An Important Note on Music in My Life

Before you can fully understand my life, we have to get something straight. I live my life to music. Its always there, in the back of my mind. No spontaneous choreographed dancing or anything. But when I wake up in the morning, a mousy-looking teen with hair that looks more becoming of a scimitar than scissors, I wake up with "Hey Soul Sister" in my ears. "How to Save a Life" plays in my head as I do home work, sprawled on the floor. Taking a walk, marveling even at the pitiful amount of greenery in our neighborhood, "Your Love is a Song" is in the back of my mind. "I'm Going Home" is all I hear as I wrench open a screen door that's far from melodious. I'm sitting on my wasp-ridden back porch, thinking about a girl way over my head, listening to "You and Me" over and over again. And I climb back into my unmade and thoroughly disheveled bed with "Starry Night" ringing in my ears. And that's how it is, every day. Not that I dislike it, though it kinda feels like I'm going insane. That's alright though, I put it down to hormones. All I can say is that music, along with God above and the people around me, makes up a lot of who I am. And I love all three of them.

Inside The Awesome Yet Insane Life of an 8th Grader: Profiling, Part 2

So, where was I?

Believe it or not, there're MANY more characters you need to know about here- I'm not even halfway done. And while these characters aren't exactly Jacobs (he's really the one and only), I still wouldn't dream of leaving them out.

Oh, and by the way, Ryan's gonna do some profiling to. So, whatever he says about me, don't believe it! ;) But no, however much I'd like to be the author who gets to sit back with my bag of popcorn and see how ridiculous, insane, and amazing everything, and everyone else is, we've gotta be fair here. As my readers, you deserve to know just what kind of maniac is telling you this stuff. Also, if RB tries to make me out as some witty, charismatic, outgoing guy- I'm not that great. (So don't try it RB!) In fact, I'm lucky to have friends like him.

Okay, so you caught me. I'm rambling again. But you've come to expect it by now, right? Eh, guess that's no excuse. Well, better late than never, here's Role Call, part 2.

Critical Thinking- where we think about our thinking, while we're thinking, in order to make our thinking better. That's a lot of thinking. And that's also very early in the morning. At this time, good old, store-brand, regular thinking is difficult for me. So you can probably imagine why critical thinking would be a bit of a struggle. However, I do my best.

Collapsing at the nearest table, I look around and get my bearings. Next to me is Jacob- looking wild as usual- yes, even shortly after dawn. Beside him, is Ryan, bright-eyed and and bushy-headed. I don't know whats in those vitamins he takes each morning, but I still don't know how he does it. (Yeah, this kid sends me emails at 6 something in the morning. Crazy stuff.) At the other end of the table, I finally find a kindrid spirit- Mike looks pretty dead too.

Back to the profiling. Michael Jones, alias Pope. Yeah, I'm still trying to figure that one out too... Anyway, he's got pale skin, glasses, and dark curly hair, and bears a passing resemblance to a monk. At first glance, he pretty much seems like a stoic. On second, you realize you're wrong. His sense of humor is essentially the polar opposite of Jacob's: quiet. But that doesn't make it any less funny. To appreciate it, you would need some examples- and though I would so love to give them right now- I'm here for profiling. (Stay focused here, Ben) Anyway, Mike's the kinda friend you get to appreciate more and more the longer you know him. Plus, he owns on Super Smash Bros. Brawl. ;)

The remainder of Critical Thinking passes rather uneventfully, at least in light of profiling. So its not until I'm leaving class that I rub shoulders with our next character.

Yeah, I got to the point this time. This boy is Kyle Trojan. Kyle's a pretty straight forward guy. He's honest, care-free, and basically loves to laugh. Oh, and when Kyle laughs, his face turns some rather shocking colors- and since he's usually laughing, and he tends to be kind of red in the face. He's yet another chap with blond hair and blue eyes, but his huge smile sets him apart. Also, anyone who's at least vaguely aware of his existence knows (Knows!) that Kyle is a lizard lover and a manic Tennessee Titans fan. Trust me, he makes it known! ;) Oh, and he has an age-old Super Smash rivalry with Mike...

So I head to Latin with Kyle. And thankfully, I'm truly starting to wake up- which is good, since there are all of 5 people in our Latin class. It would be hard to bear a fifth of the class discussion with my eyes crossing. Again, Latin doesn't provide too many profiling opportunities, so I'm gonna gloss over this a bit.

As I'm exiting Latin with Kyle and Jacob (I told you I was gonna gloss...), Ryan falls in beside us (he's in a higher level). We're headed for the gym, to grab stuff for Physical Science. In the gym (you know what the hallway experience is like by now, right?) I grab my safety goggles (much to Jacob's joy, we were working with fire that day...), change out my binders, and sling my backpack back over my shoulder- which is thoroughly dislocated at this point, by the way- before I realize that Ryan never made it to the gym. Now, for a split second, I fear the worst. Could it be possible that, while turning into the gym from the hall, Ryan got caught in the undertow, and was swept away? I'm about to grab my oxygen tank again when, who should stroll into the gym but Root Beer himself, side by side with Spencer.

Yep, after that irrelevant story snippet, I'm back to profiling. Spencer Kolssak is his name. And describing this kid might be tough. Looks first, I guess. He has light brown hair, blue eyes (come to think of it, there are a lot of blue-eyed people at CC...), and a casual stance. Anyway, he tends to get in extremely confusing arguments with Christopher (is Christopher's refutation of logic illogical?), always carries bottled water around, and likes pawning Mentos. Yep, its true. Also, he might be a young political activist, or something along those lines- he always seems to be handing out Constituting America wear (P.S. Cheers on the winning essay, Spencer!). He's in Christopher's grade (R1- AKA Freshmen), and I'm assuming most of their bizarre arguments start in class. Other than that, I'll have to show you Spencer play by play- kinda like Mike- there are some things you have to learn via example! ;)

So, we eventually get over to Physical Science. I'm gonna gloss here too, however, I do have to mention this. This day, Physical Science involves an experiment, which involves fire. Jacob is in this class. Mrs. Ludwig was wise- she gave Ryan a fire blanket, just in case. That's all I'm going to say about that class. =)

Okay, so I think I've made my feelings concerning the hall very clear. But after Physical Science, things are even worse. Because, you see, by this period, there are several classes full of very hungry, very sweaty children just waiting to get outside and eat. Jacob can intuitively sense when lunch is near, so he's tense as a mousetrap and ready to spring when Physical Science lets out. Apparently, quite a few others in CC possess this not-so-unique ability, because the hall is swamped by the time I stagger out of class. Even worse than usual. Yeah.

So, surrounded by the masses of half-starved CCers, I notice one kid who doesn't seem affected by the insanity brought on by hours without food, in a building without air condition, wearing suit coats and ties. Now that's inner strength. Rick Doherty is his name. Oh, and if someone tries to tell you his name is Nick- don't believe it! This is a running controversy, but us guys know the truth... ;) Nick, er Rick, also has blue eyes (You know, I never noticed this trend before), and jet-black hair. He's an avid cat lover, an unofficial drummer (most of what I've seen has been on tables), and one of the few sane people in R1 (;]).

I don't go crazy like some, but I have to admit, I'm pretty glad to be outside eating. I must say though, going from the rather stale, electrically-lit classes of CC to the bright, golden, and breezy outdoors is culture shock to the first degree- not to mention blinding. But hey mates, lunchtime is a perfect stopping place! =) Now, I know, I know. This has gotta look like an excuse to weasel my way out of more writing, but really- I'm done! Now you can kick back, relax, and let Ryan profile! :D ;] Oh, any thoughts on these people? Suggestions, revisions, or questions? Lay em on me. =) And now I conclude my rather anticlimatic ending.

Adios mates. =)

(I love CC...)