Claire Greene

I'm glad that the hurricane wasn't as bad as expected, and I'm really sort of sad that I did miss the first day of school and probably won't be back until Thursday. Anyway, I'm in Dallas or Fort Worth, I don't know which and okay. Really, I'm not kidding.

Everything really IS bigger in Texas.

Let the final countdown begin... less than a week before school begins.

Okay, so I saw Ms. Waters today and she's back from visiting Freddie in Alaska. Which means that I spent about an hour on my foot today just talking to her and listening about the time she broke her leg because obviously that's what a person who's broken her ANKLE wants to hear about. In any case, now that she's back the Latin Club can start thinking about resuming our fundraisers for the trip in December.

Any ideas? Swing them past me and at the first meeting of the year we'll discuss them. YES, Freshman-types can go, but first priority is given to Junior and Senior Latin students and there are only a few spots left open.

No, Latin is not the primarily-spoken language in Rome. It's Italian. Latin is a dead language, Charlie Sloane.

In other news, I apparently don't know how to be friends with Tony Marks without screwing it up and I really shouldn't put that here so nevermind I'm stupid

I think that I'm REALLY sick of tv. And movies. And sitting. And my underarms hurt because of this, since to get around I need crutches. I'm hoping that I get a walking cast before school. OR I'm roping people into carrying my books for me. I just want to DRIVE again. It's amazing how much I miss it.

Is there ANYONE who's willing to take pity on me and let me see the outside world after dark? I'm not much trouble, I promise. Oh, my God I'm so pathetic.

Oh my God. This was SO better than Arrested Development, and I really love that. Dr. Horrible was WONDERFUL. I am completely in love with Neil Patrick Harris, and Nathan Fillion ain't too bad either.

I think I need to watch this again.

This reminds me of someone... I can't quite put my finger on it.

Computer's back. It had a virus that snuck in through email or something, but it's good now. Didn't lose anything, either. I'm keeping an eye on it, though, and Mom says that if necessary, she'll just use my College Computer Money now to get me something really good that'll last through senior year and through college.

None of which I've visited, as I had wanted to this summer. I had to cancel the visit I had planned for LSU - Mom wanted me to visit there even though I really don't want to GO there. But she went to college in New England and around Thanksgiving or something her group of friends is having a reunion and she said that I can make an arrangement to visit Williams College.

I am really, really bored right now. Mainly because all of my sources of entertainment had other things to do. Which is great - for them. Sucks for me. This summer sucks so, so much. I miss swimming. I miss getting out and doing things and PEOPLE. The only people I see are the sick people at the hospital. And I can't even work yet, which means that all of my application fees and stuff are going to have to come out of savings and I'd hoped to SAVE that.

So. Anyone out there who isn't doing something fun and exciting want to chat? Play Yahoo Games? Anything? Bueller?

Laptop=dead. Oh, so dead. But a doctor's appointment and a trip to the library has provided the means with which to contact you all. It's been sent away to be looked at by people who know about such things so will hopefully be back in my paws soonish.

In other news: the ankle is still broke and I'm mildly addicted to Arrested Development. Now you know.

This is such a good, good story. I totally almost cried.

So I've got netflix now and I've seen nearly everything that I wanted to see that's out. So now I need suggestions. I've still got a week where I have to remain on the couch and in all honesty, I won't be moving all that much the week after... so I have a lot of downtime.

SO. SUGGESTIONS. GO.

SOMEONE PLEASE ENTERTAIN ME.

Edited to add:

You all mostly suck, for real. I have started watching Star Trek: The Next Generation because none of you cared to spare me from this fate, which is surely worse than death.

I think I want to learn to speak Klingon. It sounds cool. Help me, please!

Another ETA: So would anyone think badly of me if I engineered a way to marry Alton Brown?

For about two days after I broke my ankle it was a great adventure. Now it's just boring and painful. I go tomorrow for an appointment and I might be getting an air cast. I'm getting out of the house and I REALLY can't wait.

People have been great but now that the horror of the fact has faded, they're all going back to their lives, and Claire is left to rot on the couch. I can't even sit out on the porch because it's so hot that it makes my cast itch. Well, I can feel my leg itching when it's not hurting. I'm sick of sleeping on the couch and I'm sick of not being able to move and I sleep all the time and last night I just wanted to drive and I COULDN'T and I don't know when I will be able to because I don't know if they'll let me since I broke my right ankle.

The only good thing is that Mom's let me get a subscription to Netflix, which will end up being cheaper than driving into town every day or two and paying whatever late fees I rack up because I fall asleep watching them and it takes me forever to actually FINISH a movie.

hapy fourt of jully. god i cant' type sory. ankl hurts. percosset is fun.

andio missedt he fieworks. :(

Just when I thought life couldn't get any funnier... the air conditioning went out in my car yesterday so I had to spend two hours in town getting it working again before I could go out to get the dishes that are needed for the American Legion dinner on Friday. At least I had the oil changed at the same time but God, that was two hours just LOST.

THEN Mrs. Clement had the lightbulb in her kitchen go out and her son is out of town for the week so I changed it for her which took another hour because she kept talking and talking and TALKING. Then I stopped at the vet to talk to Doc Dave about having the kittens brought in and ended up having lunch with Dottie and we saw some amazingly handsome construction workers while we were there and YUM. And she had the afternoon off so she, Meghan and I got the rest of the dishes that were on mine and Meghan's route.

Tomorrow, we decorate. Fun times.

I am pleased to announce that today I found where Charlotta the Fourth had her litter of kittens. They are about three weeks old and are utterly precious and all four of them are up for adoption. For the sake of my sanity, it is first come, first serve. They will be able to go to their new homes in early or mid-August.

It's getting down to crunch time. I've heard from a lot of you but there are still some that I need to get with concerning the Fourth of July festivities. So right now we need one more team - anyone know of anyone willing to help? I know it's summer, but for goodness's sake it's not like this is going to take up so much of your time to sit on your butts and do nothing. Also we need volunteers to help decorate the all the night before, and then to tear down the next day.

I was just told that last part, please don't hate me.

I ran out of Go-Gurt. It had SpongeBob on it.

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there - especially our teachers.

I'm glad Ms. Olives didn't give us a deadline for this summer assignment, but I figured I might as well get it over with.

This summer I'm going to be sending in applications to the colleges that I'd like to go to. I might do one or two visitations, but I don't know yet. Mom, Aunt Rachel, and I don't have a vacation planned, but we might spend a weekend or two in New Orleans or Baton Rouge and do some shopping.

I've got both the Latin Clubs and the Key Clubs doing a few things this summer - KEY CLUB MEMBERS CHECK YOUR EMAILS! - and on July 4th I'm going to be working with the Latin Club and the Key Club to help serve the bean dinner that they're having. I think they're going to have a re-enactment of a Civil War battle or something, or a demonstration or something. I'm not all up on the particulars right now, though. And that's about it as far as huge summer plans go. I'll still be putting in a few hours at Amy's Flowers and working on honing my debate skills since I'm sure Capt. Tony will have a seizure if I go back in August and suck.

I'll also be helping a bit when it comes time to put hay up (which we're doing a bit now) and Mom's gonna do some canning and freezing - we've got a HUGE garden this year so there will be plenty. I think she's going to make salsa this year, too, which will be fun and exciting.

And that is Claire Greene's summer in a nutshell, roasted and salted.

A few reminders for the end of the year:

LATIN CLUB: We're helping out with the American Legion dinner on July 4th - this IS a fundraiser for the trip to Rome in December 2009 so if you're planning to go you SHOULD help with this. Officers are sort of required to be thereeven if we can't enforce it.

KEY CLUB: We're going to start the Toys for Tots campaign early this year - in August a representative from the organization is meeting with us to help us get organized. Last year was insane and it won't happen this year.

And that's all I have for now.

( i don't even want to read this after i write it )

( at least one more under here )

I have a love-hate relationship with icanhascheezburger. The pictures themselves, and the captions, are hilarious. But whenever I venture forth into the comments, it makes my head want to explode. Doing this after debate practice only makes things worse.

Mom had Pizza Hut waiting when I got home. Claire+breadsticks=do not distHappy Claire.

Would it be counterproductive to have someone quiz me in Latin over IM or on the phone? I think it would be and I really want to study.

( this is me, not studying Latin )

Good LordNot only am I a loser, but I have two best friends. Does that mean I'm the Queen Loser?

Okay. I can't resist. Tony, for future reference, I have found you a cat.

( meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow )

Some people really are amusing. And decapitate really CAN be a difficult word to spell, so that senior I heard laughing about Dot Fahey needs to just shut up. She doesn't say anything mean about anyone and that's how you repay her? The rumor mill is working overtime, but Ben, it's good to see your corpse walking around. Don't zombies eat brains? You should find the senior and eat hers.

AP tests are over so my mornings are infinitely less interesting except for the fact that for two days now I've taken a nap first periodI had about a paragraph written before I realized that I was boring myself so to save you that particular fate, have some kittens. That's about all I've got.

SERIOUSLY. SERIOUSLY. ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO GO PREPARED TO THESE THINGS TONY, STEVEN, LIZZIE, AND MYSELF? SERIOUSLY.We'll get 'em next time, guys. What WAS that?

Today was a really nice day. There was sunshine, flowers, and birthday cake. Hopefully the rest of the week will be like this; I'm really sick of rain. blah blah blah I'm hearing the beginnings of rumors, and what I'm hearing is a little ridiculous on at least ONE level. Probably more.

Back to the grindstone - AP Psych test this week and I've got to be able to at least pretend I know what I'm talking about tomorrow at the meet.

So I've got a few minutes, which means that it's a good time to do this assignment for Ms. Olives.

As many of you know, my best friend is Anne Elliot. But with all love to her, she is NOT who I will be telling you about. Even before Anne, there was another person in my life who meant a lot to me, and still does. His name was Paul Greene.

Paul Greene was my dad, and although I'm really close to Anne and moderately close to a few others, he was the one to whom I told everything. My earliest memories of him involve bumping over the back fields in his pick-up truck, and for a few years before I entered school where ever my daddy went, I was right there with him. I didn't always understand what was happening on the farm, but I enjoyed it. Daddy listened to my stories, and encouraged me to write them down when we got home. Every inch of that farm is covered in memories for me. There's an oak tree in the back yard that I fell out of when I was seven - no bones broken, but I'll never forget how carefully he carried me and how tender he was in ensuring I was really unhurt.

In personality I am so much like my mother, except that my dad and I shared a sort of bond that is uncommon, I think, between fathers and daughters. That sort of relationship is always precious, or should be, but from my father I learned to dream. He showed me how to let my fantasies take flight and how to soar with them. He also showed me how to come back to earth, and how to store the treasures that I had gathered so that I may never lose them. My father was a friend of the fairies, and he left me that legacy.

My father died a year ago June 4th. I miss him more each day. Ironic, because I had hoped that the hurt would ease as time passes. Instead it has only become more poignant. His passing left a gaping hole in my life, and in my mother's life. She doesn't have her starry-eyed boy-dreamer, and my original depository for my hopes and dreams, wishes and schemes, and every trouble that crossed my path is gone.

For Tony... Guess who's driving this poor kitten!

In other news, is it just me or have the seniors suddenly got a WHOLE LOT more obnoxious? And now, back to studying for AP Exams. I may not come out of this week alive, guys.

( I need to share more with you all. )

I think I've discovered what is bothering me about the newest assignment for these journals. It isn't the assignment itself. It is actually Ms. Olives' assertion that this experiment is going well. Is it really? We've already had scandal surrounding it - Jenny MacBeth and James Moriarty blatantly subverted the system for their own ends and everything is fine?

I really find that hard to believe. I can't help but wonder if she's got a massive and never-ending supply of blinders and rose-colored glasses. I think she's wearing them constantly.

It doesn't matter. The result is that I really just don't want to do that assignment because of what I feel is an excessive amount of optimism from the school's staff. Optimism is good, yes, but in smaller quantities. Otherwise it is simply too much and makes me think that perhaps they aren't telling us everything. It feels like we're expected to make everything happy and fun and joyful... and not everything is.

Or maybe I've been listening to conspiracy theorists too often and am losing some of my naivity.

Tonight calls for lolcats. I don't want to be witty. I was at the library from the time debate ended until around 9. So tired.



( more lolcats, please )

This week I am definitely living in the library, since NEXT WEEK is AP Exam week. Right after Prom, too. Which makes complete sense.

Debate meet here tonight. Everyone should watch us and be astounded at how very awesome we are.

Oh my God why am I not asleep? This is for Tony

( Scribbled onto a loose piece of paper and tacked to Claire's corkboard in her room: )

I have been asked to let anyone who might be reading this know that if you want to help the tennis doubles teams celebrate their wins over MLKHS, to be at Michelangelo's tonight at 7. I myself am going to expand this to include helping the girl's soccer team celebrate their win from last night, the track team's good performances last night, the baseball team's win on Wednesday, help cheer up the dance teamthe dance team's pretty darn good performance on Tuesday, and the debate team's MIGHTY VICTORY on Monday.

Okay, so Delilah posted this, and I've actually got enough photos from my class scanned and saved somewhere that I can do it without it sucking royally. So...

Ask me to take a picture of whatever you want. It can be from any aspect of my life that you're interested in/curious about -- it's kind of like a variation of the 20 questions game only I'll answer with pictures and not words. I'll then respond with a picture of it!

I can't take the silence anymore. I need to be around people.I know, weird time to ask, but does anyone need to make an impromptu run to Wal-Mart?

( written into Claire's paper journal )

ANNE. Okay. I couldn't wait until after school to tell you this and even if you don't see this until after you get home it's okay because I still need to TELL SOMEONE.

GUESS who just stopped me in the hall before last period and asked me to go to prom with him? I don't even CARE that he probably only did it because I'm on prom court - he's still sweet. And it means that I won't have to go to prom by myself.

RAY GARDNER.

So my mom has this thing where she thinks that when I have a debate meet, no matter where it's at, I come home STARVING. It doesn't matter that she supposedly knows that we ALWAYS have to stop somewhere on the way home, the moment I walk through the door she tells me that she has a plate for me in the fridge to heat up. Tonight was meatloaf and oven-baked potatoes and lima beans. First, ew. LIMA BEANS. Those are seriously the most unnatural vegetable on the planet and taste like sawdust with cream sauce.

Anyway, for those who are curious, the debate team won our meet tonight. Baton Rouge's arguments were transparent and easy to tear down. I'll be surprised if I see them at state, honestly.

Congratulations to the rest of the prom court! Who in the world thought I should

And now to do homework, but AIM's on, so hit me up if you want to chat.

( blame canada... or something )

Someone needs to explain to me why Andy Serkis is so awesome. I only know that he is, but explaining it is far beyond me right now.

Sigh. SIGH. I don't know why I got out Daddy's Lord of the Rings DVDs, but it seemed like what I needed while I'm sitting up. I get to sleep in for an hour tomorrow. Yay, I guess. We're leaving at 9:30 in the morning for Mom's appointment. Aunt Rachel is driving and I get to make sure they don't kill each other with words. I guess I'm going to give Aunt Rachel someone to talk to while Mom's in with the doctor.

I'm saving my reading for tomorrow in the car, but I've got my writing done, I think.

Oh! Sword-fighting. Gross, he's dead. STAB THE URUK-HAI! KILL THEM! WATCH OUT! Sad. Boromir.

Sean Bean definitely gets an A+ for his acting in this movie. Elijah Wood? A C. Viggo gets a B-. Pippin... whoever plays Pippin gets an A overall for the movie. Dom Mogasd;lfka; not so much. Ian McKellan A+++. It's possible I should sleep, It's getting a bit late and my typing skills are going downhill fast. Sam-actor gets a freaking standing ovation, he's so darn awesome. I BELIEVE Samwise Gamgee. Their feet are gross.

It might be sad that I want the bad guy win... and there goes his head.

Crap. I want a date for prom. I wish I had the guts to ask someone. Anyone. Even Anne's got a date, and I'm happy for her. I don't know what I do wrong - I'm friends or friendly with so many but none think to ask Claire if she's got a date.

I'm so stupid, having a freaking pity party for myself. I just miss Dad.

( just wait for the cat yodeling )

I find it more than a little funny and ridiculous that people are CONGRATULATING others on getting a date to the Prom. It's not a wedding, it's not a promotion, it's not having a baby. It's PROM. And yeah, I'd like to have a date myself, so maybe I'm writing out of a bit of jealousy. I don't know. I just think it's all funny, that's all.

I've got my dress, though, so I guess that's something. Mom said that I reminded her of a princess when I tried it on. I laughed because a princess has more grace than I, or so I imagine. She says that we might go to New Orleans next weekend to get my shoes when she has her eye appointment there. It's on Thursday so I need to remember to talk to Ms. Waters to tell her I won't be at school that day so therefore won't make the meeting. Freaking forgot last week.

I'm even boring myself, writing this. Okay, a to-do list! Those are always fun and exciting:

CLAIRE'S TO-DO LIST OF DOOOOOOOOOM
1. AP Euro
2. Essay! I shall assay forth and finish the essay. (Why, Claire, you're so clever!)
3. Finish this roll of film and start on the next one. Which means...
4. Go take a walk! Find something Ansel Adams-ish to take pictures of. Maybe to the coast? Hm. I don't want to go alone.
5. Eat. I should eat at some point today.

( lolcat goes cow-tippin' )

My favorite person in the world right now is Al. Just so you ALL know.

Also, I know this is WELL after the auditions, but to everyone who auditioned today - GOOD LUCK.

llamallama

And since this is apparently the theme this week... I've got the zombie invasion soundtrack! Now I just need to know what to do in case of an invasion! Give me suggestions, people. Please.

STEVEN. WRITE ME A SYMPHONY IN C. PLZ. THX. OTHER INTERNET ABBREVIATIONS.

llamallamallamallamallama

I really CAN'T stop writing this paper. It blows. It's due in two weeks and I'm going to be a ZOMBIE tomorrow.

The problem, as I see it, is that I'm not used to journaling anywhere but within the PAGES of a journal. Paper and ink. Not so much this typing thing. It's all right, but there is just something very odd about pouring out my thoughts into the ether instead of a place where only I will ever see them for perhaps a hundred years. After that, it doesn't matter.

I don't really know what to say. I'm in classes all day. I eat lunch and I talk to Ms. Waters about the Latin Club and what needs to be set up for the next trip to Rome. I won't be here that year, but so much still needs to be taken care of and arranged in the way of fundraising and awareness that the trip actually happens that it's insane. We'll also discuss the next cultural fair and what the Latin department might contribute - and I'll present all of that in the meeting on Thursday.

I have debate pratice this afternoon. I'll stay the extra half an hour and then when I get home I'll do my homework and FEED THE DAMN COWS and then before bed practice more. Oh, and at some point I'll go out with the camera which I learned to use within the first week of classes, JAMIE and take pictures and think about my final project. Ansel Adams. I need to think about him.

So. A boring day in the life of Claire Greene. TEAL DEER. Move along.

The first step is to ensure that I write exactly 250 words. But that's probably the last step, but doing things backwards can be fun.

So to start at the beginning means telling you that I'm Claire Greene. I'm a Junior. I drive that sexy red Cavalier that you know you all want, permit no. 68. Please, let us keep the cries of sadness at that number to a minimum. I live on Aleman Road with my Mom Lottie and my Aunt Rachel and I work at Amy's Flowers a few nights a week. I used to go to Southside and if you still hold that against me please find me and we'll have a CHAT, all right? That was eons ago so it doesn't really count.

I don't really know what else to say about myself.

In other news I had a really weird dream last night. I babysat the Henderson kids yesterday and when I put the youngest to bed she made me read to her. That's all well and good, but when Dobby the House Elf starts infiltrating my dreams, there's a problem, people. He kept hitting himself over the head with Mom's smaller ironing board and going on about losing my socks. I didn't know what he meant until I went up to my room (which looked like the chemistry lab) and opened drawer after drawer and finding only the socks for the left foot. When I woke up I realised that it didn't matter.

Good luck ironing that one out, Mr. Freud. :P

HEY. Do teachers actually respond? MR. EDWARDS! What WOULD Freud say?

Final word count: 284. I love Google Docs. And I hate MySpace. For the record. Not really but it'll be fun to see how everyone reacts.

UGH. I forgot to tell what classes I'm in. AP PSYCHOLOGY, AP EUROPEAN HISTORY Is he gay or European!, LATIN III AND PHOTOGRAPHY. I also am reading The Elements of Style again, for FUN.

Word count: RUINED.