New Xanga.

Fine... I admit... I was a bit overdramatic in my last entry.

I'm in a really good mood currently.  Friday's tend to do that.  I talked to Mrs. Riordan about my grade on my Poe Project, and she said that the grade was more a result of other people's projects being really, really good, rather than mine not being up to par.  Last time I checked, that's called competitive grading, which is illegal at the Academy.  But, she offered to bump my grade up a bit, so I'm not complaining.  I'm pathetic.

So today in Debate, I was planning on not having my persuasive speech ready and just doing it Monday, but unfortunately, half the class thought the same thing.  So all of us will have our grades docked for not being prepared.  There was extra time at the end of the class, so I gave my Forensics speech for fun.  Mr. Fleagle said that doing my speech can serve as penance for my persuasive speech not being prepared.  Now maybe I'll only miss one point instead of three!

I've been getting many letters that are addressed to "John Ross", which is an incorrect spelling of my name.  Anyway, these letters are from colleges.  More specifically, from colleges' athletic departments.  (insert laughter here)  They go on raving about how successful my highschool football career has been, practically begging me to apply to their school.  Hah.

Tonight... going thrifting for costumes.

Hopefully I get Rent the DVD by tomorrow so I can still have my Rent "Party" Sunday.

Sorry for my lack of an entry for almost three weeks.  Actually, I'm not.

I had a very depressing day today.  Mainly from stress and mainly from many small things that happened.  For example, getting a B+ on our last English project, which I wrote about in my last entry.  Yes, a B+ is good by definition but not when you think you did very good on something.  And speaking of English projects, all I can think about now is our next one... a skit from Scarlet Letter.  It sounds very innocent, but it's not.  I still have to memorize my lines, get my "costume", and get my props.  Thank God she moved the performance day from Friday to Monday.

I basically have a full schedule from now until after Spring Break (hence, more stress).
Tonight: "mail" Support Letters
Tomorrow: Pit Practice, Show Choir Practice, Haiti Meeting
Friday: Thrifting for Props/Costume for English Project
Saturday: Practice English Project... a lot
Sunday: RENT Party
Monday: Perform English Project
Tuesday: Pit Practice
Thursday: Pit Practice, Show Choir Practice
Friday: Leave for State Forensics Tournament (meaning I have to fit plenty of time above for practicing for this)
...Then I have a free week, but Tuesday/Thursday Pit practices continue as well as Thursday Show Choir Practices...
Then Handbell/Choir Tour!
Then another "free" week...
Then the Habitat for Humanity Spring Break Trip!!!

So, somehow I qualified for the state tournament for Forensics yesterday, at the district tournament.  I'm really not that good at all.  Honestly.

I drew a super cool picture for my Poe-ster (a poster with an Edgar A. Poe poem on it)... since you're now dying to see my creation, ask me to see it tomorrow.

I actually watched the super bowl tonight.  And was somewhat into it.

I'm starting to learn Japanese, something I've wanted to do for awhile, using the Pimsleur Language Program -- a set of CD's.  I had my first lesson today.  All you do is listen to the CD... they forbid you to take notes, because with the program, it has to be strictly learning through listening.  The "lesson" I did today walked through a conversation between two Japanese people, where they tell you what they're saying and how to say it.  It's fun.