I'm teaching myself to juggle. The preview for the school talent show was today and, of course, they had somebody who could juggle. He didn't actually have an act to himself. He just wandered across the stage juggling happily between other people's acts. It was great. And whenever I see a juggler I always want to learn how, and I've finally got around to learning. I made myself four beanbags after dinner - red, blue, purple, green. I've just worked with two so far and haven't improved much in twenty minutes, but if I keep at it I'll get better.

I'm switching volunteer jobs. My school requires one hour of community service per school week, or 140 over four years. I used to volunteer for Richmond Refugee and Immigration Services, but today I'm stopping, for various reasons. But the Parks and Recreation summer schedule was in the paper a few days ago and I sent an email to the woman in charge of volunteering at Meadow Farm museum. It's a farm preserved as it was in 1860 just before the war broke out. I've always wanted to do living history, and 1860 is an almost ideal time period. Summer in any kind of Victorian clothing will be pretty stifling, but hoopskirts are bound to improve things somewhat. I don't know if I'll start out in living history, but I'm so excited. I'm glad I worked with the Refugee services and I learned a lot, but I'm actually going to enjoy this. It's not a terribly useful thing to be doing as far as bettering the community, but I need hours and something to do this summer. This is going to be it. I'm psyched.

A few days ago I came into history class and was setting down my stuff when a boy in the class yelled, "It's all Linda McCartney's fault!" and walked out of the room. I have no idea why. But I yelled after him, "It's all Yoko Ono's fault!" The girl next to me stood up and yelled, "No, it's all John's fault for being so freakin' conformist!" At this, half the class turned around and said, "What?" She hastily corrected herself: "Sorry, I meant to say Paul." Life resumed as normal. It was a strange little scene in an otherwise boring class.

April 26
April 29