Back into the swing.

12 days left. My summer went by very quick, as usual. 3 months of swimming, softball, reading, trips to Seattle, the San Juans, the beach, seeing relatives, and sleeping outside.

The heat didn’t start until the end of June that was perfect for summer ball. I got to play with a new team, girls fresh from Franklin softball and a few I’d never met before. It was great seeing the competing teams again. Since I’ve been playing against some of the girls since I was a wee third grader. Scratch that, I’m still wee.

The pool went up late this year, and for the first time the Hope kids had to contribute to its revival. There were few days where we had to bucket brigade the 2 feet of sludge out of the bottom of the pool, only to have it start raining once we had finished. We poured sand, cut out and put in a new liner and carefully maneuvered a hairless and eyeless squirrel into a garbage bag. We had a great time inside the hexakaidecagon (16-sided polygon), enjoying the echo, the thrill of fixing problems, and each other’s company. And once it was filled, we swam all hours of the day, from 8 in the morning until midnight. Night swimming before heading up to an un-air-conditioned room made it a little more bearable.

During the exceptionally hot period, we slept outside on the deck. I slept out by myself a few nights too, after Mary and Thomas complained of the mosquitos and the uncomfortable chair cushions they were sleeping on. I did get to sleep on an air mattress a majority of the time, so I had a slight comfort advantage. And whether I was with alone or accompanied it was great to look up at the few stars that shined through the city lights. Thomas and I even caught a few meteorites when we slept outside during Perseids shower on the 12th.

Anyways, Mary and I also have begun running. Only for a few weeks to far, but every other day we run or do something equivalent to get our hearts pumping. It is hard to get back in shape but we’re coming along.

Today was the first day of Link crew training and I had a blast. I’m glad to be exited about going back to school. Registration was just last week and it did not meet my expectations in enthusiasm.  But Link Crew was a perfect solvent. I’ve got another 6 hours tomorrow and then only a week and a half until I put my training to use, making the new freshman (one of which is my brother) feel more comfortable. I can’t wait!

FACED

Another Sketch Update! There’s a few drawings that aren’t out of the ordinary, a few out of magazines. But then I have 4 pictures that are different. You might recognize them if you go to Franklin. I’ll explain when you get to them.

Parker Bella – Whose family was featured in a Better Homes and Gardens spread.

 Zac Efron

 Tom Cruise, contemplating his split with Katie

*

 Here come the four pictures. I love drawing portraits, but my problem is that I need my subjects to be still and facing me. That doesn’t come often in my day-to-day. I’ve tried magazines, hence Parker Bella, Zac, and Tom, but magazine pictures are mostly either to small, airbrushed, or at weird angles. SO yesterday morning I flipped through my yearbook.

This is Samantha. Freshman.

 This is Emma. Sophomore.

 This is Lanny. Junior.

This is Mara. Senior.

🙂

As usual, click on the picture for a bigger image.

Sketch Update.

Hope your summers been grand!

Click on the images for the bigger picture.

TO DO:

DECIDE YOUR FAVORITES

READ ENCYCLOPEDIAS

MAKE A PYRAMID

NO ELECTRONICS (WATCHES, MUSIC, SCALES INCLUDED)

BECOME AMIDEXTRIOUS

MAKE CONFETTI

LOOK UP

WALK WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED

DON’T USE YOUR THUMBS

PUT ON ALL YOUR JEWELRY

COLLECT EVERYTHING AND ARRANGE IT

DOCUMENT THE CORNERS OF YOUR HOUSE

CARD HOUSE

RESEARCH SOMETHING RANDOM (the 57 on the heinz ketchup bottle stands for the number of varieties of pickles they once had) (I also know a lot about pogs and staples)

TEMPORARY TATTOOS

SLIDE DOWN THE STAIRS IN A SLEEPING BAG INTO A PILE OF BEDDING

PHOTOSHOOT

DECONSTRUCT AND RECONSTRUCT SOMETHING

EXPERIENCE THE WEATHER

PLAY CATCH WITH ANYTHING

START A COLLECTION

ORGANIZE SOMETHING BY COLOR

TALK IN AN ACCENT

READ A BOOK WITH A FRIEND, ALTERNATE EVERY WORD

CHANGE RADIO STATIONS

OBSTACLE COURSE

MAKE UP SONGS ON THE FLY

MOP

WALK HOME BACKWARDS

LIVE OFF THE LAND

SCAVENGER HUNT

TEST EVERY MARKER IN YOUR HOUSE

CUT YOUR HAIR

FOLD THE LAUNDRY

WATCH INFOMERCIALS

EAT A MEAL WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED

REARRANGE YOUR ROOM

SING

LEARN PIG LATIN

RECORD THE DOINGS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD

FORT

READ A BOOK UPSIDE DOWN

MAKE A PILE

MAKE HOUSES OUT OF PUZZLE PIECES

CLIMB ON THE ROOF

ROLL DOWN A HILL

WRITE ON YOURSELF

CREATE A MADLIB

EXPLORE A CLOSET

SCOPE OUT GOOD HIDE AND THE SEEK SPOTS

DUST

LOOK FOR OLD HALLOWEEN CANDY

SEARCH FOR SPARE CHANGE

READ POETRY

MAKE BUSINESS CARDS

WRITE A THANK YOU CARD

MAKE A PAPERCLIP CHAIN

MAKE POPSICLES

MAKE A TREE SWING

MAKE A MAP OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

LEMONAID STAND

GO PRINCESS IN THE PEA STYLE

Decades Day!

Spirit Week!

But my school celebrates spirit week haphazardly.

“I’m representing the 21st century” “I don’t own any neon!”

And our spirit days were

Monday: Blackout day. Dress in all black! I was surprised that more people didn’t participate in it because it’s so easy. And a completely ridiculous day 1 of 5. I wore white, intentionally.

Tuesday: Neon Day. Or bright colors. I positively hate neon. (realization: saying POSITIVE-ly HATE. Oxymoron.) But I wore bright colors.

Wednesday: Decades Day! A lot of 50’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 21st’s.

Thursday: Celebrity Day! I do not want to dress as someone else. And I didn’t participate.

Friday: Class Colors Day! This is always our Friday spirit day because we have a pep assembly.

This is my decades day prep.

PIN CURLS!

PIN CURLS! part deux

Curls brushed out…

This dress is 30/40/50’s, from Goodwill. I had to repair the zipper, but it fits like a dream.

aaannnddd

my AP tests are next week. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.