Viviana Alicia Diaz is my name.  I am sixteen years old.  Live in Tacoma, Washington, with mi familia; mi familia consists of papi, mami, mi abuela y abuelo, y mi hermanas Teresita (she's eight) and Olivia Gabriela (she's two).  I also have a brother named Chaco (real name's Ice, but we call him "Chaco"). We also have un perro, a Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix named "Abby".

I am in the tenth grade at Tacoma High School.  Some of my friends include Brandon H. Lee, Mitchell Jones, Jeremiah Hernandez, Daniel Richmond, Omar Okefewe, Eden Woodson, Scott Quillen, and Micheal Ipswitch.  I could be friends with Zebediah Hawkins-Green, Desmond Wilson, or Tim Vasquez, but personally, I don't like them.  They're older than most of us, and they are bound to attract trouble wherever they go.  I don't really trust them at all.

Some of my interests include drawing/writing poems or stories, reading (vampire, ghost, or horror books mostly), shopping for clothes, being with my friends (excepting for "Snake", "Venom", or "Dracula", of course), and visiting my cousins whenever we can get away.  (We don't go but twice a year, like on Thanksgiving or Christmas; we really don't have much money). 

The only reason why I can buy books or clothes is 'cause I babysit my little sisters; I make two dollars an hour.  I do this on the evenings when mami and papi work.  They own a Mexican restaurant here in town.  They work something like five nights a week.  I love my sisters, but Olivia can be a handful.  She has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair; she needs a lot of help.

This is where a lot of our money goes to:  the bills or taking care of Olivia's medical needs.  It seems she is always going to therapy or to one doctor or another.  It's really sad because she may never be able to walk on her own, but mami and papi refuse to give up hope.

Olivia gets sick a lot.  She ends up in the hospital with pneumonia.  Her lungs are weak.  She has to use a breathing machine and oxygen at night when she goes to bed; sometimes she chokes, and we have to call for an ambulance.  It's very scary when this happens; we are so scared we might lose her.

Today, I might stay home and just veg out.  Seems I have been rippin' and roarin' a lot lately; I'm past the point of exhaustion.  I'm just glad that mami and papi are off today; they can take care of the little ones while I sleep or play on my computer (after doing my chores, that is).  Sounds like a plan.

I just hope the gang doesn't try to weasel me to hang out with them.  I've had enough of their pranks for a while.  Besides I'm a Christian; I don't need any more drama in my life:  have far too much now as it is!

Well, I am going to go; Olivia needs my help.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Viviana Diaz signing off!

By the way, my nickname is "Goth-Girl".  When you see me, you can see why.  Black hair, heavy dark eyeliner around my eyes, painted lips (blue or black, or maybe even purple), dark clothes.  That's just me.  I'm not thinking of turning into a vampire or something like that, but I do like the look.  My parents and grandparents disapprove.  They are hoping I will grow out of it.  Maybe I will, but I only do this when I'm with my friends or am at school; I don't do it all the time.  I like looking like a goth; I think the goth look is cool!

~Viviana.

*To be continued.*