The top back to school story for today is
probably the simple fact that our teachers had us jump right into our studies –
and in particular; they have us getting ready for our first round of high
school exams that are coming up in just two weeks. Those abrupt reminders in every class quickly
took the shine off of the shiny New Year for some teens, and getting lots of
review homework dumped on us wasn’t very exciting; but I was still having a
pretty good day.
Tai Chi this morning was fun, and since
Michael opted to stay for breakfast; that was more entertaining too. Mom, Ethan, and Ehlana spent a lot of their
day at the lab while I was at school; and Dad was right back into the thick of
it at work – especially because he’s going to have his trip to the city next
week instead of trying to get everything done in four days after the Martin
Luther King holiday for his normal third week of the month. Though the work that the rest of my family
was doing today was way more important than mine; I really am okay with playing
normal teen instead and getting to have a life with my friends that I wouldn’t
have if I’d sped up my ‘real’ education the way Mom did after her parents died.
I’m not talking about the classes or
studying for that, though the school work is an inevitable part of teen
life. It’s the extra-curricular action
that means the most to me – like the cameo moments between or during classes;
lunchtime fun and entertainment; and everything else that goes into making
school fun for us. Of course the best
part of my day didn’t start until after school; and Michael and I had a really
good night at his house while spending the evening with his family.
We’re running out of holiday time with Jake
and Stephanie, and since this was a day off for Jacob and Miranda; they’d spent
the entire day together. There’d been
some chores to do mixed in with some play time, but the best part of that for
Michael, Rebecca, and me was that Jacob and Jake had played in the kitchen too
and had an amazing dinner for us that was beyond adequately describing in words
so I won’t bother trying. Rowen and Tim
came home with Michael and me to do our homework; but then they moved on after
that while Rebecca, Michael, and I were put to work setting the table and
joining in on the pre-dinner entertainment in the kitchen.
I loved getting to spend the evening with
Michael and his family, and we had a really good time; but the only news I have
is wedding-related – and most of that is just updates that I haven’t covered in
my journal because I’ve been out of the loop for those plans. First up is the date – Saturday, August 1,
2015. There were other options, but Jake
and Stephanie picked the last open weekend before they planned on leaving for
Europe so that they can enjoy a honeymoon before starting their foreign
exchange study programs. There was some
consideration for holidays and work at the Inn too; but Miranda and Jacob – and
Stuart and Samantha – would have worked with whatever their kids wanted.
Michael, Rebecca, and I were all asked to
be in Jake and Stephanie’s wedding party tonight. We were the last to be asked; and I was a bit
surprised to be included – even though I’d expected that Rebecca and Michael
would be. Violet and Dillon are
Stephanie’s and Jake’s maid of honor and best man; Lynn Jennings is the third
bridesmaid; and Josiah Palmer and Mitch Bassett are going to be Jake’s
groomsmen with Michael. I feel a bit
weird about this – especially when Lucas and Christina aren’t in the wedding
party too, but it was Jake and Stephanie’s choice; and it is going to be
awesome to be part of their wedding – and especially since I’ll get to do that
with Rebecca and Michael. We talked
about their plans for an hour or so during and after dinner; but we spent most
of our evening just enjoying being together and having a do-nothing kind of
night.
I can’t say the same for after I got
home. Mom had spent part of her evening
getting Ethan and Ehlana started on their junior year of college after they’d
finished dinner; but she switched to Magi teaching mode once I was back and
spent an hour and a half doing a big lesson with me and then giving me a fairly
large archive assignment. That’s why it
was eleven-thirty by the time we had Ethan and Ehlana tucked in for the night
and heading toward midnight before I was in bed and ready to start my usual
school night studies, work, and computing.
It’s a good thing that I had that extra
sleep last night because I’m not going to get more than a nap in tonight. The archive assignment took an hour and a
half; and then I got started on my new languages. I’m going to be studying Korean and Tamil for
the rest of this school year, and while I didn’t get much done tonight; I did
at least get started. That still took
more than another hour; and then it was time to move on to my family business
work. Even kicking it up another notch
or two on the Magi power scale; it still took me another hour and a half to get
through the work I needed to do tonight – and that was just what absolutely
couldn’t wait. I’m not really behind on
any deadlines or anything after taking most of two weeks and change off; but it
is going to take most of this week to get back to where I normally am in my
work schedule.
I really don’t have time for more than a
nap now, so I should wrap this up and get to that. We don’t have band practice tomorrow and our
teen praise team gets the week off too, but Michael and I are still going to be
busy; and I’m sure to have another late night without much down time. Maybe I’ll have to reconsider using a time
phase more often again – at least for the next few weeks while keeping up with
my ‘real’ studies and work and the added busy that goes along with high school
exams. I want to spend extra time with
Violet and Dillon before they head back to college too, and while I’m thinking
about leaving home; Grandma and Grandpa will be leaving for South America next
Monday. I’ll need to spend some time
with them as well before they’re away for most of the winter on that trip and
then their usual winter getaway in Florida and elsewhere.
Too bad I can’t go along!
Oh well, I wouldn’t want to do that without
Michael, Rowen, and Tim anyway, so I’ll stick with plan ‘A’ and stay here at
home with them. I’ll also wrap this up
with that thought; and maybe spend my nap time dreaming of the warm and sunny
that I won’t be enjoying with my grandparents in sunny South America – or anywhere
else.
Until next time...
...May the Magi Force be with you!
