Biaggis

My boyfriend took me out to dinner last night and it was really sweet :) We got all dressed up because technically this was our Valentines date, but something came up and we couldn't go then. I wore my red dress and he wore a suit and he got me a dozen roses and had the waiter give them to me, which was cute. I'd never been there before, but it's really expensive. It's good, though. I feel really lucky to be with such a good guy like him!! He probably wont ever read this...haha, that's alright.

The place was packed though, and even though we were on time for our reservation, we still had to wait. But, because of that, I was late getting home...I went past my curfew. Haha, it was all good though, and he even stayed for a while after that and we all played cards.

Probably the best night in a while.

Rescuing Sprite- Mark R. Levin Pg. 1-32

I started a new book called Rescuing Sprite. It's a story about a dog, and that's all I really know.

So far, a family of four decide to get a dog. They go to a pet store and pick one that they name Pepsi. Pepsi is a good dog, and always loyal to his new family. One day, when Mark was out on a walk with Pepsi, they come across a crying 12 yr. old girl holding her injured dog, Dusty. Turns out, Dusty had been hit by a car and his leg was broken. Mark held Dusty all the way to the vet and stayed until everything was okay. This guy really loves dogs.

When Pepsi was about one year old, Mark began to have heart problems. He visited the emergency room multiple times and endured many surgeries. Throughout this tough time, Pepsi remained the life of the family, keeping everyone hopeful and smiling.

Mark has begun his recovery from all the heart issues, forty pounds less. He and Pepsi picked back up on their daily walks, now quite shorter and slower. And after everyone had gone to bed, Pepsi and Mark stayed up late in the basement; Mark at his computer and Pepsi laying at his feet.

The Usual Rules 309- 382

So, I finished the book. I actually hated the ending because the author really leaves you hanging, not making the conclusion very clear. Alot of people might like it that way, so they can fill in the blanks themselves, but I don't. That's the author's job.

Wendy eventually came clean to Garrett and Carolyn about her skipping school. It turns out that both of them had already figured it out. She was quite surprised to find out that she hadn't been tricking them that whole time. She got enrolled back into 8th grade, then.

Alan's wife left him. She said she was only leaving for a little while, but two months later he'd let go of hope. Personally, comparing myself to the situations in this book, I'd rather mourn the loss of someone who died rather than someone leaving me. That way, I'd know that the person who died hadn't wanted to leave.

Wendy got a letter from Todd saying that he'd found his long lost brother, Kevin, and that he was ecstatic. They got an apartment together and hung out just like old times. She later got a phone call from a weeping Todd, crying about how his brother had been paralyzed from snowboarding. At least he was alive, said Wendy.

Garrett took Wendy out to dinner for her birthday. Somewhere in that dinner, she got horribly angry at him for being a bad father and let out all the steam she'd been holding in. He sat there taking it in, acknowledging that he deserved it. I think that in itself makes him a decent father.

Carolyn got close to Violet and her baby, Walter Charles. But they later found out that Violet had shaken her baby in an attempt to make it stop crying (fat chance), and got it taken away by protection services. Walter Charles would be up for adoption soon. I really hope Carolyn adopted him, I know she wanted to.

Wendy moved back to New York. Louie turned out to be okay, as did Josh, and everything went back to normal. Wendy came out of this whole ordeal more mature, and with a healthy relationship with her father.

2.23 Diction Exercise

Cormac McCarthy's viciously jagged use of language creates a sense of fearful vulnerability for his survival.

The Usual Rules-Joyce Maynard Pg. 249-308

So, Wendy comes clean to Alan, the bookstore keeper, about the real story of her life.  He isn't surprised, though, and happily accepts the real her.  He invites her to visit his autistic son, Tim, who lives in a home, for those type of people.  Tim likes going to the laundromat and washing all the clothes, so that's what they do.  Wendy tries to ask him questions but Tim doesn't really answer. 

Carolyn got a phone call from a woman named Sharon.  She was the fiance of Carolyn's biological son that she gave up for adoption.  Carolyn was so overwhelmed with joy, she invited them to visit her on Christmas eve.  Her son agreed, formally.  Christmas eve came around, and they pulled in the drive.  His name was Nathan and his fiance was very pregnant.  Carolyn had expected a warm visit, but it turns out they just wanted to check for biological abnormalities for the baby.  They left a pamphlet saying "It's never too late to repent". 

Louie eventually started talking to Wendy again, and more cheerful at that.  She was really happy about that because she missed Louie and Josh.  But her friend from NY, Amelia, told her over the phone that Josh and Kate were sleeping together.  Kate was Janet's best friend.

Garrett's mom died.  And the memorial service was right around Christmas.  He cried when he first heard that she had gone.  So, he went to the funeral alone. 

Violet's mom invited her and her baby, Walter Charles, to a Christmas dinner at her boyfriend's place.  But it didn't turn out to be anything either of them expected.  Her boyfriend got mad and started yelling so they left.  Violet's mom blamed no one but Violet.  So, there goes that mother-daughter relationship. 

Christmas dinner at Garrett's house ended up being Carolyn and Garrett, Wendy, Violet and Walter Charles, Alan and Tim, and Todd.  It may have seemed like an unlikely bunch of people, but they had a good Christmas. 

To the Love that Lost Me

I wrote this.  It has alot of meaning, but only one person would understand it, probably.  And if that one person does ever read it, and wants it to change, then maybe doors can be re-opened.  I would so happily open those doors.    

The papers fly from the dusted book
its spine broken and collapsed.
The papers fall as does my hope,
from the looks of it I'll never cope.

Some yellow thread tore at the seam.
Thread intended to forever stay put.
Whoever once stitched those sad little lines,
seems to have wasted much of their precious time.

Sure, this is rough, and yes, people are mean..
and to me, that song will always say 16.
Trust was lost-simply because you lied.
If you were Abigail, then I'm the one that cried. 

Some hearts were broken-ones that weren't meant to be.
Some were broken by someone purposely-well, that'd be me.
Your heart break was clearly self imposed.
Sorry Love, but from now on my door is closed.

The Usual Rules- Joyce Maynard Pg. 209-248

California life is drastically different for Wendy, and its turning her into a different person.  She has stopped caring about rules, as she put it, "once you cross the line, you just don't care anymore".  Her father, Garrett, has absolutely no idea what is going on with her, but what can you expect.  She met Garrett's girlfriend, Carolyn, who has an obsession with cacti and once had a kid but gave it up for adoption. 

Wendy is missing Louie terribly.  Louie is currently in therapy, as Josh told her, because he's been acting up at home and at school.  Louie won't even talk to Wendy over the phone. 

Garrett and Wendy met up with Garrett's mother for Thanksgiving.  After the meal, when the "motherly love", or rather lack of, gets to be too much for Garrett, he leaves the hotel and gives Wendy the room key.  Wendy took a bath, ordered room service, and finished her book, but then had nothing to do.  So, instead of watching T.V., she got dressed and left the hotel.  No big deal, right, I mean it was only eleven o'clock. 

She saw a group of boys skateboarding and stood there watching for a while, and then kept walking.  Later, one of those boys, who introduced himself as Todd, caught up with her.  They talked for a long time about their lives, and their families and then went back to her hotel room.  He took a shower and they visited for a while, and after exchanging phone numbers, he left.

I think Wendy needs to get her act together.  She needs to go back to school, start thinking things through, and most importantly start telling the truth.