Friday, 9:30 a.m...

It is 9:30 a.m. on Friday and I am sitting in my dad's HP office downtown. It is pretty boring; I don't have internet access because the thing is password-protected. So typical. So I am sitting here typing what will ultimately be a blog entry for lack of anything better to do.

I guess I should enlighten you as to why I am not in school at this time. If you know me, and you probably do because I doubt anyone who doesn't know me reads this blog, then you know why I'm not there. Your boy got caught skipping yet again. Actually, I don't think caught is quite the right word. My theater teacher snitched on me. She saw that I had been present in the first three periods on Friday, and was absent for her class. Befuddled, she e-mailed my mom. Of course, my mom will never stick up for me, and said that she had no idea where I could have been. This was all the evidence Catherine Metz needed. She wrote me up, and I am now suspended for three days.

I went into Mr. Parker's office like I've done so many times before. He asked me why I had done it. I made a halfhearted effort to blame some of it on the separation thing, even though I am completely over that, and the skipping occurred even before I knew that was going to happen. But I think he bought it. He suggested that I write a letter of apology to Nixon and that I could probably get the sentence reduced down to a day. So I did it, and had my mom deliver it this morning. But it turns out he doesn't even want to read it. He wants to see me in his office first thing Monday morning. Yikesies.

By the way, my dad's apartment isn't that bad. It isn't much from the outside, but it's been completely redone on the inside. Hardwood floors, beechwood ceilings, marble countertops. I'm not too picky, but I know a decent place when I see one. It's pretty small. I slept on a fouton he recently purchased from a woman who is moving to Israel that lives (lived) upstairs. It smelled funny. I don't think that is related to her trip to Israel, or the fact that she is presumably Jewish. I think she just smells funny.

I got a text this morning that a kid who gets picked on a lot at East beat another kid's ass. I'm sure you all know who I'm talking about. I just don't want to mention his name for fear that he might come over here and kick my ass. It was bound to happen. I mean, this kid gets picked on so much. I'm guilty of throwing a few insults his way also. I rolled his house a few months ago. I guess he just snapped. Reports from my boys at school say that he stomped this kid's face over and over, and that there's blood in the halls. He's not going to graduate. This is a really fucked up situation. There is so much fucked up shit going on at East this year. I'm sure there has been a lot in the past, but this year takes the cake. Everything just seems fucked up lately.

I downloaded some new music. Band called The Mercury Program. If you really like some trance, instrumental stuff, or you want to get into a really solemn and focused mood, this stuff is for you. I was listening to it last night on my laptop as I was going to sleep and my dad called down the hall, "Chad, what the fuck is that music?" He obviously doesn't understand the appeal. I wouldn't expect him to.

I am pretty bored, but this beats the hell out of being in Newspaper, the class I would be in currently. Mr. Allen is such a prick. Pretty much all of my teachers are pricks. I can't wait to go to college and get some decent professors. Hopefully.

Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about college. I know I'm going to love Wilmington. I love the beach; I can really think out there. I did a lot of thinking during Spring Break. Sure, a lot of it was alcohol-induced. But I don't plan on ever being sober at the Dub, so it was good practice. Being drunk and being at the beach brings something out in me that I cannot explain. It is an abandonment of all my feelings of self-consciousness, and an embrace at a who-gives-a-fuck attitude, an attitude that I like to project to others as being the one I live by, but knowing all along that this is not the case. The only thing I am worried about at the Dub is getting decent grades. That, and connecting with people. I really need some people that I can connect with mentally. Right now, I only have a couple friends that I can do that with, and none of them is going to Wilmington. I am thinking about transferring after my freshman year. I was going to try to transfer to UNC, but I don't think I am now. There are so many kids that I hate that are going there, and although I know it is a huge school, I feel like it is filled with a bunch of booksmart kids who like to consider themselves intellectuals but don't know the first thing about thinking.

So that leaves the door open for other schools. Maybe I'll stay at Wilmington. Who knows.

I just need to get away from everyone at my high school. And that is not even an insult to them. I respect all of them, and cherish every person that I've met. The fact is, I have met them within the walls of the hell that is East Meck. No matter how close we become, I will still associate them with that place.

I think after lunch, Pops and I are going to the driving range. The closest one to hear is the Chris Leatherman center, formally the Michael Jordan Golf Center. I wonder why they dropped the MJ name. Guess he's just not big enough anymore. They need a superstar, like....local golf instructor Chris Leatherman! Yes, that works. Surprisingly, that place is doing some sick business; it's always packed when I go over there. I do not know why I am talking about the driving range, other than the fact that I have rediscovered my love for golf. I still suck right now, but my game is definitely on the way up.

I just won at Solitaire. That game is ridiculously easy. And it isn't like I've just gotten better at it. It is just so fucking easy in general.

The Radiohead concert is comin up. Should be smashing. Even though I know that there are a lot of better bands than Radiohead out there, I feel like it might be one of the best live shows in existence. Thom Yorke's energy is unparalleled. And on the studio albums, I can envision how the songs would sound live, and really like it. I've been watching some of their previous concerts on Youtube, and I am pretty sure I will not be disappointed with this one, even though it is in Charlotte at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

That's all for now.