Xmas 2010

Here we go. Christmas again, and now I'm hearing about the new Hess truck on the radio, which every year they seem to manage to make it even better then last years. I never understood Hess. Do they spend half the year designing some sort of vehicle toy, and then the next few months getting ads with tone-deaf kids singing their little jingle? They think is cute, but I think it's kinda annoying ...I don't know what they're up to, but I guess it's working.

So here's my little story about the Christmas tree... at my dads. We live in a little condo place. Cute, huh? There's a garden center right across the street. Dad said last year he said we'd get our tree on Black Friday. We didn't. This year he said the same thing. We didn't, but we got it about 4 days later. Close enough for me. Black Friday is just for sleeping, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not one of those crazy people who just need to get all the best deals. Sure, I'm a smart shopper, but I don't go absolutely nuts that I could've saved 10 cents and I missed the chance. I just get presents, mostly on Amazon, and get out. Smiling.

We walked across the street, with my great Aunt and my grandpa coming along. Dad let me pick the tree. First tree I saw, end of the row, sorta short, cute, and a nice top so the star can go on top without trimming, even though we trimmed it a little when we got home anyway. I thought it was good enough. I'm not an expert. Anyway, across the street,  I took the trunk, dad took the star end, and we payed for it and left. You should have seen them. It was hilarious, they were like, "Oh! But, .. sir you don't have to carry that! I mean, I know you walked, but we can drive it in our van, and you can run and show us where to go! We have free local delivery!". I don't think he got that we lived just 30-ish yards away. "Well, yea, but it's so much more funny to do it this way." Dad "argued". Smiling. Doing that weird shake he does when he says something funny, but no one laughs, so that's what he does to fill in the gap. "That's okay, sir, you can even come in the truck if ya want! You know, there could be ice on the roads and stuff for you to slip on..." We were walking out. He gave up. "You folks have a great Christmas!!".

So we get to the road. I was thinking about shouting, "Hey! Hey, yea, could you just stop for a sec so we can walk this Christmas tree home? We're weird like that!!" But of course I didn't. I just smile. I do that a lot. Eventually a couple cars stopped for us, I think they were laughing at us. I just kept smiling and waving at them thankfully. Whenever I smile, it's usually about some thoughts I have that make me happy. :)

Yet I do have a few things up my sleeve this Christmas. ... That's for me to know.. and you to find-- well, you know, let's just say you're never going to find out. :) How's that?

Then of course whenever I'm happy, I'll listen to Mad World (the one by Alex Parks) multiple times. Nice. Alone. Thoughts.

Common question: What do you want for Christmas?

Let's see... I could name so many things, but that would make me sound greedy. So let's just say, I haven't thought about it... and I probably won't ever. Gotta love surprises.

Take it easy, love yourself, love your friends and family. Happy holidays.

First Response to my Town Hall Letter!! Phase 2!

Hey, guys!! I got some pretty awesome news, for all of you who are following me on my "quest" (to seek the holy grail...) to connect the side walks on Massachusetts Avenue, so we can connect the towns of Acton and Boxborough. Click here for the details if you haven't been following this daring quest.

A pretty exciting email, I received September 3rd (sorry it took me a while...), went a little something like this: (I did not copy and paste anything, just so ya know, plus I'll add some of my own comments in this Times font right in the text, so just so you know, it's not part of any email. Just my blabbering.)

Fwd: Letter From Sonja
_____________________
Erik Heels to me


Dear Sonja,


Good job! (Booyah!!)


Love, 
Dad


---------forwarded message----------
From: Pirjo Heels (MyMomsEmail@YouCan'tHaveIt.com)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010
Subject: Fwd: Letter From Sonja
To: Erik J. Heels (MyDadsEmail@YouStillCan'tHaveIt.com)


FYI, this is terrific and encouraging! :)Pirjo


--------forwarded message----------
From: Lauren Rosenzweig (LaurensEmail@StillNotGettingIt.com)
Date: Thursday, Sept 2, 2010 at 1:23 PM
Subject: Letter From Sonja
To: Pirjo Heels (MyMomsEmail@YouCan'tHaveIt.com)


Hi Pirjo,


We (the Board of Selectman) received Sonja's Letter about the sidewalk to Acton from Boxborough along 111. I am involved in regional planning and this is a project that we have listed as high priority (High Priority!! Sweeeeet!!) for federal and state funding.


I am going to draft a letter in response to her letter, (Thank you, thank you very much.) and also send her a copy
of the letter from the Regional Planning Sub-Region meeting. 


So please let her know an answer is coming. We don't meet until the 13th of September. (An answer is coming!!! Woot!! This is progress!!) 


It is always so wonderful to get a letter from a young person,
especially one so well-written as hers. (Aw.. thanks.) 


Lauren




So there you have it. Is that sweet or what?? I am bouncing off the walls I can't wait. (Plus it will look sweet on my resumé for college... I think ahead. I know. It's weird.) But isn't that just awesome? I know they won't be starting the actual construction for a while, since its sorta early winter here, but still. High priority?! That rocks. I will still be publishing every letter (that I can get approved, and so far, that's all of them) that goes between us, so keep waiting...


Thanks for following, guys!

Life Feels Like Constant Chinese Fire Drills

(No offense to the Chinese.) You guys know what I'm talking about, right? It's all a drill, and it's all the same. I wake up at 5:41 to the timba drum on my phone, snooze it about 3 times, until I can't take it and go downstairs. Usually pop tarts, cereal, and maybe orange juice infront of the TV. NECN Morning, every morning. My dad likes to watch too detailed weather broadcasts I guess. "...and that's your metro traffic report brought to you by Aspen Dental, let us help you find your smile. I'm Scott, NECN." .. "... O thank you Scott, and now for Danielle for the weather. Danielle?"... "O you see we have quite some rain coming in today, and heading toward the south you can see it's really not so bad but if your really way up there in Maine, then you've got a wet week ahead of you. .. Now for tonight, it's going to be nice and chilly, so grab some cocoa..." and on and on and on, I swear half the time I don't pay attention to what they're saying. Done with breakfast around 6:15, run upstairs to get dressed, pin my hair up, brush my teeth, yadah yadah yadah. Out the door by 6:50. Sam drives Dad, Ben, and I to the high school. Ben and Sam get their backpacks out of the trunk- they leave. Dad gets his backpack out of the trunk to put in the front seat, while going towards the driver seat. I'm in the back doing nothing. I get dropped of at my school, dad drives to work.

HECTIC.

The thing is, I feel like I can't be myself at school. I don't even know what being myself really is. Usually I'm really talkative, and I always have something to say. But at school, I just try to act "normal" and be a good student and quietly take notes. I don't say much. Of course, when I'm with my friends, I'm me. I get great grades (made the honor roll first trimester!!), and I feel good about my work, but it's just not right. And I don't really know what to do. Especially in the mornings when I get dropped off, I walk down the hallway where most 8th graders sit. I don't know any of them, and from their odd facial expressions whenever I walk by, it looks like they're not interested in meeting anybody. So I walk right by to the library in the lobby, and sit right next to the entrance. Sometimes I'll go over notes, but most of the time I just sit there. That's probably when I'm most quiet.

Everyone has there own little group of friends, and everyone's pretty happy. Yes, I have a group as well, but I feel like that's it. That those are really the only people that I see in school who I'm comfortable being around and being myself. I mean, sure, there are other nice girls, but we're just acquaintances, and even if I wanted to be friends, I can never find them at lunch because I sit in the smaller cafeteria, and no one besides my friends sit there. Sure, a few other groups, but it's cozy.

I know this isn't true, but I feel like I'm the only mature one in my team. I swear, people still laugh at fart jokes, people go out of control and start arm wrestling whenever the teacher is out of the room, people lie about what time class get's out whenever there's a clueless substitute, and yes, especially at the end of the day (especially on Fridays) the 8th graders are so tall and shove us aside to get to their busses, as if they were so much more important then us. And who could forget the "sevvy" nickname for all seventh graders. To them, we're stupid shorties in the hall. To me, I'm just trying to be a good student and get to class.

Oh, and I have LOTS of pet peeves. Here's a list of things that I strongly dislike:
-When people say, OMG, "like", "whateves", BTW, LOL, or any text-talk WAY too often. Sure, I say like a few unnecessary times, but I swear tons of people use it every other word.
-When people don't care about their life or their education.
-When people pretend to get jokes and laugh late.
-Mustard
-When I miss high honors by 2 B+'s.
-When I'm just about to fall asleep, and then someone's car alarm goes off. For about a minute.
-When people think that drawing hearts, peace signs, bubbly letters, or any symbols is talented art.
-When people exaggerate and say they're going to (totally) fail a test.
-When dogs jump up and lick you and start eating your pants.
-Bloody noses
-39 and a half feet poles
-Pickles

...So, for lot's of them, I'm not much of a positive thinker. But to brighten your day, here's a list of things I love:
-That feeling you have when you stare at someone you like.
-Family
-Friends
-Rollerskating
-Smiling
-Sleeping
-Watching Family Guy
-Getting awesome possum grades
-Ice Cream
-Presents
-Christmas
-Happiness
-Joy
-Joyness
-Quote from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Grandma Georgina: "You smell like peanuts. I LOVE peanuts!" Willy Wanka: "Oh thank you! ...er.. You smell like.. old people! and.. soap! .... I like that!!"


New years resolution... tough... okay, since I'm really lazy and sort of a wimp during gym, my resolution is to be more active and to make more friends.

Happy holidays, oh, and by the way, try some cocoa. It's delicious. But I only put in one jumbo marshmallow, because 2 or more is way too many. I feel all creamy and soft inside. Don't forget to try those minty m&m's. I can always start being more active later on... after all, it's Christmas.