Just Some Shoutouts

Alright, so most of us are off at college having an awesome time. Thats great. But there are a few kids from our AP English class that didnt take the plunge this year. Nathan Combs is in New Zealand, me (Jeevon) is now in Ecuador (but going all over South America) and Rosie and Vivian will soon be in Europe. Forgive me if im forgetting anyone else, the last few months have taken a toll on my memory.

Anyway, for those of you who dont have enough homework or are just tired of doing it and want to escape then check out kiwiexpress08.blogspot.com. its Nathan´s, Keller´s and Noah Katz´s blog of thier adventures in NZ. And with Nathan doing much of the writing it is hilarious. Imagine your favorite pieces of his writing (i usually fall back on the sophomore year persuasive essay about candles...) and that is what the blog is. It´s a riot. And although I just got down here, my blog is thethirdworld08.blogspot.com, if you feel like checking that out. Hopefully Vivian and Rosie will have something up that we can all enjoy when they get over to Europe.

Anyway, I hope everybody is doing well.

-Jeevon

Wow, who's the tropical storm? And I would have to agree; I love college. I think it's the best thing that's happened to me yet! I hope we stay in touch, though.

-Lila

Guys, I love college. Also I am a tropical storm.

Aha, methinks the time for hike planning is nigh! There are just a few details we need to work out before everything is fine and dandy. First of all, I want to make sure we have a final head-count: so far, I have down myself, Hanna, Alana, Vivian, and my little sister Robbie (hope you don't mind that a non-AP-Englisher is joining us). Speak now, or forever keep your hiking boots in storage.

Most importantly, we need to discuss transportation. I do not drive, and I'm pretty sure Vivian doesn't. I've checked out the bus schedules, and getting out there would be rather complicated unless we can arrange a vehicle and driver. Volunteers? We would all chip in for gas money, of course.

Right now, I'm thinking that it would be simplest to leave Saturday morning, do the hike (shorter than I remembered) on Saturday, spend the night, and return Sunday morning. Sound good?

Other practicalities: I have a tent, which I can bring and set up. We should probably pack our own lunches, and volunteer to bring components of dinner. Sandwiches and soup? Lastly, the hike is not incredibly challenging, and shouldn't take us too long; but obviously, wear good shoes and be prepared for the weather.

Looking forward to seeing all of you! If you didn't see my comment below, you can contact me at differentlynormal@yahoo.com.

-Lila

Hi All--
Thanks for the heads up re. the book (who's "we" by the way?). My mom gave it to my Dad for his birthday, and both of them have been telling me I should read it. This gives me extra motivation. Oh, I'm not so sure that I'm ready to be an assassin, but I have written a prose poem in dedication to y'all it follows. Hope it makes you smile!
Lots of Love,
John

Everything Partly

There were rumors of magic when we first moved into this classroom. Not outright statements, murmurs, echoes fading away long after the initial sound is forgotten.

And how could we believe our ears? A pencil sharpener? Especially not this one. It ate pencils. Ground them down to the eraser without ever producing a sharpened tip.

Some of us resorted to experimentation, tried colored pencils, crayons, even a Sharpie. But all that just gummed up the works and we found ourselves in the ironic position of taking it apart and cleaning it, even though we knew it wouldn't work anyway.

Anger, jokes and cynicism were next. One day we came to class to find a fake finger sticking out of the sharpening hole, catsup dripping down the side. Another time we found four gaping wounds—stigmata—where it had been wrenched from the wall.

We supposed it was the night janitor who retrieved it from beneath the bookshelf on the far side of the room, puttied up the holes and screwed it back in.

After that we kind of made our peace with it. A bouquet of forget-me-nots appeared in the hole where the finger had been, and we figured out that a blunt pencil tip fills in the bubbles on standardized tests faster than a sharpened one. More surface area.

There was a final joke, though. The oldest one in the book. You know, the one in which somebody opens the sharpener's dust catcher just a crack so that when the handle is turned it falls and pencil filings and graphite end up all over the floor.

We were taking the last test of the year and our futures hung heavy in the air above us. One of us got up, approached the sharpener—a few easily distracted heads turned. The pencil was inserted and the handle was cranked—more heads followed. By the time the dust catcher opened, fell and bounced on the floor, everyone was watching.

Curled filings and graphite sparkling in the fluorescent light jounced out of the box and began to rise like a dandelion cloud without its stem. Tests forgotten, we watched the glittering ball spread out, widen across the room: around, above and below. And our eyes, pinpricked with surprise, milk-dotted with light joined in, echoing with the diamond cut glow of unity.

There isn't much to tell after that. We all passed that test, and we moved classrooms soon after, many of us going our separate ways. When we pass each other in the halls, though, or when we're outside on clear nights, our eyes can't help going back home to that many-speckled now in which everything partly is whole.

Mr. Rees-

We found you a book: Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar...

Also we decided that you know way too many ways to kill someone for not having killed anyone yet. We suggest the person who decided that offshore drilling was the original great idea.

Good luck.

And read that book.

Hike

How should we contact you, Lila?

So, it looks like I can say with a fair amount of certainty that August 8-10 will be the weekend of The Hike. Just to update: I've come up with 3 possible schedules. If you're coming, please tell me your preferences or make other suggestions.

#1: Leave on Friday morning, trek up to Deer Lake, head down to campground, spend night, return Saturday.

#2: Leave Friday afternoon/evening, spend night at campground, hike up to Deer Lake on Saturday, come back to campground for another night, return Sunday.

#3: Same as #1, except leave Saturday and return Sunday.

Let me know if you want to join us!

By the way, my great-grandmother passed away on Monday; age 100. I've been thinking a lot about all of you and our conversations. Can't say I have any of the answers; I just hope that my life and death turn out as good and peaceful as I know hers were. Hugs to everyone.

-Lila

baden-baden

Hello all,
I am just writing to let you know that i ate lunch today outside of Dostoevsky's house in Baden-Baden. I couldn't help but think about our discussions of how the characters perhaps reflected his life...but I can tell you that although he gambled everything many times over, when he was here, he lived a life of luxury. His house was huge, and has gold leaves on the balconies, and he attended the 2,000 year old Roman baths just 20 feet from his house regularly.
I hope the movie night was swell, and I can't wait to go on that hiking trip.
Vivian

So, I don't necessarily think that purchasing the book is the only answer. I just ordered it from the library. Granted, that only gives me about 7 days or so to read it. Maybe other people might want to do the same. I would be willing to meet at my house in the afternoons any day Monday to Wednesday. My house, which is in cohousing, is close to town, so it would be easy for people to get to, and money spending would not be needed.

If you haven't read, Tuesday the 8th has been chosen for the movie showing at the common house. I'll get back to you guys about the specific time, but I think it's from around 7 PM to 10 PM or so. I Heart Huckabees is a must.

Lila, August 8-10 or 15-17 would work for me. I get back from my three trips August 4th or so.
--Alana

Ha okay well it looks longer than it is, and it reads fast. It is 513 pages but an inch and a half thick, so I told Lila it was pretty long, but it's not too bad. Plus, we read Crime and Punishment... I'm just letting you know this so that it doesn't discourage you from reading it (as a reading club book or just for yourself), since it is so good.

-Anneli

Alrightio,

A book group sounds simply splendid. I think we have a few details to work out: where to meet, how often, and what to read. I like the idea of The Hakawati, but Anneli says it's VERY long; does that make a difference? And yes, Vashon Bookshop gives discounts for bookclubs that register with them. Of course, we could meet at someone's house--or somewhere central, like Cafe Luna or the Teashop. But then we would have to spend money, and I'm a miser.

All that aside, so far I have Hanna and Alana down as being interested in a hike. I'm trying to work out going to the Olympic Peninsula over a weekend. Possibilities are: July 25-27, August 1-3, 8-10, or 15-17. If you are interested, let me know what would be best for you. I don't drive, so we would have to work out a bus/bike route, but that should be pretty easy. I'll be scouting out the territory with my parents on another hike beforehand.

Movie nights! Well, of course we have to finish I Heart Huckabees. After that, I am personally biased towards Cinema Paradiso, Billy Elliot, anything by Buster Keaton...

Hope to see all of you soon!

-Lila O, O Lila

Hey all, the Artist-Formerly-Known-As-Mr.Rees here.

First of all, I need to say--being of a different generation--that blogging is new to me and a bit strange. But I think this is very cool. Normally when I am cleaning my room out at the end of the year I am stuck by sadness--lots of ghosts running around the room, memories, etc. But this year there was none of that because I knew we'd be in contact with each other. So, thanks Hanna and thanks too to the rest of you.

A reading group sounds fun. I am halfway through The Hakawati and it ROCKS. I'd love to hear what you guys think of it. One thing to think about, though, is that it is only in hardcover right now and costs $25. But I am sure one of the bookshops will give us a discount. Let me know and I can talk to them.

Also, we should start thinking about our movie night(s). I have the projector and a screen. Co-housing has the venue. We just need some dates. Any ideas. Sometime next week? Oh and what are we watching?

Oh dear, this site is a bit confusing. But if you didn't already read, Ravenna and I wanted to start a reading club. Is anyone else interested? Also, maybe we can start with the book suggested below.
-Alana

And don't forget to go see Ravenna in Tartuffe!! I'm pretty sure it's: Ober Park, July 3, 4, 5, at 7pm. Correct me if I'm wrong about any of this, Ravenna. I can't wait to see it!

-Lila

What ho everyone,

Golly, this is strange. And I thought e-mail was high-tech. Anyhow, would any of you be interested in going on a hike in the Olympic Peninsula sometime this summer? I'll probably be going a couple of times, once with my family and once with friends. It could be great fun. Let me know!

-Lila

Has anyone found it increasingly difficult to verbally articulate what you're trying to say? I feel like I'm tripping over my mouth half the time. Also it has only been 1 week of summer. 

Also wow Lila, I heart hiking. 

-Hanna

This is random, but everyone should read The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine. It is like Haroun on a bigger scale. It's about stories and a storyteller. In Beirut and several other places. It's good.
-Anneli