal shelf, with the book I have permanently "borrowed" from my aunt Andrea. "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkin, that I "temporarily" traded Scott for my copy of "god is not Great." A recycled-paper diary that looks really cool that my mom's friend Eileen got me from Disney World. My lightsaber and practice mallets are up there too. Plus, my all time favorite jar of dirt. The summer cover on my bed has been there forever, and the winter cover, which I received as a gift from my aunt Jeanne and cost an extravagant $92 and I couldn't believe I owned something that expensive that wasn't a Gameboy Advanced, is in storage. The heavy blanket I've had so long I used to sleep under it back at my kindercare, Mr. Jim's, is under that. The sheets are a light blue satin that I got for Christmas. Under my mattress, I occasionally store quarters or a wish I've written down on paper. I don't think there's anything there now. Under my bed, there are two boxes. There also lies my two pairs of chucks. One clear, plastic box used to contain those little frogs you get at stands in the middle of the mall or on vacation. The other is my memory box. In it are my baby booties, and a broken Mardi Gras beaded necklace that my brother won from a baseball game and gave to me. I don't remember breaking it.
On top of my large armoire is a picture frame I meant to give to Katie in sixth grade. Because of a misunderstanding, she thought I was just showing it off, and I didn't have the heart to tell her I had bought the cheap crap on sale at Old Navy for her. Also, an egg with a tiger painted on it housed in a glass box that's been in my house for as long as I can remember. My dad was going to throw it away, but I kept it. The parasol I got at the Renaissance Faire with Katie and Ally W. is also up there. Inside is my old scarf collection. I've lost most of them, and I don't know where to. Beneath that is my "Pokemon Drawer" with action figures, drawings, and overall information I've hoarded over the years. Then comes the "Christmas" drawer. I'm going to send out the cards someday. Then comes folders and old school supplies. Various art supplies, whatever I've thrown in there. Below that is my figurine collection. Some Siamese cats, a porcelain lady, and a turtle that I sculpted and have no idea when. Next to this armoire is new table with drawers. There's not much in it yet, but on it is the old, rusty saxaphone I found on my rainy day adventure. On top of its case in my crappy little keyboard.
On my cork board, there is a collection of old photos. One of my mom as a 17 year old. Her and my pop-pop. Me in 4th grade. Darrell took that picture at recess and I was avoiding him all day and it was cold and windy so I'm scrunching my face, but I was wearing my favorite dress. Movie tickets from the last 10 or so movies I've seen. The ticket stub from the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. The stub from riding the Ferris Wheel in Toys 'R' Us. My Dresden Dolls concert ticket. A paper doll that my aunt Jeanne made for me when I was four. I got the blue ballerina's dress, and my cousin Laura got the pink one, and I was jealous. I'm glad now. Some old comics I find applicable to my life, my birthday horoscope from the last two years. I'll be putting this year's up there when I get a chance. The tag from one of my Pokemon shirts is up there too. Above it is a framed section of Newspaper, right after 9/11, where my poem made it into a compilation of sympathy.
My desk. I don't know when I got it, but I think my dad picked it up out of some trash. It's fantastic. I was so amazed, because it had both and adjustable lamp and heights. On that is my rock collection, my thimble collection, a porcelain cat that I chipped, some recycled paper we made in Mrs. Nic's class in 6th grade. The gold bracelets my aunt Jeanne gave me are in a little box. My other jewelry box contains a wheat penny, a Centennial Quarter, a Susan B. Anthony, and a broken earring I won from Katy in a bet when she still lived in VB. Under it is my Hi-Q stuff, several sketch books and assembled venting journals. A pink, circular hat box that I never received a hat in contains my old iPod accessories. There's also a plastic, white series of drawers. In the first one, there's my music. The second one is silly things, like my Pokemon and Yugioh cards, a rainbow bouncy ball I got from the dentist, and some more action figures. I gave away all of my Pokemon cards to Camille in 5th grade. Possibly the dumbest thing I've ever done. The lowest drawer holds everything Darrell ever gave me. The note we had to write in Penmanship thanking a friend. I hope I thanked him. If not him, Kirsten.
On my bookshelf, I have my few CDs. My favorite is my "totally not pirated, that's not a sharpie cover" Dark Side of the Moon from Matt. There are two music globes with turtles in them next to it, followed by my favorite literature. The War of the Worlds, The Communist Manifesto, My Survival Guides, The End of Faith, my Roget's Thesaurus, America: A Citizens Guide to Democracy, two copies of 1984, Brave New World, Catch-22, and Animal Farm. Above that is my CD Player/Radio that changes colors. Next to it is my collection of Teenie Beanie Baby Bears that surround a music globe with bears in it that Mike Farah gave me for my 9th or 10th birthday. The top holds a Valentine's bear I got from my favorite teacher at Mr. Jim's, Ms. Valerie. I think it has a note attached to it, but I'm not sure what it says. There's a pom-pom I found at a football game my freshman year at Sun Valley. I remember because they had a really good snack bar. Hanging off the top are my many, many Mardi Gras beads I "earned" at Sarah's b-day party. At the bottom of all this is my "summer themed shelf." There's a conch shell with some gum on it. I didn't put it there, in fact, I can't remember it not being there, and we've had it since before my parents were divorced. There's a monkey I got in a Happy Meal. A family picture of my mom, brother, and I. One of those plastic weight holders that's filled with glitter and shells I stole from my brother. It was given to him by my Nana after her and Pop-pop went on a cruise together. I got a hemispherical paper weight with a dolphin and glitter in it. I took it to school once, and a boy broke it. It's actually oil in it, so it got everywhere. The teachers thought I broke the boy's toy, and I temporarily hated them for it. I took my brother's. He's never noticed, nor does he remember. There's a small bottle of water from "The Fountain of Youth" that the friend who got me the journal picked up for my mom who then gave it to me.
On my dresser is a deck of UNO cards, a Penn State stuffed basketball I wanted to give to Mr. Knight, two back massagers I got on the same Christmas from different relatives, an Edgar Allen Poe action figure I got from Katie, a framed picture of me and my mom at a Super Bowl or New Years party, a picture of my brother and I being little, a box of aromatic bath soaps I've never used, some lavender hand wash, a picture of Darrell and I at Chuck E. Cheese, even though we were supposed to go to the Crayola Factory, but his mom had promised Kimmy we would go there. That was fine with me I think. The picture of my mom and I used to have a picture of me and a lot of other girls I didn't know who were older than me at a party sitting in line on an exercise machine. I look like a crazy person with a full toothed smile. My fake year books from 7th and 8th grade are there too. The Bug Vacuum my uncle Mike got me as a gag gift for Christmas once is there too.
Above my headboard is The Who poster, with everyone looking a tad bit sultry, confused, or child molest-y. On the wall bordering my bed that is not above the headboard, is my Led Zeppelin, "Plane" poster, where everyone's pants are a tad too tight. Above me is my favorite poster, Abbey Road. Next to my keyboard is some Pink Floyd Pop art with painted women. My mom was gather proof of me being a lesbian with that poster. If only. Above my desk is a World Map. I've got three more posters on their way up from Myrtle Beach, S.C.. A black and white Princess Bride, a colorful sketch of Jim Morrison, and another black and white of Bob Dylan. I still need the Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and maybe Bruce Springsteen. Above my book shelf is a colored drawing I did in K-4 with a patriotic raccoon and rabbit. One is playing a drum, but I'm not sure which. It has a sticker on it from a TV series I watched when it was on PBS. I don't remember it's name, but it was basically a cartoon Aesop's Fables with a buffalo and other (woodland?) creatures.
My stuffed animals are scattered all about my room. My two most important, that I've had since before I had reached my first birthday, are Bobbers and Mr. Bear, also known as Bear Bear. Bobbers was a 1993 Crayola/Hallmark Easter Holiday bunny that my nana got me. I managed to find a replication on eBay and I bought it for 17.50 by Money Order. That one, which I renamed Bobeese because I gave the original to Gabrielle C. the summer before third grade on the condition we both bring them to school on the first day. She changed schools that year and I only saw her one more time. I saw her mom once, and I recognized her. I think she gave me her number, but I lost it. The bear I got from Joe for Valentine's day is there. His name is David. I've also got a large stuffed dog I received from the Wallace Twins for my 11th birthday. A stuffed kitten and rainbow Beanie Baby fish I got on the same day from them. Two kittens I got at Candy Kitchen in Rehobeth with my mom and brother. A fuzzy black lab named Toby with a Pound Puppies collar, even though he's not that brand. A stuffed rhinoceros I got from "the dentist" a.k.a. a round-about gift from my mom to get me to stop sucking my thumb. An orange Beanie Baby tiger. A tiger I got from Darrell on the last day of 4th grade. It was supposed to be a birthday present, but Darrell found out he was going to Dallas during that week. We hung out some other times that summer. A snow tiger I got from Toys 'R' Us, a bigger snow tiger I got on a different trip, and one my brother won at a carnival. A singing, shaking pumpkin I got for Halloween from my pop-pop. I got mad once and threw it, and it stopped vibrating and I might have cried because he had died. Another time I tried it and it was working again. There's a smaller pumpkin I got on the same Halloween from him. A Mini Mouse Darrell got for me on his trip to Disney. He also got me a necklace with my name on it. I lost it once, and I felt horrible. However, on the week I could've gone to Disney with Katy, she got me the same necklace, so I pretended it was from him still when he was around.
I'm sure I can't express anything close to how amazing and detailed everything is. I'll have to take pictures when I go to college, because I might not be able to come back.
Slingshot
The summer before last, we were fearless. In 1999, Katherine and I came to Ocean City for an engagement party that my mother and her five sisters threw for us on the deck of my Aunt Susan's summer home on Ocean City's Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is the southerly end of the town, the new money mansions as opposed to the thirties-era salt-boxes up north. We opened presents until dusk fell. Then Katherine and I hiked down to the main drag of the boardwalk and took on everything the amusement parks had to offer: the Giant Ferris Wheel, The Inverter, The City Jet, The Spanish Galleon (Katherine's favorite). We were thrown and twisted and twirled, and Katherine almost got sick but didn't. My grandmother was alive then, and so was my mother.
Several weeks after we left, this happened: a new roller coaster at Wonderland Pier, the Wild Wonder, apparently malfunctioned. Apparently the car nearly reached the apex of its first major ascent when some mechanism failed. It began to roll backwards, gathering speed. When it slammed into the car behind it, which was being loaded with passengers, another mechanical failure apparently occurred, allowing two occupants, a young woman from New York and her very young child, to be thrown from their restraints. They flew out of the car, through the air, and into a steel support beam. They died instantly, apparently.
As well, as you may recall from my last letter, my grandmother died the following Christmas, and my mother died the following June, six days after my birthday, both quickly, both with little warning. And then in August we returned to Ocean City again. People asked: will it be hard going back to Ocean City without your mother? And I had no answer, the same non-answer I had and have to any question about how hard it is or will be now that all these things have happened: Jesus, I don't know.
- John Hodgman, "Slingshot"
Several weeks after we left, this happened: a new roller coaster at Wonderland Pier, the Wild Wonder, apparently malfunctioned. Apparently the car nearly reached the apex of its first major ascent when some mechanism failed. It began to roll backwards, gathering speed. When it slammed into the car behind it, which was being loaded with passengers, another mechanical failure apparently occurred, allowing two occupants, a young woman from New York and her very young child, to be thrown from their restraints. They flew out of the car, through the air, and into a steel support beam. They died instantly, apparently.
As well, as you may recall from my last letter, my grandmother died the following Christmas, and my mother died the following June, six days after my birthday, both quickly, both with little warning. And then in August we returned to Ocean City again. People asked: will it be hard going back to Ocean City without your mother? And I had no answer, the same non-answer I had and have to any question about how hard it is or will be now that all these things have happened: Jesus, I don't know.
- John Hodgman, "Slingshot"
Music
It was a humid day, grey with clouds heavy with rain. It had been pattering on and off, all morning just enough to cool down the air. I was pulling on socks, long, dark socks that came over my knees. Odd for such a hot day, and the white shorts I was wearing didn't fit with either of my podial choices, high socks and chuck taylors. There were no other shoes. My iPod shuffled, Tangerine. Oh meloncholy day, to have my iPod agree worsened my sense of restlessness and all about discontentment. Yet the lyrics have changed for me, and they play like elevator muzak. Rain causes the leaves to become a patterned mosaic, they fade even more to become a blur of green, and I realize Wish You Were Here was causing my eyes become wet, hm, what a mysterious feeling this was... How the music swayed my thoughts...
Cossart Road (a.k.a. Spooky Road)
During the incredible thunderstorm on Thursday (June 28th), Jeff of the pit decided it would be an excellent idea to drive down to spooky road middle of nowhere and tell scary stories once there. We needed to take two cars, Kacey, Matt, Steph, Nicki, and Scott were in Kacey's car. We called Viv, Jeff, Abby, Sarah, and I were in Jeff's car. We also had water because I was thirsty. Driving out to the road, the conversation focused on politics, the DuPonts once owned all of the land on our side of the river, and still do, and probably forever will. There is one house, the Cossart House, which has since become dilapidated and quite a bit spooky. Although the house is not visible from the road, Viv, who has been up there, told us how the window panes are inverted crosses, not common at all in the area or anywhere nearby, and it just has a general feeling of "spooky." It is said that a satanic cult moved in, and some member are still living there, the authorities are unable to precisely determine who they are and how to get them out. The most horrifying thing Viv saw while up at the house, was that small animals were hanging on the wraught iron fence, fur still on, but in a bad state of decay. Another myth concerning the house, is that they own a fleet of either red or white pick-up trucks, and reports of being run off the road were so frequent, that they had to shut down the road for a year. Skeleton tree, a supposed tree, that when you look at it in the right light, and at the right angle, you can see a skeleton in the worn out dirt around the roots. This is where the cult is said to place the heads of all of the things they sacrifice. One of the most obvious, and spookiest things about the road, is that all of the trees bend away from the house. Even along the left side of the road going up, almost a quarter mile from the house due to the length of the driveway, the trees all bend to their left. Once you get closer to the house, the more dramatic it becomes until the tree are nearly parallel to the ground. Perhaps power lines? Someone suggested, Viv said she had considered it, but that her mother, and my father (as it was later found out), had hung out here when they were young, thrill-seeking teenagers, when the power lines were not there yet. The trees still did what they're doing.
Other information about the site
that was not revealed during the trip:
http://www.cfrinv.com/press_8.22.99.htm
Other information about the site
that was not revealed during the trip:
http://www.cfrinv.com/press_8.22.99.htm
Green M&Ms
My friends know, or really anyone who's been a party with me where there are M&Ms available knows, that I have this thing about green M&Ms. I organize out the colors, and then eat them "in order" red, orange, yellow, and then brown. Sometimes I mix that up. However, once there's only blue and green, I hold off. You can wish on any M&M, but the blue ones are magic. Now, the M&M help desk can neither confirm nor deny the presence of magic in the blue M&Ms specifically, but I've had wishes come true. The remaining green ones I'll eat slowly or all in one gulp. They've always been my favorite. I'm not entirely sure why, but other people seem to feel the same way. Valentine's day this year, one of their marketing people had them change the "color of love" to green. I have a shirt that says, "I only eat the green ones." It's not entirely true, but if they had only green bags, I'd only buy them. For Christmas last year, Sarah got me a green M&Ms mug with a Green M&M plush. They're great.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Flight vs. Invisibility
"One super power is about something that's obvious, and the other is about something that is hidden. I think it indicates your level of shame. A person who chooses to fly doesn't have a lot to hide, but someone who wants to be invisible, clearly wants to hide themselves."
"Do you feel you want to be hide yourself?"
"I want, to... uh... I'd like to not, I'm not going to answer that question."
-John Hodgman and his friend Christine
"First of all, I think that a lot of people are going to tell you they would choose flight, and I think they're lying to you. I think they're saying that because they're trying to sound all mythic and heroic, because the better angels in our nature tell us that the better thing we should strive for is flight and that's noble and all that stuff. But if everyone was being honest with you, they'd be invisible because they'd want to shoplift and get onto flights for free."
"Anyone, faced with this choice, in their heart of hearts, would choose invisibility?"
"Yes."
-John Hodgman and unnamed woman
In the end, it's not a question of what kind of person flies, and what kind of person fades, we all do both. Perhaps that's why, when I put the choice to myself, I'm hopelessly and completely stuck. At the heart of this decision, the question I really don't want to face, is this: Who do you want to be? The person you hope to be, or the person you fear you actually are? Don't rush into it ...Think it over. Which would you choose?
-John Hodgman
"Do you feel you want to be hide yourself?"
"I want, to... uh... I'd like to not, I'm not going to answer that question."
-John Hodgman and his friend Christine
"First of all, I think that a lot of people are going to tell you they would choose flight, and I think they're lying to you. I think they're saying that because they're trying to sound all mythic and heroic, because the better angels in our nature tell us that the better thing we should strive for is flight and that's noble and all that stuff. But if everyone was being honest with you, they'd be invisible because they'd want to shoplift and get onto flights for free."
"Anyone, faced with this choice, in their heart of hearts, would choose invisibility?"
"Yes."
-John Hodgman and unnamed woman
In the end, it's not a question of what kind of person flies, and what kind of person fades, we all do both. Perhaps that's why, when I put the choice to myself, I'm hopelessly and completely stuck. At the heart of this decision, the question I really don't want to face, is this: Who do you want to be? The person you hope to be, or the person you fear you actually are? Don't rush into it ...Think it over. Which would you choose?
-John Hodgman
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Goodbye Birthday!
It was a good day. I woke up a little before noon. I played around with my new iPod and new songs for iTunes because my whole harddrive was wiped recently. I went to the library and to my dad's. My mom and I came back home, watched Snakes on a Plane, and fitfully laughed/were scared into jumping. At 6:30 we went to Bellevue to see the Sin City Band, a Western band. They were very good. I like a dose of nostalgia for things I didn't know. We then went to what used to be Ho' Jo's and I had prime rib, corn, half a baked potato, three rolls, a cup of pudding with whipped cream and candle. I didn't eat the candle. It's just sometimes I wonder about people. Especially at birthdays. I just don't know so much about people. Every year I have and don't ask is another potential last year.
I'd always assumed I'd go to college, become philosophical, maybe go to Florida and visit my Uncle Chris and we'd talk mysticism and music and history. He'd learned to play guitar, but he shaved and cut his hair shorter. I don't know exactly when he died, but it was sometime in the fall of last year. He was in the army. He wanted to go to Iraq, but he wasn't allowed. He was 35 I think. I got his guitar. I want to bring it up with people, that I want to hear about their past. Important things that made them who they are. I don't know about Viv on the Wagon Trail really. What did Matt do in Australia? What was Sarah's life like when Pat was still "a baby?" Abby J. still has stories to tell about Delaware. I'm sure she wouldn't want to talk about it, but Nicki and Scott? Erik is quite mysterious as well. What was Trisha like as a bitty baby? Adorable and not so angry?
I'd always assumed I'd go to college, become philosophical, maybe go to Florida and visit my Uncle Chris and we'd talk mysticism and music and history. He'd learned to play guitar, but he shaved and cut his hair shorter. I don't know exactly when he died, but it was sometime in the fall of last year. He was in the army. He wanted to go to Iraq, but he wasn't allowed. He was 35 I think. I got his guitar. I want to bring it up with people, that I want to hear about their past. Important things that made them who they are. I don't know about Viv on the Wagon Trail really. What did Matt do in Australia? What was Sarah's life like when Pat was still "a baby?" Abby J. still has stories to tell about Delaware. I'm sure she wouldn't want to talk about it, but Nicki and Scott? Erik is quite mysterious as well. What was Trisha like as a bitty baby? Adorable and not so angry?
Things to Do
I'm always so scared this might be the last time everything's the same before it's gone and changed again. Maybe I'll be gone all next summer. This school year is apparently full of work. AH! I want this to be a summer of last hurrahs, just in case we don't get another one.
Visit Mrs. Rock at her house again
Go creeking/tubing/canoing (I didn't know that's how you spelled it)/being half naked in the Brandywine River
Having the ULTIMATE scavenger hunt
Play a real, no holds barred, this might ruin your relationships game of Truth or Dare
To watch DCI Movie '08
Watch Romeo + Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio with the Hi-Q Team
Go for a camping trip
Spontaneous day trip to the beach
Coaster Craving at Dorney or Six Flags
Visit Mrs. Rock at her house again
Go creeking/tubing/canoing (I didn't know that's how you spelled it)/being half naked in the Brandywine River
Having the ULTIMATE scavenger hunt
Play a real, no holds barred, this might ruin your relationships game of Truth or Dare
To watch DCI Movie '08
Watch Romeo + Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio with the Hi-Q Team
Go for a camping trip
Spontaneous day trip to the beach
Coaster Craving at Dorney or Six Flags
I miss things
I don't mind change. Several wonderful things have happened and changed since all of these things have gone away. There's still always the feeling of "It was good, now could be better."
Circle time, when we actually formed circles and talked.
-Especially the time we had chocolate doughnuts and warheads.
Huddling together like penguins and/or amoebas for warmth.
90s Nickelodeon
Singing on the band bus ride in the dark
The bottle cap war of '06 where we built a fort in Viv's basement
Awesome parties in Nicki's basement
The particular party in Nicki's basement when Schlicter called
The party at Jeff's, where we just watched Family Guy at my insistence, but then all of us freshmen learned what it really was when we went upstairs, lit candles, and just talked
The lunch bunch with Matt, Tom Scott, Viv, D. Noll, Kyle, Kristin and Susan
Thinking Jeff was about the most model person there was
Being silly with Katie and Laura and Poofy and Noop Dawg
The table of doom
How Katie and I were going to sail her creek at night and be pirates.
-We're pirates, sailing the creek
-Eating dinner, sure to reek
-We sail by night, and sleep by day
-And we shall spend a week this way
When my mom wasn't such a tragic figure
When Viv was going to be here forever and ever and would take care of all of the babies
Talking for hours about Pokemon with Kristin
-She graduated this year. I didn't know if she'd make it, but she did. I haven't talked to her in at least two years.
Having more guy friends than girl friends
Being in that crazy business venture known as Quad L. with Frankie, Darrell, Kyle, Jose, and then eventually Merrill
When buttons really mattered
Times when Abby seemed so much crazier and spontaneous and amazing
Times when I seemed so much crazier and spontaneous and amazing
The year Hi-Q owned everything and I loved it and worked hard and didn't see flaws
Knowing I didn't deserve section leader
Speak Up with the '07 Seniors like Steve, Beth, Erin, Jeff, and Melissa.
The crazy seniors I already miss, Gina, Drew, Steph, Viv, Erik
Creeking with my family
Summer weekend beach trips with my mom
Climbing trees with Erik in Matt's backyard
Erik in general
Super Guiro
The crazy associated with The Cricket and The Tennis ball
The party in Matt's basement where I had so much fun running around trying to get them back
My dog Kelley
The Wallace twins, especially Kiersten
When climbing the trees in and around my yard seemed like a harrowing feat
Being impressed with the Memorial Day Parade and not just irritated by it
Being friends with Joe
Not being scared for my brother's future
Being proud of what I'd done
Recess
Batman and the Justice League and Scooby-Doo
Riding places and singing
When at least someone was still around who was occasionally willing to go to my mom's
When I didn't realize D was so manipulative
My senior buddy
Steve being crazy
Schlicter being crazy and LOUD
The party at Kacey/Steph's where Scott played Scenes from an Italian Restaurant and we all sang
The party at Kacey/Steph's where it had just snowed so much, and we all played psychologist and went outside and played tag on the frozen snow and walked/sledded to Katie's house and then sledded in her yard even though she wasn't home
Carving the Colbert Pumpkin
Baked ziti party where the entire table got into the ridiculous argument about the unstated ratio of bread to butter
When the German exchange students were here
When "the pit was it" on the bus and we all loved everyone, even Alanna
Football games where the entirety of the game would be spent attempting to get Zach to dance, lesbian, dance
Learning sign language to talk about people from across the room or in front of their face
Having Sarah to talk to and gossip with in Spanish class
Any hot tub party ever
Specifically her birthday
Specifically the time Matt and Jeff's hair froze and we made a big deal out of it despite the fact all of the girls' hair had frozen too
Thinking that I had the best freshmen year with the greatest friends in the world and knowing that I had found a place I belonged and knowing that it was all going to change
Circle time, when we actually formed circles and talked.
-Especially the time we had chocolate doughnuts and warheads.
Huddling together like penguins and/or amoebas for warmth.
90s Nickelodeon
Singing on the band bus ride in the dark
The bottle cap war of '06 where we built a fort in Viv's basement
Awesome parties in Nicki's basement
The particular party in Nicki's basement when Schlicter called
The party at Jeff's, where we just watched Family Guy at my insistence, but then all of us freshmen learned what it really was when we went upstairs, lit candles, and just talked
The lunch bunch with Matt, Tom Scott, Viv, D. Noll, Kyle, Kristin and Susan
Thinking Jeff was about the most model person there was
Being silly with Katie and Laura and Poofy and Noop Dawg
The table of doom
How Katie and I were going to sail her creek at night and be pirates.
-We're pirates, sailing the creek
-Eating dinner, sure to reek
-We sail by night, and sleep by day
-And we shall spend a week this way
When my mom wasn't such a tragic figure
When Viv was going to be here forever and ever and would take care of all of the babies
Talking for hours about Pokemon with Kristin
-She graduated this year. I didn't know if she'd make it, but she did. I haven't talked to her in at least two years.
Having more guy friends than girl friends
Being in that crazy business venture known as Quad L. with Frankie, Darrell, Kyle, Jose, and then eventually Merrill
When buttons really mattered
Times when Abby seemed so much crazier and spontaneous and amazing
Times when I seemed so much crazier and spontaneous and amazing
The year Hi-Q owned everything and I loved it and worked hard and didn't see flaws
Knowing I didn't deserve section leader
Speak Up with the '07 Seniors like Steve, Beth, Erin, Jeff, and Melissa.
The crazy seniors I already miss, Gina, Drew, Steph, Viv, Erik
Creeking with my family
Summer weekend beach trips with my mom
Climbing trees with Erik in Matt's backyard
Erik in general
Super Guiro
The crazy associated with The Cricket and The Tennis ball
The party in Matt's basement where I had so much fun running around trying to get them back
My dog Kelley
The Wallace twins, especially Kiersten
When climbing the trees in and around my yard seemed like a harrowing feat
Being impressed with the Memorial Day Parade and not just irritated by it
Being friends with Joe
Not being scared for my brother's future
Being proud of what I'd done
Recess
Batman and the Justice League and Scooby-Doo
Riding places and singing
When at least someone was still around who was occasionally willing to go to my mom's
When I didn't realize D was so manipulative
My senior buddy
Steve being crazy
Schlicter being crazy and LOUD
The party at Kacey/Steph's where Scott played Scenes from an Italian Restaurant and we all sang
The party at Kacey/Steph's where it had just snowed so much, and we all played psychologist and went outside and played tag on the frozen snow and walked/sledded to Katie's house and then sledded in her yard even though she wasn't home
Carving the Colbert Pumpkin
Baked ziti party where the entire table got into the ridiculous argument about the unstated ratio of bread to butter
When the German exchange students were here
When "the pit was it" on the bus and we all loved everyone, even Alanna
Football games where the entirety of the game would be spent attempting to get Zach to dance, lesbian, dance
Learning sign language to talk about people from across the room or in front of their face
Having Sarah to talk to and gossip with in Spanish class
Any hot tub party ever
Specifically her birthday
Specifically the time Matt and Jeff's hair froze and we made a big deal out of it despite the fact all of the girls' hair had frozen too
Thinking that I had the best freshmen year with the greatest friends in the world and knowing that I had found a place I belonged and knowing that it was all going to change
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