I'm so worried about Atlanta! Not because my mother's best friend lives there, but just because it's so terrible--all those people must be very frightened (and even if they are used to hurricanes, they must be concerned for their children, their homes, their well-being).

It's very windy here, too. The palm tree accross the street from my window is doing backbends, and the wind manipulates the lighter trees even more viciously.

It's so unpleasant being sick because my mother won't let me go outside, except yesterday.
Thank G-d, I got -1.2, and I earned $3 for that score. hehehehe
I walked there, and at one point, I got a coughing fit, and felt so dizzy. But it was worth it nevertheless, because sitting in my bed for a few days has made me mopey and I love walking long distances (4 miles to be exact). I would like to dance, just around my room, but of course if I even breathe too deeply, or not smoothly, I collapse into barking coughs...
Yesterday I sat around and did Calculus homework, caught up on the Hebrew, and fumbled around with computer wires. My home pc did something strange and wouldn't want to access the internet after a while, so I had to switch back to the laptop. My mother hates the laptop because it's got the fancy new tabs in the internet, and because she doesn't like the mouse that is part of the laptop. I bragged about my genius, clipboarding the mousepad and thus making a smooth, firm surface for the hand-held mouse, but it's a hassle unhooking it and rehooking it to each computer. I'll have to invest in a second mouse. There was a time when we had lots of random computer parts, like mice and speakers, and microphoes, but we gave them to our computery friends and now I'll have to go get a new one.
Oh! I got a webcam, and it makes me look really bad! Hehehe, but if I turn the camera sideways, it still flips the image upright--it's so sophisticated. It really stretches out my cheeks, and that is not too lovely.

Today I have much, much work. I have a polit-sci-philosophy test on Wednesday, so why not study for it today? (hahaha probably not gonna happen.) I have to write Alla's nomination letter, and then an essay for the Sulam nominations from the community service I did during the summer. I also have to finish my math homework--my math professor--I LOVE HER! Oh, and on my first calculus exam last week, I got an 86%. That is marvelous, because I thought I'd fail. I have never gotten higher than a D on the first math test...even in younger grades. Regardless of my absolute knowledge of all the math subjects, my first tests were ALWAYS Ds...After the D, I would earn As, but I was very nervous in this class, because our grade is based on 4 tests. Each test is 25% of our grade. Strangely, the midterm and finals also are 25% each, so I really have to study seriously. But there is a chance, now that I may get an A in it. That would be lovely for future uni.
There are still so many classes I need to take for USC, for example. Accounting 1 & 2, Economics 1 & 2, Chimistry 9 or 10 (but I'll probably take 10), Math 29 (I'm now in Math 28 = Calculus for Business and Social Sciences which is a prereq for Math 29, probably the equivalent of Calc B...sort of) Then there are a few other sections in the requirements page, but I think I can take those at USC if I dont' finish them at SMC.

On my way home yesteraday, I saw Misha, but I hung around a distance away so that he wouldn't notice me. Raya is unbelievable anyway--but I told her all she needed to hear. Sadly, my mother and I will never be free from her.

I also saw Klair--the mental girl from Shalhevet...G-d she grew up into such a skinny-jeaned pop star....hahaha I dont' know if she recognized me or not, even though she walked by twice....people are so strange. She is in the same category as Raya and Sara. They'd make such a funny family.

Haha, stopped by G-Star-Raw on Melrose yesterday to get their business cards...they were so helpful! I asked them if they were a Dutch Company, and they were, based in Amsterdam, but why was I asking? It was so funny. The store plays very good music, and the man speaking to me was knock-out-attractive...

A few weeks ago, Nick got us tickets to a Santa Barbara Tour. It was a very nice tour-coach ride, and I had 2 hours to zone out before the tall window, just staring at PCH. My mother was sick, and very annoyed at everyone, especially at the busdriver, who only had one CD, but it was probably a sampler, because it kept playing the same Spanish guitar sequence....I like when things play over and over (the concept of "overplayed" rarely hits me I couldn't find my cd player (no I haven't moved on to Ipods yet) when we were leaving home, and didn't have time to take out the cds from my getty bag, and Freddie Ravel saved us on the way back. Exiting the bus in the evening, one lady was taking pics of my CD box, so that she could order the CD... We had a little coffee/tea and buns in a park by the SB beach...which was quite gloomy...but lovely just like I like beaches. I climbed up on the park wall--because I am just such a super climber while my mother spent all the time on her cell phone yelling at people to the annoyance of everyone else on the trip.

They took us to the Santa Barbara Mission, where we entered the museum from the exit and ran through it in a jiffy for free. Although, it was not our intention to do so, some people held the door for us in the little cemetery-park, and we got in.

The orchid show was sweet. My mother didn't like it-because she is such a great florist with advice for everyone. She was saying how the flowers should have been at eye level, and not on little floor platforms. She claimed the flowers looked "tired". I took dozens of phone videos, but when we went to San Diego last weekend, I had to delete most from the memory in order to record the entire Russian party singing romances!
The theme of the orchid show was "Orchid Fever". Some exhibitors tried to 'dress' up their orchids in hospital gowns taken off teddy bears and stick thermometers in the soil...put orchids onto stretchers, and have plastic dummies in doctor attire; it was very strange and kind of scary.

We also got time to walk around Downtown Santa Barbara where they hold all the different festivals. My mother was sick, so she just sat and drank coffee at Borders, while I walked around downtown and poked around all the shops. We did notice Frank McCourt's "Teacher Man" for only $1!!!!!!!! so she bought it for me. Maybe if he comes into L.A. again, he'll sign this one for me. He lectured at the bookstore when this book first came out, and when people stood in line for his signature, we made him sign "'Tis". Sahar still has my "Angela's Ashes"....hmmm

We had such a hassle with the passport documents. The post office clerk said that I might need a CA ID, since by passport status, I'm no longer a minor, and regular college ID will not suffice with letting me in and out of the country. So I ordered another birth certificate online, because we had to submit an original to the passport agency until I get my new passport in a few weeks. My mother said that if I learn the driver's manual then we can kill two birds with one trip to the DMV and also pass the permit or something. Obviously she doesn't know anything about it, and doesn't realize that I need some sort of course....Or at least I think I do. All my driving friends had their parents sign them up for everything, so they dont' know anything about the process except doing the classes online. My mother makes me find everything for her, EVERYTHING!!!, from mapquest directions, to bill paying, to air flights, and especially this...and to be honest I'm just lost and dont' know anything about it...

I am a smoothie queen, though. Dug out the blender from our millions of cupboards, and mixed strawberries and blackberries and soymilk and yoghurt and was very pleased with the fresh result. I really miss bananas, though...When I start buying my own groceries, I know exacly what I will be having from breakfast, lunch, and dinner...I absolutely can't wait to be a mother...haha, because I know what I'll feed my family, too.
Enough blabbering....time for schoowork.
I'll really try to improve the level of the blogs, or else my grandkids (of course raised on healthy smooties, etc) will die of boredom reading these.