This is a website free of pollution, dirty laundry, and has no artificial colorings and/or flavorings. Being the creator of this blog, I, LisaBee, am allowed to ramble about anything I want. (Caution: Do not eat. Ramblings may include references to pollution, dirty laundry, and artificial colorings and/or flavorings.)

 
Well I got some work done on my paper, but nearly as much as I should have. My mind is elsewhere; I can't concentrate. I was able to switch work schedules so that I would have more time to work on it and she would be able to go out to the bars tonight. I've rediscovered my love for white cheddar. It's best on popcorn and Cheez-Its. And even though I hate MTV, I couldn't help getting caught up in The Osbournes. I think that it's actually a pretty good show. I find it silly that they even have little action figures for each family member, and every phrase is a jumble of swear words. After watching the show, it's quite obvious that the Osbournes don't really gain any pleasure from swearing. They don't do it "because it's cool." It's just a part of their vernacular. Similarities can be found when comparing to myself (see all previous rants). I hope I never have an action figure modeled after me. I would think that it would be very much like Barbie, in that there are a bajillion different ones to capture each mood. Anyone that really knows me would be able to tell you that I fit a different stereotype each week, and that I may as well be diagnosed as schizophrenic. My opinions, attitudes, and values are ever-changing. Today, I'm a student. I have writer's block. I'm supposed to finish my homework, and then I have to close the store tonight. Like any other student, I'd rather be elsewhere. Well, soon enough I will be.

A friend just quoted to me, "If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?" I couldn't be happier right now, and it's not because of ignorance. *wink*

posted by Lisa at 2:31 PM

 
***IMPORTANT UPDATE***

Now....I'm Dead

It is my regret to inform you that Phresh Phesh is no longer going to be updated. I've kept this journal for over a year, and I have decided it is time for something new. Along with the huge changes in my life, I'm making a change online as well. You can visit my new journal at http://peeintothewind.blogspot.com. Folks, it was fun while it lasted, and I want to thank you all for the publicity and the support you have given me. With that, Phresh Phish has one last thing to say: "See you on the bookshelves!" *wink*
posted by Lisa at 10:17 PM

 
Who likes pictures?? I put up a whole bunch of new ones. And I still have over ten rolls of film sitting on my desk waiting to get developed. We got a new dining room table today. It's friggin' huge. Oh yeah, Happy Mother's Day. I didn't really celebrate. I wrote my mom a letter that I figured I'll leave on her grave when it's not so windy out. Ironically, Mother's Day was the last day I actually got to talk to her. Majorly missing her right now...
posted by Lisa at 6:34 PM

 
I think this might be the first time I've ever mistrusted my boyfriend. :(
posted by Lisa at 10:41 PM

 
Grr... How can I differentiate shoutouts that are REALLY posted by me? *shrugs* Guess I just won't shoutout anymore. I'm contemplating removing the whole damn feature. One person's ruining it for everybody.
posted by Lisa at 5:26 AM

 
I don't get upset when people write tremendously horrible things in my shoutouts. However, I don't appreciate it when people write things in there pretending to be me. Signing under an alias, anonymous, or in this case my name is downright cowardly and rude. Please don't do it again.
posted by Lisa at 6:47 PM

 
One week from yesterday is my last day of classes. It is also the one-year anniversary of my mother's death. So do I celebrate or mourn? School's kept me busier than ever. Every moment of my time is occupied by academic or extracurricular studying. I'm running on minimal sleep and irregular meals. I find myself making typos left and right from the exhaustion. Since I haven't been updating, here's some stuff from last week:

5.2.2003 8:55 pm
Goddamn! This place is crowded. This Barnes and Noble happens to sit next to the biggest and most popular movie theater in town. The bookstore is filled to the brim with people, over half of whom you can bet are waiting around for their movies to start. They all sip their flavored coffees without any consideration for the fact that their next potty break won't be for at least another two hours. Coffee seems to run through everyone like alcohol in a freshman. They browse the stacks while pretending to look intelligent in the hopes that someone older and cooler might notice. I'm a teenager, and I admit I do it, too.
I'm in Millard North right now, so every other kid that walks in is an Avril Lavigne wannabe, with a coupole of "emophiliacs" here and there. Black t-shirts with red stars. Black thick-rimmed glasses not quite as big as Buddy Holly's. Like an Archie comic once illustrated, the guys' hair is longer than the girls'. Tight t-shirts, straight-laced jeans, decorated black Chucks. Ah, Generation Y. How I love thee.
Everyone and their mother has a cell phone. I wish I knew how to play backgammon. Maybe then I could make conversation with the abnormally tall 20-somethings who keep looking over here. The Asian kid next to me is obviously taking his first trip to New York City as he peruses through the travel books. I wonder what movies are playing. They must be sold out to have so many people waiting here. Oh yeah.... "X-2" comes out tonight. Suckers.
I wonder what kind of writer I'll be? I tend to observe a lot, but I also like journalism. Do you think I'll find a type of writing that suits me? I'd totally love to have my own column...maybe like Rainbow Rowell. She writes about some pretty random stuff.
Ah, young love. It's amsuing to see large groups of preteens come in and then try to match up the couples. The blondes tend to date others blondes for the most part.
I wish my book was sitting on the shelf over there.
This year the Lit Club was disbanded, so there will be no Muse. In lieu of the lit mag, my Creative Writing class is putting together a collection of poems and short stories with yours truly as the editor. Even more good news: the class voted on "Desultory Cogitations" as the title. Yay! More published work and an official editing title under my belt.
What a dork... This girl is sitting at the bookstore by herself on a Friday night doing homework, or at least attempting to. Oh wait, that's me. Yeah, I'm dorky. But there's work to be done and a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I wish I had my legal pads... With all the papers I've been toting around I'm going to have to invest in my own personal filing cabinet.
The crowd disperses... SHOW TIME!!
9:17 pm

I stayed up past one in the morning last night working on that damned booklet. I'm proud of it though. Randy Newman cracks me up with his song "Short People." Apparently they've no reason to live. And here I thought he only sang happy Disney tunes. There's so much left to do. I need to mail out graduation invites, write letters to certain people who are going away, and perhaps clean out my car. I'm a little annoyed by a girl in my Chemistry class. Hell, the whole class annoys me, but one girl in particular hit a nerve the other day. I had spent all of Monday taking the AP Brit Lit test, and when I got to Chem class, we were supposed to take a practice test. Everyone was talking, so I simply told the class to stop talking, we're taking a test. Common sense, right? Well this girl yells quite loudly, "Hey Kettle! You're black!" The only reason I was offended was because I wasn't talking in the first place. Had I been talking, her retaliation would have been argumentatively correct. However, she basically called me a hypocrite. If you wanna call me on something like that, make sure I've done it, first. Punk. But I gotta suck it up. We're going to be on the same team this Saturday, and I need to just cooperate and try to do well. The office gave me 25 extra graduation announcements after my dad called the school and most likely threatened to kill their first-borns. Just kidding.

Ugh, typing on here is so difficult for me now. Everytime I go to make a comment or joke, I feel like I have to cover my ass before I offend anybody. That's crap. This is my journal and I should be able to say whatever I want with no worries.
posted by Lisa at 5:29 PM

 
We were going through my graduation annoucements today and realized that they only sent us 25 of the 50 we ordered. How not cool. I don't have a problem sending out homemade ones from the computer, but it's not cool that we paid so much money for these things and then we don't even get them. And the ones that we DID get weren't as fancy as they should have been for that price. This company sucks, though. They never answer their phones or return your calls. My dad's pretty pissed. We're supposed to leave for church soon, so hopefully he calms down.

Tonight I'll be making a guillotine. We're doing a project on various execution practices used throughout the French Revolution, and we're going to make a working model of the guillotine. "Le Head Choppier." What's really disturbing is that people didn't die as soon as the blade came down. It took around 30 seconds after the head plopped into the basket for it to become completely unconscious. I guess the doctor who discovered this was sentenced to death for some reason, and he proved it by telling his wife that if his hypothesis was true, he would blink after he was decapitated. *whoosh* *slice* *plop* The executioner held up his head, and it blinked! Totally creepy.
posted by Lisa at 4:35 PM

 
The one instance where I manage my time and write out a plan for myself, I get badgered and yelled at. It's times like these I wish I was on my own so other people weren't around to fuck everything up. And yes, I said "fuck." Get over it.
posted by Lisa at 7:08 PM

 
I keep a copy of this journal on my harddrive for that day far off in the future when I become famous and publish my "memoirs." As I was copying and pasting into Microsoft Word, it finally said "There are too many spelling and grammatical errors in this doument to continue diplaying them. To check the spelling, please go to the Tools menu." I think that is absolutely hilarious. I despise spell check and I hate looking that those zig-zaggy lines all the time. I tend to have a lot of fragments when I write informally, and I'm so glad to finally be able to type them without the computer attacking me like some sort of grammar queen. Bittersweet irony.
posted by Lisa at 9:06 PM

 
Segues

When my teacher was correcting my test, she misspelled segue as "seguey."

My 21-yr-old cat (read: 147 in cat years) was put to sleep tonight while I was at the seniors' final soccer game. I'm not too sad. This is the third cat I've lost to old age. Mitten had been around since before I was even born. While Mitten lost his life, the Monarchs won the game 2-0 against Valley. There were a lot of falls as the field had been flooded the day before. I hope Mother Nature realizes that today is May 1 and "April Showers," or mega-thunderstorms in our case, are no longer allowed. Speaking of May Day, someone left a May basket on my front porch along with a round of "Ding, Dong, Ditch." This is the second time I have been anonymously left a basket of candy, and I have no one to thank. In Creative Writing, a girl wanted to submit her poem anonymously because she didn't want anyone to know she wrote it. Growing up I used to think they slapped "anonymous" at the end of a work when they didn't know who wrote it. Later I found they use the phrase "Author Unknown" for this situation. I think if you're going to write something and you want it to be published, you shouldn't be afraid to have your name attached to it. You have something to say, and you put effort into putting your thoughts into words for all to read. Ignore other people's judgements and embrace your own sense of identity. I'm a little sick of people using up my webspace to blurt out junk that is totally unrelated to anything I have to say in my journal. Telling me to eat a fat choad, humorous as it is, is just one more piece of literary pollution that I have to put up with. And what's up with posting the lyrics to "Ice, Ice, Baby"? That kind of crap is so annoying. This isn't a chat room and this isn't a message board. Try to keep your posts coherent and reasonable.
posted by Lisa at 8:53 PM

 
I'm sooo not ready. I have to take four AP tests within the next two weeks, and I have no idea what I'm doing. I understand the material in class, even on quizzes and tests; but once I get home to do the homework, I don't know where to start. This is so frustrating and I don't want to do it anymore. There's so much pressure being put on me. I know I'm a smart girl, so why can't I do this? I wish graduation was tomorrow and I wouldn't have to worry about anymore homework. This is confusing... I got a 100% on a paper that I thought I totally bombed. In math class, I understand everything she teaches us and I do great in class, yet I can barely start the problems when I'm sitting at my kitchen table. What the hell is wrong with me?
posted by Lisa at 9:52 PM

 
I was told I have large breast-cancer recepticles. Was that a compliment or a precautionary warning? How does one even respond to that? Sheez.
posted by Lisa at 7:06 AM

 
It's been a while since I last updated my site. I've just been busier than ever. It's the week after spring break, and the teachers have been giving us anything but a break on homework. I just stayed up till all hours of the morning writing a paper last night, and I'm sure it sucked to all hell. But I put a good effort into it, and I'm relieved to have it done. I've got all my homework done for the day, so instead of wasting my study hall on drawing pretty pictures (like I've been doing with all my other time), I decided to make a long-needed update. There's been so much going on that I haven't written about, but I'm sure you guys don't feel like you've missed anything. I still need to finish writing about Pine Ridge. I'm dying to get some money so I can get the pictures developed. I applied for a job at this totally awesome framing store in the mall. I've been giving into my desire for art and photography lately, and how cool would it be to work at a store that sells art? I'm anxious to have an employee discount on frames. And there's this giant machine there and I'm not quite sure what it does, but it's gotta be cool. I'm getting ahead of myself. I still need to call the manager and make sure she even looked at my application. Damn I type fast. I must be annoying everyone in the library who is trying to study. :) Hmm, what else is going on? I drew a couple of psychadelic geometric pictures. I'll have them posted in the photo album. Danni's birthday party is tonight at the Ranch Bowl. Bonus: If I get sick of bowling, I can join the Venacula's cd-release party in the concert hall. Maybe I'll get to meet Capone from The Capone Show. That's the radio show I listen to every morning. Although I'm a little skeptical about meeting radio personalities. They always end up looking nothing like they sound, and it sort of ruins the mystery that is radio. I've been running into some major bummers lately. For instance, in the past two days, I've heard of at least three girls that started going out with old crushes of mine from grade school. Gah! It's not like I'm obsessed with the guys, but how weird would it be to hang around the guys you used to think about during recess? My dad has finally agred with me that the walls in our house need to be repainted. There's so much light blue in the house it makes me sick. He's going to try and use a rag to do some funky design on it by himself, but I insisted that he let me help. I am a closet-Martha, and I love to read about home decoration and furnishing. I like things that look purty. I'm still at a crossroads about what to do with my room. I have delayed unpacking anything as I have almost no furniture. And I don't want to hang anything up until I decide how I want to decorate the room. I'm thinking it should look a little like the Starbucks on 114th and Dodge. Yeah, you heard me. Now that I'm a snooty West-O girl, I have to hang out at the local Starbucks. It's not like I want to. It comes with the territory. I'manxious to get back to my drawings, however I am in dire need of a new black marker and there isn't one to be found anywhere. I'd like to make a congratualtory shoutout to my cousin Kate as she received a buttload of scholarships that will pay for her to go to the University of Tampa. I'm jealous of the full-ride. I can hardly even afford to go out of town. However, it's my own damn fault for sitting on my ass and not filling out those scholarship applications. I've become addicted to Something Positive. Bell's gonna ring... See ya later.
posted by Lisa at 12:14 PM

 
The brandnewness of my jeans just turned my only pair of white underwear blue. Sweet mother!
posted by Lisa at 11:23 PM

 
Everyone's been bugging me to write about Pine Ridge. I haven't been quite in the mood lately, but I suppose now is as good a time as any. The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is located in southwest South Dakota along the border of the Nebraska panhandle. The two counties it covers used to be the poorest in the country until recently. The Lakota Nation was basically screwed over by the US government because although the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty promised them all the Black Hills, they've been forced to reside within the confines of two counties, an area much smaller than the enitrety of the Black Hills. As far as land ownership goes, the Lakotas have an extrememly difficult time, because not only do they have to go through all the red tape of the federal government, but they must also go through their own ribal council. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has done God knows what with immense amounts of money that belong to the Lakota nation, however these people never see it. As their website says, the list of ways they need help on the rez is innumerable. I went up there for about a week with the Mercy High Justice and Peace Club, as well as one other girl from Duchesne Academy. The focus of our trip was education about the Lakota people and their way of life, but we also involved ourselves in some service projects. I'll relay the trip to you in summarized diary form.

Day One: Sunday, April 13
I finished packing while my dad and my brother went off to church. No worries all you conservative Catholics; I made my weekly obligation of attending mass the night before. It was actually pretty nice seeing as how it was Palm Sunday. I tend to get into the service when it's different than the usual Sunday mass. Anyway, after packing, I still had about an hour to kill before I was supposed to meet up with my friends at school, so I invited Adam (not the ex-boyfriend) to eat breakfast with me at the local Panera. I had to avoid trying the newest bagel as it had spinach in it, and I really didn't feel like having food in my teeth while talking to him. Ironically, he ordered an Everything Bagel. After breakfast I stopped at the Crane Coffee near school. My friend Rachel was working there, and she was nice enough to give me free chai. So I put the money I would've spent on the drink in the little charity box they had next to the register.
Okay...going into too much detail. I met up with the club at Mercy's only parking lot, big enough to fit no more than 20 cars. I discovered that Mr. Jensen was the only male going on the trip with us. Sad for him as he would be subjected to our crudeness. After packing a minivan, a Honda Civic, and an Expedition to their rims with luggage and people, we headed out. It would be a good 8-hour drive, and I was looking forward to every minute of it.
We drove around through Iowa and up into South Dakota. The billboards advertised tourist traps such as "The Corn Palace" (a building made entirely of corn) and The Reptile Gardens, to name a few. I saw other odd billboards:
"We Dakotas rejecet all animal activists."
"Manage your wildlife: Wear fur."

To be continued...

posted by Lisa at 11:52 AM

 
My dad took me to get some new jeans today (meaning he'd wander around on the other side of the store until it was time to pay). Big mistake. My hatred for the teenage fashion industry grows more every day. There's a "fantabulously super duper extra low cut" craze going on, and apparently it's too much to ask for a pair of jeans that actually covers my ass. Clothes were randomly thorwn about on the racks. Size zeroes (placed inconveniently with the size sevens and the size fifteens) were the most prevalent because Hey! Get a clue! Nobody wears a size zero! If they did, there would be a lot less hanging on the racks. I bet if you compared a size zero from 2003 and a size zero from say, 1990, the ones from 2003 would be at least three sizes smaller. As I've ranted before, they expect us to pay twice as much for half the material. Not counting flare leg that is. Good god, who came up with that hideous idea? I simply wanted a nice pair of boot-cut, medium or dark blue jeans that stay on my hips and go down to my shoes. None of that capri, peddle-pusher shit. But no... After what seems like forever searching for a pair that's even my size, I have to wait in line to try them on. The fitting room is swarming with pre-teen girls and their mothers. Grow up and pick out your own clothes. I finally found a pair. They were the exact same size, brand, and style as the ones that I was currently wearing. So why do they seem so tight? The teen fashion industry is a bunch of perverts who continuously shrink the size of girls' clothing, yet very slowly so no one really notices. Next thing you know you'll be looking for your size zeroes in the lingerie department. When I become president, I promise to make available basic, body-covering clothes in every size at affordable prices. Of course, none of you will ever truly understand this atrocious situation until you are a slightly overweight teenage girl trying to buy a pair of jeans in a world of ridiculously accessorized anorexics and greedy corporate perverts.

It's been pouring rain outside all day. I teared up while watching "Steel Magnolias." I stink no matter how much deodorant I apply. They're forcing me to get "dressed up" for Easter Mass tonight. The world must hate me.
posted by Lisa at 4:58 PM

 
I'm a little perturbed. Some kid claiming to be a sophomore at a local high school randomly IMed me last night. He said he's been reading my blog for a year and that he knows a friend of a friend of my brother, or something like that. So I asked my brother about it. The things these two say are all contradictory and quite a bit fishy. I don't know what to think.
posted by Lisa at 3:15 PM

 
It's Friday morning, I'm back from Pine Ridge, and I already have a most terrible headache. Not once this entire school year have I had a day off to myself. I came home thinking I'd get to spend the rest of spring break enjoying the solitude of my new home, but alas, I cannot. I've come home to realize how irritable my family can be sometimes. I spent a whole week living with girls that go about life differently than the two men I live with. I was able to eat healthy food, be myself, do what I want to do without being bothered if I felt like being alone. It is sooo hard to live here, and I often ask myself if I can do it for the next four years. I'm basically forced to anyway, since the colleges I got into cost so damned much. They've made me cry at least three times since I woke up, and it's only lunchtime. What the hell am I going to do?? I feel really lost...

I'll tell you about my trip when I feel a little more human.
posted by Lisa at 1:00 PM

 
Well folks, it looks like I'm outta here. See you Thursday.
posted by Lisa at 11:13 AM

 
I dressed up as the Easter Bunny for the egg hunt in my cousin's neighborhood this morning. It was awkward and fun. I got a little nervous when some parents asked me to hold their babies. "Uh....Are you sure my oversized costume head won't like, hit the kid?" My vision was limited and I was afraid I'd trip over the little tykes. There was a point when I thought I was going to get jumped by a couple of 10-yr-olds. "Dude, it's a GIRL in there!" They started to follow me and I kept looking back to make sure they weren't going to mug me from behind. Some other kid shook my hand so hard that the mitten came off. Crazy little punk. Aside from the kids that were crying because they were scared of me, it was a fun time leaving me with a mushy good feeling.

Although the bunny costume was sweaty, the concert last night was even sweatier. I saw The Faint....so friggin' awesome. It was my first hardcore techno concert and the opening bands were psychotically hilarious. There was the German group where most of their show was working the soundboard and dancing like idiots, and then the uncatergorizable band in which the frontman climbed onto the balcony and ran through the crowd. Schnieder TM and The Savvy 5 were their names...I think. The Faint was the best though. Once the moshing began I excused myself and made my way towards the side of the concert hall where I could dance my ass off without being pushed to the ground. Colin and I emerged drenched in sweat. Good God, I love the nightlife. (I've got to boogie...)
posted by Lisa at 12:30 PM

 
Today in Creative Writing one girl said she saw a sign for a political group called "Lesbians Against Bush." After pondering it for not very long, someone replied, "Isn't that an oxymoron?"

As you know I've been uber busy with school, and haven't had time to update. However, I managed to get some things written down on my favorite legal pad, so I will relay them to you now:

4.8.2003
I'm so tired. I went to bed early. I didn't talk on the phone. I had nightmares about gnats. They were going in my nose and ears and the fake nails prevented me from getting them out. I drove to school with the feeling that they were still there. It was very disturbing. My eyes hurt, and I'm ready to go back to sleep. Seth snapped at me because I asked him the same stupid question twice in five minutes. I had good justification though. He didn't really snap, but he just had that tone. I guess like mothers would say "It's not what you say, it's your tone of voice." Oh well. I love him anyway.

We ate lunch at 10:30 am today. That's ridiculously early. I just had breakfast at 7:15, and my stomach had not yet started to growl. It's all because of the Reconciliation we have planned for after school. I dislike the whole shebang. I don't confess my sins because half the time I'm not sorry for them. I don't reconcile with God. If we choose not to participate, we are forced to remain in our chairs for over an hour. I usually try to sneak in a nap or write in my journal. It's amusing to look around and see people trying to sleep. Some put their heads in their hands so they look like they're trying to pray. The cautious ones keep one eye open to see if a teacher is looking. The nonchalant rebels just lie back and sleep not caring who catches them. Then when a teacher scolds them they simply roll their eyes and attempt to sleep again ten minutes later. Like I said, it's all very entertaining. Some girls go up and tell the most outrageous lies about their abortions and getting drunk and high on the weekends. I can only imagine the faces of the more conservative priests. Jaw-dropping.

Chocolate and cheese. One of my most ridiculous cravings is chocolate and cheese. It is said that most people desire the simultaneious taste of salty and sweet, but my preference is a little more specific. At home I'll be eating a Kraft American Cheese Single while downing a glass of chocolate Ovaltine. At school I discovered that the chocolate creme from DoubleStuf Oreos goes well with CheezIts. I think the most daring attempt would be to put chocolate syrup on my nachos. I'm not that brave yet.
For lunch I make myself a PB&J sandwich, being sure that each slice of bread is amply covered. My parents used to say "Do you think you'll be finished painting that sometime this century?" Muggles. I have to get the condiments all the way out to the crusts and make sure the layer is even all around. As Capone (the personality on my morning radio show) once said, "It's not a sandwich unless the insides drip out when you smoosh it." Next I throw in a Capri Sun juice box. Those things are so small. I have it timed that two sips every five to eight minutes keeps me sufficiently hydrated throughout the lunch period. Fruit-blended applesauce comes after that. It's never just plain applesauce. Raspberry or Cherry or Pear or Mixed Fruit. Always beware of "mixed fruit." You never really know what's in there. It's like a healthy hot dog. I top it off with some sort of junk food. Salty chips or sweet cookies...or if I'm lucky, Oreos and CheezIts.
The bell rang early. My timing was off and now I am forced to chug the rest of my juice box. This causes me to inhale an insane amount of air and burp profusely on the way to my locker.
I scurry up three flights of stairs carrying a book bag weighing approximately 32.7 pounds more than a human head. It would've been more, but I was able to slim down my notes to four or five legal pads. The legal pad really is a glorious thing.
Today is Tuesday; how unfortunate. Every other day my 5th period class switches off between Senior Lounge (aka unsupervised study hall where I can eat, drink, sleep, party, whatever) and AP Chemistry. Today Mrs. C prayed that we be quiet and actually learn something. We really are a terrible bunch to babysit.

So I'm sitting here during Reconciliation. It was kinda cool that they had different people come up and speak about....stuff. But once the actual confessing began, I zonked out. They keep the lights dim to create mood and play quiet music in the background. After ten minutes of instrumental piano, I awoke to the sounds of our school's choir. They sound like they're five years old. I mean, they sing so quietly and unsure of themselves. There were a lot of people let into this so-called "select choir" that shouldn't have been.
Whoa!! Everybody wake up! It's rather quiet until Sarah V. belts out Pie Jesu. Yep...She's definitely a soprano. That means she has a high voice, not an uncle in the mob. No one recognizes her because she straightened her hair and got new glasses. I think she looks great though.
New song... That choir sings so quietly I can't even understand the words. They obviously don't know the song very well. Ah, memories. I remember being in the same bind when I was in choir.
Along with the cold breeze of the gym's air conditioning (when it's snowing outside! In April!) comes the urge to return to my slumber. Dare I? Haha, Mrs. P. walked around waking people up. I'm glad I didn't doze off again. She already hates me as it is. Only 30 more minutes...hopefully.
It's funny when the cute or funny priests are here. Yes, there are cute priests. They referred to as "Father Hottie." Everyone flocks to their lines waiting to be absolved. They like these priests because they tell jokes in their sermons and such. Do you really think these guys are going to make you laugh when you're sitting there telling them all the horrible things you've done? I don't think so.
It's so sad to see good handouts and flyers go to waste. Some of the origami the kids make from these is amazing. Others just get torn to shreds. I wonder if they even bother to read it first? Ungrateful punks.
posted by Lisa at 11:19 PM

 
I started to randomly cry this evening. I've been fed so much poignancy I guess I couldn't handle it. In one of my classes we've been watching all these graphic war movies like "The Killing Fields" and "Black Hawk Down." The portrayals of what went on are heart-breaking. Then I come home and see the exact same images on the news concerning today's war with Iraq (or lack of war I guess, since it's supposed to be officially over now....yay?). I sit there imagining the horrible things they don't show. To top it all off, I decided to waste time watching tv and ended up on "ER." Great show. The actors really know how to embrace the emotion of being told that your loved one just died. It brought back some memories and I guess mixed together with everything else I've been seeing myheart just decided it was time to cry. It's a little weird since normally I'm the stoic stone-cold girl who doesn't let stuff like that get to her. Then again, it is that "time of the month." Emo city.

Spring Break is here and I'll be on my way to the Pine Ridge Reservation up north. It encompasses the two poorest counties in the US, and this will be one of my first serious service trips. I'm looking forward to learning new things and helping out and spending time with friends I hardly see anymore. I'll be there for 5 days, so I'm basically sacrificing my entire break. I don't mind so long as I can find time to get my homework done. Yes, they gave us homework! Cripes.

It's been a while since I updated because I've been bogged down at school. I almost caught up on sleep with a nap this evening. But now I can relax because today was the last day of classes and I've got no immediate work to do. Tomorrow is another service opportunity for me. Our school is going to be cleaning up the lakeshores around the city. Thank God we don't live in Minnesota or it'd take FOREVER! We got these awesome t-shirts that have beavers on them and say "Making the world better one dam at a time." It would have been more humorous if it said "dam site," but I'll take what I can get. See, every other year our school has "Day of Sharing" where the whole school embarks on a service project. Two years ago I helped out at the Rainbow House, a place that provides free room and board for families who are in town waiting for organ transplants. During the other years we have "Day of Discovery" where we go do something fun and educational. Freshman year I spent the day in the capitol city, Lincoln, and last year I toured New York City. Yikes, some guy just told me that my plans for service inspired him. Since when did I become a muse?
posted by Lisa at 10:40 PM

 
The temperature reached an all-time high this week. I don't recall ever sweating during the first week of April before. Typical Omaha weather: plowable snow is predicted for the weekend. Last year it rained on prom night; this year it will snow. Maybe the gods are trying to tell us something?

I updated my poetry. Tell me, what is the difference between cheesy and poignant?

I've been more exhausted than ever. I made sure to go to bed early the other night. However, I found myself fighting to stay awake in school. I fell asleep when I got home. I fell asleep in the dentist's chair. I fell asleep after dinner. My dad thinks I'm on drugs. I usually attribute exhaustion to poor eating habits, but mine haven't been that bad lately. So what's wrong with me? I always did like Ben Folds Five's "Narcolepsy."
posted by Lisa at 6:17 AM

 
I saw an old friend today. I haven't talked to Nick for almost two years. He gave me his number and told me to call him so we can catch up. I was amazed at how much I remembered about him. And he was a little freaked out because he didn't recognize me at first. Hopefully he didn't give me a bogus number seeing as how today is April Fool's Day.
posted by Lisa at 7:41 PM

 
I feel so awful. I don't have a job, and now I have to ask my dad for a buttload of money. I need to pay for senior prom expenses, trips I'd like to go on, and AP tests. I absolutely hate asking other people for money, even when they owe it to me. And should I still even consider getting my senior pictures taken? They probably won't be ready by graduation. There's just been so much going on that I kinda put them off. Plus, I really need to apply for more scholarships. I've really been lacking in that area, and now I'm suffering for it. Luckily there's still more out there just waiting to be snatched up. Wish me luck. This is gonna take a lot of essay writing.
posted by Lisa at 9:18 PM

 
It's been over a week since you last heard from me, and I have a perfectly good explanation for it. I was totally bogged down with homework and other commitments. K.C., Becky and I had our final audition yesterday morning for the College World Series. I think we were a little nervous when we actually sang it, but at least we had fun with it. We even got interviewed for the Omaha World Herald, so check your papers kids. Here's the online version, without my picture. I went to a kick-ass benefit show for ALS: The Offbeaters, Poppleton, Grasshopper Takeover, and Pomeroy. Ah, that was such a great concert! The front man for GT looks just like Seth, and I caught one of the drumsticks they threw out into the audience. The only time I was seriously hit on was by a drunk guy. Great, I'm a beer goggles chick. And here I thought my new haircut made me look sexy. Psh. Forget that guy. I love my new haircut. It's slightly shorter than my chin and a blessing on a hot day. Not that I would know... It snowed on Friday! It's almost April and there's snow on the ground! That's such crap. I've added about a bajillion photos to my photo album, however it's "under construction" as I'm still working on the captions and layouts. My cousin asked me to be her Confirmation sponsor. I think she only chose me because I'm the youngest Catholic girl over 16 that she knows. I'm not as hardcore as my grandma or my aunt, but I think I still make a good example. She and her "ex-boyfriend" (they're only in 7th grade, so he couldn't be much of an ex) were goofing off during Mass and I had to play parent. I finally met up with Rob, my potential prom date for Millard North's prom. He's Kara's ex-boyfriend, and she thought it would be cool if we went to the dance together. He and I settled for just meeting each other first. He's a hilarious guy, and he's into debate. Perfect for me as I live on technicalities. I'd totally rule at debate if it wasn't for the public speaking. Oh, and if I had a plethora of free time. The amount of time debaters devote to research is irrational. As for Mercy's prom, I finally got a date. I asked Joey, a guy I used to work with at Baker's. He's a nice guy, but competitive when it comes to grades. *sigh* I just got into another argument with Colin. He doesn't seem to understand that I don't want to hang around people who have a bad influence on me. When I'm around them, I don't like the way they act or the way I act. Isn't it only logical to surround myself with friends that I actually care about and who care about me? Arguing with him wears me out. Methinks a shower will rejuvenate me. More updates later...
posted by Lisa at 12:28 PM

 
After finishing up my homework in study hall, I decided there wasn't much else to do. And since I was already sitting at the computer, I thought I might update. After all, it has been a few days. That crazy dude, Mark, never called me back; so no worries, Gina. I disocvered the wonderful combination of Oreo cookies and peanut butter. I saw the coolest puzzle ever! It was a photomosaic of Bart Simpson, where each piece contained a miniature scene from a Simpson's episode. I felt a little funny when I discovered one of the puzzle pieces in my purse this morning. I'll be sure to return it. Last night I hung out with the Slayden's and my friend, Brian. It was his last night in town before leaving again for college, and I wanted to make sure I said goodbye.
Good news!! Every summer the College World Series is held in Omaha. Two other women and myself tried out to sing the national anthem at one of the games. Congratulations, we made it to the finals! Unfortunately, the final live audition is early in the morning when one's voice is still....groggy. Oh well, wish me luck.
Today I learned of the wonderful words of Ani DiFranco. I read a poem of hers entitled "Self-Evident," and I was hooked. I higly recommend that you read it, though I warn you it is quite liberal.
I've had this joke stuck in my head for days, and I think it would behoove all of you to hear it. My apologies that I can't tell it to you with the accent, so try to bear with the phonetic spellings...

Three men walk into a bar: an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman. They all take a seat at the counter and order their preferred drinks. However, three different flies landed in their glasses simultaneously. The Englishman looked down at his drink, shrugged, and threw it over his shoulder. "Well I cahn't drink this now. It's contahminated!" The Scotsman looked down at the fly in his glass. He picked the fly out and continued to gulp down his drink. "Fly or no fly, a beer's a beer." The Irishman looked down into his glass. His picked out the fly and began shouting "Spet it out! Spet it out!!"

Okay, enough of this facade. I've been having such a blah day and I can't wait until it's over. I have to pick up my brother yet AGAIN after school today. The other day he promised me he would find a ride. Next day comes along... my phone rings. "Uhh... Can I get a ride?" You turd! I told him he needs to give me gas money. Unfortunately he has no money to give. The morning started out up and down. I woke up earlier than normal, so I was tired all the way up until lunch. The sun blinded me during my entire drive to school. This was one of the nastiest sunrises ever. I get to school only to find out that my history project was downgraded because my partners didn't turn in the works cited on time. Just great. I missed a meeting with my teacher, so that knocked off a couple more points. If it wasn't for that, I could have gotten a friggin 100% on the entire project! She said the presentation was superb. What a kick in the butt. My grade did end up rounding to an A-, so I can't complain too much. But the extra points would have totally helped my average. As it turns out, this is the second year in a row that a girl at my school will have taken one of my ex-boyfriends to prom. Last year she took Adam, and this year she's taking.... ugh, David Healy. Technically we weren't officially dating, but he asked to be my boyfriend, so it still sorta counts. I think the real question is, why does she keep ending up with my leftovers? And why do they end up being nicer to her than they do to me? Maybe I'm biased because I've already been burned by them. Yucky boys.
There's the bell...
posted by Lisa at 12:27 PM

 
I was going through all my photos when I realized there were still scores of pictures I had yet to add to my photo album. I was able to post some tonight, but expect it to be continuously updated, now that I have gotten them all organized.
The craziest thing just happened! I met a guy named Mark at the party last night, and he called me this evening out of the blue. He seemed to forget that I was the former occupant of the house. He mentioned something about bagels? Then he quickly hung up, only to call back again two minutes later. I was really quite confused, so I inquired about the purpose of this surprise phone call. "Well actually, I'm really horny and I was just wondering what you're up to tonight." Yikes! What a crazy kid. I reminded him that I have school tomorrow, but if he wanted, he could call me tomorrow afternoon and we can go out on a nice, clean date. He's pretty cute. I was tempted to ask him to prom, but I figured I should quit asking random guys and maybe ask someone I've known longer than 2 hours. I was also thinking about asking Dave Richardson. He's a sophomore at my brother's school, but we get along quite well. We'll see what happens... I mean, I'll see what happens, and then I'll tell you about it. =Þ
Now in case I do achieve my goal of publishing this, and you're reading this as a novel say 20 years from now, let me update you on what's going on around the world. I don't get to keep up on the current events too much since I hardly ever watch television. As I was flipping back and forth between late-breaking news and the Disney channel, I learned this: Saddam Hussein, evil dictator of Iraq, ignored President Bush's ultimatum to flee the country, along with his sons and minions, within 48 hours. When I last watched the news the US military commanders were waiting until conditions were appropriate for an attack on Baghdad, the capitol city. A friend just informed me that we just bombed a "leadership target," and now the reporters are discussing the fact that we don't really know anything else. For more information, read any news source dated around March 19, 2003. If you're reading this in the super-future, hop into your hovercraft and glide over to the nearest cyber library. You should be able to find something in the microfilm.
posted by Lisa at 10:02 PM

 
This has been an awesome evening. I didn't really have to do any homework because I don't have any classes tomorrow. We're going on a field trip to tour the capitol and the governor's mansion. After dropping off my brother at Boy Scouts, I headed over to my grandma's to pay her for my car. She held me captive and tortured me with ice cream and good company. My cousin and her boyfriend were over there as well, and they asked me to join them in their game of Rummikub (spelling may be altered, but who cares?). It's some 1970's board game that I had never learned to play before. I sat down, completely clueless, and kicked major butt. Needless to say, I so rule. Next, I went over to my old house to drop off the garage door opener. It turns out three college guys moved in and were having a housewarming party. I really wanted to stay, but my conscience kicked in and reminded me it was a school night. That's so not fair. Everyone else is on spring break. Drat. (Notice my lack of swear words? Dad yelled at me for them the other day.) I took a tour of the house and left them with my phone number. Maybe we could get together on the weekend? The party was swarming with potential prom dates. *frustration*
In other good news, my dad bought me some Orajel for this awful pain I have in my mouth. Apparently the trauma from the novacaine needle my dentist used on me caused a cankersore on my gum. It hurts so much, and it will take two weeks to go away. Surprisingly enough, I'm not discouraged from eating.
And last but not least, Seth wrote the sweetest thing about me in his blog today. It makes me all giggly inside. You know, that mushy crap that we all hate. Despite what some may think, he really does look out for me. He won't even talk to me on the phone unless I have my homework done.
I wrote some poetry for my Creative Writing class. We're spending the rest of the semester on poetry, so expect it to be updated.
Well, wish me luck on the field trip tomorrow. The history teacher warned us there'd be singing of show tunes on the buses. Eek!
posted by Lisa at 10:29 PM

 
Oh yeah, Happy St. Patrick's Day!! I wrote a poem:

We're going to
War
I have a canker sore
You're going to
War
But I went to the bookstore
Kara showed up
Along with a boy.
A potential prom date?
Highly
doubtful.
We're going to war
I beg and implore...
Tell me
Why is is my reality so fake?
Each day is a routine, and I can feel my life slipping away.
I can't have what I want
Fudged first impressions
I live near a Hessian.
They think I'm
Diseased, both
Mind and
Body
Convoluted thoughts
My poem
sucks.

posted by Lisa at 10:54 PM

 
This is very frustrating. I've been meeting so many attractive boys lately, and not a single one will go to prom with me. Not that appearances matter. I investigate their personality before posing the question. But what is it about me that repels them all from the chance for fun on a single evening in their entire existances?
*discouraged* >=(

perhaps a shower will wash away the cooties...

Another factor leading to my frustration... I can never get ahold of my boyfriend because his grandma is in the hospital and he's always visiting her. It's really very sweet, and I am so totally concerned about her; but I wish he would return my calls before my bedtime. Dad's getting mad because I stay up too late talking on the phone. I dunno... I need to go on a date.
posted by Lisa at 10:40 PM

 
I've asked out six boys to prom, and so far I've only gotten one definite answer: No. The rest are all maybe's, but prom is in three weeks, I need more than a maybe! I'm not looking to get married, guys. Just one simple date...
posted by Lisa at 2:08 PM

 
I was reading some past entries this morning as I waited to go to church (....still waiting). A personal favorite is the unintended electrical shock therapy (10.7.2002). As I was reading I noticed a great decline in the qulity of my entries over the last few months. Newer reader may not notice this because they have no memories of the good life, but trust me, October was definitely funnier the February. Lately I've been far too pessimistic and philosophical and closed-up. I feel like a hermit who hasn't gone out and enjoyed life for quite some time. Mark thinks I've lost touch with reality. Well fear no more, dear friends! The winter weather has finally faded away, and like the environmental temperature, my spirits are constantly on the rise. Yesterday it was so nice outside that I suggested to Kara that we sit on the curb and just stare out into space. It was warm and windy and sunny. The perfect day. And it's about time, too. I don't know how many more weather-induced depression cases Nebraska can handle. Kara and I went out to lunch at, you guessed it, Panera. I was craving their baked potato soup which is only offered on Saturdays. I guess there's some sort of potato shortage Sunday through Friday; and the cafe couldn't handle the demands for soup, so they took it off the menu entirely. I amazed myself yet again my eating almost an entire asiago cheese demi. A demi is about half the size of a loaf of bread. (Demi = half en Francais.) I couldn't believe how much bread I ate, and I wasn't even hungry! I swear, this thing was as long as my arm. I suppose that it's better that I prefer to overconsume bread, which is mostly healthy, rather than Coke or Skittles or King Size Whoppers. The same thing happened about a year ago when my mom bought a round loaf of honey wheat bread from the Great Harvest Co. Mmm...so good. Kara will agree. It's nice living near her. I get to see her way more often than I ever used to. After helping her clean up her room, we decided to make our way to the pet store. What fun! At PetsMart, owners are allowed to bring their pets into the store with them. I vowed to kick someone in the balls if I got dog poo all over my favorite shoes. These are the coolest shoes ever! I bought a pair of black and white low-top Converse All-Stars and colored them with Sharpie markers. I bought shoelaces with red and orange flames on them to match the flames I drew coming out of my right toes. The bottom borders are also decrated with marker and comments from Katy F., who likes to draw on them in class. I'm still undecided about what to put on the left shoe. Maybe another set of flames? I guess they looked so good that some people thought I bought the shoes that way. What a compliment! Anyway, back to the pet store. No worries, the place was clear of dogs when I walked in, and I was able to avoid running into the "Oops! Clean-Up Station" at the end of the aisle. So what pet did we decide to buy? Keep asking yourself because I'm not there yet. kara and I walked up and down the aisles looking for animals. "What kind of pet store doesn't sell pets?" I asked loudly. They stock mostly pet care suppplies I was to later find out. We perused the cages of birds...too annoying. The rodents....too "I-look-like-I'm-going-to-jump-out-of-my-cage-and-attack-your-face." The lizards were scarce and all the cats were sleeping. It turns out that while Panera has a shortage of potatoes Sunday through Friday, PetsMart has a shortage of dogs Thrusday through Monday. We were unable to stare into the cute puppy dog eyes of a little creature wanting us to take him home and feed him cupcakes. So Kara and I settled on fish. There were scores of fish. Scores upon scores! You could tell which ones were quality fish, too. Note: 12-cent goldfish swimming around in an overpopulated tank with numerous dead fish floating around like bumper cars are not, I repeat NOT, quality fish. Besides, they poop too much. We decided on two Sunset something or others. I'm really bad when it comes to remembering every single specie on the face of the planet. Kara's was bright orange, named Chaz after Ben Stiller's character in "The Royal Tenenbaums." (By the way, that movies, SO rules!) I picked out a bright orange one as well, but he had black fins and black lips. We'll call him "The Gothic Fish." After much debate and transgression, we settled on "Ozzy" for short, because Kelly Osbourne likes to wear black lipstick, as well. It works. The fish are safely being kept in Kara's fishtank... I hope. Her little brother did have a birthday party during which ten other little boys were running rampant through the house. *bites lip* Maybe I should go over there and check it out.

posted by Lisa at 8:54 AM

 
Report cards came a week late. By the look on my dad's face I'll be grounded from going to the concert tonight. I'm not so disappointed; I understand that bad grades deserve groundings. What puzzles me is that ever since I got my mid-quarter progress report (also low grades) I've been working harder and checking in with my teachers to see how I was doing. They all said that I was improving. Why, then, are the grades on my report card jsut as low, if not lower than they were before?? To the school, quarter grades don't matter, just semester. To my dad, daily grades matter. I wish some of them would have told me that they weren't going to include that oh so wonderfully passed project or test in my transcripts until next quarter. Major bummage for me and my friends who won't be seeing me for a while.
posted by Lisa at 7:14 PM

 
Seth thinks I have some sort of ulcer since every time I eat something I feel as if I'm going to puke. I don't think it's that serious, but there is definitely something wrong with my tummy. :(
posted by Lisa at 11:46 AM

 
How messed up is this? I've never met one of my biggest role models/influences. He's highly successful and is somewhat famous (though he won't admit it). I never get to hang out with him, and I'm jealous of those who do. I rarely even get to talk to him online. I guess I should admit that I'm a little jealous of his success as well. Life is moving a little on the slow side for me, and I'm ready to move on. What I really want I know I can't immediately have. Some days I'll spend more time in Fantasy Land than in Reality. My patience wears thin, but I can't just drop the whole thing. I wish my dice had been rolled a little differently. :(
posted by Lisa at 8:22 PM

 
Gina - No more advertising! I'll have to start charging you money. After all I don't have a job anymore, and my gas tank is in need of a refill. I'll be sure to link your final, final, FINAL blog to my site. Promise to update it on a regular basis. I hate to seem them die out after two or three entries.

I cut sugar almost completely out of my diet, and here I am with cavities. I got one filled this morning. I always feel like such a doofus walking around in public with half of my mouth hanging to the floor from the numbness. I can't even smile straight. I felt a little like Bubba (Benjamin Buford Blue) from "Forrest Gump."

I refilled the cookie jar with DoubleStuf Oreos this morning and I came home to find the jar almost empty. My dad and brother eat them all day long while I'm at school, and then blame me when the jar is empty. I didn't eat your stupid cookies!
posted by Lisa at 5:06 PM

 
Avarice

I'm in a popular situation, and no, not the one of popularity discussed in a recent entry. I'm sitting here, reading the works of all my role models (mostly journalists or writers), wanting the same success for myself, but in less time. I don't want to wait until I finish college and choke on the internship and retreat to a beach in Tahiti to write my first mind-blowing piece of work. I don't want to struggle through all the rejections; I want to be famous right away. Maybe not famous in the way that movie stars and musicians are. I don't want to have documentaries of my life televised on MTV. But I want the educated population of the country to know me by name. Lisa Bloomingdale - renowned writer and master of her time. Everyone will read my essays, my short stories, my memoirs and my news articles. They'll read about about my crazy adventures and comical rants. I don't care so much about the money as I do glory. Now this may sound a bit pretentious, but I want it...I want it bad. I want to emerge into some great writer that everyone invites to speak at their forums and interview on their late-night talk shows. Today in Creative Writing the teacher was absent so we were made to watch an interview of author Susan Sontag. Despite the distractions of 1970s reminscence (as well as one can reminice about a decade when one was not even alive!), the video was quite informative. It showed me how much society looks up to well-educated authors, and how much their writings influence our lives. I can relate as many of my actions are based on the mistakes or successes made and written about by others. I suppose it can be somewhat detrimental to my individuality if I spend all my time reading about the lives of others and trying to copy them. But I look at it more as learning from them, allowing them to unknowingly mentor me into just as a successful life. There are so many no-name journalists running around the offices of any newspaper in any city. I want my name to be known. For fame, for respect. I get a great deal of pleasure out of advising others or giving my opinion when asked for it. How cool would it be to get paid for writing about the things you love to write about, having the public read them, and have them begging for more? I want them to be drooling with desire to read my next piece of work. I look back on the personal mission statement I made last semester in my Prayer & Loss class, and I realize I've accomplished many of my goals. Now I want to take them to the next level. The greater the audience, the greater the influence.
posted by Lisa at 9:27 PM

 
The clock is ticking and I have yet to find a prom date. My prospects are few to none, so if you know of a guy, give him my number!
The gears in my head are turning... A bunch of seniors at my brother's school went out of town for their spring break. Seth invited me to come visit him in Los Angeles. Or maybe even this summer. I've been to New York and Chicago, so it only makes sense to visit LA next. Big cities, here I come (I hope!).
posted by Lisa at 6:18 PM

 
Yikes! Everyone must be looking at my website all at the same time. I refreshed the page once (because that's what I do while proofreading). The counter went up two counts. I refreshed the page again. Four more counts! Mmm, I love the smell of popularity in the evening.

Hmm...I'll try it one more time. Three more! Yowza!!
posted by Lisa at 9:19 PM

 
It's happening again. That crazy snowball of frustration. I am overwhelmed to the point of incapacitation. Today I heard the news that Loyola isn't giving us as much financial aid as we need. They must think we're rich or something. Little do they realize that we just bought a house with one income, and my social security payments end in July. Gist: Top choice school is out. Unless some wealthy benefactor or hidden scholarship turns up somewhere, I have to resort to one of my other choice schools. Blah, decision making is not my forte. I finally have some furniture in my room. No more hunching over to do homework because the computer is on the floor.
Much like my future, the bookstore idea got canned as well. I had to get an estimate on my car, which ended up taking well over two hours. The bulk of that time involved me sitting most uncomfortably in the lobby of the collision center. I almost got into an accident the second I left the place. Some speeding idiot nearly rammed my back end. Of course, relaying the story to my father, he assumes anything is my fault and proceeded to lecture me about my terrible driving habits. He's such an expert having not been there. On the way home, it seemed like everyone was out to run me off the road. I had an awful time trying to merge, and I missed my exits about 50 times. (Stop saying I exaggerate.) Anyway, I was able to get some writing in during my wait at the car center.

"As I waited ever so patiently (though my patience eventually ran out) inside Dingman's Collision Center, I began to stare out the window and across the street. I had read a majority of the newspaper sitting on the chair next to me, and I decided that my paper crinkling was starting to get annoying. I spotted a woman filling her tank at the gas station. She was bent over, continuously looking back and forth between her car and the pump. I don't think she even knew whether or not the gas was coming out of the nozzle. (You can usually find me with my hands in my pockets, jumping up and down impatiently as I wait in the cold, windy atmosphere.) I sat there waiting for her to kick the pump or scratch her head thinking aloud, "How do I know when it's coming out?" This portly lady was somewhat amusing with her brown and orange patched coat, an obvious souvenir from the late 1970's. By now most people's patience would be wearing thin, but not mine (not true, I would later find out). I had not made an appointment, and I was gladly willing to wait for my estimate. Mr. Dingman was nice. He tried to explain things to me, though almost everything he said went over my head. I played the role of the ditzy 17-year-old blonde (well, redhead). I was hoping one of the young, buff mechanics would be helping me in my dilemma, but no such luck. It wasn't a total loss. There was a guy about my age waiting in my chair when I came back to the lobby. "Move your feet, lose your seat." He reminded me a bit of my friend Aaron.
Perhaps I should apply for a job around here. The guys are pretty cute. I'm actually writing all this in the margins of the the "Insured Motorists' Rights in Nebraska" brochure. Uh oh... The guy next to me is growing restless. I offered him the newspaper, but he politely declined. Ten bucks says he's sitting there, wondering what I could possibly be writing and why the hell I'm writing in the margins of the brochure instead of on a legal pad like any other sane person. Ah, memories of the time I contemplated leaving my writing for the busboy at Panera to read. It would be a terribly interesting situation, however I wouldn't be able to type it all once I got home!
I offer the paper a second time. No go. I lied... With a better look of his face I realize he looks more like one of the freshmen kiddies I saw at the mall and less like Aaron. Speaking of whom, Aaron's been a butt lately. He barely responds when I talk to him.
The estimate guy just came and asked me if my car was an automatic. Yes! At least he asked me a question about something I knew. I wasn't in the mood for looking like a total idiot twice in the same day."

I hate lobbies. There's nothing to do. After an immense amount of thumb-twiddling and nail picking, one grows quite bored. You can't look anyone else directly in the eye, let alone dare to speak to them. And there's only so many paintings hanging on the wall. Even in a museum you move on to the next one. Staring at them takes up some of your time, but not enough. Everyone always crosses one leg over the other either to remain "proper" ( like if a girl was wearing a skirt) or so the person next to you won't notice how fat your thighs really are. This position works for a little while, until all the circulation has been cut off from the knee down, and you sit there praying to God they don't call your name next, for if you try to stand up, you'll undoubtedly trip and fall flat on your face (you know, because your leg is asleep). Then all your attempts to remain cool and composed will have gone to waste.
posted by Lisa at 9:00 PM

 
Gah! The sticky-tack holding my posters up on the slanted ceiling is slowly melting. I predict my precious Dave Matthews Band poster will fall within 30 seconds. *crash* Sad day...it was only 4 seconds. I suppose I'll be forced to resort to some other type of adhesive. I think as long as I don't poke any more holes in the drywall with thumb tacks, I'll be safe with the parental unit.
I'm afraid my breath reeks of italian-seasoned croutons. I felt like I was committing a crime as I munched on them right out of the box. After perusing the label I discovered that my rebellious act had been justified. "Perfect for soups, salads, or snacking straight from the box!" Whew. Moral dilemma number one resolved.
I have been enlightened...I have discovered the Martha within me. As of late I have been addicted to reading Real Simple magazine and wandering around home furninshing stores. Hoorah! They're accepting job applications. But will I be able to resort to living on less than seven dollars per hour? I don't know if I could handle it. I popped into the Panera near my new house (perhaps we'll just refer to it as "home" now). I didn't really want to pick up an application at a place that prepares food for my grubby little mouth, but the cashier working there was cute and nice, so I went for it. (The application is currently sitting on the floor of my car, covered in muddy footprints.)
Yesterday I was in such a mood to write, but I got distracted by the invitation to hang out with Ashley. I accepted as I hadn't seen her in a while. We stayed up late watching scary movies in the deep dark basement of "home." I had to force myself to fall asleep early as I knew I wouldn't be able to handle the end of "The Ring." Today at the mall we ran into a few freshmen I knew from Ricky's school. I let them borrow my phone thinking they had to call their moms for rides home. Ha! Puny mallrats who can't drive. I laugh in your face! It was later I discovered they had been using my phone to call a gaggle of giggling freshmen girls. They were planning to meet up at American Eagle, the most romantic store in the mall, of course. I would have chosen some place like the XXXL section at the local Big & Tall, but that's just me.
When I wasn't helping my family in the moving process, I spent much of the weekend surfing the Internet. I actually found some pretty cool sites. I fell in love with the "Fuck of the Month" at Rotten.com. I claimed my new group of best friends at Cockeyed.com. It was definitely a good time. I probably should have spent more time reading Frankenstein or Black Like Me, but this is my break, right? Well, it's actually just a 4-day weekend the school gave us to keep the students from getting cranky. However, I think it only counts as a two-day break, because technically the weekend is a break by default. Two days is not enough!
I want to write more...pages more. However writer's block is creeping up on me, and I have to drive across town (for the millionth time) to get an estimate on my car. Living out here is painful! My gas tank is empty after three days; and with the gas prices ever-increasing, I don't know how I'll survive.
Expect more insight later. I'll be visiting the local bookstore. We all know I get inspired in such atmospheres.
posted by Lisa at 2:05 PM

 
I managed to find Crystal Light (it's like Kool-Aid without sugar or calories) and a can of mandarin oranges. Mmm, fruity dining. Sort of.
posted by Lisa at 7:26 PM

 
I guess my blog is the talk of the town. Today my dentist even asked me for the url. I guess sometimes I feel uncomfortable giving a teacher or employer my web address as this journal usually depicts a side of my life they never see. I don't show them the comedic, life-of-the-party Lisa. I don't show them the side that gets easily annoyed or enraged. They see "My name is Lisa, and I'm an excellent worker. Promote me, and give me more money, please." Speaking of money, damn I need it bad. I currently hold a job where I make, on average, less than $25 dollars a week. I need to apply for another, more lucrative job, however I like having enough time to finish my homework and still have time left over to eat a meal. Last weekend Dad said we could go for a nice sit-down dinner on Friday night. Friday night rolls around... "No, we have too much work to do." There's always work to do. My social life as well as my personal life have gone down the toilet. I'm sick of eating microwaved leftovers of fattening fast food every single meal. I figured going out to eat would be a nice way for our family to relax, spend some quality time together, and get some nutrition. I guess it's not really a big deal, but I'm nearing the point where every molehill becomes a mountain. Remember the lady in "About A Boy" who cried every 30 seconds? Even the slightest mistakes set her off, and it all just snowballed. I kinda feel that way now. No worries, though. My eyes are dry, and my stomach is growling. Perhaps there's a NutriGrain bar stuffed inside a coat pocket somewhere...
posted by Lisa at 7:04 PM

 
Seth gave me some bad news today. HIs timing was off as I was seeking comforting words for an earlier conflict I was in. Is there a way to tell him that he's the only person in the world that makes me happy without sounding like a totally pathetic loser? I can't think of one.
posted by Lisa at 1:16 AM

 
I wish I was a poet.
posted by Lisa at 1:12 AM

 
I wrote a wonderfully-worded entry and one mistake of the shortcut key erased it all. That's what I get for typing in the dark. Here's the gist:
I'm depressed yet again. I was told some of the most cruel things I've ever heard in my life (no exaggeration this time) and I can't get them out of my head. I lie here in bed, curled up in a ball, grinding my teeth to hold back the sobs, drenching my pillow in salty tears. The resulting sinus headache prevents me from sleeping it all away. There's no way to escape and it kills me. I wish you could have read the original entry. Perhaps you'd better understand the situation and how I'm feeling. But to try and retype it is just too painful for me, and one can only cry so hard before one's head explodes. I wait for the tears to dry up, but their flow is neverending. Tomorrow the sun will shine, I'll put on my facade, and go about business as usual, not hinting to anyone about the darkness that lies inside me.

On a lighter note, I got a scholarship from Creighton University.
posted by Lisa at 1:12 AM

 
Blah! No time for anything I tell you! I'm finally posting again from home. I just got my computer set up in my room, however the Internet isn't working and the batteries in my mouse died. Drat. Luckily we own more than one working computer. I'm going to get back injuries from working on the floor, balancing the keyboard on my lap. I just thought I'd pop in and let you know I'm still alive and busy as ever. I have a presentation to finish (I'll be dressed as a Beatnik), a short story to type, and a Chemistry test tomorrow. Wish me luck!
posted by Lisa at 6:21 PM

 
At school again. The move was mostly successful. Four consecutive days of loading and unloading, packing and lifting, working ourselves to the bone day and night and we STILL aren't finished! It turns out we own a lot more crap than we thought. I even stayed home from school yesterday to help. However, that meant even more homework to make up. I never did finish last week's assignments. I feel sore and my thorat is dry and I am dreading going to Ms.T's class. We have a test today and I think my studying was barely adequate. I didn't finish all the homework, and I'm hoping she'll have some compassion and understand why I was unable to get it done. (NO TIME!) I did find a couple hours of time to relax this weekend. I went ice skating on Saturday night, and I was doing fine until some jackball slid into me from behind knocking me down onto my already sore rear end. After getting dizzy from all the spinning (I like to do tricks on skates), I headed home with my friend Kara. This was no slumber party, mind you. She needed a place to crash and my house was the closest.
posted by Lisa at 10:27 AM

 
Tandem Story

My text is normal, Melanie's is italic.

Blech. Kerrie felt as if she was about to throw up. Perusing the label, she realized she had just downed an expired fruit smoothie. Besides feeling sick, she was completely drained of energy. Kerrie hadn't been sleeping well the last week, and the tangy blend of old fruit was the only food she'd consumed all day. Kerrie figured a serving of dinner would rejuvenate her, but she soon sighed with disgust. All she had in the house was a greasy plate of leftover pizza. Blech.
But what else can be done? When someone lives in New York and is living on a busboy income, there are not many options. It isn't the lack of food that matters. She was filled with the culture all around her....a big game that is being played, like in a movie. She walked down the street to the store to buy some Ramen noodles. There is a sale, "Five for a dollar." Kerrie had two dollars today, and there would be a feast!
Kerrie bumped into a grungy-looking man on her way to the store. "Excuse me," she said.
"Yo, lady! Can I bum a cigarette?"
"Only if you've got some Pepto Bismol chewables in your pocket."
No such luck. :( Kerrie hurried on to the corner store. It was Christmastime, and there were gawdy decorations everywhere. So cheesy. Even the cashier had on one of those fuzzy Santa hats. Muzak played "timeless classics" over the intercom.
The plastic singing Santa made her really want to barf. She couldn't get why people save up all year and get excited about a holiday that is about having nothing. Hello! Stable and donkeys, not Santa and reindeer! Her Christmas present will be some new underwear. Hers are all worn out in the back (I wanted to say ass). She might even get some with flowers, but only if they cost the same. "Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire" is such a lame song.
Hell yeah it is. Kerrie remembered the time she got suckered into singing at church for Christmas mass. It was awful! The choir sucked on a normal basis, but around the holidays they made sure to be extra enthusiastic about it. Kerrie ended up standing next to the portly woman who was always off-key. But being that it was a volunteer church choir, nobody had the heart to tell her.
The cashier winked at Kerrie as she checked out. "Ramen noodles...Santa's favorite."
Punk.
Kerrie was sick of being alone. Her family was hours away. She missed her mother's turkey, so in some attempt to fill a void, she bought turkey Ramen noodles. No luck. Then she got an idea that there is no conflict in her life. She needed something to do, so she decided to...
make conversation with the cashier. "So...what are your plans for Christmas?"
"Well actually, I'm having dinner with my girlfriend's family."
"Oh," replied Kerrie with a look of disappointment.
"Ho ho ho! Open the register and put your hands in the air!"
Kerrie turned around, more frightened than she had ever been in her life.
Remembering her self-defense class, she grabs her mace and sprayed the eyes of the assaultant. He dropped the gun to grab his eyes. He fell to the ground, and Kerrie topped his pain off with a good kick in the crotch. She pulled out her phone and dialed 911. When the police came, the man was crying and they took him away.
"What are you doing for Christmas?" asked the extremely attractive police officer.
"Nothing," replied Kerrie.
"Absolutely nothing."
"Hmm... Well in situations like this, we usually keep one officer assigned to the victim...for close watch, ya know. By the way, my name is Gary."
Kerrie smirked. Kerrie and Gary. How corny. Gary invited her to a Christmas dinner at his apartment. His place was a sty. There were dirty dishes in the sink, food left on the counter, clothes on the couch. Definite signs of a bachelor. What weirded out Kerrie the most was Gary's three-legged weiner dog, Buster. The look on Kerrie's face was enough to give Gary a clue. "Maybe we should go out for dinner."
"Good idea."
As the walked down the street, the snow started to fall.
"Do you want to see my gun?" Gary asked jokingly.
"Only if I can mace you and then play with your crotch..."
(Then Melanie realizes this is way to dirty. She just wants to make Lisa laugh.)
"Only if you will pay for dinner."
So Gary pulled out his gun and started to show Kerrie the different parts when a man holding a baby ran across the street. A woman came screaming behind him.
Gary, in an attempt to show off in front of Kerrie, ran after the guy with the baby. Gary inadvertantly tripped and fell. Buster, the three-legged weiner dog, ran up from behind and bit the kidnapper in the butt. (I wanted to say ass, too.) Buster must have escaped from the apartment. The baby was safely returned to her mother. Kerrie gave the kidnapper a swift kick in the crotch before helping Gary up from the ground.
"I'm sorry. I feel so embarassed. I guess our Christmas dinner is ruined," said Gary.
Kerrie smiled. "How do you feel about Ramen noodles?"
posted by Lisa at 10:36 PM

 
The seniors got out of school early today because the rest of the school had to go through pre-registration (signing up for next year's classes). Only 50 days of school left! Whoo!! \(^o^)/ <~~ This is a little crazy dude rasing the roof. Yeah, baby! Anyway, I decided to stay after school and help out the advanced journalism class with the paper layout. One of the girls was sick, and I knew they were under a lot of pressure. I began editing one story...it took me at least 20 minutes! The only problem with that one was that she was comma-happy. Not such a bad thing. I read a couple of the other stories, and I almost fell over. I felt so sorry for my friends. This edition of the paper was not going to turn out well at all. What's really scary is that the beginning journalists also help out with the yearbook. If my senior yearbook turns out to be a piece of shit, I'm going to rip each and every one of them a new asshole. It costs $10,000 to make, and I think the teacher has doubts about risking the money with my class. I don't blame her.
posted by Lisa at 5:33 PM

 
So we had our sweatshop assembly yesterday. It turned out pretty well. There were few technical difficulties (which is always a good thing). We did it fashion-show style. Girls would model clothes from the Gap, Adidas, A&E, etc. and we'd give te descriptions. These were followed by truths about what actually goes on in the sweatshops. Then a little schpiel about the Goodwill, and a comparison of the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. Our sponsors did their own little fashion show of second-hand clothes and finally a speech about advocacy. It's not that we want to shut the factories down... That would put a ton of people out of work. We simply wanted to make the school aware of what goes on, and that these workers deserve the same basic civil rights as everyone else. We kinda put a damper on the overall mood of the school, which was rather amusing when a pep rally followed two minutes later. Needless to say, there was not much pep.

"We come here and they treat us like dogs. I'm always scared. The supervisor yells and screams at me and I start remembering the others who were worse. I'm traumatized when I see them yelling and screaming. When the woman raises her voice, I immediately start shaking because I am very scared. Sometimes I get very, very desperate, but I know I hace to keep up the struggle because I have children. We suffer a lot in this country, too much."
~ Aracely, Los Angeles sweatshop worker
(Source: Global Exchange)

"The wage is never enough for the family needs. I have to borrow money at 20% interest every month. I can never hope to spend my salary, because all of the money will immediately be used to pay the debt and I start to borrow again...the circle of debt begins."
~Somjai, Thai garment worker, mother of a one-week old child
(Source: behindthelabel.org)

The average real wage of U.S. apparel workers FELL 16% between 1968 and 1999.
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

"The conditions were really bad. We had to drink tap water from dirty, greasy cups. The bathrooms didn't have doors and the men made a hole in the wall that separated the bathrooms so they could look at us while we were using the bathroom. The gave us food that made us sick. I got parasites. The material we sewed was like cat hairs. You'd have it all over in your face and pores. Both my sister and I started to get throat infections."
~Marie Mejia, Guatemalan garment worker
(Source: behindthelabel.org)

Women are stripped of their rights behind the fence. Thy are:
- Fired when pregnant
- Forced to work 12-16 hour shifts, 6 or 7 days a week
- Screamed at and pressured to work faster to make daily quotas
- Sexually harassed
- Monitored and limited to just two bathroom breaks a day
- Denied access to healthcare
- Paid starvation wages
- Immediately fired and blacklisted if the company suspects unionization
(Source: Mercy magazine, Winter 2002)
posted by Lisa at 10:59 PM

 
Ick. I think I may throw up. I have a feeling that I drank an expired fruit smoothie. In fact, now that I look at it, it is expired. Naked juice is good when it's fresh, but now I just feel like shit. It doesn't help that I haven't been getting enough sleep, and I've been falling asleep in classes. I fell asleep doing homework this evening, as well. I feel so drained...no energy. It reminds me of Hell Week back when I was in theater. We'd be at school until 10pm every night. Ah, the good old days. I'm working my ass off to get this stupid history project done. I'm not going to have a computer this weekend, let alone any free time. It's just one of many worries. Dad says I should eat some dinner if I want to wake up. All I can picture is a plate of greasy leftover pizza heated up in the microwave. Puke.
posted by Lisa at 8:51 PM

 
I'm in study hall right now. I don't think I've ever posted from school before. Katchen is supposed to meet me in the library so that we can print out some news articles for our history project. I'm not seeing her... I'd print them out myself, but I don't know the urls. Blah. Where could she be? I know exactly where she is. Senior Lounge. We arranged to meet this morning...could she have forgotten so soon? She's probably caught up in the excitement of gossip (because that's mostly what Senior Lounge is all about), or working on unfinished homework, or glaring at the vending machines, pondering whether to snack on hardened sugar or "pasturized process cheese food." I thought cheese was a food!

Okay, I lied. She showed up. We got the articles printed out and all is well. I can hear Channel One playing in the background. It's a nice little ten-minute show that gets students updated on what's going on around the world. They usually add in a human interest story or some type of fun fact. I find it amusing that they try to appeal to all cultures by representing different ethnicities through their reporters and their music. Very Nickelodeon-esque.

Yesterday I spent a bit of time searching for hidden meanings in the Disney movies. I've heard about how Disney was a huge pervert that sent subliminal messages to kids. My kind of guy :) I was totally upset when I heard "The Little Mermaid" was corrupt, though. But it's true. Although it was orginally written by Hans Christian Anderson. Maybe Anderson is the corrput one. "The Little Mermaid" tells kids that it's not okay to be ugly. You have to be beautiful and regal to be loved. I did a search on the original movie poster, as well. I failed to see the "hidden penis" in the animation, however, because all the graphics I found were too small to see details. Oh well. I suppose if I really wanted to see a penis, I could take a look in an anatomy book. But it's really not a big deal. Male genitalia is rather ugly in my opinion, and not something that should be stared at for long periods of time. Oh wait. Disney's subliminal message is getting through. "It's not cool to be ugly." Damn him.

I noticed that all the students who were "removed" from Senior Lounge make every attempt to escape structured study hall. They're all gathered around the magazines in the corner of the library was we speak (I mean, as I type). Senior Lounge is a study hall free of chaperones and rules. You can eat, listen to music, sleep, do homework (if you dare)... It's a privilege, though. Your grades go down, and it back to school for you. My situation is a little sketchy. The reason I was "removed" is because I got a downslip in AP 20th Century. The rule is, you can't get bad grades in classes required for graduation. Now here's the gray area: the graduation requirement is that you take one social studies elective. I am currently taking two. I got a downslip in one, but am passing the other. So why can't I claim the second class as my credit? They're doing this just to be difficult, I swear.

This day has been tolerable so far. I woke up at 5 am because it was the only open time slot for a hot shower. I got to school on time, forgetting to make a lunch, only to find that it's a late-start. Just great. So while I was able to get a decent parking spot, I had two hours to kill. Luckily I left my cd player in my backpack from my visit to the coffeeshop. Jamming out to the Barenaked Ladies, I bought some coffee, wrote some journal, studied for my Calculus quiz. I've been pretty out of it the whole day, though. I got all my major homework turned in, so no frets there. I've just been a walking drone, standing up and sitting down as each bell rings for me to do so, waiting for that final buzz that tells me I get to go home. No wait. NHS meeting. Pick Ricky up from school. Go home, do homework, waste time. There's that god awful bell. See you after class.
posted by Lisa at 12:22 PM

 
I promise one day I'll have boughten (is that the right word?) a piece of art from Caffeine Dreams. I love art, and I'm neither rich enough, nor do I have enough free time to indulge in my hobby. It's official: I don't like chocolate. Especially in my coffee. It just doesn't taste that great anymore, and the sugar content is a total turn off. I can just feel the cavities forming. I remember once in grade school, Kassie S. told me I was racist when I declared I didn't like chocolate pudding. I don't like vanilla pudding either, so screw her. It's butterscotch or nothing. Though pudding reminds me of eating a bowl of lard anyway. Sweetened lard, that is. Damn those cavities. Remind me to switch to Sensodyne. I swear I've eaten so much sugar in my life, the enamel must be practically gone. My teeth have always been sensitive, but this is ridiculous. I guess it's a good thing I learned to eat my veggies (and I LIKE it, too! You pee-drinking buffalo-breathed maniac). Speaking of halitosis, I was asked the other day (just how many 'other days' are there?) if I had met the man of my dreams, perfect in every possible way.... EXCEPT he had horribly nasty, incurable bad breath, would I still stick with him? I replied that if we were truly in love, it wouldn't matter. It's taken me a while to mature enough to get over the physical appearance of others. I un-shallow-fied myself. You can be ugly and I'll hang out with you. But if you have no personality to match, you have GOT to go. Sorry, dude.
posted by Lisa at 10:44 PM

 
Did you ever notice how similar the scent of ground coffee beans is to sizzling bacon? While in the process of grinding, that is. Maybe it's some sort of rich Columbian roast. Or French roast... the kind that puts hair on your chest. Grr. So manly. *rolls eyes* Don't ever buy Orbit White gum. It falls apart. You're thinking to yourself, "What is this gooey blob in my mouth? Certainly it's not gum. Patooey." I decided I can't concentrate on Dante's Inferno or Sartre's Paradise Lost. So I try working on my short story. Not coming along too well. I have all these good ideas, but it's hard to put them into words. I've always been better at writing character sketches or social commentaries. To put full-blow description, imagery, plot, dialogue, etc. into my stories is tough stuff. My stories have never been as poignant as Danni's or as creative as Maggie's. But I'm trying... I really am. However, whenever I venture out into the world of creative writing, I always end up journaling. I figure it's because I never know when to shut up. I always have so much to say and I swear it's going to drive me crazy. I know it does others. As I was archiving September I saw an old entry that predicted I'd be a professional thinker someday because I have all these ideas and creativity and ingenuity, but I don't know where to apply it. I'd like to change my prediction to Professional Talker because at this rate I'll be talking (or in this case, writing) until the end of time. And not about anything in particular. Just whatever comes to mind. Yikes. I need a drink...
posted by Lisa at 10:23 PM

 
G-damn. I came to the coffeehouse so that maybe I would concentrate more on my reading. However, once you get a pen in my hand and paper on the table, I have to write...or draw...or doodle my name (perhaps next to my current crush's last name). Blah. My house is going to look like a coffeeshop when I get older. I wouldn't want to one because I don't much like the idea of food preparation. *sigh* I am forever wishing to grow up. Blah! I keep accidentally slurping my drink. How annoying and unattractive. Are you even allowed to be hit on at a coffeeshop? Or is it strictly for studying alone or having a good time with your friends or going on a nice quiet date with a guy you met before coming to the coffeehouse? Sometimes I wish I had a huge neon sign on my forehead that would flash my thoughts to anyone who dared to look over. "Hey you! Cute guy...yeah, you. Come over here and say hello." It would totally save me the trouble of getting over my shy side time and time again. I'm a sexy chick. They should be lining up waiting to ask me out. Oh well. I kinda like the solitude, too. That kind of pseudo-solitude you get at coffeehouses and bookstores where there's lots of people there, but nobody bothers you. I prefer Caffeine Dreams, because even though I don't like their coffee as much, they play great music...most of the time. Too bad I'm not brave (or rude) enough to sing aloud with the song. I'm a very vocal person. I should have sat in that corner over there... There's way more light. I can't stand studying in dim light. Dim is for sensual or contemplative moods, not for reading and writing. I'm still unsure of how to decorate my room. Maybe I'll make one wall fake brick like we used on the set for Godspell. Yeah, that'd be way cool. And I can hang some green plants in there with white Christmas lights. Very Passageway-esque. I need to get rid of a lot of JUNK before I can do that though. Oh Lisa, don't lose this legal pad. It's too often that you've had good ideas and written them down only to be lost in the shuffle of life. In fact, too often have you had good ideas and forgotten to even write them down. Drat. Now get back to studying!
P.S. Get new headphones for your discman...these ones suck.
posted by Lisa at 10:10 PM

 
So I'm sitting here waiting for Seth to call me back. I'm hoping maybe he'll be in a better mood. Doubtful. *phone rings, heart jumps* No, it's just Ashley inviting me to a party. I'd love to go, but this is not the best time to be sneaking out after the rest of my family has fallen asleep. I resist the urge and decline the offer. Damn my good senses.
posted by Lisa at 11:41 PM

 
Speaking of car accidents (the one I got in Thursday night that is)... Some ambulance-chasing lame-ass called me today asking if I had any back pains or if I was having trouble sleeping. Psh. I wish. Then maybe I could get out of school for a bit. I guess they had heard through that god-awful grapevine that I had been in an accident. Anyway, it was actually the lawyer's secretary who couldn't enunciate a full sentence if her life depended on it who had called me. She had left a message on my machine, and I'll be damned if I have to pay any money for the 1-800 number at which I had to call her back. *rolls eyes* These people will do anything for money.
posted by Lisa at 11:38 PM

 
I made some changes to the site... added a counter, some links... Take a look around and see what suits you.
posted by Lisa at 11:21 PM

 
Rick has taken the initiative to start a blog of his own. Good dog. He's got a lot of typos, but at least he can write in full, complete sentences (unlike some others who have tried to copy me in the past). No offense though. :) I just hope he doesn't let it peter out after three entries. Journaling is good for the mind and good for the soul. Everyone should try it. Anyhoo, take a look at his new site. I'm sure we'll both learn something about the kid.
posted by Lisa at 10:57 PM

 
Today was the sophomore talent show. It wasn't half bad. I promised to videotape it for a friend, and her camera ended up being so heavy that my hand fell asleep. But it was worth it because I got to corrupt her video with funny comments.
Seth is being stupid. He's in a slump where he's kind of a downer. He'll return my call but then just sit there and not say anything. Then why did you call me?? I hate it when people don't talk to you on the phone. It's a waste of time. It'd be different if you were sitting there making funny faces at each other. *Crosses her eyes and sticks her tongue out* Oogly-boogly! Ah, but you can't do that via telephone. So anyway, it's just kinda sad. I miss him like none other, but it seems like forever before I'll get to see him again.
I have a huge paper due on Monday and I have a feeling mine is going to SUCK. In my Brit Lit class we tend to do two things at once. So while we're reading Wuthering Heights (a book full of crazy people who have love-hate relationships and get sick and die any time they go outside without a coat on), we're also supposed to be reading three (count 'em, THREE) pieces of literature dealing with the dreaded realm of Hell. The hell paper would be a lot easier to write if she had given us strict specifications, but in this case we get to choose our own topic, provided we have two outside sources. I think my topic will be: "I don't believe in hell and this paper is too morbid for me to care." Actually, I like George Orwell's idea that hell is what you fear most, it's different for everyone.
I've been voluntarily skipping out on all the fun things I want to do in the hopes that I'll get my homework done and have time leftover to pack. Constant exhaustion has prevented me from accomplishing that goal. I think it's the totally unhealthy diet (and by diet I mean eating just about any type of junk food set in front of me) that has contributed to my fatigue. Pray that I change my habits before I go off to college.
It turns out that 15 out of the 19 stories turned in by the beginning journalism class for the school newspaper absolutely SUCK. Mine, of course, was not among those. :) It's the freshmen, I'm telling you!! Didn't I predict at the beginning of the semester that they were all going to be awful? I'm pretty sure I did. I feel sorry for the advanced students (a mere three seniors) who have to spend extra time editing the freshmen stories. Incomplete sentences, absence of punctuation, lack of any trace of intrigue. Erin had only this to say: "When I read an article, I want to learn something new. I didn't learn anything new. In fact I think I may have lost some brain cells!!" That, and the fact that she was uber-pissed about the turnout of these stories. I never would have allowed such a disaster had I been editor. But I don't think we really have an offical editor anyway. And until I can master the complexities of Adobe PageMaker, I must stick with the lowly title of "BJ" (beginning journalist). Of course, as the class pervert I can't help but smirk every time Mrs. Coyle refers to us as the "BJs." Hey Lisa, grow up! Never!!
Speaking of perverseness (is that a word?), you have GOT to visit our literature class sometime. Today I learned the most interesting fact that if you take a shower within two days of breast reduction surgery, your nipple can fall off!! True story! Now take a moment to picture it. Mmm, nipples falling off in the shower. *nods* Yes, the look on your face is exactly what I was waiting for. Visit us on any given day and I can guarantee you at least three sex jokes. Be sure to bring your notebook as you will be tested over this.
At lunch Kathy got mad because I threw a tampon at her from across the table. Whatsa matta? It was a clean, unused, still in the wrapper tampon. I accidentally hit her in the head. That could have been dangerous. She got back at me by squirting ketchup all over it and setting it on top of my purse. Everyone looked over at our table with disgust. I, however, found it hilarious. Toward the end of the period there was a curious incident with a banana. It ended up in five girls chasing each other around the cafeteria trying to get ahold of this apparently sacred banana. Ms. Morse ended up stopping Kathy, and she made her sit in the corner facing the wall. Hooting and hollering could be heard from only our table while the rest of the lunch room was decorated in looks of bewilderment. Oh well. We have the best lunch table no matter what anyone else may contend. Kathy showed she was a tough chick despite the "timeout." I've never seen anyone so enthusiastic about biting into a banana. It's as if she was committing a mortal sin right before our eyes. Eh, I never cared for bananas anyway. No likie the mushy fruit.
posted by Lisa at 9:12 PM