In my physics class, I have been assigned a project that will be due next Friday (not tomorrow, but the one after that). I have to build a mousetrap car that will travel at least 10 feet. We get extra points if we can attach a recording device onto it. Thus far, I have been very confused about what I could possibly do that wouldn't involve me buying everything from a hardware store. We obviously have to guy the mousetraps, but other than that, I had no clue. If we use a rat trap, we get an automatic 0 because my teacher doesn't want us breaking our feet or killing ourselves.

Recently, I was talking to my cousin, who is 18 and is currently going to UMass in Amherst. He found a website that made a mousetrap car out of common desk items, such as pens, string, caps from soda cans, and CD's. And now that I have a direction to head in with this project, I am finding it to be a lot more interesting and fun.

Every other day at my high school, I end the day with art class. My teacher is very nice. I feel that she is the best art teacher that I have had. Some people think that when they get her to bend the assignment requirements a little, that they are taking advantage and have somehow tricked her, but really, she's being an artist. When you draw something, you don't think about all the rules that you will have to complete or the due date, you just go for it. And that's what I plan to do for a Christmas present to my grandparents. I was thinking that I could take a nice picture of their cat Abby and their dog Nellie and make a portrait of them. I have a few books on watercolor pencils and colored pencils, and even watercolor books. I think it will be a color pencil drawing, since I will have more control with them. Perhaps I can use some water on the eyes for some added texture and depth. If I can, I will frame it and give it to them. I figure that I will have enough time to finish by Christmas, so it will be perfect! Plus, it may get me some attention as an artist. I definitely want to do it before the semester ends, so I can ask my art teacher for any help that I need. She may even let me work on it a bit in class (or not, I'm not sure how many projects we will have to get done). She mentioned to me that she has a lot of books on different styles of art, and I can borrow a few. I am really excited about all this. Now I just have to tell my dad so he can help me get the supplies I need. I already have the perfect picture of Nellie if I can just print it off my old phone, all I need is a good picture of Abby. I'm sure I'll find it.

I still have some homework to do, so I'd better get working!

Homework....Yeah, You Know What I Mean.

So I have finally managed to find a break in my work to put up a new post. I have been super busy with school. When I'm at school, everything's fine and I can understand what is going on. But once I get home and begin my homework, I seem to forget what we discussed in class. So I have begun to carry around a notebook where I will take notes on what our teacher is saying, so that way, if I get stuck or lose focus, I can look back and see how we did it in class. I just began today, and so far, it seems like a sound method. The good news is, there's a lot more going on in my life so I will have more to blog about, even if it's just boring homework. The classes that give me the most homework would be Introduction to Physics and Honors Geometry. Yesterday, oh my gosh, you would not believe how much homework I had! Plus, I had an orthodontist appointment and, even though it was short, it cut into my time.

 My dad wanted me home from school by 3:00 PM. So when I got home, he told me that we had a little more time than he thought, so I went downstairs to play on my drum set. It felt really good, and when we went to the orthodontist place, I didn't feel as nervous as I usually do. I felt happy, and I guess that's why. When I got home, I got started on my homework. In Geometry, we were given more than usual. It took me a really long time, and by the time I was completely finished, it was about 9:30 PM. I still had to read a chapter in Physics and draw pictures that went along with the vocabulary words we were given in class. My dad told me that I just had to get used to having so much to do and should come up with a system. I was really stressed out, but I won't go too much into that, since I'm a little embarrassed about that. I just couldn't see how I could have done anything any differently than I did, and when I voiced that question to my dad, he told me that I shouldn't have gone downstairs and played drums. I should make work my first priority. Well, remember what I told you about how I like to prove people wrong? Well, usually, this is something that would set me off. I know that he doesn't want me to go into a career of music. He doesn't think it's a good idea. And while I don't think I could handle it anyway, I still adore playing and listening to it. I love that I can just go downstairs and be allowed to hit the crap out of my drums. It's really great anger management, and can sound really cool.

I haven't been feeling too well for the past few days, so I think I am going to take a much needed nap. Au revoir!

And Thus the Work Begins...

Although my first day of school was technically last Friday, I would call this our official first day, since on Friday, we just had the brief discussions on where everything was and what we could most likely expect for the upcoming year. And since we've gone over all the things they need to mention, we began some real work. My first class is Civics, which is a fancy word for History, in case you were wondering. Then I have introduction to physics (try saying civics and physics in the same sentence, I dare ya). After that, I go to honors geometry, which leads to lunch.

Ah, lunch.

It's the time that we can relax and finally get some food after all those hours without it. None of my other classes will allow food other than my first block. Only by first block, I'm still full from my breakfast, so I don't eat in there. So I just have to be able to eat enough in the morning so that I can stay strong until lunch.

So as cliche as this is, I think lunch would be my favorite time of the day. I get to see a lot of my friends and we all get to hang out and just relax. I just feel so welcome and at ease this year, which is a feeling I am not accustomed to, but is still very much welcomed.

A few weeks before I started the school year, I realized that I didn't really care what happened. Perhaps that was me thinking that nothing could really go wrong and everything would work out. The reason could have also been that maybe I really just didn't feel like worrying. Last year, I used up so much negative energy in worry, and frankly, I'm exhausted from it. I don't ever want to deal with that ever again. But I was right, everything worked out wonderfully! So far, I enjoy all of my classes and have someone I know that I can sit with and talk to. It feels great, to feel welcome. I now pass people in the hallway that will look and we will exchange smiles and greetings. It would seem that becoming individual brought us all together. We all felt that anticipation on the first day, and we knew that we all felt it, so we expanded our kindness and confidence to be friendly. It is not a change that everyone is conscience of, and it still happens. In our lives, we are all constantly asking and receiving. Some creatures are better at receiving than asking, while we are the opposite. Suppose we were all asking for the same thing, and now it's been answered. Perhaps the open arms of others came from their own desire to be treated the same way.

My dad had scheduled a meeting with my guidance counselor to change my schedule. Before, told me that I would probably not get everything I wanted. But why couldn't I? There were enough options that I could find something to be perfectly happy about. I have found that there is one thing that I really strive to do, and that's prove people wrong. Even if it's just their opinion of me, I like to prove them wrong. Sometimes I think it's because I care too much what others think of me, or maybe I just like the challenge. I've never really analyzed it before until this moment. So when someone tells me that I can't get everything I want, I do my best to make it possible. Even if someone says that a book wasn't any good, I feel a sudden need to read the book and tell for myself.

I am inside my mind for a good part of the day, so it's good to get my thoughts typed out and out in the world so I don't always have to keep to myself. For instance, something I've only told a few people is that I enjoy talking to myself. I find it a great way to focus and also a good comfort and reassurance.

There.

Now you know.

I have a good feeling about this year. Now I just have to remember where my locker is and I'll be okay.

Here's a cool picture I found to end this blog.

On Thursday, September 1, 2011, I walked into the high school as a freshmen. For once, I didn't feel at all nervous for what was to come. I didn't really feel that I cared all that much. I had realized that at this precise moment last year, my mom was in the emergency room. two nights ago last year, I stayed up until four in the morning by her side, until I was too tired to carry on. My mind was remembering how hard it was for me to focus on being excited that I was now a high school student when I was filled with worry. I could only imagine how scared she was. She was never scared of dying, only scared that if she went, our relationship with her would be tainted and we might come to regard her as a stranger.

Onto a better note, my first day of Freshmen Year was fun! The class that was our 3rd Block determined where we would be for lunch. My lunch is at 12:30, which in school hour terms is a little late. I eat my breakfast at around 6:20 AM, so it's a long wait. If I bring a snack to school, then I should be okay, but only my first class will allow me to do that. At least it's something. Luckily, I know almost everyone in my Honors Geometry class, which is my 3rd class. On my first day, I managed to find a bunch of friends and we all sat in a big table. This year, I feel welcome. And although I may miss the familiarity of 7th grade, I'm enjoying what I can. There was only one class that I didn't feel too comfortable in, which was Art 1. The teacher was perfectly friendly, the only glitch was that I was sitting next to a friend who kept complaining to the person across from her and asking about my brother, like where he was or what he was doing. That really creeped me out. This friend is someone that I know is wanting to go into a career of art, yet she said that she hardly did any work in art class and she had too many art classes. However, I am sure that the whole thing will work itself out. I only have Art every other day, and the other days I have Band, which is my favorite class.

I think this school year will be fun