So my blog has been kind of inactive lately, and since it's Christmas break, a lot of people will probably be bored and have little better to do. So I decided to take a few of my old Facebook notes and repost them here over the course of a week or two in case anyone feels like reading them. This one is titled "June 2, 2010." Enjoy.
Left for school at 7:00, having just finished inputting all the quotes from the book. Continuing to work on the journal entries on the train, adding commentary to each of the quotes. Arrive at school at 7:30, with two quotes left uncommented.
Needed to be at school early to make up PE credits; having been absent for 8 class periods over the past semester, I had to work for 25 minutes each period missed to make up the work. I hoped to get 4 credits done with today (1 hour 40 minutes).
7:30-8:00; mini gym locked, so did exercises on the stairs. Pushups, step-ups, etc. Successfully accomplished my first two sit-ups since last Tuesday, when an intense core workout (also for making up PE credits) killed my abdominal muscles.
A coach with a key appeared at 8:00 to open the mini-gym. Worked on the exercise bike. Time went by really slowly. Was watching some alumni set up for graduation in the gym below. Then began to realize that I could match the speed of my pedaling with the pitch the bike makes. 60 rpm is between an Eb and an E and is apparently my most natural biking speed. Decided to try some simple tunes; successfully played Mary had a Little Lamb, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Amazing Grace on the exercise bike. Of course, there were glissandos between every note as the wheels accelerated to the next pitch, but hey, it was still music. Before I knew it a half hour had passed. Took a break.
Did a few exercises with weights. Took the lightest metal weights and tossed one into the air to catch. Noticed that it rung with a specific pitch when tossed. Began testing out the other weights. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lightest pairs of weights make a minor chord in first inversion, and the heaviest ones approximate a major scale.
Went back to the exercise bikes. Stayed until 9:10. Went to Coach Long's office to fill in my PE makeup form.
Went to Mr. C (health teacher)'s room to ask about my abs. I felt it was weird that I used to be able to do so many fairly well, but for some reason I could barely do any even a full week after I stressed them so much. Wanted to make sure nothing was wrong. Mr. C wows me with his knowledge of various abdominal problems and tells some disgusting but really cool stories. Tells me that he was concerned it was something serious, but since I'm not showing the symptoms for whatever it was called, there's no need to worry.
9:20; had to rush off for choir practice. Singing in chapel, so had to run through in the auditorium.
To class, starting school at 9:30. Bible class, for working on posters and journal entries. Handed in my poster (completed last night), and went to the computer lab to work on the journal entries. Finished one of my last two commentaries, but then got distracted by playing Gmail Snakey. Still can't beat Andrew's high score of 330. Meanwhile, various people come up to me asking for quotes from the book, questions about scheduling, or how to pronounce "capacitative." Five minutes before class ends, I quickly finish the other commentary, and try to print. Printing fails. Go to the library, print there (as the bell is ringing), give Mr. Gibson (bible teacher) my completed journal entries.
Go to chapel. Seniors leading worship. Beautiful Things - great song. Good job, seniors. Dave McDaniel speaks! good to see him back at CAJ. Gives a message about trusting God for the future and what that looks like. Both from personal example of times he got mad at God, and from the story of the twelve spies entering Canaan, and the story of Joshua. Joshua enjoyed spending time with the Lord and chose to follow his battle plan; and we can learn from that. Then choir sang "I will keep my eyes on you." Last chapel of the year came to an end.
Physics presentations in the computer lab. Electric Guitars, Noise-cancelling headphones, segways, and singing. Good job Andrew, Koji, Jacob, and Jared. Gave my matsu (yearbook) to Mr. Mhlanga (Science and math teacher) to sign.
Jacob tells me of the idea that we should take Sakamoto-sensei (Japanese teacher) out to the new Tully's Coffee shop to thank her for all she's done this year (and to have an excuse to get out of class). She agrees. Justin has an awesome picture of a sloth and a very funny caption which can only be understood given the right cultural context. But Sakamoto-sensei asked what it was and Justin had a fun (read: awkward) time trying to explain it to her. We decide to go to Baskin Robbins instead of Tullys. Monty discovers that Christina has small feet. I bought ice cream for Sensei, and so far, Jacob, Justin and Nidhi have paid me back 30-50 yen.
Get back for 4th period. Vishnu asks me to edit his presentation. I start, but don't really have time since I have to meet with Mr. Seely (business manager) and Tsuby to pass on the role of StuCo Treasurer. Good discussion ensues, going over the basic roles and responsibilities Tsuby will have to remember. He seems reassured by the meeting. I'm probably still going to have to help him a lot next year, but I'm excited to see how much he's already understanding and have confidence that he'll do a good job. He's dedicated, and that's what's important.
My lunch box is dripping wet. Apparently peach juice spilled. Oh well. Eat my rice and yakiniku outside, get approached by Vishnu to ask how his presentation was; Ria and Grace come up to me because Ria said she wanted help with math homework (Did I ever find her after that? I forget); Miye asking for help for a debate on abortion, where she is arguing in support of abortion. But eventually I have to leave to go to my violin lesson.
On arrival, Mrs. Sasaki (violin teacher) tells me (change of plans) that instead of practice from 4-6, graduation practice will begin right after school. So I won't have time for the things I planned to do after school! She told me to do them now. Went to Mrs. Foxwell (principal) to pick up my EARCOS global citizenship award certificate and travel wallet, Ms. Schellenberg (registrar) to get a piece of music from my Student-Led-Conference portfolio, to Mr. Mhlanga's room to pick up my matsu, and back. Rehearsed Bach's Concerto in E major.
Back in computer lab for U.S. History. Louisa presents on the Indian Removal Act. Sung Ji can't find her script. I try to help her find it on the computer; it's not there. She starts to panic a little. Mr. D (history teacher) reassures her she can go tomorrow. Then we research for possible comps topics next year. I decided to research problems with overcrowding in cities in Third World countries (parasite cities?). Found a few good articles and a hilarious poem called "Ideal Cities."
Went to English class to listen to and watch presentations. Good job, Daniel, Zach, Mariko, Jacob. Interesting poems, and deep analyses of the literary style and merit of each. Jacob's went through the bell... I hate it when I'm presenting and that happens to me. Donmai.
Go to orchestra. Accidentally go up to the mini-gym thinking it's there; no, it's actually in the gym. Go to the gym, get tuned, set up, etc. Graduation is in two days; need to practice. Run-through a lot of the pieces. get a break from 3:40 to 3:50. Me, Grace, Haruka, and Mami make Timothy Ho mad because we couldn't recognize a flag as South African. At 4, start practicing with seniors; lots of repetitive music. Over by 4:25.
Building closes at 4:30; before then, run Celebration of Discipline into the book drop, and empty out locker. Backpack becomes very heavy. 4:30 to 6:15 spent outside signing matsus, acting weird, singing in rounds songs not meant to be sung in rounds, stealing cell phones and tricking the owner, making up new acrostics (Keita is a genius for what he wrote in my matsu), tickling ticklish people, mechakucha/heyheyhey, and so on. A lot of different people involved so I won't name all. 6:15, me, Lana, Keita go to Lawson 100 to get food. I forgot my money at school, so he'll pay me back. Roshia pan is SO good. And ice cream.
To GT prayer/prep meeting. Give registration items in. Keita needed to make a photocopy of his insurance card, so went back to the machi, to Lawson's, while he mad the photocopy. Met Marie and Aiyanna on the way. Hung out with a group of mostly senior guys just outside Lawson's until Keita was done, then went back to the meeting. Mereta tells me that a lot of people can't go to the band concert Thursday evening.
Introductions; say name (Jonathan), song stuck in your head (Amazing Grace played on exercise bike), and thing you're excited for this summer (MATHCAMP!). Good worship, talks, prayer, discussions. 6:30 to 8:40. Afterwards, played guitar. Dave McDaniel's "Great is the Lord" is such a cool song. Jacob comes up to me with the idea of going to a Japanese hi-ba club Thursday evening. Schedule conflicts scented. Also, talk with various other people about various other schedulings needed to be done in the next couple days.
Didn't get a cookie. Left at 9:00 (building closing down), sat down on the sidewalk across from the crosswalk. Only for a short time; eventually went off to the station. Largest group I've ever gone to the station with after hi-ba, I think.
Arrived home just before 10:00. Mentally and physically exhausted. Two things I could do with such low brain power: sleep or facebook.
I chose facebook.
Welcome to my life.
