Hello!  Phaedra Rose McEntire is my name.  I am fourteen years old; live here in Boca Raton, Florida, with my family.  Not so sure as to whether I like Florida or not:  too hot, for one thing; another thing, all these bugs!  Gross!!  Some are so big, I swear you could ride 'em!  I mean, honestly!!

I lived all my life in Boston, Massachussetts; even have the accent to prove it.  Then daddy lost his job at the factory where he worked; we had no choice but to move because we couldn't pay our rent; we got evicted.  It was really bad.  We're still tryin' to pick up the pieces here; it's not easy!

I loved Boston:  there was always something to do, and I had scads of friends there.  Here, I have only one friend:  her name's Caz, who is fourteen, like me. Her whole name is Charlene Morgan Tynsdale; however, she hates the name of Charlene, so she is known as "Caz".  She and I hit it off, even though we're polar opposites of one another.

I have my family:  ma, daddy, and my three little brothers, Anthany (11), Brad (10), and the baby of the bunch, five-year-old Timmy.  They're not too bad, but Timmy can be a first class pest at times; he's always in the way!  Drives me crazy!!!!

I wish we could move back to Boston:  I hate it here in Florida; the kids are such snobs, and I'm to be the new kid at school when it starts up in a few weeks.  Am not lookin' forward to that:  I know they'll rag on my accent, amongst other things.  The weather wrecks my hair, and it's gotten so frizzy I can't do a thing with it.  It's nasty!!

I also don't like Florida because there's alligators around.  I saw one in the yard the other day; thought it was a log--until it moved.  I about died!!  I am not setting foot out in the yard; I'd more than likely become 'gator bait, and I'm sorry, but I don't want to be eaten up by no nasty alligator!!  They're UUUUUUUUUUUGLY!!!!

I also saw a dead 'gator in the road while going to the store last week; a car hit it, I guess.  It was disgusting!!

Probably the main reason why I don't like Florida is the weather.  Too warm, and way too humid; thunderstorms nearly every day in the heat of the day.  Which only makes the humidity worse.  I don't know how I'm going to like having Christmas without snow; I am not used to that idea AT all!!!!

If it wasn't for my friend Caz Tynsdale, I probably would have done myself in right after we moved here.  Been in Florida now for about three months; it's a huge adjustment.  Still trying to get used to it, feel my way around.  I'm just glad I met Caz; she's been my saving grace!

Well, I'm going back to bed, so I will write more another time.  I'm not really that big on journaling; however, mom suggested I write down my feelings, as she says I've been a regular bitchette lately.  No!!  Me??  Not ME!!  LOL  Until later, this is Phaedra Rose saying so long!  Bye!!

~Phaedra Rose McEntire, aged 14.  :)

*To be continued.*