7:13 p.m. - 2002-06-10
Want to be the screwed-up ninth grader?
"When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time. You'd be shocked at how many adults are really dead inside -- walking through their days with no idea who they are, just waiting for a heart attack or cancer or a Mack truck to come along and finish the job. It's the saddest thing I know." --Mr. Freeman in SPEAK, by Laurie Halse Andersen, p. 122
"Maybe I could carve off all the linoleum and call it 'Empty Block.' If a famous person did that, it would probably be really popular and sell for a fortune. If I do it, I'll flunk. 'Be the tree.' What kind of advice is that? Mr. Freeman has been hanging out with too many New Age weirdos. I was a tree in the second-grade play because I made a bad sheep. I stood there with my arms outstretched like branches and my head drooping in the breeze. It gave me sore arms. I doubt trees are ever told to 'be the screwed-up ninth-grader.'" --Melinda, narrator in SPEAK, by Laurie Halse Anderson, p. 153
I love that book.
I really have to do a big super-duper update because SO much has been going on, but I can't deal with it right now...
Been busy trying to switch to a new AOL account. For the first time since last June, I'm below 100 emails, which really makes me so amazingly happy. I get jokes every day, and vocabulary, and then emails from friends, and links for me to check out.
Then studying for finals. I have my French speaking exam tomorrow (listening was last week); the rest of the final is Thursday; chem honors final Monday; chem Regents Friday. And I need to finish my digital media project as well. The self-portrait one. I actually like how it's turned out -- it's done on Photoshop -- but I need to cut it out, mount it on posterboard, and assemble it as a sculpture.
It doesn't help that Mom informed me that today was our last class with Maggie, when in fact, it is next week. Fortunately, since Maggie is an absolute angel to put up with me (in fact, she was a nun for twelve years), she only gave me six pages to read for global and a few math problems. Our last class with Carley was Thursday, and we played Balderdash; last class with Judy was in May; last class with Joanne was just before the Bat Mitzvah. It's kind of nice, because I can focus on schoolwork. Which I need to do.
David's home and working. Cassandra's been over many times; after one hellish weekend, Mom and Dad set some serious ground rules, and I doubt she'll be back as often.
I'm getting psyched for France. Not so much for CTY -- I'm trying not to think about it -- but I think France will be fun.
I love all the LOTR sisters.
And now, because I'm procrastinating any sort of work, I'll type up a rough translation of my French essay. It's pretty stupid, actually; she told us to write it without a dictionary or any help, then says she'll grade it! So I'm faced with a dilemma; do I want an honest result or a good grade?
I decided to send Dad the honest, shitty first draft, and get a semi-good grade on the essay. Probably in the low 90's. He's in France, with Dan (the new intern from Yale, who we've known for years). He left yesterday and he'll be back late Friday.
Speaking of Dan, Lauren went to prom with him on Thursday. Her graduation is the 24th. I'm going to miss her so fucking much.
But yeah, for the French essay. The topic, translated: "Certain people affirm that, in the world that we live in, it's impossible to always be honest. Do you share this opinion? Justify your point of view."
So, my pathetic excuse for an essay, translated from the French:
"Certain people affirm that, in the world in which we live, it's impossible to always be honest. I agree.
In our family, we have a friend who's named Jane. She is almost insufferable, but she has a heart of gold. If she asks if I'm happy to see her, I have to say 'yes,' even if I find her very difficult, becaue I don't want to hurt Jane.
Many people say lies because they don't want to hurt anyone. For example, if a friend buys a new dress that she loves, but you think it's ugly, you say that the robe is beautiful, because you want to make your friend happy.
Or sometimes you say nice lies to a superior persun, like a Head of Servie. In our world, it's essential to have a good job.
Sometimes you lie to keep a job, or in order not to be punished, or to be nice to a friend. I believe that it's impossible to be completely honest in this imperfect world."
And that's after Dad's few comments. Yup, this is AP French! Oh yeah.
I'm going to fail...
Love,
Jessica
P.S. By the way, combined with all my entries on the old diary (jessica5787, which is locked; let me know if you want a password), this is my 100th entry! Yayyyy! Go me, and Samantha (angrystarlyt)! (Sorry, I don't have time to put in a link.) Woooo!
