Busy, busy, busy

I haven’t posted as much recently, the reason being that I’ve been, well, busy. I recently started reading a lot more than I had been, and that has taken up a lot of my online time. I usually have a hard time getting started with books, but once I’m into them they take up most of my free time; I like to go through books as fast as I can, whether or not I enjoy them. Right now I’m about two hundred pages into The Chosen by Chaim Potok (284 pages total), and I read a hundred of those pages tonight (between about 9:00 and 10:15, I think).

Another thing that has taken up time is rowing. I didn’t do any today, but yesterday I rowed around the pond for well over an hour! I listened to a CD I burned that has some of my favorite songs from musicals (e.g. The Music Man), and, to keep from getting just one arm really tired, I changed direction every time a new song came. It’s amazing how music can make the most tedious thing infinitely more interesting. (Well, not quite infinitely, but almost. I had decided earlier that I would row until the end of the CD. I couldn’t remember how many songs there were on the CD, and after the 18th, 19th, and 20th I kept thinking, "Phew, at last it’s over," but it wasn’t. Almost over, but not quite.)

I’ve been driving a good amount, too. Yesterday I went to town to pick up pizza for dinner, and last night I went out with the girls and drove home. Today I drove Chad to the airport. The sum of hours away from home over the past two days comes to between four and five.

Then, considering the hours and hours and hours and hours of school I have to do, is it any wonder that I never can find the time to post? I mean, who does have the time to sit down and write multiple paragraphs about his life or whatever? I mean, come on!

By the way, in case anyone saw my "All about the oil" post and didn’t see the following comments under a different post, there is a joyous ending! I changed the oil in the correct van, and everyone involved is living happily ever after.

Signs of Spring!!

The pool being open--and blue!!!!!

The sun being VERY high in the sky. 

The lilacs budding..... 

....and the lilies sprouting. 

The door being left open and nobody minding. 

This being all the snow that's left at our house. 

The thermometer reading 66.2 degrees. 

The driveway being dry enough to play basketball on. 

I think this photo is pretty self-explanatory.

However, just in case you don't understand it, I will elucidate: those two windows are the windows of my bedroom. Understand now? Good.

Just a quick note on the stupidity of others.....

The other day Bria and I were listening to a talk show on the radio and a caller was loudly proclaiming, "George Bush is an idiot! China proves that Communism works!"

Uh, whatever.

It's all about the oil.....

What a day—and what a week, for that matter!

I’ll start from Wednesday:

Wednesday was the first day of the SATs at Milford Christian Academy (MCA) for Cara and Ryan. Kayla came over and spent the night, since she was going too and her birthday was the next day. I drove the three of them and Mama to Cara’s and Ryan’s music lessons in Manchester, dropped Mama off at a store in Bedford, and went back to the music school just in time to pick them up. We all (minus Mama, who was still in HER store, as she calls it) went to Staples to look for some stuff for Bria’s graduation invitations. Then we went to Walmart, where we browsed a good amount and got a couple of bottles of water.....but then, I’m getting WAY too detailed here......

Thursday: The next day I wentto MCA for testing, too. The English sections where easy—especially Spelling—but I had a hard time on the Social Science test; some of the graphs on the test where really hard to understand, and the questions about them often seemed completely irrelevant.

I stayed up Thursday night really late working on a design for Bria’s graduation card, so I probably shouldn’t be writing this now. Too bad. I will anyway. We came up with several designs, but nothing final.

Friday (today): Here’s the interesting part. After I finished SAT's this morning and my piano lesson this afternoon, I went to work at Daddy’s office. I have a weekly job there now of filling up the gas tanks on the two Chevy Expresses there, and this week one of the vans needed an oil change. I am quite sure I remember Patty (Sandford Surveying’s Accountant and Secretary) saying on Monday that the new van needed an oil change, so I dutifully drove it the eleven or twelve miles to Milford and changed the oil, filled the gas tank, and washed the windows. I drove the eleven or twelve miles back to the office and went in to fill in my time sheet. I glanced casually at the paper with instructions for me that Patty had left, and saw to my horror and astonishment that it was the old Express that needed the oil change! I have to wait until Monday to find out how serious a mistake that was......

I next took the older van out to get gas. I decided not to change its oil because I didn’t want to end up finding out that I had changed the oil in the right car after all and now I had really changed the wrong one. Figuring that I didn’t need to go to the Milford oil changing place, I headed toward Manchester, which is a bit closer. The first gas station I tried was open, but I couldn’t get the gas to pump, and there was a piece of paper taped over the credit card slot. So, I headed down the road to where there was another station—only to find the price there to be drastically (4 cents) higher. I took a big loop through a shopping center to turn around and headed back up the street I’d come from. The next gas station I tried happened to be closed, but I didn’t happen to notice. It was full serve and there was someone in the store part, so I just sat there for about two minutes before I realized nothing was going to happen. I grudgingly started up the motor again and maneuvered my way down the street to where there was one final gas station—one that worked, was cheap, and was open. I zipped back to the office (as well as you can possibly zip in that behemoth), filled in my time sheet, and zipped (or, rather, zoom-zoomed) home in Daddy’s Mazda with him. Thus concludes my thrilling narrative.

Ship ahoy!

Daddy brought his new 30' Hunter sailboat, Eagle Wings, home yesterday. I like it better on land than his other boat, but I have yet to see in the water. A few nice things about it (compared with the other boat):

• Running water
  
• Plenty of storage
  
• Wood floors (vs. soggy carpet)
  
• One more sleeping berth
  
• Doors that work
  

Today, around 8 a.m., Daddy told me to go out and help him get the mast off. Forty-two feet long and weighing well over 250 pounds, that thing is MASSIVE! It didn't take long to realize that we would need more than two people to lower it fifteen feet. So Bria, Cara, and Ryan came out, too. Daddy kept saying it would only be five minutes if we all worked together, but I think he was wrong. At any rate, it definitely took longer than that. We all inched the mast along until it reached the balance point. Around that time, Cherilyn stopped by to drop off a sweater Cara had left at her house, and she came down and helped too. Daddy was up on the boat letting it down, and everyone else was down below trying to keep the thing from falling down and smashing itself. We managed it, but by so little that we probably couldn't have done it without Cherilyn. She saved the day!

Behold "Eagle Wings." 

Aunts

What did P. G. Wodehouse have against aunts? Did he suffer from some strange case of amitaphobia (I coined that word myself from "amita", Latin for aunt)? Bria is currently listening to a Jeeves tape in my room, and Wooster just described five aunts as "bacteria." Also, what more frightful literary character can be imagined than Aunt Agatha? (No, I don't want answers to that question; it was rhetorical.) I for one certainly don't share his sentiment. I have five aunts myself, and they're all quite nice.

Meet the Bill Buckner of Bowling

No, I didn't accidentally roll a bowling ball between my legs, but nevertheless I am EXTREMELY pitiful when it comes to bowling. Bria, Cara, Ryan, and I went with the Chestnut Hill Chapel youth group. (Hyperlinks added for Bria's education.) I managed to get fourth place -- starting from the bottom. That was out of sixteen people, and I was thirteenth. Actually, three people left halfway through, so I'm not sure whether or not I beat them, but STILL! THIRTEENTH! MAN ALIVE! Among those who beat me: A six year old, a fourteen year old, and a *gulp* two year old. On a redeeming note, the six year old and the two year old both had bumpers and I did not. But, STILL! On another redeeming note, I got a strike! But then I got three the next time so it didn't help much. Sigh.

On the bright side, I had a wonderful time! I met some people who have been going to Chestnut Hill Chapel (see above link) for quite some time now whom I had never had a chance to meet. They were/are extremely nice, and they are second generation home-schoolers! The six and four year olds mentioned above are the home-schoolees. There's nothing like really nice people to brighten one's mood!

Speech, speech!!!

I wrote a speech today (as diehard fans of Cara's blog already know). A speech to convince my mom to allow me to make oatmeal cookies, in fact. I also printed off a bill for Daddy to sign enacting the law. I had an awesome time doing it, and to my delight, Mama was impressed. So impressed that she said yes!!! (Even though I can't make the cookies until tomorrow.) Bria deMANDed that I put the speech on my blog (aren't sisters the best, Penny?) so here it is (to hear is to obey, Bria).

-------------------------------------------------

Friends, distinguished guests, members of my family:

We are all witness to the fact that a horrible epidemic of an influenza virus has ravaged our home these past several weeks. Displaying nearly every imaginable common symptom, this infectious disease reared its ugly head, only to be struck down by the marvelous immune system with which God has endowed every one of us.

Nevertheless, this struggle is not over. Each person here still struggles with an occasional cough; an annoying headache; a runny nose. But although not the most outwardly apparent, the worst symptom of all is the lethargy we find ourselves stuck with. Whether in the morning, the afternoon, or the evening, we are incessantly dogged by an inescapable feeling of fatigue.

In times of crisis such as this, it becomes increasingly necessary to provide adequate sustenance to our ailing bodies. Those foods with a small—yet adequate—amount of sugar and plenty of whole grains can assist every man’s convalescence so profoundly that we can no longer ignore their powerful effect. I am hereby introducing a bill—which the Hon. Ryan Sandford has agreed to sponsor—that, if approved by the higher council, will authorize the baking of three dozen oatmeal raisin cookies this very day! <applause>

The experts have discussed and debated, and they are in unanimous agreement that these cookies would be an invaluable addition to each of our diets. Each cookie—according to the meticulous study of one of our most highly esteemed mathematicians—contains a mere teaspoon of sugar. In addition, this sugar is not only the nutrient-starved overly refined granulated sugar found in most cookies; half of it is, but the rest is invigorating and nutritious brown sugar.
Another benefit from these cookies can be found in the presence of nourishing whole grains such as rolled oats. As you know from your General Mills cereal boxes, scientists around the world highly recommend whole grains as an essential component of a heart-healthy diet. Whole grains may even lower your cholesterol!

There is one last reason that I must give you in support of my bill. One cannot talk long about any form of cookie without referring to its incredible delicious properties. Can you not even now imagine the rich, scrumptious taste of the sweet raisins and hearty oats that are the hallmark of a good oatmeal cookie? Not only are these treats energizing and healthful, but they are universally loved.

On that closing note, I urge you—no, I beg you to sign this vital bill into law.

Thank you. May God bless you, and may God bless this household.

Fickle New Hampshire Weather, etc.

Today it snowed! Yes, believe it or not, for about fifteen minutes this morning little flurries were coming down from the sky above. "Well," you might say, "I guess it must be cold in New Hampshire today." Au contraire! Last I checked it was about 55 degrees and dazzlingly sunny!

For writing in school today I had to write a four page description of a fictional new house. My internet writing teacher said that was about 900 words. For about two and a half hours I labored to think up the extra 600 words I needed! That was very tiring. I finally finished it, though. Add to that a test in history (on which I got a 98!) and a math test, and even after 4.5 hrs of school I still have to do Italian, Biology, Vocabulary, and Grammar! Sigh.

A quick anecdote: The other day I got a score of 100 on a math lesson. Naturally, I was excited and wanted to doodle my score all over the top of the page. I decided, however, that I would exercise restraint and just write my score in Roman numerals -- which looks cool when you have, say a 97 (XCVII), but is a bit anticlimactic with a perfect score of 100 (plain old boring -- and misleading -- "C"). : )

Judge for yourselves if my eyebrows are winglike!

(SEE POST FROM APRIL 9)

Woe is me!

Ever since I got a counter, it seems to serve only to say to me "How few are the people who read your blog!" every time I check my page for the comments that are never there. Sigh. Oh, sure the numbers add up; but I check my blog enough times a day that at least half of the visitors are probably me. Oh, well. I shall persevere on in writing, with or without an audience. The show must go on!!!!!!

New Posts, Here and Elsewhere

In case anyone used to check my other blogs ("MY Awesome Cars!" and "My Story Blog" links in sidebar) and stopped because I hadn't posted in so long, I hereby announce that there are new posts on both blogs. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Hooray!!!!!

I am back online! I finally have a modem on my pc again! It's not quite as good as my old one (which was zapped by a power surge), but it's good enough! This means I can post pictures again on my blogs, among other things.

I know I keep writing about the beautiful weather, and I know everyone else KNOWS about the beautiful weather, but I somehow just can't stop thinking about it. It is about 70 degrees out, and we played badminton for the first time today. It didn't work very well because of the breeze but -- hey! that's another nice thing about the weather! It's breezy! And that doesn't affect playing basketball or football......

If I had wings like a dove....

Bria says my eyebrows look like wings.

Still Spring!

Today has been another gorgeous day! It's sunny, warm, nice-smelling..... Which begs the question: Why am I sitting here writing at my computer? To which I reply nonchalantly: No reason at all.

I drove to town today for a piano lesson and on the way home I got stuck in traffic. No problem! I just rolled down my windows and listened to the radio. It was a little bit tedious (the trip took me 40 min. instead of 25) Spring air does marvels for one's happiness!

When I FINALLY got home I played frisbee with Ryan and Daddy for a while, and then I did some school, and then I played Horse with Bria, Cara, and Ryan. Ryan won the first time, and I won the second. Which was funny because yesterday Bria and Cara were the winners, and they were all excited and saying things like "girl power" and stuff. We sure showed them! Hahaha!

I feel....happy!

Not that I don’t usually feel that way. It’s just that I feel more so because of the beautiful weather outside! It’s 66 degrees out with little breeze and a lot of sun. Right now I’m sitting out on the porch. It’s so amazingly lovely. The driveway is finally drying up, and we can play basketball again. The lawn is still ice-covered mud, but that’s not unusual. There are mallards in the pond again. Little lily plants are shooting up in the flower garden. The pond is almost half melted – but that isn’t necessarily a good thing as far as I’m concerned. You see, each member of our family guesses when he thinks the ice will melt off each year in early March, and whoever has the closest guess wins – um – wins nothing, but wins nevertheless. We had a very cold March, so I guessed that the ice would melt on May 1. Now it looks like the ice will be gone a LOT sooner than that, and I will probaby lose. Fortunately, the ice doesn’t have to melt that late for me to be able to win. I will still be closest if it melts on or after April 26 (and before May 3: Bria guessed May 5).

Even though I want to be the winner in the ice guess, I only want that if the weather can stay this beautiful. Who cares about losing when the air smells and feels this good?!

Sickness, sickness, everywhere

Well, here I am again. Bet y'all were practically perishing with anxiety and anticipation in my absence, huh?

Well, I'm guessing not. Probably everyonewho reads my blog reads one or both of my sisters' blogs, and they both mentioned where we were (as I mentioned where we were GOING to be in a previous post).

I got a LOT of driving in in this past week+. I'm not sure how much in miles, but in hours....let's see: 0.5 to my lesson, 0.5 back, 3 to VT from my house, 1 hr driving in NY, and 2 from NY back to VT. That's eight hours in five days, four hours in one day. The driving went pretty smoothly. Bria drove the 2 hrs to NY from VT and the 3 hrs from VT to NH (oh, wonderful, beautiful NH!).

I had a really fun time out in the hills. We tried going sledding on Saturday, but the air was warm and the snow was wet. A few people went down successfully, but usually the sled would either go slooooooowly down the hill or zip straight toward a spot of open mud that lay near the bottom of the hill. By the time we had finished sledding, there was only a thin layer of slush lying on the hill.

Ben and I drove to town once or twice to pick up some things. The first time we went to get pizza. Ben told me to take some nice little side road and took me in a nice big loop, telling me, "It's weird with these roads. You feel like you're going in a circle." I nodded understandingly--and then came to a strangely familiar intersection. Ben burst out laughing (understandably) and guided me without further "mistake" to the pizzeria, which turned out to be about a hundred feet from that nice little side road.

We had a really nice time out in NY, but almost as soon as we got back (on Tuesday), everyone collapsed into sickness. I slept for an hour in the car and three or more hours on the couch. The next morning I had a fever of 105! I wasn't very comfortable that day. The next day my fever had gone down a good deal, but it was still there. Yesterday and today I've had mostly just a cough and sinus headache, and I'm slowly getting better. Mama got us a DVD collection of an old TV show, and we watched that constantly almost all week. The collection has 36 half-hour episodes, and we've seen over thirty of them.