Michael's Journal - January 31, 2021

 

Happy Birthday, Patricia Emerson!

Rowen’s Mom was having a happy start to her special day while we had a video chat with her at breakfast.  That digital family time has been a highlight of our day so far, but since we’re doing a lot of work every day right now; Cassie and I are happy to have cameo moments of fun.  Making that claim doesn’t really seem accurate after taking Saturday night off to have fun with our friends, but we really are working during most of our waking hours now; so the entertainment breaks really do seem like cameo moments.

We watched the live video stream for church after breakfast with Rowen and Tim too; and then we split up while Cassie has been working on marking assignments.  I’ve kept busy with some chores and family business work; we’ve been doing a lot of that work while in a time phase; and will still have some time left before we’ll meet up with Rowen and Tim again when we need to head over to the college for our afternoon study plans at the library and tech center.  I don’t expect to have anything newsworthy to write about from those studies, and we’ll be having a quiet work evening after that; so that’s all I have for today, so I’ll move on; and get back to the rest of the work on my to-do list for the day.

Michael Stone

Cassie's Journal - January 30, 2021

 

My perspective on T.A.’s is different now that I’m settling into my new responsibilities, but that isn’t because of the workload or deadline pressures.  It shouldn’t surprise anyone reading this to know that my Magi talents allow me to keep up with marking tests and assignments without any trouble.  I’ve also already taught a couple of lectures because I’m being tested on that already even though that isn’t the norm for most new assistants.  I’ve had some issues with a few of the first-year guys in my classes, but expect that to pass soon; and could have more of a challenge with the grades I give for both assignments and the subjective parts of tests.  I’m never unfair; so the problems will come from the fact that I won’t miss any mistakes or omissions; and I go over everything in each paper.  I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that other T.A.’s take shortcuts with that, since we do have a lot of reading to do for that part of our jobs; and there are always a certain number of students that get away with a talent for baffling their teachers with nonsense – or just writing volumes about nothing that is all show and no substance.

We’re getting a rain day here – and at home, but since that isn’t a snowstorm instead; we’re okay with an indoor day.  That isn’t really much of a change for us anyway, since Michael’s doing the chores and shopping again this morning while I’m grading papers and tests.  That is going to be a trend for most Saturdays; and that’ll be true for the afternoon study sessions at the library and tech center.  Our plans for dinner and the evening are a bit different this week, but that’s entirely because I haven’t been able to spend much time with some of my summer school friends since getting back here from the Christmas break; so Michael and I are going to spend some time with them while Rowen and Tim are going to hang out with some of their computer and engineering friends at their townhouse.  We’ll make an appearance there later too, but don’t want to stay up late tonight.

That doesn’t mean we won’t have any late-night fun – just that we’d rather make that a hotter-rated kind of fun; we can do that in a time phase; and then still get a full night of sleep.  I’d better not start thinking about that or my papers won’t get marked; and Michael and I might end up being late for our afternoon study sessions.

Then again, I do have that time phasing talent; so maybe I’ll just make the time we’d need; and then we’d both be much-happier for the rest of the day too! ;^)

I’ll let you know how that goes for us with the next update.

Cassie Stone

Gwyneth's Journal - January 29, 2021

 

We’ll be back to classes again on Monday; I’ve had my fill and more of stupid for the week; and I am going to have fun all weekend – starting with dinner and some partying tonight.  Suggesting that might scare off the commoners of the world – and likely more than half of the students at Princeton too, but laws don’t apply to me; and I’m happy to take my friends along for the entertainment they provide for me.  Sure, they do or will have other uses, but I’m not going to think about my future plans for them this weekend.

There will be time-enough for that again next week; and even the most-powerful Magi Master in history needs a break now and then!

Gwyneth Hathorne – Future Magi Master of the World!

Ehlana's Journal - January 28, 2021

 

It has warmed a bit today and will continue to do that into the weekend, but not enough for outdoor play time to be more interesting to me than working in the lab again – which is why Ethan and I were there again after school instead of biking or playing with our friends.  Even our best friends don’t find that very exciting, but I’m okay with most of a week of play time in the lab; and I made some progress on my cancer research too.  Those details would bore most people, but if you are interested; check out my research reports in that section of the archives for the latest – or possibly the oldest – news; depending on how far into the future you’re reading this! ;^)

We had a late dinner tonight; worked or studied in the office after that; and headed for our beds about a half-hour ago.  Ethan and I made quick work of our bedtime twin chat because he’s tired and wants to crash.  I’m getting tired too, but have a lot on my mind related to my research; so I’m going to listen to music videos and mentally work on that until I am ready to sleep too.  That’s all I have for tonight, so I’ll just wrap this up; settle into bed with Silkie; and do that.

Ehlana Proctor – Magi (Not-Really) Mad Scientist!

Aiden's Journal - January 27, 2021

 

We’ve had another cold day with a dash or two of snow, but that wasn’t enough for even having much of a snowball fight let alone sledding or snowboarding on the ridge.  Staying indoors worked for us while doing our home-school lessons and assignments at Ethan and Ehlana’s house; they went to the lab again after we were done; and I spent the rest of the afternoon at the bakery.  Hailey and I manage to have fun even when Mom and Dad put us to work around the kitchen or shop, but there isn’t anything newsworthy to write about from those chores – or from the rest of my day since then either.

No, I don’t wonder why there aren’t more stories about superhero sidekicks – not that our friends would think that Ethan’s work in the archives is exciting! ;^)

I sometimes wonder how my life might be different if Ethan and Ehlana’s Mom and sister hadn’t moved here, but I honestly can’t imagine being the superhero instead; and can only laugh at the mental picture of being the sidekick to Miles or one of our other friends.  Michael gets teased about who he might have ended up with if Cassie hadn’t come along, but I never actually think about that for Ehlana and me – or for Ethan and Naomi.  That’s different for us anyway; since Ethan and Ehlana were born here too, but I guess that’s true for the superhero and sidekick thing too; so I’m not being very consistent about this anyway.

I’m probably tired, since that was a fair bit of mental wandering that seems trivial compared to things like the pandemic or other news from around the world.  I don’t want to get into any of that, since there are far-better places in the archives to get the current events news.  That is all I have too; so I’m out of here and heading off to bed now.

Unlike superheroes; sidekicks definitely need extra sleep to keep up with our best friends!

Aiden Draper – Junior Magi Master Sidekick! ;^)