Tuesday, June 8, 2004

Yay! My summer is busy!
Wow, I can't recall having a summer that's been this busy in just the first few days. ^_^

Which is incredibly awesome, as it keeps me from getting extremely bored just lying around the house. It's a bit of a downside that I don't have a lot of time or will to post here, but I've just got lots of things to do!

And they're good things! Well, not school/stress related things. -_-;;

Just today, I got up at 11:00-ish and spent the morning and afternoon until 4:00 running errands, and it was great! I had something to keep me occupied! Joy! Rapture!

First we went up to St. Bernard's to sell back my books from this year. I found out which ones I'd need for next year and which ones my friends would need next year for their Freshman year. I figured that they would make splendid graduation presents. :p

Seriously, though, the books are expensive. Christina and Victoria are both in financially tight families, and I thought that it would be very helpful.

I'll give Tyler a card.

Maybe I'll give Paul one, too.

Then we (my mom and I) went over to the bank so I could convert my random change into cash. I went to one of the bank clerks, who directed me to the change machine, which then directed me to the information desk, and the lady there sent me back to the change machine. So, I dumped in all my change and pressed the green button. A little conveyor belt took all of my quarters, nickels, dimes, and pennies and dumped them into the bowels of the machine. As I listened patiently to the jingling of change being sorted, I watched as the value number climbed higher and higher. $12.51 was the end result. Apparently, thirty eight cents were needed in order to pay the machine for its services. So it just didn't give me the money.

Stupid change machine...

Then I bring the receipt up to the bank teller, and she hands me the 13 cents with the $12. I just didn't understand it. I'd come into the bank and converted a large bag of change into cash, and she hands me a dime and three pennies. The nerve! I took my change, and then threw it into one of the charity buckets. That'll teach them.

Then we headed over to my mom's office so she could pick up her check. Now, my mom works at a gynecologist's office, so standing around is a little bit awkward for me. At one point, so as not to embarrass me, my mom had me cover my ears. >_>

Then we headed over to the library. I returned the books I had outstanding, and then took a peek in the Sci-Fi section. I was looking for The Sword of Shannara, since a few people had suggested the Shannara series to me, and The Sword is the first one.

Fortunately for me, they had the whole series as far as I could tell.

Except for the first one.

I checked their catalog of books, no sign of it. The others were all there, though. =/ Wouldn't you know it? The one time I try to stray away from the Eddingses, I can't. :p

After the library, we headed over to the town hall to pick up an application for the library. I had heard from one of the library's directors that I may be able to get a job there as a page. Apparently, she had said that there may be an opening for the summer, but it was not yet certain. So, I should check their website (www.town.groton.ct.us) frequently to see if the job opens up.

Whoo...

Then we headed over to the insurance agency so my mom could do something there. Finally, we headed home with an hour and a half left before I had to be at my friends' graduation. I ran the dryer again with my clothes in it and took a shower. Got out of the shower, got dressed and was ready to go by 5:15. Unfortunately, I had to wait for my dad to come and pick me up. He was out with my sister, who was getting cards for all of the graduates she was friends with.

I have yet to get them congratulatory items...*cough*

So, we were late. We walked into the church where it was being held just in time to hear a beautiful song by my friend, Melina. Then came the not-so-spectacular 'Alleluia' by Christina. I hate to say it, but it was simply awful. I don't know whose idea it was to have her do it, but...eh. It was bad....

After the ceremony had ended, I mingled with the crowd and said a few congratulations to the graduates. Then I walked home, feeling rather out of place among all the family members present.

After a little while at home, I suddenly had a yearning to go to the beach, some two miles distant. I hadn't been in a walk for a while, and the beach is in the opposite direction of where I normally walk, so it would make for an interesting journey.

My mom consented, and so I left. As I passed the golf course, I spotted a restaurant; Par Four. Victoria had mentioned that some of the graduates and their parents were going there to celebrate. "Ooooh, you should come." was what she said. I didn't interpret that as a formal invitation, so I decided to just keep walking.

By the time I reached the water, I had made up my mind to go to the restaurant. These were my friends, and I was thirsty, besides. :p

So, I hurried back to the restaurant and went inside. I seated myself next to my friend Paul, and one of the adults got me a glass of iced water. They made sure I was included in the group, and saw to it that I was okay with the walk there. Everybody seems to get worked up about me walking everywhere. It's kind of flattering. ^_^;;

So, I stayed for a little while and talked with my friends. I finished my water and began chomping on the ice. I glanced down at my watch and realized how long I had been away from home, and so I said my goodbyes and left.

I happened to cross paths with my mom, who was driving to Wal-Mart. She gave me a ride home, since she didn't want me walking about after dark. I hopped online for a little while and had some vegetables for a snack.

My mom came home with sparklers, which I promptly managed to burn myself with. Firstly, I was struck by one of the shiny sparks. Then, my younger brother set one of his spent sparklers behind me. So, when I went to lean back on my hands, I caught the sparkler across my palm. Painful. Ouch.

And that about does it. -_o
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Saturday, June 5, 2004

Oy...crap...
Solo hates thieves, apparently. >_>

What a nice spot for me to be in, eh?
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Friday, June 4, 2004

*yawn*
Today was a good day. A very, very, good day.








And I got sunburned.
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Thursday, June 3, 2004

One more day...
I've got one last day of final exams, and I've only got one more exam to take.

Heh, Chemistry.

We get to use our books on this exam. -_-;; I'm not even bothering to study. I already know all of this stuff, and with the book to guide me, how can I not do good?





*Ben is struck by lightning mid-exam*

Yeah...that's one way that I might fail. :p

Today was, in my opinion, an awesome day. I got to school late and did my photography exam. I had to critique a piece by Lewis Hine, and one by my fellow classmate. Then I had to write an essay on my morals if I were a photojournalist; like how far I would be willing to go for a good shot (invasion of privacy and whatnot). Then the final part was to develop a picture, which wound up cutting into my break between exams. But no matter; my picture came out great, and I made it to the break in time to play a quick game of Magic with my friend John-Paul.

He beat me rather quickly, but not before I had taken a few puny swings at him. It was all over once he summoned his Krosan Cloudscraper. He powered it up by another couple of points and then made it so that he could attack twice with it in one turn. He also made it that his attacks plowed through any monster I tried to defend with.

Yeah...I need to get some better cards. :p Nothing I had could have stood up to that.

My Theology exam was pretty easy; just very time-consuming. I actually didn't finish the whole thing, but I did manage to get the important sections done and hand in my extra credit work. So that should be helpful.

After I got out of school I went to my house, where my grandmother was cleaning. I helped pick up a bit, and then we drove over to Stop & Shop to return cans and bottles. I made $9.35 from returning recyclables in our backyard. >_> I'm glad to get the $9, but sort of discouraged that we had that many cans and bottles lying around.

Then I went back to my grandparents' house where I have been staying for the past few days. And lo and behold, two posts had been made in W.H.A.T.E!

Solo and terra, you two are my heroes! ^_^

So is Raiha, for posting after them. :D

The RPG lives! IT LIVES!

I went down to Sacred Heart to visit with my friends. Christina, Victoria, Tyler, and Raine were all staying after today. We socialized up until the point where they were allowed to go outside. I sat and watched as they played basketball, and received judgement from a little girl as to character.

The two judgements were, apparently, "Pure Good" and "Pure Evil," with "Pure Evil" being given out more often that the former. I think she was just trying to irritate me with that. I am, of course, Pure Good. >_>

Raine left just before snack. (Snack was leftover cake, incidentally) So, Tyler, Christina and I enjoyed ourselves talking about this, that, and the other thing. Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun. :)

We went outside and played tag for a little while. I prided myself on being able to outrun Christina and Victoria, both of whom are younger and in better shape than I am. ~_^

Then, when I couldn't run anymore, I simply used my long reach to tag them just after they tagged me.

Christina and Tyler left after not too long, and Victoria and I retired to the playscape, where we talked. Again. We talked about Maine a lot, since she was looking forward to going this summer with the Youth Group. (The Youth Group cannot go this summer) I'm going up for health and fitness reasons, as I've already explained here. She always pouts or scowls at me whenever I bring it up, but I've managed to turn the whole thing into a sort of joke. I enjoy being able to bring a smile out of her scowl. I'm getting better and better at it. :)

Surprisingly, I stayed for about an hour after daycare got out, talking to Victoria. Well, not so much talking, but just being with her and recounting things. Every time I mentioned Maine, though, I'd have to jerk her out of a scowl with something funny. And, (un)fortunately, I mentioned Maine a lot. It's been sitting in the foreground of my mind for some time now, and being with Victoria, who was so set on going, keeps it there.

My parents got back tonight from New Orleans, and took us all home. So that is where I am. Coolness.

*wince* I shouldn't be up at 11:00 on an exam night.
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Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Section VI: Fire Drill?
I got to school early today so I could finished watching Les Miserables. Unfortunately, my class had started without me, so I had one of those awkward "WTF is going on" moments. Last I knew, Jean ValJean was a gardener for a convent, and next he's in the middle of a revolution, pledging his daughter's love to its leader. O.o

So, we finished the movie in time for the exam. It was a good thing, as there were questions about it on the exams. Just as I was nearing one of the last sections of the exam, I hear the high-pitched screeching of our school's fire alarm system. =/

So, the entire school filed out onto the lawns and waited for the okay to go back inside. It took about seven minutes; seven minutes that could have been used to work on our exams. >_> Fortunately, I finished just in time for the ending bell.

History was my next exam, and for a history test, it as quite good. It was all objective (multiple choice, that is) with a Define and Relate as extra Credit. I get the feeling that the Define and Relate was supposed to be a part of the actual test, but few people managed to finish even the 204 objective question in time for the end bell.

I'm sure I did well. On both. Although the French one had me worried; I seemed to get "B" too often in one section. Like, every answer for four or five questions, and then an "A", and then several more "B"s. We'll see in the summer, I suppose.

Other eventful things of the day include: Getting back into Magic: The Gathering to a certain degree; looking over stuff for my English final; typing this; getting a headache from a can of Red Bull; and wondering why everybody I know is panicked over Finals.

I just don't get it. Even the most intelligent people in my class have been getting worked up, as well as the laid back ones. It's unnatural.

I ought to do something productive with all the extra time I get from Finals. =/

ACK! I should have worked on RPGs! x.x

Piromunkie's Brave Fencer is up again, and I haven't posted yet. Crap, I need to do that.

I may stay after school tomorrow and finish my portfolio assessment for Photography, considering it's an integral part of my grade and my exam is on Thursday.

I've also got to wring some coherency from my Algebra II notes. I'm allowed to use them on the final, but that doesn't help if I can't read them.

So, I must be getting to those various things. Good night, and good luck on whatever end-of-year things you have to get done.
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Monday, May 31, 2004

EXAMS TOMORROW!
And am I studying? Of course not. What do you think I am?

A good student?

That is something that I am not, unfortunately. I do not see myself as a good student. I'm a very intelligent student, and I lean well in most subjects, but student isn't the best word for me.

Learner would perhaps be better.

You see, I don't study. Or at least not nearly as often as anyone else in my class. And my study habits are very, very inconsistent with my grades.

I get good grades; A's and B's. A C once in a blue moon. I've been on the Honor Roll ever since entering high school, and most of the grades before. (Handwriting was my bane, it kept me off the list more than once)

I do not organize the papers I receive; whether they be worksheets or notes or notices. They go in a pile atop my notebook, which grows ever larger by the day. Throughout the year.

I am not organized when it comes to school, and several other aspects of my life.

My friends all make note cards to study for quizzes or tests, and they do the extra credit work. I don't. Quite simply, I don't apply myself. (as well as I could, at least.)

Instead, I rely on myself. Logic, my memory, and some other God-given ability get me through.

If I wanted to rationalize the way I am as a student, I could say that I was truly testing the educating process. The teachers teach something, and I take it in. I don't go over it again, or if so, briefly and rarely.

So, in a way, aren't I testing what they have taught me? How well their words have sunk in?

But, there'd be no point on supporting that idea, because I don't really believe it. I'm just lazy. I don't want to take the time to study when I could be doing other things. Like watching movies, talking to friends, writing in RPGs, and playing games.

One of the more logical definitions of the word student is "One who studies something." I don't study what I'm being taught. I just learn it as best I can at the outset.

Exams are all this week. They would be the true testers, but I dare not risk my grades on them for any indulgence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a lighter note, I went to Eric's house yesterday afternoon. We had dinner and went to see the play Everyman, which I thought was excellent. The unfortunate part is, I had to pay $20 for my ticket and Eric's. Apparently, our friend who was saving us complimentary tickets gave them away because she didn't trust us to come. =/

So, Eric owes me $10, and I need to find someway to make up for $10. Maybe I can get a ticket to another show. =/

We watched the Lord of the Rings Trilogy last night as a sort of party/shindig. We watched the entire first movie, and then decided we didn't have time enough to waste on the entireties of the second and third ones. So we just watched the highlights, which still took us a good time.

Then today I came home for a Memorial Day picnic my grandparents always have. What was particularly special about the one today is that Christina and Victoria both came. ^_^ We had a great time, swimming, talking, playing games, and setting up a Neopets account for me. :D

I told them I was going to Maine for most of the summer, but I neglected to tell them the reasoning. Perhaps I can come back and surprise them. :)

Anyhow, they left about an hour ago, and I'm supposed to be studying and getting ready for tomorrow.

Tomorrow's Exams:

Honors French III-Meh. It'll be alright. I just need to go into school early and finish watching Les Miserables.

Honors U.S. History-Ergh. I don't plan on studying much for this, since it isn't likely to help. This is one that I'm going to trust myself on.

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Sunday, May 30, 2004

The horse you came in on....
(Subject Source: Halo)

I'm at my grandparents' house for the weekend week. My parents have gone to New Orleans for a conference. My mom is the only oe going tot he conference; my dad's just going because it's a cool place and the stuff is all paid for by the company.

So, that's what's going on. Details later, after my sister has her fill of the computer. =/
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Wednesday, May 26, 2004

   Plans for the summer...
Thanks to Shinmaru, I came up with an idea to discuss! Whoo hoo!

This summer, near the end of June, I will be going to my grandmother's cottage in Maine. I will remain there until roughly the beginning of August. There is no TV, and no computer; hardly anything modern at all. The purpose behind this?

To get into shape.

All of my life, I've been a big boy. Not fat, (heaven forbid anyone should use the word to describe themself) but not so little around the middle. I tired faster than others of my age, because of my physique. I was, however, stronger than them. ;p

Ever since my growth spurt a few years ago, the girth hasn't been very evident, but I knew that the poundage was still there. Every stinking time I stepped on a scale, I saw a different number; normally higher than the last.

My dad has been having difficulties lately with depression, and with his job. Much of the stress and depression comes from his job, more specifically his boss. Another source of the depression is gambling. There are several casinos in our area, and my dad has developed a gambling problem. It saddens him that he spends so much money there, and he doesn't want to keep doing it.

So, he decided that he'd go to Maine again. He did this once before when stress was overcoming him. This time, though, he won't be alone. My younger brother, my younger sister, and I will be going with him. All four of us aren't in the best of shape, and my brother needs better stimulation than television. He had a stroke when he was born, which has resulted in some abnormalities, such as a speech impediment and the loss of some motor functions in his right arm and leg.

Last time he went to Maine, my dad went for a walk every day. At least once, he said. Mile after mile, day after day. That, and he rode his bicycle. He quit smoking while he was up there, as he intends to do again. And there are no casinos in the area to tempt him.

My dad was a borderline diabetic not too long ago, and his nutritionist wants to use him as a "poster child" for a new program that her employer is developing. They will supply all of the supplements and foodstuffs that he uses in his healthier lifestyle, which includes working out and a much better diet.

He thinks that I may be another possible candidate for the program, and I may be able to get the free things as well. Free things that would help me to get into shape and eat better.

It'll be a great thing to do, I'm thinking. It has always been my intent to exercise and get into shape every summer, but around here I can never seem to get it done. There are simply too many distractions, and so many things to discourage me from my goal.

Maine, however, is practically empty. Silence abroad, and plenty of time to myself. That will be perfect for re-writing my book, which I also wanted to do this summer.

Now comes the crux of the matter. Throughout that time in Maine, I will not have any Internet access at all. That means no contact with any of you. :(

No OB, no MyO, no anything.

So, I've got until somewhere in June to get done whatever I have to get done. And if all goes well in Maine, I'll have plenty to do in August when I return.

You know, like flaunting my body catching up with everyone. :p

Of course, this is all assuming that everything works out okay.

RANDOM OTHER STUFF:

My Direct Damage Deck was beaten for the very first time tonight by my friend Rob. Rob is a Magic: The Gathering veteran, who's been playing card games probably longer than I've had teeth. So, I don't feel too bad about losing to him. He simply had a better hand than I did.

John couldn't beat it before, and my friend Kevin couldn't tonight.

John sees tomorrow as being our "Final Battle." We both have the same lunch tomorrow, but we won't on Friday. What I don't think he realizes is that we will have time between exams to play.

So, I guess I've got a Final Battle to play against John tomorrow, wish me luck, and good night.
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Tuesday, May 25, 2004

   Briefly, so I can sleep.
I got my paper done on time, but I'm having doubts about whether or not mine fit the assignment.

I have some stuff to make up before exams, a quiz in French, and a test in History. I've been assigned a lengthy History assignment over the summer for the course I'm taking next year.

I've been beating John at Yu-Gi-Oh on a regular basis. My Direct Damage Deck has been undefeated thus far, by him or any other. WAZOO!

The best part about this Deck, is that for every win I have, I had multiple ways of achieving the victory. It was up to me to decide which way to beat him. :D

On a tournament level, though, I don't think the deck would fair too well. It relies on a lot of Trap cards, so just about anyone with a Jinzo would be likely to beat it.

I haven't got much homework lately, as we only have three more days of school before exams. Exams will be a topic for another time.

As for bicycles; I have never owned a bicycle, and I don't know how to ride one. My dad wishes to teach me this summer, and he thinks I'll pick it up right away because I've developed good balance from fencing.

Another topic for me to discuss later; my next extended leave of absence.

For those of you who have only been here for a year or less, you may not be familiar with my random disappearences. I did it several times a couple years back. It eventually got me the status of being "out there, somewhere" in the eyes of my OB friends.

So, yes. Off to bed now.
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Monday, May 24, 2004

   Ha ha!
I have bested ye, ye foul English paper! Now, leave me to my rest!

*is bitten in the ankle by something*

Agh! What is this? *eyes widen* No! I didst celebrate too soon! The Bibliography doth still need to be vanquised! NNNOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Yeah, that's kind of how it went. I got my 8-page paper done in two hours, give or take a couple minutes. I was quietly exulting in my final victory of this year over the English department, until I got upstairs and realized that I hadn't done a bibliography for the paper yet.

Luckily, I had planned in advance for this paper. *cries of shock and alarm*

I had archived all the pages I used as sources, so it was a matter of looking to see if the had authors, and then copying the title and the address onto another page and printing.

Not too shabby. ^_^

Hopefully that will be the last assignment of any significance. You know, considering we have four days of actualy school left. And then four of exams.

I'm quite tired now. I stayed up late last night getting sources for this paper, and I've stayed up late this night to get the paper done.

I'm due for some sleep, don't you think?

Also, these next few days are likely to be uneventful, what with studying and all. How about you guys suggest a topic for me to discuss?

I do so enjoy getting outside opinions. :p
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