Dear Diary,

Today is Monday, January 28, 2008.

One word defines today: CRAP.

California was awesome... my grandmother was pleased to see me, and I hope she has a happy birthday. She turned 81 today!

I met my aunt and cousin for the first time; we don't see my dad's side of the family much.

However, I realized I was still on California Pacific Time this morning, so I was tired in the morning at school.

As for a recap of today, I woke up late: Not the best to begin with. Forgot my violin at home: My mom had to come back to school in order for me to play in Orchestra. I thought she would be late so I asked my teacher if she had any spare ones I could play, in which Mom didn't have to come. We found one in an old locker, but the violin hadn't been played in a while and had loose strings. I waited for my teacher to come up with another option... she appeared as if not to care that my mom was on her way and I was pressed for time. My cell phone rang, and I answered and was left with no response on the other line. After I had said "Mom?" a few times, then my teacher says I won't reach signal in the Orchestra office. At this point, I am frustrated at my teacher for her lack of care, nervous if I will be able to reach my mom and be able to find a violin! I rush outside to call my mom back and soon I hear her voice and she is carrying my violin. She said she had been waiting there for about 5 minutes. Now I was even more frustrated with my teacher. If she had not neglected to help me in this time, I would have been able to meet my mom outside and be on time to Orchestra. And for more lack of concern, we spent FIFTEEN minutes tuning our instruments, when she could have earlier instead of checking her email! Ugh!

Orchestra was about 15 minutes of the Star Spangled Banner and about two songs because of the tuning delay. I stomped off to advisory, and Mr. Flamich was inside with another teacher, so I sat at the conversation table where I listened to boys talking about video games and whatnot. Not my favorite category or topic to discuss!

Mr. Flamich had us wait outside while he talked to this teacher. We waited outside for about 10 minutes! UGH!

He took attendance and we didn't even have time to read the Daily Bulletin because of the time spent outside waiting for him to finish. And we were also late to Social Studies!

Social Studies wasn't bad... we reviewed over our homework with no complications.

In English we sorted ideas in the book "To Kill A Mockingbird" into two different categories "Positive/Nurturing" and "Complex/Troubling". Our group had a fair list, and I felt I was a good participant in today's class.

Gym was fun too. We played a game called "King Pin" where you advance your way to the championships by winning Rock, Paper, Scissors. If you lose, you have to do the exercise at that station. If you win the championship, you receive a pin. You try to earn as many pins as possible in the class period. I won three pins, but I didn't win. The winner had 6 pins, or 8 pins... I can't remember.

However, we were let out late for gym.  But I have lunch next, so not a problem. But there was a problem at lunch... I had no lunch because I forgot to pack one this morning. My friend lent me two dollars, out of her own volition, and I could only afford a piece of pizza, unfortunately. But I promised to pay her back and told her of my gratitude for her loan.

Science had a slow start like advisory. Mr. Flamich was, again, discussing an issue with a teacher and had us stand outside for about 15 minutes. We had about 20 or 30 minutes left of class and he expected us to finish the lab, the blue dot questions in the lab, and in the middle of a conclusion about 10 minutes before class was over! In the lab we performed, we put different amounts of water into a test tube, and dissolved solid in the water. You had to shake the solution in order to have the solid dissolve, and our hands became tired after about 5 minutes. I ranted later to Anna and Victoria my utmost anger about our homework assignment. He asked us to finish the blue dot questions and write a four sentence (and then abruptly changed it to 100 word) conclusion about "what we learned" in today's lab. What did we learn? We learned that when we shake a solution to dissolve solid, OUR HANDS GET TIRED! And the blue dot questions... These are pointless! They ask you questions about the lab and answer them in the next question! UGH; CRAPPY, CRAPPY DAY!

And to top the school day off... Mary wouldn't speak to me on the bus. So, I sat in the front, isolated from everyone else. And I didn't enjoy a minute of this.

I got home to let Penny out and do my homework, and I cautioned her (she obviously didn't understand, LOL) not to bother me because I was not in a good mood. And guess what she does? She chews on the "husband" pillow, she digs on the carpet, she ALMOST bit me and ran away when I attempted to greet her... UGH! My homework load took about 2 1/2 hours alone, and I decided to send an email to all of my contacts and update my address book for those email addresses that aren't in use and to confirm email addresses and to check in.

I had dinner quickly, and now I was in a little better of a mood when I went down to play Guitar Hero for a little while with my brothers. I had to babysit my brothers while my mom had a meeting and my dad had work and then a massage. But my mom arrived home early and I was relieved of the stress. I played Guitar Hero for a while longer and then headed up to update my iTunes songs. But when I tried to download songs from my flash drive from my brother's computer, the authorization on several of the songs my mom downloaded didn't work. The message to authorize kept appearing... this and the process of acquiring some songs took me an hour. And I checked my email again which took 45 minutes and now this post has taken me about 45 minutes as well... You can now imagine and picture in your mind the true definition of crap. And now, since I'm still on Pacific Time, I am not tired enough to sleep!

It's a wonderful life...

Oh, and I don't know if I have mentioned this, but I feel the Caroline issue has resolved. I have been an annoyance lately, and I feel as if she has started to ignore me. The key is space... I have been a little less talkative with her and a little less inclusive. So, I believe this knot had untied itself...

I called Mary later and we talked briefly. She apparently was speaking with Andria (a girl in a lower grade who is also my friend) when I tried to get her attention, and she said hey when she was done but I had already departed to the front of the bus. So, I apologized and I have told myself I will not be as invasive and annoying as I have been, especially toward Mary. She's in a tough position at the moment, and I don't want to be a nuisance.

Well, I will attempt to fall asleep... though I will not be successful for maybe another two hours.

Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!

~Meg/Horselvr11188