Headache blues

Yep. I have one of those killer weather-change headaches. My mom gets them, too. So I was being really mean to people without meaning to. Sorry, mom.

The aspirin has taken the edge off, but I still have that annoying throb. But, at around 11:00, I can take another one. Huzzah.

Since no one had planned dinner, we ordered pasta from a local Italian restaurant. I love their pasta. So lovely. I got my usual fettuccine alfredo, mom got her usual gnocchi with picante sauce... is that how you spell it? Picante?

Well, spellcheck says no, but the substitute words don't seem right either. And I actually spelled fettucine wrong. lol.

I think I overate. I'm feeling awfully bloated, but that may be from all that butter in the sauce. Man, that sauce is rich! And there's so much sauce that I always soak up some of it with bread. Yum.

Since I'm feeling like a self-indulgent girl, I'm gonna put up a cool YouTube video.

First, the colour video. According to the info for this one, this was the original video, but Joan Jett didn't like how her red suit looked on video, so they decided to change it to black and white.



And here's the black and white one.




Personally, I think she looked good in the colour video.

And finally... one of my many favourite songs... Ballroom Blitz by The Sweet. YEAH!!!!!!!!!

Mario Paint Composer!!!!!!!

I got bored while my parents were out grocery shopping, so I went on YouTube. I wanted to look for a sound clip of 'I Love Rock n' Roll' by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. I watched the colour video, and then I noticed, in the related videos, that there was a Mario Paint Composer recording of it. Now, my mom had come across these Mario Paint Composer videos before, so I was pretty familiar with them. I found lots that I like - Final Fantasy music, 'Stairway to Heaven', and so forth.

This is only the opening from 'Stairway to Heaven', but I love it.




OMG JOURNEY!!!!




'Another One Bites The Dust'.




And here's 'I Love Rock n' Roll'.




Oh, and speaking of Zeppelin... looks like they aren't reuniting for a while. Robert Plant says he doesn't plan on touring again for another two years. Aw, man....

Edited to add: Oh... and I so want to buy an SNES now :)

Just a quick post...

I'm bored, and I haven't eaten anything yet. Although I might eat a cupcake soon.

My keyboard keeps cutting out. I'll have to ask Mom how to fix that problem.

I got my right speaker to work yesterday, so I'm not sure if I wrecked the left one, or if it's just being silly. I need new speakers anyway.

And I have Paradise by the Dashboard Light stuck in my head.

I don't know if I'm going to church today, because Dad had a tiring night at work last night. So I have the sound off on my computer. Although, I'm probably making more noise than the computer, because I keep yelling at my keyboard.

I'm angry, and I can't take it anymore!!!!!!!!

So I started the Lace-Up Opera Gloves today, because I joined a KAL for the Ysolda Teague pattern. After ripping it out after screwing up the third row, I started again, and got it. Then I had a slight dilemma. Which do I use, the crappy point protector, or take a nice one off a project and replace it with the crappy one, and risk dropping stitches? Where to I store it? I yelled at my mom, my cat, and my dog. I'll apologize to the pets later. I'm still mad at my mom for some reason.

I know I flew off the handle, but don't DARE threaten to throw my pattern across the room. Thank goodness I printed off two copies.

So I borrowed a black cloth bag from the front hall closet and put the WIP in that, then put the bag with WIP in my Bulk Barn bag with Justin's scarf and my kerchief scarf/wrap.

And I have R.E.M. blaring.

And I have cold peppermint tea at my side.

Something tells me I need more chocolate.

And Meat Loaf?

And... I'll stop.

edited for spelling.

More favourite songs!

Perhaps I should have warned you first - Paradise by the Dashboard Light, at the bottom of the page, is a bit too mature for younger readers/listeners.

Supertramp, 'Bloody Well Right'




Journey, 'Don't Stop Believing'




Genesis, 'Squonk'. Sorry about the poor sound quality on this one.




Genesis, 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway'




Led Zeppelin, 'The Crunge'




Pink Floyd, 'Wots... Uh The Deal'




Meat Loaf, 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light'. ETA: the first YouTube video/sound clip I put up was incomplete, so I put in the full one. I would've put the original video in this post, but it's a bit graphic for younger readers.

Some favourite songs of mine

Jethro Tull, 'Locomotive Breath'...




Pink Floyd, 'Childhood's End'...




Supertramp, 'Crime of the Century'... I have removed this one because of a still that shows some nudity. I found a new one, which I have placed below.





Meat Loaf, 'Bat Out Of Hell' This one has been removed by YouTube, but if you look at the October 6th post, entitled 'Because the first one got removed...' , there's a different still with the song. Sorry about that, folks!



Jethro Tull, 'Bungle in the Jungle'...




Meat Loaf, 'You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth'...

28 years ago...

It was on this day in 1980 that John Henry Bonham, aka Bonzo, passed away. He was the amazing drummer of the mighty Led Zeppelin. Although his son, Jason, is a very talented drummer, Bonzo can never be replaced.

Here's one of his drum solos...

Silly kitty...

I was in a rather deep sleep early this morning... until the cat woke me up.

Mouse was chasing... a mouse. And making a lot of noise, might I add. I'd hear her swatting at my laundry hamper (it's made of soft plastic canvas with a metal frame... I love IKEA :D), or swatting my huge armchair (which I can't sit in 'cause it has a pile of fabric sitting on it, plus it's covered in cat hair :p).

I think it was about four-ish in the morning when Mouse woke me up. I haven't set my clock, since I keep forgetting to wind it up. But I had turned on the radio, and I think the DJ said it was nearly time for the pre-morning show, which starts at 5 AM. I tried to read a bit of Twilight, but I couldn't concentrate on it. Maybe it was because of poor lighting - I was reading by my flashlight, which was pointed at a wall to give me the right amout of light, but I didn't have the single light on the wall next to it (it's hard to explain, since it's a basement) turned on, so I guess it wasn't enough light, and I didn't want to walk over to the lightswitch and turn it on, because I didn't want to step on a terrified mouse... or a cat, for that matter.

When I woke up, at around 7-ish or 8-ish, the cat was laying on my bed. Dad came downstairs to get something, and I pointed out the cat, and he saw a dead mouse (eep) on the floor. So he got rid of that. Later than morning, she was 'playing' with another mouse. I wasn't sure if it was dead, or if it was playing dead, but Dad got rid of it, too.

So Mom thinks I should make basic socks for my first pair, instead of Monkey. She also suggested that I make my first pair in a solid colour... only problem is, the pattern from Hip to Knit uses double knit, and I don't have enough green double knit for a pair of socks, and the only other double knit I have is the black with the coloured flecks. So yeah... I'd have to either go yarn shopping or look in Mom's stash.

Oh, and before I forget...

I put this photo of Katie and Dan's cat, Jeffrey, on my Flickr. I thought I'd also share it with my readers :)

Book sale!!!!! :D :D :D

I went down to the fall book sale with my dad. He got a book for himself and a book for Mom (a Martha Stewart Living Christmas book). I got three rather awesome-looking books...




Yep, I now have my own copy of Hip to Knit! There's also a poetry book and a book with vikings in it :D

I saw Nathan there, actually. I spotted him, and, thinking I was seeing things, told Dad, "I'm hallucinating. I thought I saw Nathan over there." Dad said that it was Nathan, so when we got closer to him, Dad said, "Hey stranger!"

Nathan replied, "What're you two doing here?"

Dad and I answered together, "What d'ya thing?", and Dad added, "We're gardening. No, we're buying books!"

Nathan made a comment about needing to get his box of books from home. Well, he's not getting the guitar book back. Last time I checked, he doesn't have a guitar, and I don't think my dad will be giving his away, especially to my brother!

*chuckle*

So, I watched Run, Fatboy, Run today, which was really funny. And now, I can proudly say that I got to see Dylan Moran's butt. Twice :D

Mom gave me more yarn, including lotsa Patons Astra, which I'll probably use to make preemie sweaters. So, I had to reorganise my larger yarn bin. I noticed that there's only one skein of the grey Wool-Ease Thick & Quick left in my bin - I still have partial skeins attached to the pieces of my vest, so it's not like I used up that much, but seeing that lone skein made me feel awesome. Even though I haven't used up the partial skeins. Even though my vest still isn't finished. When did I start that monstrosity, anyway? Nearly a year ago, perhaps?

Anyhow, I've decided to start using up my Red Heart acrylic that was in my bin. I have some canary yellow (which is pretty splitty...), some marroon, some rainbow variegated, and some bluey purpley greeney variegated called 'Ocean'. I've decided that belts made of acrylic are not a good idea (I had made a belt out of the Ocean colourway.... in garter stitch... bad idea...), so I'm going to make more mug cozies, and maybe some glass and/or can cozies so that I can have a cold drink up here without it sweating on my desk/table. I might try to make more of those darn knitted flowers, too, although they look kinda funny whenever I make them.

The strangest thing happened yesterday. I was trying to send some of my photos to myself in an e-mail from the downstairs computer to my computer, and I couldn't find my folder. I had just been into it, because I'd saved a photo I took with my keychain camera, but for some strange reason I couldn't find my pictures. So Dad said that it was because the printer had resorted everything (I guess Dad did an update), and he'd find the folder for me.

I'm about halfway through Twilight, which is good because I have to return it to the library by October 1st, although I'm willing to pay a few dimes in fines if I'm late returning it. I think I'm finally making sense of it. It can be pretty cryptic and unusual in some parts of the story. Plus, I might have been tired when I was trying to read the cryptic parts.

I started working on that baby cardigan again. After nearly losing my mind over trying to figure out how to make the darn cuffs (the pattern was so wrong... Mom helped me with the cuffs), I got to a mindless stitching part. Although cotton - and cotton blends like Cotton-Ease, which is what I'm using - can be hard on the hands, I love the fact that when they split, they don't catch on the needles or other strands of yarn as bad as acrylic does!!!!!!!!!!! That makes me happy :)

I still have to make a needle case. I think I'll use my Knit Picks Wool of the Andes for a case. I found a pattern for a case on Ravelry that comes from the Classic Elite Yarns website, so I'll swatch with the Knit Picks. I don't want to make something out of the Knit Picks that I'll have to wash, because the Knit Picks I have is 100% wool, and I don't want it to felt.

I should make some coasters, too. That way I won't have to put an order of service from church under my drink :p

Hi, I'm a title :)

...Yeah, I don't really feel like coming up with a clever title today. And '(no subject)' just won't cut it today.

Q107 did play parts three and four of the Pink Floyd story. I missed the beginning of part three, though - I also had missed the beginning of part one, actually. It was interesting. But I didn't listen to the live cut of 'Comfortable Numb' from start to finish. It was the live cut from Live 8, when they reunited for one night.

I'm still really sad about Richard Wright's passing. In fact, I think it's starting to make me a bit depressed. I didn't sleep well - I read Twilight for a bit, but then I got too tired to focus on it. But then I got so restless I had to walk around my room. And then I had a terrifying thought - I won't say exactly what the thought was. I know it's normal for a teen's mind to wander like that, but I'm still trying to tell myself, "No, you are not going to do that. Now sleep."

I had depressing thoughts once when I was nearly fourteen. My dog had died then, and my room/basement had flooded. Sometimes I'll get depressing thoughts, but then I kick them away and I feel better. I'm hoping I don't have to go on medication or something. I'm hoping this is just my typical teenage brain playing tricks on me.

Silly speakers...

My speakers seem to be possessed. Seriously. They cut in and out. Well, they are old speakers - they're from our old 386, which I think was our first computer. Then the computer along with the speakers because my brother's, then he traded the speakers with my sister in return for a Walkman. My sister used the speakers for a while - she used to plug them into her discman. Then they sat in the laundry room for a few years. They can go really loud, but I'm trying to take it easy on them since they're so old. Maybe I'll ask for new speakers for Christmas. Or a printer.

So far my files have stopped disappearing, which is a good thing, but I'm still gonna work on my story in Google Docs. I wrote another draft for my story, but it took me a bit of time to get it to look okay. I wrote the original draft on paper early this morning while listening to the replaying of the Legends of Classic Rock program on Pink Floyd, parts one and two. I wonder if they're playing parts three and four tonight...

I think I'll turn off my computer and see what mom and dad are watching on the telly.

Something I put on my Facebook

I heard this song yesterday during Q107's Pink Floyd weekend to honor Richard Wright. I love it. I think I had heard it before, actually. Luckily, my dad owns the album it comes from, The Division Bell. I'll have to ask him if I can put it on my computer.

Here's the video...




ETA: The song is called 'High Hopes', and it's the last track on The Division Bell.

Late night reading

Either late last night or early this morning I read Twilight and listened to The Legends of Classic Rock. Normally it's on Sunday nights and replayed on the following Saturday morning, but last night/this morning, they played parts one and two of the Pink Floyd story to honor Richard Wright's life.

Once again, the music fit well with the story. I was reading the part where Bella and Edward are eating dinner at the Italian restaurant. I normally don't read at night, but I decided to try aiming my flashlight at one spot so that I'd have enough light. It worked. I had enough light to read by, plus I had my duvet over me to keep me warm. The music soothed me, too.

I'm kinda mad at myself because I didn't pick up the phone in time a moment ago. I had music on up here and didn't here the phone ringing until it was on the last ring and going to the answering machine. Luckily, it was just the library.

I think I'll go heat up some leftover pasta that I spied in the fridge. 'Scuse me.

Take that, Combat Mom

My mother, well, she's in combat mode today. So I'm up here fuming with my music blaring. First it was the Rocky Horror soundtrack. Now it's Queen.

Man, I love being able to access the internet from the Spare Oom and blast music.

We got into a fight over school safety - I know, it's an odd subject to argue over, but we're a strange family. You see, we were watching Dr Phil at the time, and the episode was about violence in school. So I'm trying to get my point across, and she's cutting me off, and gets all offended when I tell her not to interrupt, because apparently I sound condescending. I probably did sound rude, but trust me, that was not what I was aiming for. So I hide up here, and scream that she always has to be right, and it's been that way since the day I was born. Dad calls me back down and calmly tells me that that was uncalled for and that the sun doesn't shine outta my, er, butt. I would use the alternative word, which is what he actually used, but I don't want to offend anyone. You have to feel sorry for my dad, really. He got caught in the middle of a catfight (again, I'll avoid using the explicit alternative).

So now I'm up here, blogging, with a Ravelry window open, Queen's greatest hits blaring, and a can of V8 on my desk.

♪Can anybody find me somebody to looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove?♪

Lazy week

I have been ridiculously lazy this week... then again, it hasn't been the happiest week for me.

I did get some reading done. I finished Artemis Fowl, and I've probably read a quarter, or nearly a quarter, of Twilight. I have even more things to pick up from the library - two knitting books (!!!), the Oxford Guide to Literary Britain and Irelend (that'll be cool), a Historical Atlas of Toronto, a book on the Great Depression (by the one and only Pierre Berton!)and three CDs (a Bryan Adams compilation called So Far So Good, a Pink Floyd album called Ummagumma, and the Monterey International Pop Festival album). I also have another knitting book in transit.

And I'm still waiting on that darn Peter Gabriel album! Whoever has it out is taking their sweet time.

I watched a documentary I'm borrowing from the library. It's about the Beatles film Magical Mystery Tour. I thought it was the actual film I was borrowing. But the documentary was okay. It and the Elton John DVD are overdue, so I have to go to the library tomorrow.

Why is it that all my library holds are arriving in groups of at least five lately?!

As I mentioned in my latest Facebook note, I find it funny when the music I'm listening to goes good with the book I'm reading. Like today, I was reading Twilight, and at the part where Bella is in the forest behind her dad's house, I'm listening to R.E.M. I also find it funny - and odd - that I tend to listen to the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack when I read Twilight :p

R.I.P. Richard Wright

I just found out this afternoon that Richard Wright from Pink Floyd has died. I was fighting tears until I couldn't any longer. I went into the kitchen to get a glass of soy milk. That was only a decoy. I cried. In the kitchen.

I cried in the living room, and my mom thought I was crying about my annoying grandparents, because I had been talking about them. But I was really crying about Richard. When I saw him on David Gilmour's Remember That Night DVD and the VH1 program I'd seen on YouTube via the Legends of Classic Rock blog, he seemed healthy. I don't know what he died of - I haven't done an internet search because sometimes the internet isn't always right.

I wanted to meet him someday. I admire him greatly. Pink Floyd just isn't the same without Richard Wright.

Update: I just found out that he died of cancer. Thank you for telling me, Taryn.

This cake is awesome.

Mom decided to use up one of the cake mixes, so she picked a lemon one, and man, is it good! I got a second slice.

So on Wednesday, I went to pick up my stuff from the library, including Twilight. I started reading it that day, and it is now Sunday and I finished chapter five today. Wow. My Ravelry friends are right - I am getting sucked into it!

Although I was a little annoyed that it took so long to find out why Bella left Phoenix when she loves Phoenix but hates Forks...

And, though I did get excited whenever Edward was nice and caring towards Bella, or whenever he'd look at her deeply and she'd feel amazing, but I still don't go for weird dudes with dark circles under their eyes. Maybe it's something I'll appreciate more as I read the book???

The only character from a book that I find extremely attractive would have to be Numair Salmalin from the Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce.

Neil from I Capture the Castle sounds pretty handsome, too, but Dodie Smith doesn't describe him in great detail. I guess it's because it's Simon that get mentioned more, because he loves Rose.

But really, I prefer long-haired Englishmen. Like Robert Plant ;)

Man, this cake is good.

I worked on my story a bit more today. I might write another seperate draft for the story, either on Google Docs or on paper, since I don't trust Word '07. That reminds me, my keyboard was being stupid today, but Mom fixed it.

My cake is now gone except for crumbs, but I'm still happy.

Do I really need a title today?

Today has been a pretty good day. Except for the fact that I didn't eat breakfast. I didn't have water, either, which I should have had this morning. But I ate an instant kimchi noodle bowl, with sour cream to cut the spice and prevent heartburn (HATE heartburn!). Then I ate a mini Moon Pie (Dad got a box of them in the mail from someone). Then my mom and I had tacos, which were pretty good, even though the shredded pork my mom prepared was a little dry.

I worked on my story about the teenage ghost hunters. I had written a seperate draft to add in later, and I added that in today. I hope it flows well. I've decided to do all my writing in Google Docs, since Microsoft Word '07 likes to delete files without telling me. Although, I did check some of my Word files, and they're working. So far so good. But it's only a matter of time 'till things begin to disappear.

My photos are gone. Good thing they were mostly Dan's photos, even though I kept some of his photos because they were cool. So, my wallpaper is now stonehenge instead of the wallpaper I had up - I think it read, 'I'm not completely stupid, some parts of me are still missing'. Or something like that, something charmingly sarcastic. My dad has a similar saying on a t-shirt.

The learning software was working yesterday, although I didn't try the US Government one. My dad had it in his head that my mom and I had installed the programs wrong, even though they DID get installed properly. So there :D

But seriously. If things go haywire again, we're either wiping the hard drive or taking it to the computer place we take our computers to and have someone there give it a check for faulty guts. Mom said it might be a fried motherboard.

Since one of my Ravelry friends has been posting random videos on her blog (I didn't watch them, though), I think it's time I put some time-wasters on here...




This one you might not get unless you watch Gilmore Girls...







I know I've already put the Time Warp on here, but once more won't hurt :)



edited to fix spelling mistakes.

My new theory

Mom doesn't think that Dan would've sold this computer to us if there was something wrong with it. Here is my theory...

Either:

a) The computer has a virus
b) The computer has something wrong with it internally, like a fried motherboard
c) The version of XP is faulty, and the computer would run better if we installed our copy of XP Home

I think the answer is either B or C. I don't think this has a virus, I'm sure that Dan would have given it a virus scan before selling it.

Microsoft Word '07 and Rocky Horror

A peculiar combination, yes. Allow me to explain.

I can't trust Word 2007. For some strange reason, it deleted my Word documents. How weird is that? Dad thinks it's because stuff was updating, but I highly doubt it, because this computer has no antivirus. I mean, it wouldn't've killed my dad to say, "Don't go on the internet until we download AVG." But no. So I have to do it myself, with help from Mom. I don't know for certain if there's a virus. It might have been the updates that mucked around with my documents. Emphasis on might.

I listened to a few tracks from the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack, and Wise Up Janet Weiss isn't on there! And the Time Warp sounds different - Magenta doesn't shout in her part like she does in the film. How weird is that???

At least Sweet Transvestite and 'Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul' are complete...

My learning software is evil.

I have these DVD-ROMs. One is called Math Advantage 2008, and the other is High School Advantage 2008. I installed most of the math programs from Math Advantage, so when I started installing stuff from High School Advantage, I didn't need to install the math programs on THAT. I discovered this morning that, after opening the US Government program, all the other programs thought they were US Government, too. So I uninstalled the composition program, thinking that would help. Well, all of the uninstall wizards disappeared after that. So I had to delete US Government from the My Computer thingy. Fun!

Now everything works, so I'm happy. I'm too groggy to do much work, though.

...and now Mouse is in the window. I think she's happy that there's a window she can sit in without being yelled at.

M-O-N-D-A-Y S-U-C-K-S!

Well, the new season of the Ellen Degeneres Show starts today, and Bonnie Hunt's show started today, so that's a plus. But I have an annoying headache. Being on my computer (man, that sounds weird... MY computer!) probably isn't helping much, either. It started out as a headache and sinus pressure, so I took a Claritin, which helped with the pressure.

Back to my computer. I was on it yesterday, and had a strange craving for seafood sauce, the kind of sauce you dip shrimp or calamari into. I couldn't believe it. Seafood sauce! I was craving seafood sauce!!! I find this weird mainly because I got sick of seafood sauce and stopped eating it with shrimp and calamari.

I also had to do updates on my computer. Java was yelling at me, as was Windows. On top of that, when I opened a PDF, Adobe decided to automatically update. Then I had to install the Adobe updates, with help from Dad. Dad also helped me with the Java updates and with the Windows updates. Fun. i did get some writing done while I waited for stuff to finish updating, though. I'm still getting used to Microsoft Word 2007, though, because on the downstairs computer, the version of Word that we have is '97-2003. Eeep.

My shoulders ache as well. I did push-ups, sit-ups and squats today, because I felt that I needed to exercise more. I haven't gone to cardio kickboxing in a while, so I'm out of shape. Mom wants me to go to the cardio class tonight, actually.

TFC! TFC! TFC!

Last night was Toronto FC's match against Chivas USA. We got pretty good seats... right near the hooligans :) It was pretty funny, actually. Before the game started, someone was banging a drum and saying something like this: "Give me your number! Are you married? Put me in your BlackBerry!" Mom thought that he was talking to the woman in the row in front of us.

When the match began, confetti littered the air for a bit. Afterwards, I put two pieces of confetti in my coat pocket, as a souvenier for a scrapbook. Being close to the hooligans was hilarious. The rowdy bunch were right at the seats near the goal, but our section was pretty loud at times. Like when the Chivas goalkeeper went to his knees to get the ball, and grabbed his thigh like he pulled a hamstring. That guy was a piece of work. They even got a stretcher out. Then, when they found out that they were taking the keeper the wrong way, they headed in the other direction and - get this - dropped the stretcher!!! With the keeper on it!!! And then he got up when they reached the benches! Where's an Oscar when you need one?

Toronto lost, unfortunately. I think the final score was Chivas - 3, Toronto - 1. I think the main reason as to why we lost is because nine of Toronto's players are at the World Cup qualifying matches. We still had one of our top players, Danny Dichio, though.

Edited for spelling

I got a computer for my birthday!!! And Toronto FC tickets!!!

The computer isn't brand-new (although Mom wanted to get me a laptop), but it's in great condition. The CPU used to be Dan's (my sister's boyfriend), we got the monitor when Nathan was supposed to be giving me his old Pentium 2, the speakers are from our very, very, very first computer, and the mouse and keyboard are new. I'm still breaking in the space bar on this thing :P

The match in Toronto is tomorrow. I'm excited. Mom even got rain ponchos, just in case it starts raining during the match. It's Toronto FC vs Chivas USA. I also got a sticker, a 'crying towel' and a Toronto FC scarf! :D Other things I got for my birthday were a book of writings by young feminists, the soundtrack from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and a three-disc copy of Rocky Horror on DVD - I think it has Shock Treatment included.

We went to Mandarin for dinner. Mandarin, for anyone who doesn't know, is an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. They have sushi there too, so my dad got a plate of sushi. The first thing I got was a bowl of won-ton soup. I love that stuff. Every time I go to Mandarin, I have to start with won-ton soup. After that I got a plate and filled it with stuff like Singapore rice noodles, teriyaki meatballs, torpedo shrimp and calamari rings. I actually had room for dessert after letting my stomach sit for a little bit after eating. Mom and I went to the dessert table, but Dad was too full. I got some trifle, a nanaimo bar, a strawberry or two, a chocolate-covered strawberry, a cream puff and some Jello. Next time, I might eat ice cream there. Katie and I had ice cream for dessert there once, and we loved it. They have stuff like mimi M&M crumbs to put on it.

edited because the title was 'Shock Treatment', not 'Shock Value'.

MORE ANGER

So Mom is under the impression that I am not behind in schoolwork at all, that I'm doing the right work for my grade level. Never mind the fact that I only just started algebra this time last year, and I'm supposed to be in 'grade twelve' this year. By American standards, I think I'm doing algebra II. My mom and I had a fight about it. I'm telling her that I should have started algebra when I was 13, and she said that I didn't want to do algebra then. I told her that she had me doing fractions, and she told me that I had to go through the fractions to understand the algebra!!!

THEN HOW COME MY BROTHER UNDERSTOOD ALGEBRA WITHOUT GOING THROUGH ALL FOUR FRACTIONS BOOKS?!

...phew.

So Dad called me upstairs to tell me not to fight with Mom. I told him that she won't get it in her head that I'm behind, and he told me that I'm not behind.

I started biology-ish stuff not too long ago. I probably should have started biology at around grade ten, maybe grade nine. I have very little knowledge of geometry, because Mom had me doing fractions. I'm still lacking in general science knowledge. I have a chemistry book and a physics book, though, so science will be FUN this year.

I'm not worried about English. Even though everyone else has it in their heads that you MUST read Lord of the Flies in high school. Do our lives really depend on that book? I'd rather not read a book as harsh-sounding as Lord of the Flies. And Shakespeare? I like the Reduced Shakespeare Company for that. Reading the childrens' Shakespeare books by Lois Burdett help, too, if you want to skip most of the 'thys' and 'thous'. In fact, I think my sister borrowed the childrens' Macbeth when she was in high school.

The library will be my friend this year.

I'm honestly wondering who's in charge of my education here.

ANGER

I guess I've been whining too much, because when I said last night that I'm lazy, Mom said, "You're young, you're fit..."

I'm not really looking forward to my birthday as much as I should be. I just feel so depressed, like it's just one more year off my life. I'm in a rut. I can't do much in karate class because of the bone graft in my mouth, I have no job because very little seems to grab me. Although I might apply at Fortino's or the library.

Basically, I have too much time on my hands. If I take art lessons, I'll have to either take lessons at the Dundas Vally School of Art, which is too far away, or the art gallery, which is downtown. If I take acting classes at one of the theatres, I might wind up in the same classes as Erica, which might turn out to be catastrophic on my part.

Mom says that I should just let stuff go. But I can't. I guess I'm still trying to understand why Erica's being like this.

I watched disc one of the Crossroads DVD. I love it. Although I thought that John Mayer made a guitar face that made him look like he wanted to eat his guitar. That, and he was too close to the mic. I think his lips were against it! DON'T KISS THE MIC, MAN!!!! :)

School-ish

So I started 'school' today. Homeschooling, to be exact. I took some books with me for the car ride to my sister's place - Clapton: The Autobiography, Anne of Avonlea, The Pocket Gallileo and a pocket guide to science. I only read Clapton and Anne, though. I took my camera with me, too, so that I could take photos of Jeffrey, but I only got one decent shot. I'll put it up on my Flickr soon, and eventually up on this very blog.

Jeffrey is such a sweetheart. Very talkative. Mom thinks he's definitely half Siamese because of his colouring and face structure. He's so big compared to Mouse, though! And Katie (my sister) said that he wouldn't eat the treats she bought, and yet when my mom gave him treats he ate them!

We went out to a place called Wonder Sushi for lunch, which was great. I'm not keen on sushi, but I love udon noodles and tempura. We got these dumplings that were pretty tasty, too, and chicken teriyaki, which was awesome. For dessert, we had ice cream - I had mango, Katie and Mom had green tea and Dan (Katie's boyfriend) had vanilla. I tried a bit of Mom's green tea ice cream, and it was pretty good. I'll have to get the green tea ice cream next time.

So, for an early birthday gift, Katie gave me soap and a bath ball. The bath ball is from Lush, and I think the soap is too. They smell lovely.

We couldn't get Q107 in London Ontario, so we listened to their local rock station, FM 96, which isn't too bad. I actually like it better than our local rock station, Y108. When we tuned into FM 96, the first song we heard was Lust For Life by Iggy Pop, which Y108 NEVER plays. Q107 sometimes plays Iggy Pop, but not a lot. And then we heard an interview with Liam Gallagher from Oasis, and then a new track from Oasis. I can't remember what it was called or how it goes, but I remember liking it. Oasis are cool :) Although one of their songs has a raunchy title. I also got to hear the title track from Coldplay's new album, Viva la Vida. As I mentioned in an older post, I first heard it on Galaxie Rock, which is one of Bell's satellite music stations... actually, I think it's owned by CBC.

I'm going to visit my sister tomorrow!!!!

So tomorrow Mom, Dad and I are going to London Ontario to see Katie and her boyfriend. And I get to meet their cat, Jeffrey! I saw the photos that Katie e-mailed to Mom, and he looks like he has Siamese in him. He looks adorable. I'll take my camera with me so that I can take pictures of Jeffrey.

Also, a book called It Girl Knits is on order at the library! There's so many interesting new books that just got added, but too many for my list. It's already full. Thankfully, though, I have two items in transit, so I can free up my list a little.

I worked on Justin's scarf today. I have to take another photo of it soon, because it's progressed since the first photo. I'll have to start the second skein soon.