Weds., March 11, 2009, Nashville, TN., 10:37 a.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Stinko here.  Thought I'd write in my journal while sittin' here in Study Hall.  Just got here; won't be getting out until 11:15 or thereabouts; then I head over to the cafeteria, for lunch.

I have been doing okay; so has my family.  Even Stevie, my brother, has managed to stay well since his last heart episode; hope it lasts!  Don't need him getting sick again!  I always get scared he's going to die!!

I have been trying to work up the courage to ask Ronee' Reaux to go out with me; but I don't know if her parents approve.  I'm not exactly cute; I'm pretty homely, and I'd be embarrassed to see with the likes of her; she is so pretty!!  I feel like the Ugly Duckling next to her!!

I think her parents think I'm a nice kid and all, but I worry what they might think.  I look like a dufus with my long, shaggy hair, big nose, and zit-covered face!  I'm not that good lookin'; got that from dad (sorry, dad)! 

I am worrying about her brother, Johnathon, though.  He says he's doing okay, as does his family; I'm not so sure.  He's getting skinny again, and I wonder if he's going to be around this Christmas.  He's really weak; it doesn't take much for him to get winded, and then he has to go to the school nurse to get a snort of oxygen and rest for a while. 

I don't know why kids like Johnathon Sandusky or Ricardo Esteban have to suffer so much; it doesn't seem fair!  (Ricardo Esteban is HIV-positive; he may be getting AIDS because he's been sick so much himself.  He's missed a ton of school; it's going to take a miracle for him to make it all up!)

At least the homework has slacked off somewhat; for a while there, I thought I'd never see sunshine or feel fresh air again because I was spending at least five-six hours a night trying to get all my assignments done; and some of them were killers!  I'm sooo glad that's all behind me now!!

The weather here is gorgeous; sunny, bright blue skies, temps flirtin' with eighty degrees.  No winter jackets, gloves, or  heavy shirts for me or anyone else here; everyone's been enjoying the warmer-than-normal temperatures!  I have been getting some serious skateboard time in, and I've also been playing baseball with my friends at the park on non-homework nights!

Tomorrow, though, we may get some severe weather; cold front coming; knocking temps into the thirties, with a chance of snow/rain.  Back to reality, folks.  The calendar says March, but it's still winter for a few more weeks; winter isn't ready to give up the ghost just yet!

I'll be glad when it's May; that way, we won't have to worry about cold weather again--at least for a little while, not until September or October!

In a few weeks I'll be going to the Easter Cantatata at church; we go just about every year.  I'm not partaking in it this year; by the time I realized it was time for it, it was too late for me to sign up for tryouts.  So I will just be in the audience, watching.  That's okay; I'd rather be in the crowd than having people looking at me on stage!  I'm always scared of messing up!

Well, I am going to go; gotta get my reading done before history class, which I have after lunch.  We were supposed to read two chapters on the Crimean War; didn't realize it until now!  LOL  Gotta do it, so in case, Mr. Emerson asks me to answer a question, I won't sound like a dumb bunny!  LOL  Take care, and I will write in here again soon!  God bless!

~Stinko.  :)