Have you ever heard someone who won a game say that?  Or is it just reserved for those people who are trying to console themselves by saying they tried their best and that they put in their full one hundred percent--and came up short?  Today was our second game of the season.  We played West Torrance, put in our best, our full hundred percent.  We "played with heart" as our coach said.  Apparently, he has "never seen a better game played."  If that's the case, my guess is he hasn't seen very many soccer games, because we lost four to zero.  Best effort?

The losing part really doesn't matter to me that much, because I may be competitve in some areas, but sports is just not one of them.  The part that made me angry was that I hurt my quad before the game, told me coach...and he didn't believe me.  He said I should just play if I could.  And it wasn't that I couldn't play, it was that I couldn't sprint to the ball, or kick with my left foot, or lean over the ball to far without experiencing excruciating pain.  No matter that if you can't run in soccer you're useless, if you can't use both feet it makes the ball easier to steal.  I could play.  Absolutely I could.  It was just painful.  At the end of the game as our coach gave us the regular pep talk about how we were amazing despite the obstacles with our player shortage (nine to seventeen) and the injuries of our players, I noticed how he didn't mention me.  Because he didn't think I was injured.  Just some kind of drama queen out to get attention or someone lazy who makes up an excuse not to play.  Don't get me wrong, I am lazy, but I don't go making up excuses to avoid stuff.  But apparently I come off as the type of person who does. 

Just perfect.

-Jessica

Summer has gone by way to fast.  I don't believe it.  It just doesn't seem possible.  But no use whining, because I guess if days didn't pass nothing would ever happen anyway.  I'm sure I'll have tons of things to look forward to, once I get the whole high school thing figured out.  I hope, anyway.

But I'm sort of happy about the arrival of September, because with that comes Fairest by Gail Carson Levine, published on September first.  It takes place in the same setting (or time, or whatever) as Ella Enchanted, which I totally fell in love with when I read it in fourth grade.  Okay, so maybe Fairest isn't for my reading level, exactly (it says ages nine through twelve), but I don't care, because any book related to Ella Enchanted has to be good.  I desperately need it to be. 

And then in October so many other books are coming out too, like The End by Lemony Snicket (on Friday the thirteenth, that's just perfect) and The Blade of Fortriu, which I've been waiting for since Christmas last year.  Not much more time now.  I think the reason I obsess over the publications of books is because I really need something to look forward to, that I am guarunteed to look forward to.  So much can change in a week, or a month, but those dates are always the same.  I think I seriously need to get a life and find something else too look forward to...but for now, books are my comfort.

Besides, everyone needs a light at the end of the tunnel.

-Jessica

Because of my recent obsession with Thoroughly Modern Millie, I've also become excessively interested about Broadway in general.  I mean, if the show's on Broadway, it's gotta be good, right?  And in my search for other shows that I can become equally obsessed with, I found Wicked.  I watched all the previews and trailers, found pictures of the characters, and listened to every song I could find...and decided that someday, somehow, I am going to watch that show.  It's actually currently on a national tour, but there are only two locations that are remotely close to here, and (a) the dates for the showings in San Diego have already passed, (b) all the tickets at Costa Mesa are sold out.  Even if they weren't, I doubt I would be able to get here, and the ticket prices are probably astronomical.  But someday, I will see Wicked.  At least, I hope so.  Or maybe by the time I'm an adult and free to go wherever I want it will still be playing.  That's probably wishful thinking, since that will probably be more than four years from now.  However, there's nothing wrong with a little wishful thinking now and then, just to stay optomistic.  After all, you never know what might happen.  Even if I never get to see Wicked (knock on wood), I'm making it my goal to see at least one Broadway show in my life.  Goodness knows how I went to New York twice already, and I still haven't seen one.  Isn't that what New York is (partly) famous for?

And with the topic of wishful thinking still in mind....  Well, who doesn't need a little imagination?

-Jessica

My first day at the Art Center.  It was awesome, even though the instructor told me not to make any of my own stuff.  The little kids were working on making clay dragons, and I was supposed to help them, and it only made sense for me to use the clay too.  Because that's just the way it is with clay, if it's there, you use it.  It's far to tempting not to.  In any case, the kids were hilarious and after they get used to you being there trying to help them they get supremely attached, and start blurting out their life stories which have nothing to do with anything but are still interesting to listen to.  Small children also have the habit of rambling on and on about things that after a while they stop making sense, but it is still so sweet.  The instructors don't really believe in specific instructions either, because they're never very clear about what they want us to do, exactly. 

I guess maybe I'll have to learn to read their minds.

-Jessica