DEVIN, I LOVE YOU. DEVIN, I DO!

WHEN WE'RE APART, MY HEART BEATS ONLY FOR YOUUUU.

Uhm. Yeah. Hi.

This morning, on top of the amazing things Devin Lytle did yesterday, I woke up to this message:

And I went completely beserk. Sitting on my bed, in my school uniform, completely forgetting about getting ready for school ... I went "SQUEEEEEEEE!!!" and flapped my arms around like a spazzed-up seal. And it took me forever to think of a reply. I typed one thing, thought "No." and backspaced, typed another - "No" - backspaced, typed another - "No" - ... I think you get the point.

I was so ecstatic. I'm still internally fangirling now, to be honest. I get all giddy at the thought of this XD

Steph Here With An Update

After a nudge from my friend, Megha, I decided to blog again. I was going to blog every day on the first week, but (a)I was too exhausted, and (b)nothing particularly interesting happened. I'm in Set One for all of my lessons except Maths (Set Two, by choice) and Music (Set Three, because I suck), and the lessons are all pretty damn easy. However, I've received twenty-three pieces of homework so far, and that's the draining part. Not because it's hard, but because it's cutting into my free time and I don't want to do it.

My timetable is this:

Monday: Tutor/Assembly. Maths. Break. Science. RS. Lunch. Drama.
Tuesday: French. PE. Break. English. Geography. Lunch. History.
Wednesday: PE. Art. Break. English. Maths. Lunch. Science.
Thursday: Maths. French. Break. English. Science. Lunch. Tech.
Friday: History. Music. Break. ICT. Tech. Lunch. Geography.

The underlined classes are those I share with my best friend, Jess. It's not fair.

And this is more for me, than for you, because I doubt you care. This is a "see if I can get it to actually stay in my brain this time." Because in June last year, I was STILL asking my friends what lesson we had next XD

Today has been a mixture of boring, bad, and absolutely amazing. In that order. It's been really dull.

After assembly (which was on cyber-bullying, a subject that really bugs me), we went to the fire alarm meeting point, where we go and line up in register order in our forms whenever a fire alarm rings. Cora, a girl in my form who is before me in the register, stood on my toe. Then Rosie hugged me because she thought it was her fault, and then Cora hugged me, too. Lots of hugs to around.

In tutor (which is an hour with our form and form teacher, where we usually have discussions and learn about things that affect us and stuff, like smoking, drinking, litter, ASBOs, etc.), I'm in a group with Jess and Owen for a project we have to do, and our group name is Nameless. I came up with it. Aren't I just so witty? No. Anyway, our subject, which I also came up with, is prejudice & judgement / bullying. This is mainly because I hate it when they all judge me and laugh at me when I show the nerdier side of myself. I'm secretly snapping back. Yeah.

Before Maths, we had SCHOOL PICTURES. Dundundun. We had no warning for this, so all the other girls were like "WTF?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US?! I LOOK LIKE A FREAKING MESS!" Which was hilarious. And while they were fussing over that, I was chanting "I'm not going to show my teeth in this one. No matter what, I'm not going to show my teeth." I'm pleased to say that I did, indeed, not have to smile with my mouth open.

In Maths, we had a "test", which was actually five easy, two-minute-max problems on Pythagoras' Theorem. She gave us twenty entire minutes, and Pythagoras' Theorem is so damn easy, I finished it in ten. The other ten minutes were the most boring, stretched out ten minutes of my life. When walking out of Maths block, I tripped as I walked through the door and hurt my ankle. Boohoo.

In Science, we were talking about the menstrual cycle and fertility treatment, which was actually kind of fun because the girl I sit next to is pretty funny. There was this one part where we, working with the person next to us, had to draw a picture of the process of IVF (In vicro(glass) fertility ... test tube babies). Only, the person drawing it had to have their backs to the board, and was completely clueless as to what we had to draw, and the other person had to describe it, but couldn't tell their partner if they were doing it wrong. I was drawing. It was hilarious.

In RS, we had a cover teacher, who is really nice, and we were talking about how Martin Luther King ended suffering, and what he went through to succeed. That was dull. And then in Drama, we're creating a documentary-like performance about homelessness, and I'm in a group with Deckel, Ellie, James, and Jake. This group is great, except for Jake. I can't work with him, AT ALL. We used to sit together in Maths, and it got so bad that the teacher moved me next to Kelly because Jake wasn't letting me work. He kept stealing my things, poking me, closing the textbook and not giving it to me, hiding my Maths books. Being a general pain in the backside. So, we got hardly any work done because of him, and I just KNOW my score is going to be low when we perform next week because HE affects how I work. I'm going to speak with my Drama teacher next lesson, or maybe I'll go and see him at some point this week, and ask him not to put Jake and I in a group together again because he affects my work and I don't think it's fair.

I'm going to go to a meeting at Wednesday lunchtime about the DofE, because it's a great opportunity. I'll probably blog about the meeting, and whether or not I'm going to go ahead and do it.

In other, so much more exciting, news, I created a second Tumblr yesterday, called EffYeahDevinLytle, because Devin is so amazing deserves more love. I made it YESTERDAY. One of my followers told Devin about it, and she's following me. Devin. Lytle. Is. Following. Me. On. Tumblr. I fangirled for an hour straight.

Squee, much? I think so.

 Also, less exciting but still amazing, I've been watching Ouran High School Host Club, an anime about a girl who gets mistaken for a boy and is forced into joining the Ouran High School Host Club, continuing to pose as a boy as the members of the Host Club slowly become a second family. It's really amazing, and I'm really enjoying it. I watched it on the recommendation/bothering/harrassing of a girl in my year, who I used to be really good friends with, and wouldn't leave me alone until I watched it. And my friends online were, of course, fully supportive of this (I'm looking at you, Allie and Rhaps). But, yeah, anyway. Excellent series. I only have a few more episodes left until I've watched them all ^.^

Now, I'm tired, my ankles are starting to hurt (and if that turns into what it was like last time they both started hurting at the same time, then I'm in for a hell load of pain), and I just want to snuggle up and watch Ouran High School Host Club for the rest of the night. So, see ya!

Day Two!

First period, I had PE, and I was worried 'cos I left my note at home and I don't have the school jogging bottoms, but we didn't actually DO PE today. We just got sorted into our groups and got our levels from last year and stuff. Afterwards, I was talking about it with one of my friends, Owen, and he was saying how he has basketball next term. I have netball next term. I think that's COMPLETELY sexist. I love basketball, but I hate netball. Basketball is the only sport I like, and it's not on the girl's PE curriculum. Hmph.

Second period, I had French in a class of thirteen. Yes. Thirteen. Most classes are around thirty, but a lot of my classes seem to be especially tiny this year. My French is the smallest so far. I sit between Owen and this guy named Elijah, and then Kelly sits the other side of him. So I kinda like my place there. The only downside is that Owen is right-handed and sits to my left, while I'm left-handed. So our elbows are constantly bumping as we write. So we're probably going to rip each other's throats out by the time Miss gives us new places.

Third period, English. Until the lesson actually started, I thought I was alone in this class. As in, no friends. It didn't bother me much because English is the one class where I don't mind being by myself. For at least five minutes, I was standing outside the classroom completely by myself. My friends down the hall were mocking me. But then people started showing up, and there are couple of girls in my class who (a) don't try and (b) can't be smart enough for top set. Which is what my class is. I'm in top set, with a couple of the dumbest girls in my year. I mean, MOST of the people in the class are smart. But I want to know how those girls got into my English class. ANYWAY, in the end, Sam and Mitch are in the class, so I do have friends with me. The teacher is pretty awesome, but we only have him once a week, and we have a different teacher for the other two lessons this week.

Fourth period, Geography. Somehow, I scraped Top Set for this lesson. Seriously, though, I am so bad at Geography that I should be in Set Five ... the special needs class. I am so terrible. Later on, in History, we had a Geography-like task to do (about WWI), and I managed to label, like, six countries on a map of Europe. I SUCK. But I got in Top Set, so ... yeah. We're studying America.

Fifth period, History. I love my table. A girl with frizzy hair called Hannah sits opposite me, and we get along pretty well. Next to her is Sam, my wonderful, ginger friend since forever. And next to ME is Kelky. His name is Sam, too, so to save confusion, I call him Kelky. It's from his last name. I'm not going to tell you what his last name is, but I call him Kelky because of his last name. Similarly, there's another Sam in most of our classes, and I call Pudde (pronounced Pudd-ee, spelt Pudde because of his last name). Again, it's from his last name, but it's not his last name exactly. ANYWAY. The teacher went through the curriculum this year with us, and it sounds like it's gonna be pretty boring. But I have an interesting table.

We worked it out and I'm with Jess in five classes. Six including tutor/assembly on a Monday. Kelly and I are in eighteen together. And they're the only specific numbers I know.

So far, I'm Set One in every lesson except Maths and PE. For Maths, my teacher last year said I could move up to Top Set if I wanted to, but I chose to stay in Set Two because that's where I'm comfortable. And I suck at PE, so I'm in Girls Class B.

I'm going to go and sleep now. Bai.

New. Freaking. Headmistress.

The new head? She's so uptight, she has a pole up her backside. Seriously, guys. I hate her. Can't stand her. She's overdramatic, pathetic, and downright stupid. Also, from the frown she gave us on her pinched, wrinkled face while introducing herself, I doubt she's ever smiled in her life.

She put two of my friends in isolation for an hour and then sent them home because they had their noses pierced and refused to take them out. The thing is, they only got them pierced a couple of weeks ago and you have to keep them in for, like, twelve weeks. So they CAN'T take them out or the hole will close up, and they even run the risk of getting an infection. And their parents didn't pay £20 for nothing. You know what the head said? "Take them out or move schools." W ... T ... F?! So, what, they can't come back to school until they take them out? One of my friends actually took it out and came back to school a couple of hours afterwards, but still.

And a girl in my form, Lottie, she got sent home for MANY reasons, most of which I can understand. Nose piercing, dyed part of her hair bright purple, skirt too short, too many earrings (we're only allowed ONE stud in each ear; Lottie has about six XD), and - get this - black tights. What? That's so stupid. Apparently, we're only allowed to wear skin coloured tights. Even though it never mentioned that in the letter she sent us at the end of last year. Girls in my school wear thick, black tights when winter rolls around and I don't know about anywhere else, but where I live, thick, skin-colour tights don't exist. You can only get the thin ones.

And another of my friends, Mitch, got sent home for wearing trainers and having his shirt untucked. ALL the guys wear trainers and nearly everyone had their shirts untucked. So why should HE suffer for that? I should also point out that at the beginning of the day, another guy in my form was sent to reception to colour in a white design on his trainers (they have to be plain back), and HE didn't get sent home for wearing trainers. But Mitch, who's trainers were completely black, got sent home for it.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

*sigh*

So, long story short, we all hate her, and we all want to run her out of town and bring our old head back/replace her with someone better.

Sorry, ranting. I'm just really worked up about it.

Other than her, school is alright. I had Maths with the same teacher who taught me in Year Seven, and she's wonderful. Triple Science is with the same teacher I had last year, who is also rather wonderful (nothing special, this one, though. She gets her job done and has a sense of humour). RS is with the same teacher I had last year, and even though it's called Religious Studies, we learn more than just religion (we're learning about Evil and Suffering at the moment). Drama is the worst class on a Monday because I only have two friends and a handful of people I could "get along with" out of twenty-two, and the teacher is somewhat of a perv - but teaching-wise, he's really enthusiastic and gets us going.

We worked it out and, sadly, I only have four classes with my best friend, Jess. However, my timetable is VERY similar to Kelly's, so that's good. I'll probably be blogging every day, if I can find the energy, to tell you about my classes. Unlike America, each day on our timetables are different, so it'll be a new thing each day.

And now, I'm off! See ya.

School

The summer's only six weeks long

But I wish it was longer, wish it was longer, wish it was longer

-- Summer, Futures.

I've never hated school. In fact, I kind of like it. If someone said to me "Hey! We're giving you the opportunity to drop school! You can pack your bags and go home, and never come back!", I'd reject that opportunity.

Tomorrow, I go back, after six weeks summer holiday. During those six weeks, it felt like time was passing slowly, but now I sit here, knowing I'm going to be woken up at 7am and that I'm going to have to put clothes on as opposed to staying in my jimjams all day, I can't help but wonder where the time has gone. 

And I'm not dreading going back, I'm just not particularly looking forward to it, either. I want, like, another week off or something. But then, if I was given that, at the end of that week, I'd want another week off. But when tomorrow comes, and I'm at school, seeing all my friends and comparing timetables and wondering which teachers we have for each lesson*, I'm not going to think "I want it to be summer again!". Instead, I'll be thinking - in a very Darren Criss-like way - "Man I'm glad I'm back."

On the downside, we have a new headmistress and she's changed so much. Girls can't wear plimsolls (I live in plimsolls practically), trainers, sandals (that was already in place), or boots (I always wear boots in winter - my feet are going to freeze). We can either wear guy shoes or pumps (flats). Now, I have nothing against flats, but if I'd thought of it when shoe shopping, I seriously would have considered guy shoes. Because they're more comfortable and they'll keep my feet warm.

Also, girls can't wear fitted blouses (screw that - I'm wearing them) and girls have to tuck their shirts in. Top button must be done up, tie must be up to said top button (SHE'S TRYING TO KILL US - I can hardly breathe with my top button done up, it partially traps my airway). And we have to wear the school jogging bottoms for PE, even if we already have perfectly good jogging bottoms to wear. 

I hate her, and I haven't even met her.

But other than that, I'm not not looking forward to going back. I'm impartial. 

I'm sick of summer and this waiting around

Man it's September so I'm skipping this town

Hey it's no mystery

There's nothing here for me now

I gotta get back to Hogwarts!

I gotta get back to school!

I gotta get myself to Hogwarts

Where everyone thinks I'm cool.

-- Get Back To Hogwarts, Darren Criss, AVPM.

*On the timetable, they put the initals of the teacher beneath the lesson, so we try to guess who it is.

Eye Diary

For the next thirty days, I have to write a diary. An eye diary, specifically. Yes. An eye diary. Well, that's what I'm calling it. No one knows this, but I actually have a diary. A proper one. I haven't written in it about two years. It's light pink, with two sleeping labrador puppies on it. It's pretty cute. Okay, I just looked in it. The last time I wrote in it was December 09. But I haven't taken it seriously since I was about nine. The last time I wrote in it, it was notes for a new story I never got round to writing. And even when I took it seriously, I was hopeless with it. I'd think "I'm going to write in my diary when I get home", but I'd forget, and it'd sit in my drawer for a couple of weeks without me thinking about it.

Which is why I'm going to hopeless with this eye diary. I should probably explain what my eye diary is.

I went to the opticians today and I told him how things were starting to get slightly blurry even with my glasses on, but the blurriness is only periodically. And so, over the next month, he wants to me record the time and date every time my vision blurs, and include what I was doing/how I was feeling. I've already written in it.

September 2nd. 16:50.

Reading online.

And I actually need to write in it now because the screen is starting to blur. Grr.

Okay, written in it. "Typing. Kinda tired." was my doing/feeling description. Heh. So, I reckon I'm going to last a couple of days and then completely forget about it, because I have the memory of a seventy-year-old. However, if I remember by the 6th, I'll take the diary (a plain, black notebook we got from a Pound shop in my town XD) to school with me, and hopefully, having it with me will help me remember. And if I get into the habit, I might continue to record it. The optician said I only had to do it for a month, but I think it'd be easier to spot a pattern if I record throughout the six months between now and my next appointment.

Or I could do it for a month, stop, and do it again in February (appointment is in March), to get a more up-to-date record of how mucked up my eyesight is.

In other news, I got this awesome t-shirt, I've started reading Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (it's amazing), this competition I'm holding with a friend (Amy) on HPFC has ended and I'm going through the process of judging all the entries, I'm participating in my Dribble Drabble challenge for the second time, I'm ten books away from completing my 2010 Book Count challenge, and I'm going back to school on Monday. I'll post a back to school blog on Sunday, and my holiday blog is still in the works XD