I think I'm losing my mind. Either that or I suddenly have the fastest turtle known to mankind. I swear Flash is living up to his name and just zoomed across his tank for a strawberry. Now he's chilling in his shell like nothing happened. I tried to get Flynn to see it but by then, Flash had decided to go to sleep.

This is not the first time this has happened. Maybe I fed him something weird.

On another note, I finally have all the information for the garden idea ready to present to the Herbology professors. I even included some seedling prices as well and the maintenance so they know we know what we're getting in to.

I have your birthday present! Sorry it's late but it took longer than expected to get here!

I hope you like it! :D

I have the best boyfriend ever. Izzy gave me a tree for Christmas that we planted by my house at home. And now for Valentines, he gave me this. It's a bean with the words I love you printed right onto the bean. It's not magic, so I have no idea how they did it but I love it.

Snow day last week was a lot of fun, and I kind of want another one. It's too bad we didn't get enough snow for one yesterday or today. Oh well, we'll just have to live with it. I'd prefer if spring got here soon, though. I miss being barefoot outside in the trees trying to duck Groundskeeper Irwin. It's definitely time to start making so plans with the Environmental club though, about what we can do to give back to nature for when it's warm out. It's actually a good idea to plant in the winter so things take root before spring.

Sol, our tree is going to do well. You picked the perfect time to get it. :D

I think I might actually have eaten too much this break. Flash is moving around faster than I am at this point. I need a good workout to just restart my system. I think I'm going to have to rely on some warming spells and spend some time outside in the trees. Nothing's as fulfilling a workout for me as a really good climb.

So did everybody have a happy New Year's? I sure did. It was really nice to have so many people around, for both holidays, especially since this is usually a pretty quiet time of year for me and my grandfather. Especially toward the end of this month. January's a little somber for me, so if I seem a little more withdrawn than usual, it's only because the anniversary of my parents' death is coming up soon.

That reminds me, Izzy I want to talk to you about something that would mean a lot to me, later after classes, okay?

I was given the best Christmas presents ever this year. Between spending time with Izzy's family, watching my grandfather do what I think he considers flirting with Izzy's grandmother, and more food than even I could eat, it was incredible. But the best part of all was the fact that Izzy gave me my own tree. A little sapling that I planted behind my house, with him. It's our tree now, and I get to make sure it grows big and strong like the others. I started talking to it already, but it's too young to really be able to let itself be heard. I've never had my own baby tree before. Izzy, you really couldn't have picked a better gift. I love you, my Sol. 

I hope everyone else's break is going well. I'll be hitting up New York City for a few days. I'll be visiting Sunny, then hanging out with her, Lila, Izzy, and Jin, and hey, anyone else who wants to join in. And then I'm going to Lela Siteti's New Year's party. Sunny, you're coming to it, right? I think it'll be fun. Though if it gets out of hand or anything, we can just leave early

Vinnie, Vinnie, Vinnie. You are pretty much the king of amazing, you know that? That was the best present EVER. I'm actually going to need a little help eating all of it! I never thought I'd say those words. But seriously, even though I'm not really sure what everything is, I'll be eating it anyway, because I highly doubt I'll dislike anything. I think....I think I love you, man. ;-) Seriously though, thank you. I guess I'm pretty easy to shop for huh? :D

[Izzy]
Hey Sol, did you want to go to Lela's party? I didn't have any plans for New Year's; I just want to be sure I'm spending it with you.

So, exam week. Fun times. Though thanks to Zach, I think I have a better handle on Latin, enough to pass anyway. It'll never be a strong point, but I'll survive. I hope I helped you out with transfiguration enough Zach :)  Either way I'm really looking forward to vacation. Izzy, my grandfather said he's got something to send your grandmother. I bet he made dried fruit and jam. That's totally his Christmas thing. 

Anybody doing anything fun over break? I'm just going home, no concrete plans really. Just spending time with family and friends. And hoping nothing else weird happens around here. Speaking of weird, anyone else saw Mrs. Hollingsworth's announcement? I hope a bunch of people signed up for the holiday exchange. I think we could all use a little lift in spirits, don't you? I went out and grabbed my giftee's present today, and will be sending it later this week before we all go home.

Now I know what big family Thanksgivings are all about. My grandfather and I had a lot of fun at Izzy's this past Thursday. I think I ate myself into a coma. Twice. I couldn't help it; everything was so good. My grandfather's rhubarb pie was a big hit too. He baked three of them. I probably ate a whole one myself, which is why he made three. But food aside, just having that many people around who are obviously happy to be together and everything? Heartwarming. 

My birthday's today, and my grandfather gave me my present yesterday before I came back here. I have a turtle! He's a box turtle and his name's Flash. I know. It's supposed to be ironic. Also, one of the marks on his back looks like a lightning bolt anyway, so I had to. Funny thing is he actually does move pretty fast for a turtle, at least when food's involved. We've got that in common. I think my grandfather reads minds. I wanted a turtle, but I didn't ask for one. He got me one anyway. 

So anyone want to come over and see Flash? I have a big tank for my room and a smaller one to take him around in. I can bring him down to the common room. 

And...has anyone heard any more about the headmaster and what's been happening?

So you know what I'm thankful for this year? It's great spending time with just my grandfather, but this year, Izzy's grandmother invited us over for Thanksgiving. This will be the first time ever I get to see what it's like having a big family dinner at this time of year. Thanksgiving's always been a little weird - it's a holiday my people wouldn't be celebrated if  not for the Europeans colonizing American years ago. But as mixed as this country is now, some of us wouldn't even be alive if not for that. Through every struggle, every little thing that makes you wonder why people do the things they do, there is some good to come from it. It may take a while, and get worse before it gets better, but this is the cycle. 

I can't see how the attack on the headmaster will bring anything good to light, not at the moment, but I always feel there'll be a silver lining somewhere, even if it's too small for us to see. 

Anyway, have a great break everyone and I'll see you when I come back. Next week's my birthday, actually. I'll probably do something with Izzy this weekend, but I hadn't really thought too much about it.

Sol, our tree's getting ready to go to sleep for the winter. We should go out there one more time before it's asleep all winter long. Ro, you might want to give the trees a little "See you in the spring" too before they're pretty much comatose.

Fall makes me kind of sad. The trees go to sleep, except the conifers, and they don't wake up until spring. I'm usually a little lonely throughout the winter, but I think I'll be okay this year. I have my sunshine, and I have a project to keep me busy.

What I don't have is a Halloween costume. I've got nothing and the revels are a little more than two weeks away. I need to think of something soon.

I meant to post this yesterday but I was kinda busy.

Four months. I can't believe it's been that long already. I'm glad you're sticking around to be my sunshine, Sol.

I love you.

I can't believe all the people who didn't come back this year. I'm really going to miss Sam and Jade, but at least their being gone this year is a choice, not like what happened to River and Zack and the others last year. I'm worried because that never really got resolved. Who took them? Why? Are they still taking people? No one else has heard of anyone going missing, right? I want to just go back to being an unconcerned kid, but at the same time, if something's going on, maybe we need to keep alert.

On a brighter note, I totally had the best vacation ever, and I wish I was still on it. Ally, your party was the bomb. I hung out with friends, spent time with my grandfather, and had my personal sunshine with me so much my days were always bright. What more could I ask for? And randomly, I think I grew over break.

I'm feeling a little restless lately, so I'm heading outside. It's already getting cooler, which is pretty unusual for August. We didn't get much of a summer, and I'm enjoying the sunshine we do have as long as possible before winter swoops in.

Also, I'm hungry, but that's like saying, oh by the way, I'm breathing.

Finally, finals are done. D-O-N-E done. I don't care it's raining, I'm making an Impervious Charm and going outside.

I hadn't had plans for break yet, but I decided to go to Ally Rae's. I've never ridden a horse before though, And I'm not too comfortable with the thought. Can't keep your feet on the ground [or a roof or a tree] on a horse. The rest of it sounds great though. Maybe I can hike the trail instead of ride, and just meet everyone at the end?

I'm thankful it's the end of the year. It's been momentuous. That's really the only word for it. It's been up and down and all around, but it ended for me on a personal note as high as it ever could.

[Private: readable by Izzy]
I don't make private posts, but I wanted to mark this down, and it's not ready to be broadcast. I told Izzy I loved him on our two month anniversary. I don't care if people want to say it's too soon or what. We've known each other for years, and now we just know more, know each other better. All I know is that everything is better because he's with me. That's love.
You are completely welcome to and encouraged to join me outside, Sol. I need my sun in all this rain.

I love you, and I love being able to say it.
[/Izzy]

They're safe. They alive and not hurt and safe. I'm really glad they're all okay, especially Zack and River, but...

It hurts to think they don't remember so much about this past school year. River probably doesn't remember me at all then, and considering...that really hurts. But they're all right now, and that's all that matters. Hopefully the medical staff can return their memories. Hopefully things can go back to normal. Hopefully we can find out how this happened so it won't happen again.

I feel like I'm being selfish hurting that I may have been forgotten, when I need to remember, to be grateful, that they weren't seriously hurt or worse.

I need to clear my head.

[Private to Izzy]
I really need you right now, Sol. Can you meet me after band practice?

[charmed: viewable to students only]PARTY OVER HERE!

Now that I have your attention, I really do think we need this now more than ever. I'd suggested a BBQ for this coming weekend. I figured there would have been one over the 4th, but a bunch of people went home. So for a study break and a take your mind off things break, I still want to do a day of swimming and BBQing this weekend at the beach. Starting at like noon, and just going until curfew or whenever. Everyone's invited, people can bring whatever they want, just comment and let me know who's bringing what so we got everything covered. I'll get plates and napkins and cups, because someone always forgets those. Come whenever you want, leave whenever you want. I just want people to take a moment away from studying, worrying, whatever you're doing and just be in the company of friends.

If anyone needs to go into town for supplies, PLEASE go with a group and be very very careful.

Isaiah: Plates, cups, napkins
Izzy: Chips
Alan:
Lila: S'mores, chocolate chip cookies, and sugar cookies
Vinnie: Pizza [one plain, one pepperoni]
Becca: COOKIES. Duh.
Jordan: Sodas
Bai: Stir-fry & almond cookies.
Jade: Veggies, dips, Izze sodas.
Addie: Twinkies, ding dongs, soda
Ollie:
Keegan:
Victoria: Jello shots
Lela: Drinks [alcoholic]
Rosie: Brownies
Jin: Burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, tofu dogs.
Sam: BBQ chicken
Jacob: Sodas, drinks, chips & salsa
Rowan [?]: Drinks [alcoholic]
Jen: Apple pie
Will: Beer

EDIT: I charmed this so no faculty could see it, in case people wanted to bring stuff that could get us in trouble. Just saying.
[OOC: charm put in place about three hours after initial post]

Just giving you all a heads-up. I won't be around again this weekend. I'll be spending the 4th with my grandfather and some other friends, but I'll be back Sunday sometime. Everyone please try to have a safe holiday. I don't want to come back to more missing people. And I really hope they find everyone who's gone so far.

Happy Independence Day, everyone.

Um, I've seen a few posts going up that certain people are kind of AWOL? We might need to add River to the list. I haven't seen him all weekend, and we were possibly going to chill and play some music for a bit. Has anyone else seen him. Am I jumping to conclusions here?

I'm kind of crap at posting here lately, and I don't even have good weather as an excuse. For those of you who are dying to know, the rain will be letting up soon, and we'll have sun today. The weekend, not so great, but next week should be better.

I hear a bunch of people are seeing Transformers tomorrow night. I'm definitely down for that, which means I'll actually be around this weekend. Yeah, I know, I've been scarce lately. I have a reason I've been busy, but I'm trying my best not to neglect people. If we haven't been chilling as much as we should, don't keep it quiet. Tell me. I don't want to leave anyone hanging.

I'm thinking there should be another BBQ or something soon, when the weather gets nicer, before school ends. What do people think?