Every blow of the hammer...

Fri, 01 Oct 2004 22:03:10 GMT

Friday.
Finally.
Fridays, of course, would be a great deal more of a relief if they truly did herald the beginning of a two day break in classes, instead of a two day spree of work that wouldn't fit into the normal week.

Transfigurations. The concept isn't so bad; transfiguring substances back and forth between solids, liquids, and gasses isn't new, after all. The catch in this one is getting a solid to transfigure into a gas without becoming a liquid first.
Not altogether too bad, the subject matter. The amount of it, on the other hand... and the upcoming practical has me a touch worried. Not because I'm unprepared, but because I remember the Seventh years complaining last year about some kind of chance of explosion. Apparently you have to hold your wand perfectly still at the end of the incantation to give the substance time to finish solidifying. What's worse is that there's no set time period you have to do it for; you have to judge for yourself when the object is solid enough to give the final flick that snaps everything into its final place. Apparently if you do it too soon, the object is too close to a gas and explodes, and if you wait too long it becomes too dense and shatters at the final flick. They used onyx last year (right tricky, that sounds) but McGonagall hasn't told us what we'll be working with yet. I wonder if we should bring our protective gloves and aprons from Herbology... I don't fancy a shard of granite embedded in my shoulder....

The Muggle Studies, on the other hand, is hardly as difficult or unnerving. I am really enjoying the subject, especially this year, though I don't look forward to the upcoming section on Advanced Politics. It's mostly theory, and I think I prefer the more practical example- and history-based sections more. I think that's a few weeks away, though, and I've got a mountain of work to do in the current section (Terminology: Muggle vs. Wizard) first. It's really pretty interesting. I knew, for example, that Muggles refer to Divination as "fortune-telling," but I never realized that there is an entire section of the Muggle economy that functions based on giving false-readings and unbased reassurances. It really relates to the the fear/placebo section we covered last year.

Hm...come to think of it, I should probably be working on some of those assignments instead of rambling on this thing...

Mon, 27 Sep 2004 16:33:50 GMT

"Bill Miller."
At's his name.
Short for William Shadwell Miller, if ye must know.

At Hagrid's advice I gave the little guy a bath in vinegar and onion...then promptly gave him a bath with a great deal of shampoo. The good, strong, nice-smelling kind. It almost worked. Have owled home to see if mumsy would be kind enough to send me the muggle version of flea-bath. I never appreciated how much better they smell. :)

He's got a "cage," now, too. I'm pretty proud of it, really. I hated the idea of ~~spending money on~~ locking him up in a cold, steel-barred box, so I did better. I spent damn near the whole weekend getting sapling branches (none from the Forest, no worries) and weaving them and tying them together bamboo-style into a wooden-barred box. The floor is just cut grass, which he REALLY likes, and one side can be taken off when I want to let him out but still give him access back in. Looks pretty good, too. Not too crude, if I may say so. It'll come in handy now that ~~another snake's come out from under their rock~~ classes are picking up and I won't be in the dorms as much.

They quickly changed their tune as they slammed a couple down

Wed, 22 Sep 2004 16:03:36 GMT

"Hausenfeffer."

You think?

He rounded up his furry boys, though some wore a frown

Tue, 21 Sep 2004 23:58:20 GMT

Um.
I have a rabbit.
I know I said I wanted a familiar last year... maybe I should have been more specific.
At the same time, either the poor thing was going to stay in the ~~bat's~~ Divination tower, get ~~banished~~ released into the forest, or have to fight for his furry little place next to Fang with Hagrid. Or, I could nip up and retreive him so he could live in a nice warm dormitory for the winter.

He's kinda cute, as rabbits go. Snowy white with a grayish belly and outrageously puffy-long chest fur. Quite soft. One ear is a bit off-center or off-kilter or something, and the other moves of its own free will, swivelling randomly.

He's very timid, but doesn't seem likely to run off. He doesn't like to be held at all, but he's okay in the room. He seems to really enjoy being under the bed, so I've shoved a blanket under there amongst the rubble so he can be comfy. I assume he's the burrowing type, I really haven't the first idea about rabbits in general. He hates carrots. He really, really like lettuce. I need to set up some kind of box or something so that I know he's not making a mess or running off when I go to class. For now, though, he seems quite content to sit under my bed and rev his little nose. Not exactly the most exciting of familiars. Am hoping some untapped resource within his furry little skull shows itself in the near future.
For now, though, it looks like I've got a rabbit.

Am tossing some names around. Am favoring Basil at the moment. Basil Stag, maybe.

~Pait

Private to Hagrid:

You wouldn't happen to have a few pointers on rabbit care, would you? I've adopted the loose one that Trelawney found.
Oh, and do you have anything for fleas? I don't know if he's got them, but I figure better safe than sorry.

~Paithan

Who fell upon a drink that made him feel like quite a man

Fri, 17 Sep 2004 02:44:33 GMT

Have rediscovered The Who. Have been playing Behind Blue Eyes for.... an hour now. So addicting.

...

Um... anyone else having difficulty with that Transfigurations paper due Monday? I know noone else in the NEWT level has prolly looked at it yet, but when you do guys, it's bad.

If anyone wants to get together to hash out some basic outlines, drop me a message, otherwise I'll be forced whine for several hours Sunday ~~and give you all a midnight rendition of Flight of the Bumblebee to calm myself.~~

It started with a little lad named Vermin McCann

Wed, 15 Sep 2004 03:51:52 GMT

Hmm.
So after last night I've been told in no uncertain terms that the next time I try to perfect my mandonlin skills at such a time in the dorm that it (and I) will be granted the speediest exit from said dorms, probably through the room's window. Cultureless cretins. It was only 2 in the morning anyway, and I couldn't sleep. What else to help one nod off but a bit of calm and peaceful plucking on such a beautiful instrument?

Needless to say, I'm looking for a different location to practice. They claim that normal hours are fine, but apparently we all keep different "normal hours" and so I'd feel better keeping it out of their ~~range~~ sight. I don't want to ~~do it in public~~ subject the common room to it, so I'd like to find somewhere else in the castle that isn't ~~packed with critics~~ going to get me expelled for using it. I considered just finding a good spot by the lake, but i don't want to risk this delicate little beauty outside when there's any chance of rain. Are there any hiding places left in this castle that aren't patrolled by Peeves or crammed full of snogging fourth years?

All this trouble just because a few fellow Griffies have no appreciation for the finer musical arts.

Here.

Tue, 07 Sep 2004 23:21:44 GMT

Have readjusted to Hogwarts life properly.
Have finally got this thing properly running on the school line.
Have decided i'm entirely too lazy to update in normal fashion.
Am sure no one is heartbroken.

Will be around on the odd chance someone decides to drop in.

~Pait

For what it's worth, I'm back!

Sat, 04 Sep 2004 04:45:58 GMT

So much has happened since I've talked to most of you guys. I know none of you want to sit and read through it all, but i'll force you to scan through some

- Summer started. Yay for the end of exams, bummer for those of us with no vacation on the horizon.
- Summer continues. I lasted one week at the house. Was highly impressed i made it for so long.
- Went to Richard's, helped him move into his new ~~run-down dump~~ flat in Kilkenny.
- Visited Harrison, was dragged (not unwillingly, really) to every pub within a ten-mile radius to hear "local bands, man, these guys are so awesome live!"
- Weathered a weeklong hangover. Was miserable, was hell, still do not regret it.
- Spent a week helping Uncle Ramsis fix up his ~~lean-to~~ cabin in the Adirondacks. (America really does have a few beautiful scenes left, who knew?) Was heaven. Heaven. Trees, grass, paths, streams, more trees...heaven.
- Had to leave, as we'd done all we could for the cabin. Bummer. Was invited back next summer. Yay!
- Still had no desire to spend more than a few days at the house.
- Found a job repairing guitars and other stringy-thingies at a run down music shop.
- Job was too far away to commute. Gee. Had to spend the time living above the shop. Second heaven.
- Job paid well. Could afford to pay Harrison back with a visit to every pub within a ten mile radius to hear "thish guysh awshome, 'Arrishon! 'E doesh the mandolin, 'armonica, and bagpipesh all at once!"
- Another week-long hangover. Just might have regretted that one. Only because of the bagpipes, you see.
- Finished job last week, returned home. Poo.
- Got book list, was told that "Since I had the money now, and needed to get accostumed to buying my own way, i could purchase my school supplies myself."
- Was thrilled. to be granted such independence.
- Managed to buy everything i needed, despite a Severe Sulk being in play.
- Splurged and got *gasp* a NEW copy of a few of the books. How dare i.
- Returned home in fine huff. Truly justifiable, of course.
- Felt really, really bad and really, really happy at the same time when parents presented me with almost-new laptop and not-even-close-to-new-but-in-really-good-condition mandolin. Poured over each for some time while pouring out thanks and apologies for being such a shithead.
- Still feel like a heel and yet on top of the world.
- Have discovered the cure in my bags from the guitar shop, but haven't uncorked it as it tends to confuzle my typing.
- Will miss said cure when return to Hogwarts.
- Will settle for butterbeer.
- For now.

So here I am, back in one place and rummaging through all my things. Tossing stuff in boxes, tossing the rest in the closet...hunting around for a few things that wandered off in my absence.
What's so great is that a potentially shitty summer of stagnation turned into some really cool times, and that I'm coming back to my last year of Hogwarts with my own laptop, my guitar and mandolin, some new stuff (some of which is actually NEW, not just new-to-me) and an uncharacteristically good mood. Who'd've thunk it after stomping onto the Express end of last term?

Not sure how many of you are still using these things, but for those that are - see you on the Hogwarts Express.

Private

Tue, 18 May 2004 15:33:10 GMT

It starts.

Oh, and then OOC there's this:

Magister Mundi sum!
"I am the Master of the Universe!"
You are full of yourself, but you're so cool you
probably deserve to be. Rock on.

Which Weird Latin Phrase Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hmm... better make it Locked Against Staff

Mon, 17 May 2004 15:36:57 GMT

Okay, so the cat's cute.
Not "Does mommy's iddy biddy kitty want some num-nums?" cute, but he's alright.
Neville was watching him over the weekend, and i was a little surprised at how well he handled the little guy. I mean, i suppose his devotion and skill with plants should have been an indication that he isn't everything he seems, but i suppose all i could imagine was one more thing for him to trip over. In any case, he did very well with Caratacus, even if he worried more over him than an 80yr old woman. It was a very pleasant surprise for we Gryffindors to watch him carrying around a little furball instead of Trevor... and he didn't once lose him, step on him, or really need help with him. As much as i'm not a big fan of Crookshanks, i think one more cat in the common room wouldn't be so bad if it meant Neville had a pet a little more... suited to him, i guess. Poor guy was almost in tears when he brought back the other morning, though... seems Inkwit is a bit of a bully besides being a greasy little tattler. Wonder if Caratacus made the featherball pay dearly for the chunk of fur he lost in the battle. Hope so.
Pait

Sat, 15 May 2004 17:29:13 GMT

Should i be worried that i'm considering asking the professors if i can come to these OWL and NEWT study sessions? Maybe i ought to dork it down a little.

In other news, it is SO good to have Prof Lupin back... i know we all expressed our welcome when he first came back, but now that we're really back in the swing of things and he's had time to work with the curriculum and plan the notes and practicals out more... i really missed the way he teaches. It's really only his and Prof McGonagall's sessions i'd like to go to, just because by missing them i feel like im being cheated. :)
I am in no hurry to beat a path to Trelawney's sessions.
I like my aura just the way it is; surly and unstable.

Oh, and I think my parents are hinting not-so-subtly that i need to come home this summer instead of staying with ANYONE else, as i've been not-so-subtly hinting id like to do. They keep sending me what can only be viewed as bribes. I sent them an owl a little while ago mentioning that my cousin Richard was looking for some help over the summer moving into his new place in Kilkenny...earlier than that i reminded them that Dane was going to do that "Hike Across England" thing, sans magic, as his Muggle Studies Seventh Year Research Project. So Thursday i got an owl saying that the strawberry patch in the backyard looked fantastic this year, and this morning they sent me my E chord, with an owl mentioning that a new music shop opened up a few blocks away. I wonder if mentioning that Richard would buy me a mandolin as compensation for helping him move would get me that used one with the maple neck from McKinnley's Musik.... Hi Ho Schemery!
Pait

Ought to look into some subscriptions of my own

Wed, 12 May 2004 15:14:50 GMT

The issue came by this morning's owl, but you'd already left by the time i stomped in for breakfast. :) Harrison sent it right over, he'd already gone through it and made a few copies of the articles he was interested in. I had a look-through while i scarfed my muffin on the way to Charms, there are some very interesting articles in it this month. There's a particularly engaging article on Victorian age curses...
I'll have it with me at lunch for you.
Pait

Well, that's interesting...
Now, i couldn't help but flip through the issue when it came; though i don't intend to go into curse breaking as a career, i think it's overall a fascinating course of study and career. Anyway, i came across a particularly...eye-catching article. I naturally read it, in the name of research and all. Turns out the Victorian-era chastity belts that everyone discarded as low-grade, if occasionally dangerous, charms were in fact guarded by some very powerful curses. They've uncovered a few recently, apparently, that would make anyone rethink dating. It explained the schema of a couple, and they were extremely complex. There were even diluted versions for Muggle use (which really surprised me, looking at the time period they were popular and all.) I began to think the article was a joke, though, when they cited that Isaac the Infecund was the wizard to originally initiate the study. I had to check it out, and turns out he really did exist. Gnosticum's Encylopedia unfortunately gave a rather lengthy description of the encounter that led to the curse-thesis. Poor bloke. Another reason i won't be going into Curse-Breaking as a career.

Pait

Mon, 10 May 2004 21:01:22 GMT

I am so sorry! For being half the blame and not sharing in their revenge, for not being there to give you a hand, all of it!
Tell me you're okay, no one will tell me how you're doing, and Pomfrey wouldn't give me a straight answer.
What can i do- is there something i can do-to make up for it?
Do you want to just beat the shit out of him? We can catch him out of place just as well as he can us, im game for just smashing his little ferret face into some Hogwarts stone.
Im so sorry Britney.
Pait

Fuck.
How could i have let him get her back? i got too wrapped up in exams and Hogsmeade and ignored the fact that it was fuggin Malfoy we hit, that's how. Chose to ignore for a little while that the pompous little hemorrhoid can't fight his own battles and would get the whole ruddy pit of snakes out there to hit one girl. Feel like such a damn idiot, such an asshole.

It wasn't even her idea! i'll give her credit til the sky falls for helping me pull it off, she's a right genius when it comes to pulling something like that, but i shouldn't have let that blind me to the fact that i was dragging an underclass Ravenclaw, an impetuous one that is quite sure she doesn't need any help at that, into a fight with fugging Malfoy. paithanpaithanpaithan...

Why didnt he hit me? The whole House of Gryffies is not going to rise up and defend me any more than Ravenclaws swooped out of nowhere to help her, why the hell didnt he hit me?

i've apologised, for what it's worth... i don't expect forgiveness for not being there to help her out, but at least she'll know i have the decency to feel like a ruddy shitpuddle over it. ugh... do i dare hit him back for it? do i want to risk her getting it again over what's on my conscience already? urg. only thing is to let her decide, but if that's the case i will set up a body guard of sorts to keep her safe from retaliation.
Fuck.
Please let her be okay.
Pait-the-shitpuddle

Later

Don't worry, Harry's okay. Played chess with him this morning, right after Transfigurations. He's itching to get out, as anyone would be, and i could tell he's still a bit under the weather. But whatever made him sick enough to land in the infirmary i think has run its course. i went over today's practical while we played, and seeings how he understood it as well as i did, along with the fact that he did in fact win three games in a row, i'm willing to believe he's at least better if not okay.

On a darker note, i take it you have heard about Britney.
Let me know the minute you hear anything.
Pomfrey rushed me out in the middle of a game, i didn't think anything of it. Figured she was making sure Harry didn't get tired. Apparently that's when Britney came in, i didn't even find out til i heard it from a slytherin.
The minute you hear anything.
Pait. (Also known as Pait-the-shitpuddle.)

Mon, 10 May 2004 00:33:23 GMT

Oi mate, understand you're cooped up with Pomfrey at the moment. Imagine after even a day in there you'd like a break in the monotony, and i wouldn't mind a break from the panicked buzz in the common room. Care for a game or two of chess? I'm nowhere near Ron or anything, but I'm sure absolutely tromping me will make ye feel better than anything else.
Pait
Mmm... buuuutterbeeeer...
Wish i had some more, it really improved m'mood yestiddy.
Think im about ready for my end-of-terms, the only one i was worried about was Arithmancy...i really think i'm going to be okay in there now. I've been dedicating most of my studying to it, and as simple as Morgan's advice was, to look past the equations and see the magical core, i think just adjusting that view made a difference. If i do have any further troubles, though, i think ill take her up on her offer for assistance, providing i can come up with some acceptable ~~bribery~~ remuneration.
Other than that, i refuse to sweat about them anymore. After all, it's not like they're OWLs or NEWTs, and those guys have dibs on the proper amount of drama. Wouldn't want to show em up or anything. Though, if i remember correctly, i managed to spazz with a great deal more originality last year. These fifth years have no creativity.
Pait

Okay, so i occasionally melt.

Sat, 08 May 2004 02:57:13 GMT

Lets just say it was a good thing no one was around to see me dripping on the monitor when i saw the picture of Sprout's new baby, Caratacus. Adorable little bugger, that one is. I'd wager he's a right perfect badger, too, judging by his House and those cute-in-the-picture-but-sharp-as-shit claws he's sporting.

Anyways, looking at the ruddy little angel got me to thinking, i think id like a familiar. A real one, that is. Not a cat, i dont think... dont think im a cat person. ~~and Dane's allergic to them~~ Was thinking something less normal, as cliche as that sounds. Something a little more versatile, too. Was tossing around the idea of critters like squirrels or chipmunks or ferrets. Wait, scratch that ferret one, i couldnt help but name him 'malfoy' and that wouldn't end well for the poor beast...~~or me~~ I know an otter is out of the question, the little devil'd be more trouble than Luna's niffler. Oh i do love them though. Most innocently-destructive critters to roam the earth, and so independent and individual and carefree and hell, i cant have one. Think im safer sticking to squirrels. Then, of course, id have to worry about him getting eaten by ~~Crookshanks~~ someone's cat. Something bigger... i wonder, would a badger be out of the question? i know, very Puffballish, but theyre nifty critters. i could be completely tasteless and get an american woodchuck. Oh that sounds maliciously appealing. Obviously nothing as egotistically exotic as a lemur (though it would be pretty slick.) On the exotic note, i hear that muggles have been keeping Prairie dogs of all things as pets... that is until they started getting some disease from them...nono, no prairie dog for me.
All right, ive rambled enough... any suggestions? i just might go familiar-shopping over the summer.
Pait

OOC: Fair Warning

Wed, 05 May 2004 23:37:11 GMT

A great deal of Paithan's stress over exams has come directly from me, im afraid im a bit of a bad influence. Our IB exams started this week. The evil has begun. (IB is a program where you take college-level courses in high school for a nifty second diploma, all for the one time low price of your soul. To learn more, check this place out, it says it all so well: http://ibscrewed.net/ ) In each class you write three papers as your final exam, which are sent to East Jesus to be graded. We have at least one two-hour exam every day until the 20th, sometimes up to three in one day. Every night we have study sessions at Barnes and Nobles (otherwise known caffiene-panic parties)until they kick us out, at which point we sit on their curb studying, slurping the last bit of coffee. Theres also after school last minute prayer sessions with various teachers (they're good about giving last rites), and plenty of individual studying. If there's time, we may eat. We will not be sleeping. Point of this being, my participation on LJ will be sporadic at best. If or when i do post, i will most likely be surly. At best.
Just fair warning.
Amy

Ferrets deserve mail, too

Wed, 05 May 2004 00:00:42 GMT

Oh that felt good.
Nevermind exams, nevermind stress, nevermind going home in the summer. Why complain about them when the world holds the possibilities for events such as this morning? Those are the things we should live for. The things that make us smile.
Pait

I suppose "Bah Humbug" is uncalled for.

Sun, 02 May 2004 01:05:52 GMT

If i had any doubts about my natural social tendencies, today reaffirmed them. Forcefully.
I dont like crowds. I dont like people, when you get right down to it. But groups are so much worse. Talk to one person, they are themselves and comfortable talking about anything; they are nice and polite and open and human. But put them in a group, and mob mentality instantly sets in. Suddenly that same person isn't as comfortable about themselves, seemingly can't be brought to talk about the same things, and most importantly, to the same people. Then that person cannot act without the consent of the entire group, and if that action is approved then the entire group must participate. Ugh.
Today was a fine example. I knew i wanted to stay far away from teh mob on the lawn. For some reason i let myself get convinced that it would be a good time. No, more appropriately she convinced me it was necessary to keep up appearances. Appearances. Ugh again.
Long story short, we went, and i behaved. Smiled, laughed, joked around, talked with all her buddies, played a few games. It wasn't pulling teeth, but i couldnt help thinking that all of these people had taken what could have been a perfectly beautiful day outside in teh sunshine and turned it into a fight for elbow room and one more bigass popularity contest. Oh well.
Saving grace, oddly enough was Brittany. I have to admire that girls gall. some people are already calling it bind stupidity to act against Draco, but thats not who the girl is. He challenged her and her abilities, something she's very proud of, and I can always defend standing up for your pride and honor. That, and it was spectacular. He'll be getting purple and pink ribbons on his plate at breakfast if i have anything to do with it. Spoiled little terd.
Well, i didnt mean to sound quite so bitter about today, it was a nice fair and a nice time for a lot of people, just not me. Fact remains i would have much preferred to sit outside in the sunshine talking with Dane instead.

Ah, productivity

Sat, 01 May 2004 04:59:47 GMT

There is nothing as fulfilling as being productive when everyone around you is running in circles. Sounds arrogant, but it reassures me that i am at least for now still sane. Ginny and i had a good study session on history...not the kind where you spew random facts while people panic and scribble notes they'll never look at again; the kind where you have a few hours of useful, intelligent discussion. She knew her info, i know she's a bit nervous about her OWLs, but as long as she doesn't panic with the paper in front of her she will do fine. We had notebooks upon notebooks of info to go over, but that is never as good of a review as just talking about the subjects, how they relate... the "causes and effects" of history, not just memorizing names and dates.
There's something very reassuring about history as a rule... it's an untouchable, unchangable thing. You can't change history, can't lose it or break it, it's always there and it's always the same. Some people say that about math, where there is always one answer to every problem. You can always double check it, can always mathematically prove that a thing is correct. I wish it were teh same for Arithmancy; perhaps when i improve i will be more sure that those equations can be relied on for more than one example. But there you are, things like that are bound by rules, and for every rule there are dozens of exceptions. Not in hisory. No rules, just facts and logic, really. You have to wonder about its accuracy, sometimes... that old saying 'history is written by the victors' is very true, but even with a slant there is that undeniable fact that these things happened at this time for this reason. Maybe im just odd, but it seems these days you take what comfort you can from what few solid, dependable things still exist. Now im definitely rambling, but it is 1 in the morning, i think im excused.
Suppose I should wander off to bed, methinks it's implied mandatory attendance for the Mayday thingy, and if im going to go im going to be in good form to win some candy.

Er. This'llonlytakeasecond

Thu, 29 Apr 2004 20:47:41 GMT

Er, right then. wasnt sure if the study session was itended to be one of those fine YIM events or an implied meeting, but as i dont have YIM, i suppose that limits things. i figure Pait and Ginny just got together and did a lengthy review, we can bs the subjects later. :) were there any other people there?

Nother Monday

Mon, 26 Apr 2004 22:13:19 GMT

Am so glad Prof Lupin's back... its easy to say after shes gone with a bad light on her, but i never liked that prof cain... ill be that overdramatic twerp that says i just had a feeling.
Lost a bet to anne. again. who'd've thought the game would turn like it did? at least its only chocolate frogs this time, last time i had to hunt down a shrubbery. not easy to find around Hogwarts, what with the amount of em that tend to bite back.
Have discovered the most wonderful use for laptops yet: the mp3. (heavenly light shines down and angels sing in the background) I can't download any songs to the computer, as its not mine, but i can play them while i update. Endless Dylan, what more could i ask for?
Have set up a few more study sessions, not really big groups. Unless there's a problem, in which case i can change it, there will be a fifth year history one thursday. as history is no fun at all, id like to get as many people in there as i can to keep it lively so people dont drift off. any more takers?
Didnt want to say anything before (since everyone else's journals were already full of it) but im kind of worried about Snape. OWLs and NEWTs are coming up fast, what are these potions kids going to do to prepare without him? Dunno, i guess Prof. Lupin coming back put kind of a finality on the cain issue, emphasizes that he's not back yet. Ah well, if there was a real problem that we needed to worry about, Dumbledore'd be honest with us, he always is. (what? we all need brownie points!)

Sat, 24 Apr 2004 17:20:53 GMT

Mmmmm... its amazing what a little sunshine and a good book can do...

i felt awful about anne still, so i talked her into going outside for a bit, ignoring her exams and such and just relaxing... i think it did us both a lot of good.
i took out that Tad book ive been trying to finish for ages, she brought her own little fiction (CS Lewis, i think) and we sat out on the grass by the lake for a good two or three hours. Its so wonderful being able to lose yourself in a good book, just shut out the reality around you and get completely absorbed in a world so much exciting and clearcut...i think maybe that's what most of our problems have been these past few weeks, weve all got too firm a grip on reality.

I would have liked to have had that guitar string so i could have played a bit out there, that would have been the epitome of stress relief...i know ive said its such a release to play before, but i cant think of any better way to describe it.

it was so fresh in the green grass, with that little breeze carrying the smell of flowers - such a nice change from the stuffy library and stale classrooms and cluttered dorms.
for anyone else that i was snippy to, i am sorry. i'd like to use the excuse of exams, but we've all got those and its been worn quite thin from overuse, i know. in any case, the only cure for tetchiness this time of year is a good nap or book out in the sun - i highly recommend it. (but remember to roll over every once in a while, ive got some odd tanlines from the bookmark i left on my leg...)
Pait

Sat, 24 Apr 2004 00:24:22 GMT

i will remain civil. i will. i was there once too. ~~albeit it was first year for me, not fourth.~~

Nevermind that i havent been able to touch my Arithmancy or Defense homework yet, nevermind that i haven't been able to finish those last few chapters of To Green Angel Tower, nevermind that i STILL dont have that guitar string ("not sending you trivialties to distract you during exam time" my foot.) and nevermind that i am getting the same amount if not less sleep than them, i am STILL helping these fourth and fifth years because i remember needing some tutoring myself. but by Dylan its rough.

proofreading essays? easy. scouting for equational fallacies in arithmancy? doable. by all thats rasta i can even bring myself to edit and update a Potions notebook if its necessary! whats the connection? minimal contact with humans. i am not a people person. i am not an overly patient person. so to agree to help with transfiguration practicals practice with anne, no matter how dear she is to me, was not a wise idea.

it wasn't so bad, the first HOUR AND HALF. that was basic instruction and review. her biggest problem in transfiguring objects is getting the color to come out right, so i decided we would just work on that to find out where her problem with it really was. all we were doing was transfiguring a little stuffed bear from yellow to red. yellow. to. red. thats it. that was the next HOUR. the library was about to close, i still hadnt checked out the history book i needed, and that ruddy bear was still only a sickly orange. i was getting snappy, and i shouldnt have been, had no right to be. she was understandably frustrated - i wasnt being patient enough and its difficult enough to fail that many times when you really are trying.

In any case, she gave that spell one more good shot...i think she put all that pent-up frustration into that final flick. well, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. as it were, teh bear is still quite yellow but the bookshelf, books, in fact everything behind that bear, was a deep, rich, red. including ms morgan's hair. i... well i wasnt pleasant. i didnt yell- i dont yell- but that doesnt mean i was nice. it was hard to gauge brittany's reaction, to be honest i was more concerned with fixing the books before Pince found out... she has enough to deal with with these fifth years without having to stop and crucify me.

As for anne, i apologized already for being so impatient and snippy. the worst of it is that now- after she finally let loose some of the ability she rarely truly taps- she is more inconfident than ever. she really has more capability than she will ever admit, and im afraid getting her to realize it now taht she feels so awful will be even more difficult.

I have no time for Dane. and that makes all of this so much more difficult....

OOC

Fri, 23 Apr 2004 02:00:56 GMT

What good has ever come from Thursdays?
In fact, isnt the world supposed to end on a thursday? wait, sorry, that was Adams, not Rowling....
We should ban them.
And Wednesdays, for aiding and abetting.
And Tuesdays, for looking like them.
Sorry, that one was a bit to Republican, i may retract it.
In any case, its good to have Matts in my life. Theyre they only ones that get me through thursdays.
Id say come on friday, but im not ready for it.
Amy

Sympathy is overrated.

Wed, 21 Apr 2004 21:19:36 GMT

I wonder how hard it would be to circulate tranquilizers through the library? In a muggle building it'd just be a matter of getting it into the ventilation... i wonder if a small wind spell would distribute it evenly...
And how DO they manage to make such a mess? Im surprised Madame Pince hasn't started hexing people, if not for being such slobs then at least for being such melodramatic terds. I mean come on. I know theyre important. But who does it help to run around in circles flinging books in teh air and screaming?
Yes, i remember last year. Yes, it was rough. But you know what? I LIVED THROUGH IT. I've yet to find record of a few exams killing students.
Maybe im being apathetic and coarse, and i DO care about these guys and how well they do, i mean i HAVE been giving my study time to help em... but STILL. ah well. Theyll live. Ill just have to put some more thought into airborne knockout herbs....
Pait