I've decided that I'm a very inspirational person. I mean, sitting here, procrastinating from studying while drinking coffee out of a "Failure is not an option" mug? I may as well listen to "I believe I can fly" and it would complete this picture of my incredible inspirationalness. On a side note, in all honesty, I hope that someday I say something so wonderful that people print it on coffee mugs.

I was playing with my camera yesterday, and after two years, I finally figured out how to change the color setting. I experimented with sepia:

 

I like how sepia accents the shadows. For the second picture, I plugged in a desk lamp, turned off all the lights in the hallway, and held the lamp so that I could get a nice shadow. I'm so glad my family is used to my slightly eccentric ways.

In awesome news, I convinced my parents to half give me a new camera for my birthday. I'll pay for the other half, but I'm perfectly fine with that. Right now mine is an extremely basic point and shoot, and I want something more versatile. I decided on a Cannon Rebel, which is fairly pricey, but I've been saving my money for a while. 

Video of the day: Are You Popular? and Communism
I came across this series of instructional films from the 40's and 50's. I find it funny that these were legitimately meant to teach people things.

The Are You Popular? one is just extremely corny, the Communism one is pretty biased and includes lots of slightly comical speed up footage of Russia, or, as said in the film, "the threat to life as we know it today."
Love,
-J-

My toes testify how cruel you are, winter.

Today, the temperature outside was a nice, crisp -20 degrees C, -36 if you count windchill. Getting out of bed was difficult. Getting to the bus stop was difficult. So difficult that I didn't make it. Mom had to drive me, but it wasn't a big deal because (a) she hadn't worked a night shift, (b) she was already up and (c) the car didn't need cleared off. Days like this make me wish for the tropics. Hence the palm tree.

My social studies exam was in the morning, and it consisted of a few short answer questions on Rome, 104 multiple choice questions, and a reading with four questions to answer. Not hardcore stuff. I managed to get a lot of studying done for my math exam, and more at lunch when Katie had to do redo a Chemistry test and everybody else was missing.

When Katie came back, I found a coloring book and crayons in my backpack and we colored a picture of a superhero. My backpack seems to collect things without me remembering about them. The funny thing is that everybody is so flustered by exams that nobody even did a double take at two girls sitting in a high school hallway, drawing in a coloring book with crayons.

Math exam was in the afternoon, and I hope that I did okay. That's pretty much all I can hope for at this point.
-J-

Video of the day: These four walls
City buses taken: still 9

I have discovered the single most annoying situation, I believe. Being sick while having to study for exams. Ick.

Exams. *headdesk*

I heard someone say a few days ago that exams "have turned their soul into a black pit of oblivion." I must say that I agree. My days have gone pretty much like: wake up, go to school, come home, eat supper, do homework. Everybody else is in this weird, stressed trance as well, making for some odd days. I've accidentally gone off into rants about sci-fi a few times, and James and I have started a sort of contest to out insult each other. There's hope of snow tomorrow, so there goes my review day for some of my classes. I'm completely lost in chemistry, but other than that, I think I'm good.

I can't wait for this to be over. Maybe I can have a life again...

There was the first musical practice yesterday, and I kind of enjoyed it.  Almost everybody else is in choir, so I was kind of awkward, as usual. I wish that being awkward was an achievement. Well, I guess it does hilarity into my life occasionally:
Earlier this year, I walked up to a group of people Katie was with, but that I didn't know very well. I looked out the window and stated,"Hey, look! It's foggy out." Katie then told me that I was looking at the white building across the street. I turned and walked away. Apparently, after I left, a girl in the group asked what I was on. Katie replied,"Nothing." I think that girl still doesn't believe her.
Love,
-J-
Video of the day: Community Channel- A hardcore cure