Then I'll be one of the cool kids.

 I've been enjoying the last few days and the relative freedom they have given me. The stress from my exam has been replaced with a free period to do whatever the heck I want, and so far that has turned into going to the library, where I am surrounded by knowledge and happiness. I don't know why I prefer going to the library by myself when I could be hanging out with my classmates. I think it's because I've missed leisure reading and it feels more fulfilling to fill this hole than hang out with idle people.

In two days of having a free period, my to read list has acquired The Great Gatsby, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and a book about how to photograph people (in which I found a picture of my friend Mei Ling as a kid, which was weird until I realized it was a locally published book).

I'm also taking advantage of the CD section of the library. For what it lacks in popular music, it makes up for in soundtracks. I have "West Side Story," "The Phantom of the Opera," and "Les Miserables" soundtracks, the contents of which are now (not quite legitimately) in my possession. Also, I will feel fairly ominous when I get phone calls from now on because this happens.

In other news, I'm going to a party tonight. Like my first real high school party, which should make for some interesting stories. I'm planning on bringing my Arizona green tea, sitting and watching crazy stuff go down from a safe distance. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint (or make my parents paranoid of all my future weekend outings).
Love,
-J-

Unrelated link of the day: A collection of portraits of people being pelted in the face with a leaf blower

Apparently I have mind powers.

I'm done with IB French, guys. So pumped.

The exam was actually kind of a joke. IB has fed me through so much pain and hassle that it made a three hour exam easy. French was uber time consuming and now I have 2nd period free, which is awkward but I'm okay with this.

Now it's time to party. *awkward party dance*

Actually, I feel really crappy right now. I told people before the exam that I was avoiding sunstroke until after the exam, and strangely enough, that's exactly what happened. I was fine in the morning, but by the afternoon I could barely prop myself up on my desk. Choir dress shaped sunburns are the worst.

I managed to go to the local "Got Talent" competition again. I ended up sitting next to a guy I know through musical that I haven't talked to for a year, since he graduated and goes to uni in Montreal. It was kind of weird but kind of fun at the same time. Also, the people from my school were sitting in the front center and we yelled things (1) to the performers, (2) at the emcee and (3) that were proclaiming our undying love for my school's tech crew, who were working the thing. The emcee actually is the most awkward individual known to man, and since we know most of tech crew, yelling compliments at them as they set up between acts as sort of an ice breaker. Generally being obnoxious was kind of fun.
Love,
-J-

Royalty, bungee and bagpipes.

Today was a little surreal. It began with me waking up at camp, in a rustic cabin full of sharpie signatures, at a youth weekend, TEC (because of Victoria day, there was no school). Despite being at camp since Friday, this morning was the first day I truely needed coffee. After breakfast, I got to help clean the bathrooms as part of my custodial purpose for the weekend.

At around 10:30, Moriah, Kaelen and I rolled out to go back into town for choir. By going to choir, I mean getting in formal, polyester dresses and singing to Prince Charles and Camilla in 25 degree (C) heat. I must commend my city for making itself look decent, and also its decision that inflatable bouncy things are necessary for a royal visit.

We got down to the stage about an hour before we had to sing to find most festivities already set up, including several bouncy castles and free cotton candy, and the crowd consisting of about 50 people. Bouncy castle in a formal dress, FTW. Even better, there was a thing with three inflatable lanes and harnesses attached to bungee cords. The object was to run as far as you could until the bungee pulled you back, and you would show your distance by sticking a velcro block to the velcro on the side of your lane. Aidan, Will and I decided that we should race each other (in formal dress, 'cause YOLO) and I am unsure of how far my choir dress flew over my head this one time when I was launched backwards.  I drew a diagram:

People soon filtered in, live music began in a rather Maritime fashion. A few of my friends broke out the Maritime dance moves. The band was pretty great with their lead rocking a fiddle.

Everybody was getting pumped for Prince Charles and Camilla to show up, and when they did, there was a huge crowd. The crowd had been following them around town. We sang our few songs, impressed the crowd, probably because we picked our best pieces, and afterwards, by the time we had changed out of choir clothes, they and the crowd had moved on. I liked that there was still the public festival vibe, something that I haven't experienced too much around here, where a community can get together and just have a good time. However, I didn't particularly appreciate the twenty-one gun salute. Having twenty-one mini heart attacks probably isn't good for you in the long run.

Then I third wheeled in an un-awkward fashion with Kaelen and Will because I was actually incapable of getting a ride home for a few hours. We laid on the grass in Queen's square for a while, surrounded by other people appreciating the outdoors in the south end. The only thing that disturbed my pleasant grass laying time was when a guy across the square casually started playing the bagpipes. He wasn't even busking, he just playing his bagpipes for the heck of it, in the middle of a residential area, not acknowledging anybody. I am so okay with that.

Now I am covered with bug bites, sleep deprived, and the back of my neck is sunburned a glowing, bright red. My French exam tomorrow should be fun. It will be so wonderful to have high school French over with, after years of preparation and annoyance. 
Love,
-J-

The Dart Game

Now, my friends, I will tell you about a game so infamously known as in my life as "The Dart Game."

The Dart Game is a game where one person makes eye contact and pretends to blow a dart at another person (both of whom must consider themselves to be a part of The Dart Game). The receiver of the dart must then drop to the ground 'dead' until another player of The Dart Game 'saves' them by picking the pretend dart out of their neck. A player can protect themselves from darts by holding their hand 'protecting' their neck (basically, like the one handed version of the choking sign).

Doesn't seem too complex, right? Well, when it started at the beginning of March, it wasn't. That is, until approximately 30-40 people joined and we realized that once The Dart Game starts, it's a never ending battle. It has appeared on facebook (ie: videos and inconspicuous links to gifs of darts being blown). This week alliances/gangs are being formed. For the record, I'm a Bumblebee, as opposed to a Stingray. We like to consider ourselves the good guys.

There are several other rules:

1. Once you are in The Dart Game, you're always in. 
2. You must show commitment to the game, as in you must drop wherever you are when shot with a dart. 
3. There are designated times and places where dart throwing is off limits (ie: choir concerts, some classrooms where teachers have stated their aversion to the game)
4. Don't be (too much of) a dick about it.

The forth rule is only acknowledged by some. For example, I don't believe that 'shooting someone after school in a remote part of the school where no one will find them, while also taking away their phone to prevent them from texting someone to save them' falls under that (there was eventually a search party sent out to save her.) Yes, people are actually that committed The Dart Game that they stay dead.

For those of you who watch Community, it's pretty much a (ever so slightly) toned down version of the paintball episode. 

I'm glad I go to a high school where this is a thing.
Love,
-J-