"Friends"

It is just registering to me that everyone cannot be trusted. People that you were once close with can (and most likely will) turn on you. When people used to tell me stories about stuff like this, I thought that they did something to turn the person against them and just didn't want to tell me. So when it happened to me, I was astonished. The person was introduced to me by a mutual friend. When they first came around, I was skeptical of them. I made it known immediately. But "our" friend told me to at least give them a try. Although I wasn't comfortable with it, I let my guard down (since my best friend was vouching for them). As time went by, we got closer. They would tell me things, and although they often clashed with other things that were said, I did not call them out or cast judgment. I thought we were actually making some type of progress. Boy was I wrong. About a month or two ago, the person had an attitude. I asked what was wrong, trying to be a caring friend. But I got ignored. It did not just happen once, but at least three times. I stopped asking and stopped caring. The person was also acting flaky towards "our" friend. The person doesn't sit with us or talk to us, or even look at us. Whenever they were asked why they act that way towards me and my best friend, they come up with an excuse (they got worse and less believable each time). I just do not understand how you can be cool with somebody one day, and nothing bad happens, but you're throwing endless shade. It is crazy.

Senioritis

Senioritis (n): an ebbing of motivation and effort by high school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades. I thought that senioritis was a myth. I thought is was just an excuse for people to not do their work. But I know it is real. The 2012-2013 school year is quickly winding down. There is only 4 (YES 4) weeks left. And senioritis has set in heavy. I am usually on top of my work. Not saying that I am the best student, or the worst, but I am generally able to get things done. However, I have not been on my game lately. Since winter break, I haven't done any good quality work. I have been doing just enough to get by, and even that isn't working for me. I skimp on assignments and turn in incomplete work. I know it's bad but I am just not motivated anymore. Focusing on school work is becoming more difficult by the day. I am worried more about life after high school, rather than doing what is necessary to get out, and it is being reflected in my grades. Typically, I get B's and high C's. Right now I believe I have at least 2 F's. It is not that I don't understand the material. It is that I'm just not doing it, or I turn in crappy work. With only 21 days left in the school year, I cannot afford to start slacking. I will find a way to cure this case of senioritis because Jonae Hodge will walk across the stage on June 12, 2013.

Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon is one of the most anticipated races of the year. Running the marathon is a way to qualify for the Olympics. On Monday, April 15, 2013 a race was being ran. However, this was no typical race. About three-quarters of the 23,000 participants crossed the finish line when a bomb exploded. The bomb was set in a trash can near the finish line. It went off around 2:50 pm. The bomb exploded on Boylston Street (near the heart of the city) amongst a vast number of people. Thirteen seconds late, another bomb exploded only several hundred feet away. Jarrett Sylvester said said "the first one went off, I thought it was a big celebratory thing, and I just kept running." Many people were unaware that the blast came from a bomb. They were convinced that it was planned after the second one though. The explosion kill 3 people, and injured 175.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was hospitalized after going on the run. He is being charged with using weapons of mass destruction. Tsarnaev said that he and his brother (now deceased) acted alone, and are not connected to any terrorist group. He admitted his role in the bombing. Due to his injuries, he cannot speak. He wrote information about the attack for detectives.

No End in Sight for North Korea

Recently, North Korea has been upping their threats against the United States. The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, has planned to have military rockets on standby. The missiles are aimed toward the United States and their allies. Should Americans be afraid? Should we flee the country immediately? The answer to both questions is no. Although South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Thursday of "brisk activity" around North Korean missile sites, there is nothing to fear. Defense official at the Pentagon in Virginia reported that the recent activity is not "out of the ordinary". U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman, Martin Dempsey, said "there have been some artillery movements, but nothing other than what's consistent with heir historic patterns and training" at a news conference Thursday.

The Pentagon flew two B-2 bomber planes near North Korea. The planes did not attack the country. The deployment of the planes was merely a demonstration to North Korea as well as the allies of the United States, assuring everyone that "we [the U.S.] can bring force from anywhere..."

For more information on this issue read the article Tension with North Korea, and watch the video included.

You Smile, I Smile

I've decided to be nice this week. I did something sweet for my friend. He told me that he lost his headphones about a week ago. He was pretty upset since they were new. In February, I told him that I would buy him something, but I never said what exactly. This weekend, I purchased some Skull Candy headphones with a mic. I got them in purple. That is his favorite color. I also bough him Halo 4. I've never played it before, but the guy at the store said that it's new and really popular. This morning I gave him both items. When I pulled them out, his smile was really wide. He hugged me very tight. I think I surprised him. I hope he enjoyed his gifts. Seeing him smile made my day.

This Weekend

This has been a draining weekend. It all started Friday night. I left my best friend's house to come home. When I arrived, I was greeted by my sister. Seeing her was fine, except she's like a kitten. She likes to play...a lot. Saturday morning we decided to go to the mall. We caught the train out Wheaton, but they were doing track work on the red line so it took forever. We left the house at 10:30 but stepped foot in the mall at 12:30. My main mission of the day was to purchase the new Jordan's that came out (the 13s), but no store had them in my size. I went to 6 different stores. I couldn't even buy any clothes because I didn't have any shoes to match what I wanted. Not getting the 13s ruined my entire day. I became antisocial,  and drifted off from the others. When I finally chose another shoe to buy, DTLR didn't have them in my size either. I felt crushed. I gave up all together. After walking through Wheaton for 8 hours,  I decided to leave. It was about 11 when I got home.

I Cannot Deal

A lot has been going on lately. My father had a heart attack last week. I was accepted into Xavier University. And my friend has been the most random mood swings ever. The mood swings are what bothers me the most.

Everything could be going well. My friend and I could be laughing and talking all day. Then all of a sudden, he gets mad. It's almost always over nothing, but he never sees it like that. He will be mad all day and all night over the littlest, tiniest, smallest thing. What makes it worse is when I ask him what's wrong. That is another argument within itself.

We go through this at least twice a week. I don't know why or how it even starts, but it happens. At times I want to leave everything where it is and walk away, but I can't. Despite the arguing, we're usually happy together. When we are good, it's amazing. But any other time, we're at war. I understand that arguing or disagreeing is a part of all relationships and friendships. I just wish it didn't happen as often.