With pretty much only eight real days of school left, I can almost taste the freedom of summer.

Unfortunately, I can't. Because it isn't summer. The proximity of liberation day just makes each minute between us last longer. Don't get me wrong - I still want to be out of school. But I'm really almost going crazy with said want.

Meh.

For some unknown reason, the higher-up folks at school decided to take the entire eighth grade to see Spider-Man 3. If I'm missing school, I'm not going to complain about it.

The movie pretty much sucked, especially with the presence of obnoxious people behind us throwing popcorn around. Then, on the bus ride back, all of said obnoxious people were put on our bus to go back to school (as opposed to a nearby park where everyone else was going) and were still being obnoxious. The bus driver got super mad and threatened to call the police, which fortunately ended up shutting them up. The park was uneventful, but fun.

Definitely better than school, though.

Bugsy Malone is finally over. It went pretty well, I guess. But the other class was way better than us. I had a screen test a few days ago, which was basically me talking in front of a camera to see if I could be okay in the commercial. The accelerated biology test was last week, too. I think I did pretty well. Gah. I used pretty well already in this post. Bad word choice! Whatever. Actually, that wasn't very much stuff. I'm about to get my hair cut and I'm pretty nervous. There's that word pretty again. I think I don't like to commit to complete emotions, so I just say I'm pretty blank. Anyway.

So . . . rather interesting adventure this morning. I was bundling up, getting ready to brave the cold on the walk to the bus stop when I realize I'm running a tad late. My dad offers to drive me to the bus stop (which I gratefully accept). When we get there, there's nobody there. "Well, we might be just behind the first bus and the second one is coming in a few minutes . . . maybe . . . " But he gives me a ride to school just to be safe (I don't really want to be standing around waiting for nothing in subzero weather). We get to school, and lo and behold, there's only two cars in the parking lot, and nobody there. It's like those movies (and Twilight Zone episodes) where someone is the last person alive and they're walking through a barren wasteland and stuff. They see a creature approaching on the horizon (or just Mr. Schmelz). So no school on account of cold. Odd. But hey, I'll take what I can get.

Wordmasters + February = ( Romantic poem strewn with random words. )

Yesterday I took my first final (math) at West. Gasp! But it was actually pretty easy. Then, I remember that I'm taking the SAT today. Like in 45 minutes. And this year you can't not take the essay part. And I suck at essay writing. In all the sample ones, everyone is quoting books and sounding all smart and beneath it says something like, "This essay only scored a four. Although they have good supports, they could be expanded more blah blah blah THIS ESSAY ACTUALLY SUCKS IF YOU WRITE ANYTHING LIKE THIS YOU WILL FAIL." Joy.

School tomorrow?!?!?!?!? Say it can't be so!

*sadness*

So we found out who was who for our upcoming musical. I didn't get the coveted role of Tallulah the slut. Darn. But I'm understudying Bugsy, who's being played by a girl. So they cast a girl as Bugsy, but they can't cast a boy as Tallulah? Bah. Actually, we might split it, each of us doing one show, and the girl who was cast actually is probably better than me, but . . . eh. Whatever. I have enough acting on calendar as it is right now. And a merry Channukkah to all of you.

I just got back from my first rehearsal of Falsettos. Yes, you heard me. I'm in another play. I play Jason, the son of a gay man trying to cope with his father's sexual orientation and at the same time preparing for his bar mitzvah. And it's set to upbeat music! Yeah! I'm the only child in a cast of seven, and everyone is really nice. This is going to be so much fun! And although we open in January, most rehearsals will be over break, so I won't be having to do homework and learn difficult music.

Other news in the world of both acting and sexual orientation includes my auditions for the school musical, Bugsy Malone. I auditioned for the title role (don't ask me what kind of a name Bugsy is), and one of the female leads, Tallulah. The music teacher had other teachers (actually, the principal, the music teacher turned more important authority figure, and my ever so wonderful English teacher, upon whom this story depends) rate our auditions. So, being acting-like, a script.

enter SIMON through music room door

MUSIC TEACHER: Simon, you're auditioning for Bugsy and Tallulah, right?
SIMON: Yeah - Bugsy and Tallulah.
ENGLISH TEACHER: What?
SIMON: I'm auditioning for Bugsy and Tallulah.
ENGLISH TEACHER: That's what I thought you said. I just wanted to make sure.

blah blah me sucking at my audition and leaving blah blah blah

That may not have seemed like much, but her intonation on her last line really, well . . . at the time of parent-teacher conferences I was reading a book about a transsexual kid, which according to my parents she acted somewhat oddly about, and now this. I think a) she thinks I'm gay or transsexual and b) she's at least mildly homophobic. I noticed she didn't mention my audition in class that day. Let the awkwardness ensue.

I have to read The Scarlet Letter which is REALLY BORING AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON. And I have to write an excerpt of an autobiography. In the third person (um, weird?). And nothing interesting ever happens to me. So should you happen to see this soon . . .
Poll #871189 Why don't you decide?
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 4

What should my stupid third person autobiography be about?

Because I certainly haven't the faintest idea.

You are about to begin the fourth reading section of this test. It will include both multiple choice and short answer questions. Use a number two pencil. No, two and a half is not good enough. On multiple choice questions, completely fill in the bubble next to the correct answer. Do not fill in any other bubbles. Do not write anything down. On short answer questions, you will be asked to write a short answer. Do not fill in any bubbles. I don't even know why they would be there. Do not allow your writing to go outside of the box. Do not write on the pages marked 'Do not write on this page.' You may not talk. You may not get a drink of water or go to the bathroom. You will have forty minutes to complete this section, even though everyone will finish in ten.

So today was the second glorious day of WKCE testing. Hurrah Horrors.

And last Friday was the finale we've all been waiting for: The End! While at Borders, I also got The Tragic Treasury, a collection of songs that relate to the books. Um. The title of this post is a line from a song entitled Freakshow. I think I was going to start off this post talking about the CD, but I must have suddenly remembered WKCE.

Another thing I've suddenly remembered is A Christmas Carol - I got in. As someone who plays the violin. Even though I've never played a violin in my life. So I get a stringless violin and I have to pretend to play it while people dance. Come support me in my false musical endeavors and see me! Performances are in the Capitol Theater from December 1-10.

Today, overall, was a good day. I wore my awesome t-shirt from Making Fiends and a whopping TWO people knew who it was! Yeah, that sounds pathetic, but it's a new record. Also, I got a beautiful skin for my iPod, seen here (it's the blue one), which is very attractive. And no school tomorrow! Huzzah.

Mmkay, so there's this sixth grader. At Hamilton. Who is crazily talented at math. As an eighth grader, I am doing Algebra II/Trig with him. Or so the plan was. But schedule weirdness led to him being the hour before me, which I mentioned earlier. This morning I walk into the library and see him leaving. I casually ask him how he's liking Algebra II/Trig. Wordlessly, he holds up the book he's carrying: Precalculus. NOT FAIR.

First post day!

I was all getting into the back-to-school mood. Maybe actually ready for school to start again. And what do they do? They foist a get-to-know-you day on us. I thought now that we were eighth graders, we were above all that. But alas. So nothing much happened today, except stupid relay races and a little something called Kickball Mania (i.e., stupid). Unfortunately, tomorrow will probably be pretty empty too. Since it's my first day of most classes, all of the teachers will most likely go over expectations. Sigh. Keep your fingers crossed for Friday, though!

School starts tomorrow. 'Nuff said.

I got my schedule today! LJ friends who are Hamilton alum, am I lucky? Am I doomed?

1. Art / No teacher listed. Maybe one left, I don't know
1 (2nd semester). Applied Tech / Slovik (New)
2. Gym / Goldsworthy
2. Musical Theatre / Huschka (I just have to comment on this guy's awesome name. And his waxed and shaved head. He seems cool.)
3. Math / Being tutored.
4. Spanish / Brown (She's also new)
5. Language Arts / Sato
6. Lunch!
7. History / I HAVE THE TUCC!
8. Science / Boone

I'm free. No more teachers, no more homework, no more tests . . .

86.5% on my create a country project? Excuse me? ( Mmmm! Rantalicious. )

And other non-ranty stuff: Just got back from the Isthmus Jazz Festival at the Union which was very good. Went to Rockford, IL just to get a certain style of plates for my bar mitzvah. Which is in FOUR WEEKS. GAH. Just think. In four weeks, all the preparation, and going to another state for paper plates, will all be gone and over. Kind of weird, how much goes into it, and how little comes out of it. And Les Misérables opens in twenty days, which I'm actually happy about. Make us (that is, the rest of the cast and me) happy and come! Ticket information can be found here. I can't really think of anything else to say, except maybe happy June.

GAH I hate my geography and langauge arts teacher! She is so stupid! Right now we're doing our biggest project of the year, which is creating a country. Don't ask me why it's worth 200 points. Now, this sounds like it could be fun, which it could, except I had to fill out a lengthy packet about every last detail about my country. I recently got my packet back, and did not agree with many of the places she took points off. In one question, "What happens if people break laws?", I was downgraded for not including examples of broken laws. Will someone please tell me where in the question it asks for examples of broken laws? Or does she assume we're all psychic? Also, when listing similarities and differences between my country and the U.S., she had some problems with my answers, which are under the cut. ( Actually, it's not a cut. It's a gash. )

Also, en la clase de español, some of my classmates are remarkably stupid. They can't answer simple questions that we've just gone over in class! It's nearly the end of the year and

It's nearly the end of the year. The one good thing about school. Nine more school days, but the second to last day we go to Noah's Ark, and the last day we only go from 7:45 to 9:15.

On a completely unrelated note, IT'S SO HOT. I mean, I like nice weather, but if this is May, I shudder to think about August.

I just got back from Les Misérables rehearsal. How was it, you may ask? Well, let me tell you. Hot. When we had a two-minute break, we ran outside rubbing rainwater on our faces. So hot that someone passed out in the middle of a song.

And I have another bit of news from conversing with someone who goes to my school. Two kids were arrested for doing pot in the bathroom. Seventh graders. Now don't quote me on this, it might not be true. But it very well could be. I'm sorry, but isn't seventh grade a bit young to be getting into illegal drugs already?

And that's my two cents worth. A penny per paragraph. Not including this one.