First Week of Advent

Today being the first week of advent, we picked parts and practiced songs and tried on costumes for the church Christmas pageant. Alexandra, or Allie, like we always call her, being pale and blond, got the part of Gabriel. Sophie, being tan, is a shepherd. Finally the mom in charge asked, "Who will be Mary?" A five-year-old girl said "I'll be Mary," but everyone ignored her. All the girls my age had already been Mary, so they thought of the brilliant idea of making me Mary. Being the new kid, I didn't have much of a choice, so since I didn't really have a problem with it, I went with it. After parts were decided, we tried on our costumes. The Mary outfit was just the right length, but it was way too big around. I looked more like a ghost than like Mary. One of the shepherds, however, had eaten a few too many lamb chops and almost ripped the biggest costume there was. By no means he needed his sash, so it's part of my costume now. Having a sash really helps me look like there's a body underneath that gown.We were all sent home with the script, and we're going to practice lines next week.

Sophie's Birthday Party

I have a new pet and a new friend! Today was Sophie's birthday. Alexandra and I were the only guests . Sophie has 4 big brothers. At her party, there was a game where we tried to guess how many marbles were in a big glass jar. I was closest. The prize was a little green turtle in a round fish bowl with some rocks. I named her Shimmer because of the way her shell shimmers when she swims around. Sophie's birthday cake was lemon with thick, yellow, lemon frosting. After cake, Sophie handed each of us a stiff plastic sword. She told us that the swords were her big brothers' and if we didn't like fencing, we could stop. We didn't have to stop. All three of us not only loved sword fights, but we all had our own swords at home. It turned from an organized, two person match to a three-way, chaotic, noisy, fight with us all hacking at each other. Alexandra was the first to fall. Sophie and I had still not given up when Sophie's mom came to say that it was three o'clock and time for Alexandra and I to go home. I wasn't sad. I couldn't wait to tell Mom about Shimmer. Oh darn, it's time for dinner.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was fun. At Aunt Sue and Uncle George's farm, Blackie kept on barking at all the goats. None of the goats gave her any trouble until she started barking at the mean old billy goat. I was inside the fence right by Blackie when the billy goat, Grumps, started to charge her. I gave Blackie a little shove to get her out of his path then grabbed Grumps by the neck. Thank goodness Grumps is dehorned. I put him in the goat house and slammed the door. Then I took Blackie and went out of the pen. At dinner Blackie stole my turkey. She is becoming a real bounce-a-maniac.

I've been invited to Sophie's birthday party tomorrow. She's in my class at school and is the royal fanner in the play. She goes to the same church as me. She lives on my street three houses down.

Blackie's barking, I guess she wants to be fed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We got the day off from school today. We're going to Aunt Sue and Uncle George's farm for Thanksgiving. Their farm is so fun. I like petting all the goats except the billy goat. He acts mean. Aunt Sue makes a pumpkin pie at out of real pumpkins that she grows in her garden. It is really yummy. We're going to bring Blackie with us to the farm. I hope she does okay in the car. It is a 45-minute drive. I think I'll go play with Blackie.

Blackie

I had hoped to write about the new puppy yesterday, but I was so busy taking care of her that I didn't have time. Her name is Blackie. She is sweet. We walk her a lot. We feed her dry food. We've got to take her to the vet to get her shots. Here she comes, I think I'll go play with her.

The School Thanksgiving Play

Yesterday was crazy. If anyone mentions the word "pilgrim" , all the kids in the school ages third grade+ will crack up. Every year, the second graders put on a short play on the first Thanksgiving. Well apparently last year a lot of kids forgot their lines, so the teacher decided to have a narrator reading off cue cards, and the kids would simply act out what the narrator read. The play started out fine.

"The pilgrims set off for the new world in a ship called the Mayflower. After weeks of sailing the ship landed--"

Then disaster struck. The narrator accidentally dropped the cards all over the place. He quickly picked them back up in any old order.

"-- on long tables--of smelly fish --ninety-nine indians came.-- The pilgrims stepped on--governor Bradford-- who had issued a proclamation-- called the Mayflower Compact-- who said that the day would be a holiday of feasting-- in with the corn seed."

The play went downhill from there. The kids, being that they were knucklehead second-graders, didn't realize that they were getting it wrong. Needless to say, there will be no narrator next year. I guess I've got to go get the puppy's space set up-- we're going to pick her up today.

Time Flies

So much has been happening. The script came out over the weekend. We've been rehearsing it every day. I'm in every scene, so during the time where we work on the play, I'm always busy acting and never get to make any crafts. I absolutely hate saying this line: "Oh Isis, I shall grant you anything you wish if you take away this horror!"

Another new thing: I'm getting a pet dog! A couple down the block has a border collie that had babies. The problem was that even though the puppies are for all practical purposes border collies, the father is unknown, so they can't sell them for a ton of money as a purebred. We're going to take the puppy home on Saturday.

I'm getting to know another girl in the play. She, like Alexandra, lives on my street and is in my class! I didn't get to know her sooner because for most of October she was sick. Oh, it's time for dinner.

The Pine Creek Flashlight and Glowstick Festival

No news for today, but last night was so fun. We went to the Pine Creek Flashlight and Glowstick Festival. It was so fun. There were all sorts of contests for flashlights. Some policeman won the "biggest flashlight" contest. And it was cool to see a 1/2 inch flashlight. I feel so sorry for the guy that judges the "brightest flashlight" contest. He must see spots for a week! Then, ta-da!, there comes Miss Glowstick! Now that was funny! On Friday night, there was a big pageant for teenage girls. The winner would be dressed up in a robe with glow sticks attached to it, and crowned "Miss Glowstick" at the festival. The crown was made of glowsticks all attached to each other. The throne she sat on had two huge flashlights strapped to the side of a chair, and had long glowsticks taped around the seat to make a little skirt. Even though it wasn't cloudy, I didn't see a single star as the flashlights threw beams of light up into the sky. One of the best parts was when Miss Glowstick came out and all of the kids sing the "Miss Glowstick Song." None of the adults want to sing it because it is so stupid. Here's how it goes:

She's Miss Glowstick

She glows with beauty, she's so polite,

Oh where would we be, if not for Miss Glowstick,

Lighting up the night,

May she never get sick,

For she's Miss Glowstick.

I hope I never try to be Miss Glowstick, because the stupid dress would keep me from being able to participate in the mad candy scramble. The field is all dark and you go out with your flashlight and a paper bag and try to collect as much candy as possible. The little kids get trampled by the big kids, and hardly ever get any candy. Alexandra and I did our good deed for the day by sharing a few pieces of candy with some little kids who didn't get a single piece.

Tomorrow, we've got to practice the play. Oh, Joy :-(

It's Cold Out There!

Today was prop day. The craft group made all sorts of stuff for the play. I had to learn how to play senet. All the actors had on their costumes-- we were practicing movement. We weren't exactly rehearsing scenes, as the script hadn't been finished yet. We were just getting used to our costumes. Then disaster struck. Brrrrrriiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnggg! It was a fire drill! It was freezing out on the playground. Well, I guess it wasn't that cold for people who were wearing normal clothes. The boys were the coldest, as none of them remembered a jacket, and they weren't wearing shirts. This is such a stupid play. I guess it's time to feed the fish.

Dress Up

Costume Day! The actors all had to bring one bed sheet for their costume. I'm glad everyone brought white sheets. Well, now I'm all decked out with a full egyptian queen outfit, complete with sandals, necklace, and headdress. We've been having a few minor difficulties trying to make everyone happy with the script. There's a girl who takes tap dancing who wants it to be a musical. There's also a boy who wants somebody to try to tackle the mummy in the play. Thankfully, the director said no way to both of those ideas. I'm exited about my part.

Playtime!

There's a class play! Every year, the fifth graders (my class) put on a play that they wrote themselves. We break into groups: one group for writing the play and directing it, one for craft making, and one for actors. We got to pick what group we were in, and I chose to be an actor. Alexandra picked the craft group. We all messed around and practiced auditions while the playwrights made a script. The teacher was over there too, reminding them that Tenochtitlan was an Aztec city, not and egyptian pharaoh, and that Galileo wasn't an ancient Egyptian priest. Finally they revealed the play. There never was a more stupid play! Here's how it goes: there is an Egyptian queen. Suddenly a mummy comes back to life! So, using the sistrum, or religious rattle, she calls the goddess Isis, the god of love, to help her, and Isis lures the mummy back to its grave. She asks one thing in return- the golden mask of the pharaohs. You get the point-- pretty stupid. We actors also auditoined today. We said what part we wanted, then the teacher asked us to say a line. I got the part of the queen! Part of it might have been the fact that I have black hair. They haven't come out with a final script yet, so for the next few days we'll be fitted for costumes ("tunic dresses" and stuff) , and the cast will practice voice exercises and our walks. Bye for now!

Candy!

I went to the candy shop with Alexandra today. I never went inside the place until today, but I already love going there! Alexandra is so smart. Today she thought of whenever we go to the candy shop we split everything exactly in half, no matter what part of it we paid for. We went to Alexandra's house to eat it. Her brother is a pain in the neck! When he saw us eating candy, he started begging for a piece. We finally gave him a mint. He ate it, but as soon as he was done, he started complaining that one mint wasn't enough. We gave him three banana-flavored circus peanuts. He ate them, then said he didn't like the flavor. We gave him a twizzler. He said he ate it too quick and didn't enjoy it. We finally got him out of our hair by giving him a super-spicy, mouth-on-fire cinnamon-flavored candy stick, and told him it was cherry. After he jumped up and ran to the sink, Alexandra and I snuck off to my house. Oh great, it's time for bed.

Kiss a Fish

Mom must have known how much I wanted a pet, because while I was at school, she got me a goldfish! She also got me a "goldfish starter set" to put the fish in. It's a goldfish bowl filled with food, gravel, "everything you need to take care of your goldfish", as it says on the label. The goldfish is a comet, three inches long! He's the perfect gold color, so I named him Forty-Niner, after the California gold rush forty-niners. I guess I'd better go and his bowl ready.

Halloween

Halloween was fun. Our costumes were great, but not quite warm enough. Alexandra had a pretty little cape she wears to church, so she was fine. I had to wear Mom's coat. Since it was chilly, we didn't go trick-or-treating that far. I got forty-six pieces of candy, and ate two. For Halloween I fed Sniffle a special snack. I arranged a blob of peanut butter with three sunflower seeds placed so that it looked like a ghost. I wish I had a pet.