The Boy-Crazy Train has Arrived

At this age, your hormones are finally budding. There's a reeking stench that fills the hallway up with pheromones, sweat, body odor, and axe body spray. This horrible stage in life happens to occur when you least expect it. You might feel and think like you don't care that much about the opposite sex, but you actually do. Welcome to the beginning to the end.Where the boy-craziness begins.

October 23rd, 2009

This school has been so great! The dance was tonight and I  had a great time dancing and having sugar (I miss this)!

And OMG. My friend Kira asked a boy named Jonathan to dance with me and – we didn't because we missed our chance. But I got his phone number and he thought we should go out. Sweet boy…

October 28th, 2009

You know the boy from the dance? He's my Boyfriend now! I'm extremely happy, so happy that it's hard to sleep! But now my mom took my phone and is always yelling at me! Now it makes me extremely sad! I'm going to get bad grades because she won't help me with me homework. Now she gossips about me all the time. I don't think I'll be getting my phone back anytime soon… But later that night she talked to me. She told me about how she knows I was frustrated and sad and she was too, she told me about having a lot on her mind. She gave me a loving piece of inspiration. And for once, I cried myself to sleep. Not that I was sad, but I was proud of my mom.

October 30th, 2009

Tomorrow is Halloween and I was given candy and a report card. And I got to hug Jon and say "Have a good Halloween, Bye!" I'm so happy!

November 24th, 2009

Halloween was a lot of fun Trick-or-Treating with Kira but recently I've been thinking about breaking up with Jon. But he is very sensitive. And he had to get a haircut so he now looks not so good. What if he hates me? He gave me his email and an airhead!

It was a sad, rainy day. A short day. Today was hard because my friends made me send the Note. The Note. A.K.A. The Breakup Note. I regret that so much, I wish it never happened! First of all, he didn't give me the souvenir he got from N.Y., and second of all, I really like him. But now, I gave him a sweet hug (In the rain, of course). Our love is still in us and growing stronger everyday (So i thought). We're still friends and I'm not looking for love in a long time.

December 2009

December came along a new friend: Cuashon.

He is obsessed with sonic and cartoons. The only reason I hang out with the shorty is because he's funny and we have a lot in common! But boy, is he annoying!

I also have a huge crush on this tall, handsome, funny, and smart boy named Grey Sasser. But guess what? In a choice reward thingy, my friends asked him out for me! Sarah and Melissa said he likes me and "Yes!" but then they said that he said, "IDK, I have a girlfriend." I'm so mad that my best friends did that!

Ughh.. I'm like on a drama rollercoaster. People keep telling me that Chris, Cuashon, nd a bunch of other kids like me. But I don't really care! I'm still madly in love with that German Robin! I miss swimming, playing soccer, taking pictures, catching fish, eating four meals a day, and although it's unrealistic, it's helping me keep a level head on my shoulders.

For Christmas this year I got a scarf, A Nintendo DS game, Spore GA!

That pretty much wraps up all of 2008 to 2010. I was so naïve and just reading this makes me blush because I was so stupid at times. I was also being super shallow with guys. I only cared about looks and I didn't care too much about personality, which is really important. But I later learned. It took longer than it needed to, but it learned. It was smart to hold a very high standard for myself, but I also definitely seemed like I was too good for anyone which is not true. I'm no better than any person that attended that school in North Carolina, but I definitely should have made sure to save myself from more embarrassment by not sharing details about whom I like with anyone but myself. Well, I learned.

The Tweenage Crisis and the Breaking of School Rules

I'm usually very quiet and follow directions well, but something in me revolted at the idea of wearing belts to school every. single. day. This was public school. If they wanted us to wear a dress code for free we'd also like to request better teachers maybe?

August 25th, 2009

Today was the first day of 6th grade. I was very nervous as usual, but I did very well. I made it through classes! But there was a little too many rules. We had to have our shirts tucked in and have a belt. Luckily, I survived the first day, and made about six new friends! In one day! I'm so happy! And some even live close by!

August 27th, 2009

The second day of school was okay. My parents are frustrated with all the rules and are thinking about switching schools! Today was a hard day. My mom yelled at me saying I have a " Tween Attitude" , do you think my period has come near? It's like there's nowhere to be! Both school and home are frustrating! It just makes me want to scream!

September 10th, 2009

Today, I am experiencing a tweenage crisis. A few days ago, a really gross unattractive boy said, "Hey, Alysa, I've been wanting to ask you something…" I cut him off until the library when he said "will you go to the upcoming dance with me?" I was astonished, and embarrassed. So I said, " Uh, I-I will have to think about it." I ran off. Then later that same day, a guy with braces and freckles and red hair asked how old I was and I said, "Why?" and he blushed, clearly embarrassed, ran away. Then today my brother Alex tore up my personal belongings. I was VERY MAD at him. I began taking piano lesson and texting my cousin with my phone. Sending secret messages back and forth.

September 18th, 2009

Great. Another guy asked me to the dance. How many guys like me?!! He wasn't cute. His name is Andrew, Drew for short. It was hard to decide, but now I've decided to say no, but go to the dance with friends. I've made a good relationship with friends and trying to kickoff with boys but hold back from the teasing ones – of course.

October 2nd, 2009

Tomorrow is my Sister's 8th birthday! I finished the 50's themed Dance that was so much fun and I danced and played games. It was a blast. A lot has been going on. Today I played at my friend Kira's house. It was awesome.

Starting off at Middle School isn't all that easy. IT's hard picking out who's the fake friends, the real friends, and even trying to stay out of trouble with boys. Some boys don't even care to get to know you, as soon as they know you are new, they jump on you like you're some new island to inhabit and take control over first. And I am none of that. I'm really proud of my 6th grade self. for making the executive decision to just go with friends, because at any other time in my life I think I would be self-conscious enough to just say yes. But that isn't me. As far as rules go, I had to follow them. I spent three years stuck in that hell hole prison middle school. But I certainly made quite a few lifelong friends there.

Stormy Weather Warning

Nothing feels more normal than having everything in boxes in a UHaul. Normal is driving across the country to start over. Embracing the food, the culture, the allergies, and even the weather. Despite how humid and hot it was outside.

August 20th, 2009

So we went on the road again. We packed and we left. I was very sad. Wisconsin felt drier than Minnesota but looked a lot like it. The drive took forever, but it was worth it. My own room was brown so I made it a cute earthy room. It has a walk-in closet, a bed, an awesome desk, a huge bookshelf, dresser, and a Papazone (Basically just a fuzzy chair to read books in and it easily collapses) !

However, before leaving Minnesota, Me, Maddie, Prunella, Henriette, and some other kids came with us to swim the warm river, and we thought it would be a blast but it wasn't. When we got in, it was shallow and then it got deeper. We had fun. splashed around, it rained a little, when it shined again, we tried swimming to the bridge by Emily's. When we got there we discovered leaches all over our bodies. It was so terrifying having to pick every single one off.

When we got to north Carolina, Our hair got so frizzy. So my mom went to go enroll us in school, and then get us all haircuts. She also took us shopping for school clothes. Sometimes she would get us bad clothes, but I think I kinda want to mix it up with my style. I also got a new cellphone! I can finally text!(That phone number would remain my phone number until seven years later.)

Today was calm, normal like the rest of the days I've lived here in Goldsboro. It is hot! Every afternoon it burns – a lot. It's so hot, it rains, and it storms too! I also got a haircut a while ago. It's shorter and layered. I donated my lock of hair to kids who don't have any.  Soon I'd be getting on a bus and starting my first year in middle school. I was terrified.

My mother always knew how to prepare us before we started out at a new school. Our first day of school at a new school was always like our first day of school ever. We had to take a picture together in cute outfits and our new backpacks and haircuts. My mom would grow weary too, worrying about us making friends, and worrying about making her own in this new foreign city.

Being in the moment as an eleven or twelve-year-old, you see the word through different eyes. As someone older reflecting on what I did see and what I did talk about, I saw so many differences in the systems here in the south-east. It was a probably for me that it wasn't a challenge. Many of my challenges didn't really have to do with academics but with social structures. But I learn. And I learn. and I learn.

Jamaican Jams, Family Feuds, and Swiping Cellphones

My very first cellphone was a flip phone. I loved it. I miss that satisfying click as you end a call by closing the top half of the phone with a snap. But like all good things, they must come to an end. As do summers, barbeques, and good times. But it's only a few more months until summer hits once again.

July 15th, 2009 ~ Wednesday

Today, Grandma painted the letters JAMAHNAH on the boat using all of her grandchildren's first names to create another name.

Another set of good news, after waiting all summer, the Chippy finally came up to me and started eating seeds out of the palm of my hand.

Shortly after, Grandma Deedee, Grandpa John, and Aunt Tanya took me to the Mall of America! I got my hair straightened, I got a puzzle, rode all these scary rides, but one bad thing had to happen to level out all of the good. My cell phone was stolen. I was devastated.

Although it was great receiving all this attention from family members, I lacked paying any attention to my cellphone. As Summer was hitting a close, I realized I needed to quickly make the most out of my time before my annoying little sister came.

July 25th, 2009 ~ Saturday

A few days prior I helped Grandma with morning chores, I saw Verna at her home, played games on the computer, Went to Jonet's, spent time in the shower, fed the Chippy's, until finally they were here. We spent time with Maddie and her family and we had a good time having them finally back.

The Jamaican Jam was a party happening at the Boat Marina so everyone had to make a tinfoil hat for the tinfoil hat contest. My dad made a lighthouse with an actual light in it, someone made an octopus hat, and Jennifer made a crown, and I made a smaller version o fa crown. M dad won! and all the kids were winners of course… That night I stayed on Maddie's boat and in the morning we ate at Emily's for lunch and the candy shop.

These last few days of summer were short and sweet, and slightly painful. But I was hopeful for the future and what was sure to come in North Carolina. I couldn't wait to find new opportunities to make friends and start being treated like an actual adult, despite my lack of responsibilities.

You are Robin my Heart

Dear God, please help all the little eleven-year-olds with hopeless crushes and summer flings that don't last past Labor Day weekend. Amen.

July 12th, 2009 ~ Sunday

I've never seen Grandma Karen this angry before. We were just going to play some friendly miniature golf, but Grandma got so angry we had to leave.

The day before was so much fun! Me and Robin went to the Roaring Waters Waterpark in Duluth together for the day and we had a lot of fun playing chicken and going down the water slides. He had to leave early though.

Who was I kidding? Of course Robin and I were and only going to be friends. If we were something more what would've we done? I go to Germany for middle school. Heck no. But I still kept crushing. I even felt oddly satisfied I got to spend Robin's last day with just me instead of me and my cousin.

July 13th, 2009 ~ Monday

Today I go to the Sodeman's to see Robin without Maddie! At least I get to hangout with Robin. Me and Robin swam and caught fish. We also went paddleboating and went on a rock in the middle of Caribou Lake together. It was a lot of fun!

Having a day without Maddie and just Robin made me feel awkward and uncomfortable. It felt so good to spend the next few days with her and share our deepest secrets. Even about our ex-boyfriends.

July 14th, 2009 ~ Tuesday

Maddison came and went to Norway Hall on a rainy day. The Norway Hall Show was great! When we left, it was POURING out. The thunder was loud and terrible. The sky was also Green. It was very difficult to fall asleep next to Maddie that night. So we just talked and talked.

Maddie told me she had an ex-boyfriend named Tobias Cypers whom would  be at a concert we would both attend soon. It felt good to have someone I could carry countless conversations with that summer.

July 24th, 2009 ~ Friday

A couple of concerts involving my cousin Hunter also involved Tobias Cypers, who told Maddie' best friend, Henriette, he loved her. Not cool. But she slept over that night, and to make things better, Grandma made her Key Lime Pie, Maddie's favorite. But I did not like it.

The second ballet concert, which was really cool! They even had boys dancing! Then we went to Hunter's concert which Tobias was also present in.

Overall, I deeply valued all the girl time my cousin Maddie gave me. She was like the older sister I never had. Whomever made her feel bad, not only did her wrong, but did me wrong. And I knew from that moment on that I would stand up to anyone who hurt my friends or family. Robin was cute and all, but Maddie was much easier to be around.

#boobsbeforedudes

 

Butt hair, Skinny-Dipping, and more Movies

Sometimes you see things you don't want to see, and sometimes people see parts of you they didn't want to see either. Invasion of privacy is normal in any family, but an Air Force Brat's family.

July 3rd, 2009 ~ Friday

My Grandparents took my to my Auntie Sue's River House because it was Holden's Birthday Party since we couldn't be there June 15th. So Yesterday we brought him walkie talkies as a present and a cool card, we played, ate salmon, and cupcakes, and I asked to spend the night - which they said yes! Out of the two brothers Hans and Holden, I got along better with Hans because he's artistic and talented. Holden was just stubborn, but reasonable. We played a game called the Land of Thistle and  I bunked with Hans.

Today we played computer, watched the Journey to the Center of the Earth the 5th time with buttery popcorn and they showed me funny videos like Norwhal and Harry Potter Puppet Pals. We all bunked together but I eventually ended up at the foot of the bed. Boys are mean.

The next day I had to go back home because it was the 4th of the July and I swam in the pool most of the day. Me and Grandma saw fireworks and we bought our own and it was really cool.

I was surprised that my family members were so lax about me spending the night with boys when my mom freaked out about me spending the night with my friend Graham. I knew then that I could share anything with my Grandma unlike how I do with my mom(But that changes). It was really fun playing with boys for once because that is usually who I play against. Girls are a lot harder to play with just because we can be really judgemental and hurt each other's self-esteem really bad. I know that in my typical life of being a brat, there was always privacy available to us, and we respected it. With family, it's not always respected, but oftentimes exposure was celebrated by my grandma.

July 6th, 2009 ~ Monday

Yesterday, Judy (this woman who had her trailer parked at my grandma's) and her dog Max left.

Me, Maddie, GRandpa, and Grandma set out to Cornucopia to Canoe the Slough. It was amazing! We saw turtles, and wetlands! We swam in the lake where the Superior Lake met the Slough. We ate beef jerky, apples, bagels n'cheese, and coke for a picnic lunch there. Maddie and me practiced canoeing by ourselves to the docks where we swam naked! Maddie slept over after we skinny dipped again in our kiddie pool and we also dared each other to sleep naked all night! So we did. Then Maddie left the next morning. THen My Grandma DeeDee came and picked me up to take me to Park Pine Lake and we watched What about Bob?, which I couldn't finish because I was too tired and I fell asleep in my comfy spot in the Kitchen Living room.

July 8th, 2009 ~Wednesday

The next morning after sleeping on the sofa, I watched a scary apocalyptic movie called Knowing With Nicholas Cage, Push, and The Confessions of a shopaholic. Grandma Deedee made sugar cookies with me and I made one that looked like the Hollister Logo.

Today, we went to the Side walk festival in Duluth and I got two necklaces and a puppet dog I named Dakota. It was super fun!

It was super nice to visit my Grandparents on my other side of the family and have them spoil me more with movies and activities downtown. My dad's parents, Gerald and Karen are very simplistic, minimalistic, and traditional people. They don't need a lot to get by, but sometimes I miss Television, music, and bad food when I'm with them. So it can be really nice to go to my mom's parent's house to relax with movies and materialistic things. Karen would often talk about how freeing it is to be naked when swimming. Sometimes I don't feel comfortable, the opposite of free, but the more I do it, and the longer I do it, the more my body gets used to not having clothes on. We carry at least five pounds of clothing on us everyday without noticing, and once it's taken off, it feels like we've lost a limb.

So maybe live a little. Breath a little. Let your body free. It's so good for your body to let go of the restraints and just let go every once in a while. But it is also good to indulge in the structure and the society we live in, of course, in small amounts. Sitting in front of a television all day isn't good for you either.

Sometimes freedom of our bodies can lead to a little too much exposure. Exposure that is unwanted by other people. A prime example is my cousin Hunter.

July 10th, 2009 ~ Friday

Yesterday I had waffles and went to Fish World with Grandma Deedee then I went to McDonald's and went back to The Choo Choos ( What I call Grandma Karen and Grandpa Gerald). Hunter left for a while and my beloved pen ran out of INK!!! This page shall forever remind us of him…

Today, I did not do anything but sit on the computer playing video games all day to take my mind off something I saw today. In fact, I was trying to fry my brain so I wouldn't remember. I accidentally walked in to Hunter's room to get on the computer and I check to see if he was still sleeping and the covers were not completely covering him and his boxers were too baggy so they left a gaping hole around his but cheek which was literally black. with hair. I've never been more horrified in my whole life.

To brighten up my day a little, I went to Jimmy Sodeman's cabin on Caribou Lake and I met some people from germany! The Hesses. But ultimately I fell in love with their thirteen year old son named Robin.

I questioned my 5th grade conscience… COuld this be a coincidence? Was it true love? I'll never know. Now all I knew was that he was cute and a great friend. Well, you never know? (I was so cheesy, it was gross) Either way I had a good time with fireworks, making a video on his computer and swimming!

Some Privacy should be taken a little seriously, even when you expect that things will be just swell. I never even told my cousin Hunter that I got a 3rd degree burn on my corneas because of his gorilla butt, but maybe one day I will have the courage to tell him. I believed I learned a lot during this short beginning of a summer, in spite of all mistakes and odd moments.

Pirates, Chatrooms, and Sleepovers

Sometimes when you focus on the small stuff a little too much, you miss out on everything around you.

I wish I wouldn't have spent as much time on the computer that summer of 2009 as I did. But here I am writing a blog in 2017 so I can't really say much.

June 19th, 2009 ~ Monday

Tomorrow is Pirate Day, where you dress up like a pirate and get to go on a treasure hunt at the Marina my grandparent's boat is at. Today we saved a turtle that was trying to cross the road. We went shopping for pirate stuff and my grandma bought me a very cute pirate girl costume (I probably still have it in a closet somewhere).

My grandma Karen is known to be…. granola, free-spirited, and naturalistic. She doesn't really mind if I buy something a scandalous as the pirate costume I got. Which actually gave me the chance to feel good about how I look for the following day, like it mattered.

June 20th, 2009 ~Saturday

Today we had Pirate Day and it was HOT and Sweaty but it chilled down when we went to the perfect river around the Marina's bend to cool off. Lake Superior's water is way too cold sometimes for a swim. That night, I rode a log of driftwood that was floating on the lake but then it got cramped by boys. Despite the fighting with them, we had s'mores, glow sticks, a bonfire, and I slept over at Maddie's!

After all the socialization I had in the previous day and how clear my schedule was, I decided to spend most of the day on the computer.

June 21st, 2009~ Sunday

Today, I perfectly purred with yellow happiness!!! (I have no idea what I was thinking when I wrote this, but I presume it was hormones). I had a frozen pop tart for breakfast and played WeeWorld, a chatroom which wasn't really meant for kids, but I played and it looked like South Park people running around. I also watched YouTube videos, and took online quizzes. The internet had officially taken over. It sucked me in. That night we had shrimp stir fry and it was so good. grandma also prepared cream soda and root beer floats!

Sometimes, God or even Family intervenes with your internet use.

June 22, 2009~ Monday

TODAY, Hunter came and hogged the computer.

Then, me and Grandma went for errands like art supplies then watched Maddie get her first pair of point shoes for ballet. That same day Grandma got a ticket for an expired license plate. Boohoo. Tonight is a beach party with a huge bonfire and kicking and bugs, ew! There were lots of bugs there that couldn't fly. Most of my clothes got sandy.

Having the summer by yourself with two older people makes you forget you're a kid sometimes, so it was really nice to go out and sleepover at my cousins a lot.

June 23rd, 2009 ~ Tuesday

Today, Maddie is having ANOTHER SLEEPOVER with me! We walked the trail by grandma's house and later we had sloppy joe's and did makeovers on each other! That afternoon we went in the sprinkler and had floats and ice cream.

It was moments like these that I miss the most. A lot had changed since these times. I wish my cousin Maddie would sometimes still talk to me or spend time with me like this. I guess I was too busy online to really appreciate it..

June 24th, 2009

I love WeeWorld! Shh… I got an online boyfriend named Dominic and he saved me from stalkers who kept calling me a "B*tch" online and he's my hero. I love him. (I did not know the difference between love and friendship at this age).

I took some more online surveys and got gold paints and got a frame and YouTube video with Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours". Online. In my online house

Some things this minimal were a big deal back then. Big enough to write down in my journal to keep forever. Because those games took up a lot of my time and effort. I really needed to appreciate more of my grandparents and how I could live off of ice cream and Ice cream floats and still look like a tree branch.

June 25th, 2009 ~ Thursday

Today I got Piano Lessons from Grandma, and it was sooo cool! Then we went to the library and I got two books: The Cats of Roxville Station and Dewey. (Apparently I had a deep-rooted obsession of cats at an early age. )

Today I gave Grandpa some Wine Labels that I drew by hand for his homemade wine he made. (He still has many of these wines to this day.) We also went on a walk and got malts with Auntie Sue at the Portland Malt Shop in Duluth.

Getting out and getting some fresh air, became more and more of a blessing as I stayed at the old house with my grandparents. I found myself trying to feed bird seed to the chipmunks that ran around in the area, mostly because I thought they were cute, but also because I was kind of lonely out here.

June 26th, 2009~ Friday

Today, Karen and Gerald (my Grandparents) worked on the boat while I tried feeding Chippy, Chica, and Chuck, the chipmunks that lived here. I got bit by a lot of mosquitos waiting for the chipmunks to get used to me.

Most of my efforts to feed these wild animals by hand did not work well, but I still enjoyed being outside and I tried helping my grandparents when I could with the boat, which they would take me on all the time.

June 27th, 2009

Today we woke up early and went to a meeting on a luxurious boat with luiourious food: Canteloupe, Cherries, bread and cheese, crackers, you name it. We went back and I went to the Candy shop where I bought two stuffed animals: Lysol the skunk and Cheek the chipmunk! I also got a giant chocolate fish which I ate half before dinner…

I can't turn back the clock, but if I could, I would definitely go back to when I could eat a lot of chocolate and food without gaining a pound. I could also sit around watching movies all day and burn through a days worth of calories by just sitting there. How lucky I was.

June 30th, 2009 ~ Tuesday

Igor actually called me on Sunday. I was so surprised.

It was mostly a home day that day eexcept seeing my great-grandmother Verna in the Hospital and seeing great-uncle Ron.

Monday, Grandma bought me and Maddie a pool and we ate at my mother's parent's house.

Today, was me and Maddie's move day! We had Twizzler's, Popcorn, a beautiful dinner, raspberry shortcake, and a rootbeer float. Our movies were The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Edward Scissorhands, and The House Bunny.

I was so happy that I could spend time with family that much and that quickly. The best types of friendships were the ones where you didn't have to worry about how much time or distance you had apart, you always came back together like nothing has past. That's what I loved the most about my Cousin. I also loved that she accepted me and my body for what it was, and I did the same for her. We ate and ate, and laughed and laughed, and talked about dirty gross things like boys, makeup, making out, and the birds and the bees. It was some of the best times of my life. I wish I would've held on tighter.

 

 

The Hardest Goodbyes are Easiest for the Brats

Goodbyes can be emotional, difficult, uneasy for most. Saying goodbye to people you have attached yourself to, and repeatedly breaking your heart over and over again is the life of a brat.

It gets easier over time. Dealing with the pain of losing someone or dealing with the pain of letting go friendships gets easier as you face it more. Eventually, it takes a lot more to make you cry. It takes a lot to get emotional when saying goodbye to someone. Rarely do you see an Airforce Brat upset when they leave. It's a part of our life.

When I was younger, it was extremely difficult to leave my friends. I was upset. But little did I now that I would see them all again.

May 27th, 2009

Today we had to drop my dad off at the airport. I cried.

It was the last day of school. I hugged everyone I saw, even my crushes! I gave a lot of random people my phone number.

Today was the D.A.R.E. Graduation and I didn't win for one of the best essays. I'm still happy for the other kids. A lot of other people got emotional because they didn't win.

I'm so sad. I'm really depressed and I miss everybody. But I better watch out because I gave my number out to a lot of kids at school.

Many things happen as soon as you begin packing to move to a new destination. Suddenly, you feel as though the pieces of the puzzle you're in are finally coming together but you can no longer control the distance that separates you from some pretty rad friendships.

May 28, 2009

Laura is my inspiration. She's two years older than me and lives on my street but she is so amazingly artistic and we both share each other's dreams, writing, and words. I'm so glad I met her. Last night we ate dinner and swam in her hot tub, it was so much fun! We stayed in so long that we shrunk into prunes.

My annoying neighbor, Nathan, decided to stop by my house to tell me he always thought I was cute…. I got really angry and said to him, "Why are you telling me this now?" as he replied nonchalantly, " We're both moving, aren't we?". Although I felt angry, I still continued to play on the trampoline with him and my friends Graham Gibson as we would mock my sister and Nathan's sister Danica so they would leave us alone.

Sometimes goodbyes are emotional, mostly for us, it's focusing on the task ahead: packing.

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Today, ALL DAY, was kinda boring. All I did was organize every cluttered, stink'n, Ava-infested drawer in my bedroom.

We went to see UP. It was adorable! Yet, very cute and sad.

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Dear Diary, I almost completely cleaned and organized the room!

We are going to Boise to look for shoes - how boring! (So I thought at this age)- and maybe have dinner at Souper Salad!

WAH, WAH, WAH….

Mom said we could not go because we had to wait for dad… so we went to the cheesecake factory instead but we couldn't order any cheesecake so mom let us have a strawberry smoothie. It tasted like a sunset paradise.

When I was younger, I noticed a clear correlation with how bored I was and when we didn't have school to go to. Oftentimes, I would just watch movies at home or play video games. At this age, I just wanted to play with my closest friends who were all boys and I didn't quite understand why my mother was so mean:

June 5th, 2009 ~ Friday

This week I was SICK. I barely ate today or yesterday. It's probably genetics or me and my mom both ate something bad because she's sick too. Today I might play with Graham! My mother won't let us have a sleepover though!

She says he's a boy and we wanted to sleep on the trampoline like a tent!

My mother can be too over-protected sometimes. She let me go over there once, but I didn't go. It's so UNFAIR! I'm just a girl! But I barely act like one! No wonder I make good guy friends than girl friends! (Don't take this the wrong way, Diary)

I want to cry. My mother is always sneaking into my secrets and problems and situations. Then she shares it to everyone else on the phone! She tells everyone right in front of my face! I HATE IT SO MUCH! I wish she would just shrivel into a little prune. It's so embarrassing. Why can't she just worry about herself that way I wouldn't feel so embarrassed…

Moments leading up to leaving can be exhausting and rewarding though. Spring going into summer is always about the end of the year, the start of a long rewarding break.. right?

June 7th, 2009 ~ Sunday

Today, we are going up to the Boise Airport to pick up my Aunt Annie for the Graduation! The graduation is my dad's. He is graduating from Weapon School and it's a pretty big deal so his whole family including us is coming. He's so smart!

We had to celebrate at T.G.I. Friday's and the waiter was awesome! That night I went to play at Graham's and Ava was following me so we tricked her into leaving by boring her with meditation excercise. I also went to babysit! It was really fun, all I do is nothing but sit for money!

As my dad was wrapping up his year with my mom before we left to North Carolina, My grandparents came out to watch us before taking me with them for the summer in Minnesota! It all happened so fast, but I still remember every detail.

June 16th, 2009 ~ Tuesday

Yesterday I spent as much time as I could with Graham and Laura. That night, I cried. Laura brought me a present and I brought her cookies. It was a beautiful book of her poems, all colorfully written and painted on the outside (Which I still have to this day). I miss her. I'll keep her book close to my heart forever. Oh, and Driving Hertz. Get it? Hertz? Hurts! (I was not good at making a joke at eleven.)

So, my grandparents packed up a suitcase of mine, I said my goodbyes, and we set on our cross-country adventure. I tried taking many pictures which probably no longer exist because they all were on my first phone.

We went to olive garden. The Breadsticks are AMAZING! (Maybe this is when Olive Garden started putting something in them to get customers hooked). We traveled so much. We saw a lot of cool stuff, like antelopes and mountains. We stopped at a Hotel in Billings, Montana. It had a pool and I met a girl named Anabelle there from Tennessee who rides horses! I had fun with Ann. I can't believe I might never see the friendly faces of Idaho again ( I will). It happened so fast. We will make it to Glendive tomorrow after a good breakfast.

Luckily, we made our first drive to Minnesota alive. Little did I know, my grandma started taking many pictures along the way to come up with a scrapbook. The start of the summer was just beginning.

June 18th, 2009 ~ Thursday

Yesterday we travelled really fast (This was a luxury, because now my poor grandparents take twice as long to drive). We are going to North Dakota. Tonight we reached the border of North Dakota and I went to a pool and went to a farm where I met Beatrice, Gerald's Aunt. I also went to the Dairy farm and saw the CUTEST cat in the world. I wish I would've kept her. I also got to have a sleepover with Maddie and pay Hide-and-Go-Seek Pictochat using our Nintendo DS's.

(My grandma Karen encouraged me to write out a list of things to do over the summer. If they are checked √ they were completed, if they were not, maybe I will do them someday since I live in Duluth now after all..)

List of things to do this Month

2. Go Home√
4. Get ready for Pirate and Father's Day √
6. Go to Kurt & Darlene's Pool √
8. Pirate Day √
10. Go to the Candy Shop √
12. Go on Karen's Boat √
14. Sleepover at Maddie's √√
16. Canoe the Slough in Cornucopia √
18. Mall of America √
20. Visit Auntie Sue √
22. Attend a concert √
24. Library, Northern Lights Bookstore √
26. Visit the Marmons √
28. Fly Paper Airplanes √
30. Go Tubing at Sue's River House √
32. Biking and Picnic at Jay Cook Park
34. Climb Enger Tower (Which I would complete later)
36. Camp out in the yard
38. Sunday Cami's √
40. Count Loons while canoeing √
42. 4th of July! √
44. Walk the Trail √
46. Strawberry Trail (was completed the following summer)
48. Paddle-boat and Swimming at Jimmy Sodeman's on Caribou Lake√

I'm so proud that I did this. It was scary, but also mesmerizing that I got the chance to spend the summer getting spoiled by my grandma. I got the chance to spend time outside, despite becoming obsessed on their computer and using the internet to play useless games.

I learned a lot about my friends and family, as well as myself, in this goodbye. Although I have already been to three other schools prior, this was the first time it was actually difficult to leave home. I think it made me stronger and more independent living away from my family for a bit. i learned many lessons as well, but I'll get into it another time.

 

The Pre-Period Panics that every adolescent girl gets

After you're told that you will eventually bleed from a hole in your body once a month whether by book, phone, parents, friends, families, or even your teachers, you begin to panic a little. At least, I did.

I wanted nothing to do with something I had no control over. I was completely furious for a while, but once the acceptance settled in, I wanted it to be over with.

Sunday May 24, 2009

Dear Diary,

this morning I woke up with serious cramping rib caged and a cramping, gurgling stomach, diarrhea, and farting. It hurt so bad that my legs were shaking.

Could I be getting closer to my period……?!!?

Later that day, I went to T.G.I. Fridays, Barnes & Noble, Target, and the Mall. My parents are the best.

Also I cried my first actual tears of joy because my dad bought me my first pair of skinny jeans, and a cool t-shirt with peace signs and glitter on it.

Luckily, Memorial day was the next day so we didn't have school, but my dad had to leave.

I really, really, wanted to finally get my period. I suspected that every time I was sick I was getting it. But I was very wrong.

Sometimes you have to play the waiting game. Even for things you might not particularly want. Either way, time will pass.

 

Reasons you shouldn’t be dating someone

Do you question if you should be in your relationship? I sure don't. But if you do, that's a sure sign that you probably shouldn't be dating anyone at the moment.

May 23rd, 2009

Today went by quickly. So quickly that my mother had to explain to me that it was, in fact, Monday not Friday.

Also I do like Igor… although, I don't want to be ( That's another sign) with him because my friends think he's mean and ugly.

I decided to go to an Amusement Park with some friends and him to meet my dad who was home from Las Vegas! I was so happy to see him. My dad bought us water frogs, we went to a BBQ, saw my sister perform her ballet, and I played Dance Dance Revolution for the first time at my friends house.

I took away a few reasons why I shouldn't been dating anyone from this diary entry.

2. I was in 5th Grade
4. It doesn't count as dating if we never even held hands
6. I was pressured to date from friends
8. The boy is mean
10. I was literally eleven.
12. I had never played Dance Dance Revolution
14. I still played games such as Poptropica and just pretend.
16. I was still a child.

 

If any of these reasons follow under your circumstance, you probably shouldn't date anyone. If I could go back in time, I probably would've waited.

But you live and you learn. That's some of the best advice I can give from this excerpt.