I think I had a satisfactory time in South Carolina. I got some new clothes, spent quality time with cousin type people, and became not as sucky at Mario Kart. The trip there was a little dismal, as were certain early-morning-when-no-one-is-awake moments, due to significant and firmly established angst, but it's hard to stay glassy eyed and unreasonable when you're in a happy place and people take you shopping. Other helpful individuals include The Royal Wizard, the kitchen, and the pool table. The afternoon at Falls Park was, as always, delightful, except when Eli, Tyler, and I decided to venture too far into the middle of the water without making sure of a way back which didn't involve removing our shoes. Needless to say, after much hopping about on slippery rocks and looking desperately around for an escape route, the shoes came off and we waded back (in freezing, nasty, dirty water!).
Thanksgiving was lovely, shopping was productive, and things went well I think.

I'm looking forward to going back to school on Tuesday, probably just for the sake of getting that part of my life back on track, finding out about our choral concert (next week!!), also about Dynamics auditions, and pretty much getting back into the swing of things. Of course, that won't last long, since Christmas Break is coming up, but still. This month promises to be sufficiently chaotic, with Babes in Toyland show this week http://www.reitztheater.com/ (come see it, fools), homework gearing up for over Christmas, Christmas shopping while trying to save money for NY, (I think I need to start making things for people, like things that don't cost money), play withdrawal, and whatever else is supposed to happen this month. I need to start thinking of ways to keep myself form suffering December-In-General-Withdrawal during Christmas Break.

And yay, Jesse just brought me ice cream cake. Today was good, involving movies, brownies, and a trip to Wallmart, where I got much needed eyeliner and gum. I think another movie was planned later, but it's getting late, and I've become a veritable old person when it comes to going to bed on time. Seriously, it'll be like 10:00, and I'll be ready to go to sleep even if I don't have to get up in the morning. I think I am coming to appreciate the finer things in life; food and sleep. So I will finish my cake a go to bed.

So we're going to South Carolina at the end of this week, and I am very excited. We won't be staying as long as we usually do, but it will be wonderfully relaxing, plus I'll only be missing four days of school, so the homework won't be that bad. I don't think I'm looking forward to the car trip at all though, because it's November, and that means it's dark and grey and depressing which hasn't been doing anything to improve my mood. It helped last year, because there was nothing to do but skulk last year, but I've decided I don't like tramping around dark buildings looking at dark clouds in a dark coat. When I'm in a bad mood, I want to be cheered up, damn it, and refuse to go about wallowing in it (my mood). Last year, the trip home was dreadful because of things and bleak weather and having not been cast in 'Narnia', and being behind in schoolwork. I think I survived by listening to Newsies over and over again in a very old CD player with headphones that didn't have stereo. So actually, this year's trip should be better, because I have an iPod and shows for 'Babes In Toyland' to look forward to when we get back. Also, not having to take care of all my schooling myself is a huge plus.

Speaking of school, swimming sucks. We have to swim like three times a week, wearing ugly ass bathing suits that other people wear. of course they wash them, but dude. And the water looks like it's got something in it. Thankfully we only have lunch right after, so I don't have to go to class with wet hair. Also I'm going to have to swim like thirty or forty laps when I get back from SC to make up the classes I'll miss. Which means missing Chorus, and I hate missing Chorus. It's not like it's the high point in my day, but erm, I like singing, and even if I didn't, it's a hell of a lot better than swimming in a gross pool wearing a gross bathing suit. And speaking of Chorus, there are open auditions for Dynamics sometime before Christmas Break, so I am very excited about that.

I hope dinner is finished before I have to leave for rehearsal. Also, I have lots more lines now, and I'm in both acts. If I haven't already mentioned that before.

Yesterday I was a little angel and helped out with a food drive at school, sponsored by our Drama Club, or ITS I think. Of course, there was not one male soul present, as us six girls and one teacher hauled cans and cans in boxes and boxes into cars, weighed them at Kohlep's, and drove them to Reynoldsville. But what do you expect boys to do, something useful?
 Oh yes, and there were auditions for the school play on Wednesday. I think I did fairly well, definitely could have been better, and probably would have been had I rehearsed it more. I read with other people though, and that made me far less nervous. I was, however, twitchy in the extreme all day, because the cast list wasn't to be posted till after school. I think I must have looked a nervous wreck in Geometry class, and probably bowled a few freshmen over on the way to see the list (serves them right, the way they barrel through the hallways in a way that suggests a severe lack of depth perception). I am indeed in it, not as who I auditioned for, but as a rather nameless nurse. This suits me fine, because last show I was a rather nameless actress, and this time I will probably get to wear a cute little nurse outfit ::rubs hands together:: I don't care, so long as I'm in it, because an awful lot of people auditioned, and seeing as I'm new-ish, the chances of getting a part by default were kind of nonexistent. And if it's half as amazingly fun as the last show, I'm good with it.

 Tonight we are going to see the midnight showing of 'Nevermore'. I think I shall wear something Halloween-ish, meaning lots of stripes and my bodice shirt with the checked sleeves.

 

Two down, one more to go. I hope tonight is better than last night, 'cause last night I sucked a little. I was better on opening, when there was suddenly people out there, people who hadn't already seen the show ten times and in front of whom I could show off. Last night of course didn't have the hype of opening, so it wasn't as good. I'll not suck tonight though.

 Opening night was awesome of course, a few mishaps, but not anything noticeable to the audience (thought there was much waving around of arms and mouthing of very rude things in the wings during these occurrences). Afterward, we all ran off to Eat'n Park and ate things. And also payed for them. Last night, or this morning actually, was the cast party, which was quite a lot of fun. As usual at all night parties, I didn't make it long past six, but I was one of the last to go to bed, so all hail me. The evening for me  consisted first of food, followed by a long and fascinating theological discussion with two or three other kids. We even brought out a Bible because someone was awesome enough to have brought one with them. It was a good conversation :P The good conversation was dispersed with calls for hide-and-seek, which lasted for two rounds before the movie started. I would have stayed and watched it, but my one friend wasn't a fan of the brightly colored spurts of blood and removal of organs set to an opera, so I accompanied her upstairs, since I had no strong feelings on the subject, and we had some more conversations. What followed after the movie was mostly of random discussion, more food, quote/song guessing games, and Truth or Dare till about six in the morning. I think I slept past breakfast, but I don't care because I can't ever eat in the morning. I was thankfully able to catch a ride home, since Daddy Dear and Sarah were in Clearfield doing important school testing stuffs. So yes. I had much fun, and also acquired some new and lofty-ish things to think about regarding life, the universe, and everything.

 Just one more show tonight, and I'll probably cry or something. I'd better cry, or else I'll have to be very disappointed with myself and my insensitive tear ducts. Also I have about six essays to write over the weekend and till Wednesday, because I am the ultimate procrastinator, but hey. What's six essays on a couple of books I haven't quite finished anyways? Oh yes, and auditions for the school drama are this week and I am most excited. Goodness, what shall I do with myself?

Oi. We have a show, so says the director. So yeah, hope I break something tomorrow. I wonder if it has to be my leg or just any old leg. But suppose I'll leave off breaking things and go to bed now. I'm not in such a foul mood as I was, because rehearsal was kind of nice (besides me sucking at my scene) and, well, we have a show :) Always nice to hear that, you know. Nighty night.

 So I think I am better-ish. At least no more fever and aches and chills and head-throbbings and falling over backwards. I tried to go back to school on Friday, but ended up scarpering before lunch was out. Of course, now I don't know what I'll do to help with the power point for 'Mockingbird' that's due tomorrow, but dude. I was sick, and I sodding hate that book. Not as much as I hate, loath, and detest George Snorewell's bloody stupid 'Animal Farm'. Man, that guy is a pessimistic moron. I don't need a lot of pigs running around singing stupid songs to help me learn about the Russian Revolution, thanks. I know I'm being ignorant about it, but I have no patience for depressing allegories. But never mind. After we're done with this drudgery, we get to move on Julius Caesar. Not one of Shakespeare's more engaging works, but it's still Shakespeare, and his extravagant monologues and long winded insults are good enough for me. And also there's a university coming some time next month to put it on for us.

 I probably shall have lots of work to make up tomorrow. Prapsy I'll bring some to rehearsal, and I can sit in the wings and work on it. Speaking of which, the production is an evening of two one acts, entitled 'What's Wrong With the Girls?' and 'Check Please: Take Two'. Show dates are October 22, 23, and 24, at 7:00 pm at the DAHS Auditorium, and tickets are $3.00 and/or non-perishable food items. Come see it. It's funny. And it's for charity, so you're nasty if you don't.

 I'm going to go watch a movie now. Once I'm done simpering over the Henry Mancini piece Sarah just played on the piano :P Oh and I still have the most wretched, horrible, awful cold that won't let me breath. It's not at all fair.

--

Gr. I am sick. But I simply cannot miss school today. There is an improv in drama class I have to plan for, and I am in no academic position to be skipping geometry. Oh well. Damn it and my tea is cold. And this is the wrong brand of cereal and it's getting soggy. But you know, I might be contagious, in which case it is my civic duty to stay at home... I don't know. It's fifteen minutes before we have to leave. Aha. Daddy is calling the school. Civic duty and all. Don't want to be getting other people sick, do I? Besides, now I can catch up on homework. And everyone else has missed at least one improv. Also, play practice is much more important, and I should be well rested for it. Right. To the couch.

And here is a meme stolen from shadowempress

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth? A chocolate chip cookie with milk :)

2. Where was your profile picture taken? The main part, probably in England somewhere.

3. Can you play Guitar Hero? I hope not. If I ever did, I should have to be very cross with myself.

4. Name someone who made you laugh today. Um, prolly over half the people at play practice, silly boys in my classes, and Sarah, reading aloud from Howl's Moving Castle.

5. How late did you stay up last night and why? About 11:00, because there was Supernatural that needed watching.

6. If you could move somewhere else, would you? Not today. I have too much theatrical plotting to do.

7. Ever been kissed under fireworks? In Soviet Russia, fireworks kiss under you.

8. Which of your friends lives closest to you? Not counting burningstarsxe, faeriemaiden.

9. Do you believe ex's can be friends? Yes, if they are not scummy or oversensitive sorts.

10. How do you feel about Dr Pepper? Its purpose in this world is questionable.

11. When was the last time you cried really hard? Um.... I can't remember?

12. Who took your profile picture? Lewis Carroll.

13. Who was the last person you took a picture of? Sarah.

14. Was yesterday better than today? Not by a long shot. Today wasn't fantastic either, but is was good-ish.

15. Can you live a day without TV? I can. TV is not a staple.The piano claims that position.

16. Are you upset about anything? Oh I don't think so. Scheming, busy, and slightly twitchy, but certainly not upset.

17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it? Of course they are, sillies.

18. Are you a bad influence? Hey. It's me. *interpret statement as you see fit*

19. Night out or night in? Either, if it's with people I like to be with.

20. What item could you not go without during the day? Howl, a pen, and my assignment book.

21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? Erm... Mum when she had the latest midget?

22. What does the last text message in your inbox say? Alas. I have no text inbox, because there is no cellphone for it to in. Donations will be appreciated.

23. How do you feel about your life right now? It is unexpected, unpredictable, and dreadfully and perfectly marvelous. Just going with it.

24. Do you hate anyone? I do not hate people. I only strongly dislike some of them, and harbor only slightly controllable desires to kick their sorry rears.

25. If we were to look in your inbox, what would we find? LJ things, stuff, stupid forwards, and... too much random crap that needs to be cleaned out.

26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass? With flying colors. Awesome, flying, psychedelic colors....

27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before? Hell yes. No specific instances are coming to mind, but I'm sure I've heard it once or ten times.

28. What song is stuck in your head? Haven't got one, but I am listening to song 'So Close' from Enchanted :)

29. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be? Oh lots. And we'd have a lovely garden party.

30. Wanna have grandkids by the time you're 50? 53. And one half.

31. Name something you have to do tomorrow? School, papes, and then... nothing! Ha! It shall be marvelous.

32. Do you think too much or too little? Depends. I don't have a lot of time for thinking lately, and I'm good with it.

33. Do you smile a lot? Oh far too much.

 It's amazing how much little things can effect your day. Little things like receiving spontaneous applause during rehearsal. Everything in the world could have gone wrong, and it all would have been worth it. I love when things happen that send you home smiling. Especially when you're miffed and nervous, and then you make everyone laugh and, well. Yay.

 Blocking tomorrow evening. That should be fun. Oh and we observed Beeca's birthday today and there was cake.  :)

 Aha. Victory is mine. I have got the part I auditioned for and intend to have very much fun with it indeed. I suppose my audition must have gone well. Which it should have, because 1) I had read the part before hand, 2) it was the best friggin' audition ever. Know why? Because no one was watching! Except the director and the prompter, neither of whom I am scared of. So yeah. No one watching = very easy.
 Today I got to not get in trouble for not finding some discarded homework, because there was no class to which that homework belonged. Because it was a freshman class, and all the smelly freshmen were in the auditorium doing smelly freshman things. So me and some other Sophomores hid from janitors in the halls and discussed driving permits and vintage cars with pinstripes, till a vice-principle lady kicked us out and sent us to the library. That was nice, because the library is better than earth science.
 
 Now, see, I had a train of thought here, or at least some point today. But it all went away because I've been talking and shopping for free music by way of stalking innocent little tags on file sharing communities. Oh! And I just found James Marsters' album, and....... *eep!!* I sat and giggled over it for nearly twenty minutes straight. I also proceeded to listen to it while getting ready for school this morning, much to the chagrin of Eli, who we all know is such a morning person. Needless to say, there was much bouncing about and gigging at a time in the morning when no one is at very good terms with anything. And it was fun :) (Awesome actors who write music are the best things ever.)

 I think I may have a more detailed post tomorrow probably. Oh yes, and I wrote something about Chuck Norris on a Health test because it fit the question. It was awesome.

 Goodness, it's dreadful when I wait till this hour to post, because I am always too tired by now. But I was rather busy today. I finally attacked the bathroom with several scrub brushes and a spray bottle, and even went so far as cleaning out the drain. A fat lot of good the drain does, but that's because it was clogged. It still is clogged, but that's because I only had a bottle opener with which to salvage the terrifying stuff that has been clogging it. It was indeed a valiant effort, and the shower is none the worse for it, but I think I might be. Seriously, you don't know what it's like in that drain. Thankfully, neither do I, but that's beside the point. It must be truly horrific considering the stuff that comes out of it. Anyways. At about six thirty, I proceeded to forget about my piano lesson at six thirty. No worries though, I remembered when my teacher showed up. I soon discovered that for all my playing recently, I am terribly rusty. I could barely play a D Major scale. I did remember, however, that the key of D has two sharps, because I had remembered it this previous Tuesday during chorus.
 Speaking of chores, today was dreadful. We skipped chorus for math tests. Wretched, horrid math placement tests. Actually, today was not dreadful. Decidedly not so in fact. In theatre arts, we read from the script for the upcoming play, and played an actress acting out all sorts of female stereotypes. I had lots of fun. I must confess, I left class feeling quite satisfied with myself. Not superior, but definitely satisfied, because I seldom get the opportunity to read such fun parts in front of people and, well, it rather makes me beam when I think I've done alright. And it was lots and lots of fun :)
 Another good thing. When we had to do our wretched tests, I was actually able to sit at a table of people I've only just met in during the past week, who I am now comfortable enough with to sit by. But the test was still awful.
 Morgan was able to walk home with me today, as she didn't have soccer. We had a brief conversation on the subject of us having no boyfriends (the subject having arisen from commenting that neither of us will be going to the dance this Friday) and we lamented that there is no store whereat you can buy them. Then we had a lovely bit of gossip, which was nice, as none of involved me directly.
 So yes, not at all a bad day. And I remembered to get an apple with my lunch. Pictures tomorrow. Mine is going to be dreadful, I know it. But if we get to skip first period, then I will forgive the camera for not doing proper justice to my face.

--

Not a lot to post about, mainly because I am too lazy at the moment. I had a decent day at school today. We actually did something with maps in World Culture (imagine that!). I also got a chance to discuss and debate the merits and demerits of anime and why it doesn't belong anywhere near the Brit lit in Theatre Arts class. Also, I kicked ass in Chorus. It would be so very much better if Chorus went for two periods, and we got to skip Geometry altogether. I mean really. No one likes Geometry.
 Also, three days without school is going to be very nice indeed. I'm getting used to it though, and overall it's not that bad. Once you get settled and used to things, it all seems more natural and stuff. And the news that our choir is planning a trip to NY to see a musical or three makes things sufficiently better :)

 So when my alarm clock went off this morning at 6 am and interrupted my funny dream involving a forest and a good deal of flamingos, my first thought was 'good lord, that is so unfair!' Unfair that I had such a short time between leaving school and having to get up and do it all over again. But it's really not so bad once you actually get there, (unless I'm in homeroom with the biggest dumb ass one could hope to avoid having as a teacher, at lunch, or in geometry) Lunch is annoying because there are so many people, and the lunch ladies are terribly frightening and give me too much food. But I do have two friends to sit with, Morgan and Chelsae who, freshmen though they may be, are very nice to have around. Theater Arts will be, I think, very fun, and getting to know people in that class will be ever so much easier. 1) it's small 2) I'm pretty sure I am much more experienced than anyone in the said class, which means I will be better prepared to show off and advise them, thus making their acquaintance.
 Let's see... what else is interesting enough to mention? Chorus of course, is most satisfactory, as I know at least five people in it from the theater, the teacher/director/whatever you call him, is awesome, and it involves singing. Science, English (honors of course), math, geometry, world cultures, all = meh. Thus far anyway. English will hopefully get more interesting, and our Science teacher, for all his football coachness, seems affable enough. That makes three teachers I officially like. And I think I'll like my French teacher, though her pronunciation is rather un-French (of course, that may be a mercy).
 And! I have not gotten lost or missed a single class. And it wasn't my fault I was late this morning. Well fine, it was, but dude it was my second day.
 And of course the day seems longer because once I get home I have papers to deliver. But after school today was quite relaxing and nice. Especially since Dad redid the living room so that it looks much lighter and pleasant.
 Right, I must go to bed, as I am quite bushed from all this typing.

I had the most wonderful part of a dream last night. (I say part, because most of it was just weird, as usual.) At one point, there was an old, wooden airplane, very rickety but quite reliable, so everyone assured me. And I assured myself of this too, because I knew I was in a fairy tale, a nice one, so I probably wouldn't die. The plane had to go in the water first so it gather speed, and then up it went. Not very far up (I think my foot hit a tree) and the flight was rather wobbly. I don't think it was very good at staying up, but one could help keep it aloft by moving with it. It probably would have dropped if everyone had sat still. I was helping to drive it the second time we went up, and it was great fun. Much more fun than any normal plane. Plus, I wasn't scared because this was a nice fairy tale, and they probably weren't going to kill me.
--

 I had to get shots today. Two of them. My arm hurts. Anyway, I had a tour of the DuBois high school today. I missed orientation, so the principle just took me. It seems a bit confusing, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. I'm hoping I'll get the hang of all of it pretty quickly. And I just figure that if Eli can get used to it after being totally clueless about such things, and in the middle of the school year, then so can I. Of course the middle school is smaller. And Eli actually knew people in his grade before he started, but those are technicalities. Plus there are annoying but potentially helpful murals on the walls that will be good reference points should I lose my way. All the same, I'm going to have another walk around on Monday just to be on the safe side. One thing annoys me though. Apparently, there was no room on my schedule for photography or computer art. Only just the two things I was looking forward to most! Bastards. But on the bright side, I do not have to attend a single gym class till around the end of the school year. So ha ha and hee hee.

 Speaking of photography, I am awaited an apology from my camera for acting so abominably at Kennywood last Tuesday. (Or was it Monday?) Abominably meaning the damned lens wouldn't open. And I so wanted to take pictures of the lovely wooden roller coasters and the carousel and the beautiful painted swings. But it would keep shutting off, so I shall have to describe things a bit. Later in the day, everyone decided they wanted to go on 'The Phantom's Revenge', and I did not. (The main reason being that my blood pressure had gone all wonky, and I mean seriously freakily weird, while I was on the Racers, resulting in my not wanting to go on another large roller coaster for fear of it happening again, which really sucks because I like roller coasters) So I went in the general direction of the Phantom exit to meet them when they got off. I was in the historical part of Kennywood, 'Lost Kennywood' as it is called, so there were stone walkways in between dear little fountains (except some were not so little) and lights were coming on inside of them and around the prettily situated rides as the sun set. I was considering looking for a ride to go on, but everything was so pretty and whimsical that I was compelled to perch on the side of a large pink fountain atop some stairs. It wasn't actually pink, but the water was because of the lights, though they occasionally changed to purple. The water came from the mouths of very serious looking light blue fishes, and spouted off to the main and very pink part of the fountain in arches. This all flattered my idiom very much, and I decided that if I couldn't take pictures, then I would become part the picture, and I think I suited it quite well. How could I not with high-waisted shorts with far too many buttons, an awesome T-shirt, chucks, and a wonderful book, perched aside a pink fountain with serious blue fishes? I do hope someone noticed, not how adorable I looked, but how magical everything around us was, how perfect, amid screams and laughter, clankings and rumblings, colored lights and melting chocolate ice cream. I haven't been to any other amusement parks in a good while, but I think Kennywood is the best one, just because it is.

 I got rained on today and a dog that I have up till now rather liked barked at me, but I heard someone practicing their guitar as I passed their house, and it made me happy. And there was pudding for desert and I don't have to get up tomorrow. My arm still hurts, but I'm sure- Actually, I'm sure it will hurt a lot more tomorrow. Drat. Well good night you then.

 Greetings all and behold my triumphant return. Well, sort of triumphant being that I have survived a week of unhygienic camping but have ended up with a slight cold. (Slight now until it gets worse and starts killing me) I also may have gained weight, because of all the lovely food. Seriously, I never eat three full meals a day, and when I do they are smallish. Breakfast means tea, lunch means bread and cheese or something pertaining to a sandwich, and dinner means whatever happens to be there. At camp, there were of course three meals, and very very good ones, so that one has to take everything and eat all of it because it is impossible to leave such loveliness just sitting there all by itself.
 Anyways, more about camp as a whole. After getting over the Oh God Oh God I'm in a smelly cabin with fifteen girls only one of which I know with two toilets and about thirty seconds to shower aspect of things, I did really start to enjoy myself. It certainly had it's sort of wretched moments, because it is camp and camping is vile. But there were some incredibly cool people, first and foremost, my counselor (who was also American). And even if I didn't get to know everyone, it was great getting to appreciate the whole atmosphere and everyone in it. Especially the ones standing on the tables and being adorably obnoxious. That's what summer camps are like anyway I suppose, but this was an Antiochian Orthodox camp, with a result of nearly everyone being Lebanese or the like, and Middle Eastern culture is so fun. The best parts I think (of the week) were definitely meals, with food being only a contributing factor. What was really fun was the random cropping up of songs and other things that involved being very loud, like Bombers (snide little rhymes sung by any number of people on the subject of a certain person or group's stupidity whilst sometimes declaring one's own awesomeness) One fellow in particular was very good at these and had a tendency to bounce up and down on the table or bench as he said them, creating a very amusing/adorable visual. (If it helps you to picture it, he looked a bit like a Lebanese Rowen Atkinson) It got very fun when the rhymes came back and forth so quickly it was rather like a duel. At one point the four other Americans and I got together and did a Canadian one. Someone started singing God Bless America after it, but was soon drowned out by the Canadian National anthem. All good fun. And of course there was Dabkeh (I think that's how you spell it), Arabic dancing that is much better than Greek dancing on the merit of being simple and not just in a circle. There were two drums which would be randomly played resulting in spontaneous dancing, around and and one point on top of the tables. I can't tell you how much I love the fact that we had to wipe shoe prints off the tables after dinner.
 Oh, and I am now sincerely wishing I had chosen Spanish and not French for a foreign language this year. There were so many people babbling in French that it seriously got on my nerves after a while. I don't much mind the Arabic, but there's something about French that is incredibly annoying. Also, it took more than a while to be able to suppress the gag reflex every time some stupid little trollop shouted 'JONAS!!!!!!!!!!' whenever we clapped for someone.
 The bathroom situation, as mentioned before, was somewhat scary and the time in which we were supposed to shower was lamentable. But I did not die. And actually being in such close proximity with a lot of girls my age was good prep for school I think. It's really easier to deal with them all than one would think, ignoring their shallow comments here and there, pretending you know more about their interests and habits than you do, noticing what you have in common, how some are not as shallow as they might seem. But speaking of being shallow, some of the questions that people asked during Christian ed were downright annoying. Most of the time I felt seriously like Hermione Granger, my hand shooting up every five seconds to correct people and add to the answers the counselors gave. At one of my comments about Lucifer, one counselor grinned at me and said 'you are such a PK'. Then I wasn't allowed to answer any more questions until the other kids were done with their feeble attempts. There were some other more learned kids there too, easily singled out as the other priest kids. What can I say? We're just that awesome.
 
 There were various other adventures involving me almost winning a dodge ball tournament after getting beamed in the face (ugh I hate that game!), slithering out of actually trying to make it to the top of the climbing wall by pretending I twisted my ankle (I did not sign up for that terrifying and inhuman activity), and keeping Howl hidden from nasty people rooting out the electronics we weren't supposed to bring. Speaking of my darling iPod, on the way there, Katie made a comment about seeing Half Blood Prince, and mentioned how much she loved Draco Malfoy. So naturally, I had her listen to the Tom Felton albums I now have. Seriously, I didn't know she was capable of making such high pitched and girly noises, and her reaction didn't help my dignity either. Needless to say, we made a rather ridiculous pair, sitting in the backseat each with one ear bud each, making the most simpering and silly noises known to mankind. I think Howl thought we were talking about him, otherwise he may have shut himself off or turned us into toads or something.

 So yes. An altogether exhausting, confusing, entertaining, and extraordinary week. If I think of anything else that I must mention, I shall do so later. It is really very nice finding new things and new people to love. People that can become important all of a sudden, when last week you didn't know they existed. Even if that is all one hopes to accomplish in life, loving people and life itself, it's a notable thing to have experienced.

 We are leaving for Canada presently. Well sort of presently. In probably fifteen minutes or something. As I sort of hinted at but didn't coherently specify last night, most of the  week will be spent at a camp so I shall not be on the internet for a while. Except perhaps some time tonight. Anyways, I shall recount my adventures when I return, so pip pip.

Well. So I don't have quite as much stuff as I should have, and yet I still have no room to pack it all. 'Tis most exhausting. But I'm glad we're off to Canada tomorrow, because things have been quite dull lately, and I think a week of cabins and fun and dressing up as pirates ::starts humming Pirate King Song:: plus, without filthy papers, will be well appreciated.
 I went shopping very quickly today, and got a perfect pair of shorts without once trying them on. I am too good.

 So yeah, today was a bit hectic, between finding clothes, buying clothes, stealing and foraging through other people's clothes, shoving said clothes into packs, packing midgets (wow that sounds weird out of context) discussing proposals of marriage over the computer speaker with several rowdy fellows who had nothing better to do than bribe me with cars (None of which run on water, I might add.)

 Oh, and I am distressed. I was planning on figuring out how to put videos on my iPod today, but was far too busy with the aforementioned activities to do so. So I am not going to have anything to watch on the trip. And since there hasn't been anything new to watch on TV, I have had to make due with 'That 70's Show', which I have become officially addicted too (darn you, Eli!) and now I have to go a whole week without it. But I'm sure there are worse things to be deprived of, as well as better ways to spend ones time. But hey, it runs on water, man. 

 I should seriously go to bed, because there is a baptism tomorrow followed by probably more feverish packing and departure. So nighty night.

How I love successful shopping trips. Yesterday I woke up, and decided I needed new clothes immediately (dude, I really did) and got my very obliging mother to take me shopping. Ross is indeed a wonderful place. Better than that wretched Goodwill, which hates me for some reason and never has any clothes for me, while trying to drive me out with they're horrible country music and scary senile people. Plus, really new clothes are better, because then I get to wear them out myself, and lord knows, I don't need any help with that.
 So I got five awesome shirts, a perfect pair of jeans, a cute little dress thingy, a plaid little dress thingy, and wonderful, comfortable, gloriously impractical high waist shorts with lots and lots of buttons. I know it might sound shallow, but I love looking cute in cute clothes. It makes me happy. I was literally bouncing in and out of the changing rooms.
  Then we went to the library and I got the complete plays of Gilbert and Sullivan (to go with the music I've got :) and something by Orson Scott Card, because it had a pretty cover. I was looking for The Dresden Files, because they have been highly recommended to me, but I guess everyone has been recommended to read them, because there were only nasty paperbacks, and the first one was nowhere to be seen. But no matter, I have more than enough to content myself on the trip to Canada, as the other books I've got (including my lovely and gigantic treasury of opera librettos :) aren't due till we return for the said trip. And I also got Howl's Moving Castle for Becca, though I will most likely pinch it a lot.

 After dinner it got cloudy and windy, so Eli and I rushed out to enjoy it. I tried to get some pictures from under the grape vines, but it started raining and the camera would have gotten wet. Then Eli and I decided to be very stupid and run down the half flooded sidewalk. We got about in front of the church, when there was a large bolt of lightning that made me shriek and Eli swear. I'm sure it looked very funny. We then proceeded to laugh obnoxiously and run for the front porch. Storms are brilliant. We had a satisfactory evening afterward, which consisted of watching How I Met Your Mother and That 70's Show, then the silly Adam Sandler movie that Eli made me rent for the second time. (That is, we were watching it for the second time in a row)

 And today it's not nearly so hot and miserable. So yay.

The iPod has arrived, and rather earlier than I expected. Hats off to Apple for being punctual. Anyways, the iPod in question is the classic model, black (silvery black I think) and has been officially christened 'Howl Pendragon'. (I suspect he's put off that I forgot to include the 'Wizard' part of his title when I typed the name into iTunes, so I'll have to go fix that. He's just lucky I didn't call him Howell Jenkins, like the unmusical Welshman he is) So yes. He is shiny and I am well pleased. Makes me want to name my box of all musical contraptions Sophie, but then she would be annoyed at being so huge when Howl is small and smart looking. The black suitcase record player is still Calcifer though. Plus I don't  need any offspring as a result of this. But gah, I am having way too much fun with this.

 Went went to Elwood City today fro Transfiguration, which was as always, delightful and peaceful and lovely. I took some pictures of the cemetery, which has great tall pine tress all round it in a square (can things go round in a square?) which are all trimmed neatly and spaced so they make rather a courtyard. So I laid in the grass and took pictures of the sky and the tops of trees.
 We stopped at a petting zoo on the way home, wherein two wretched little goats tried to eat my dress. I should have brought a change of clothes, but alas; I was stuck walking about a zoo in my pretty little black summer dress, which I like very much, thank you, and do not at all take to cloven hoofed adolescents chewing on it. It isn't ruined though.

 It is really time for bed now. So ta.