Ghosts in the Attic: Happy Birthday Mom?

Happy Birthday Mother!!!

My mom's birthday was this past Monday. I went down to the shore over the weekend to celebrate. We had lunch, I saw my siblings, I watched Bridezillas with TJ (amazing!), I saw my friend Shanique in a play, I almost got robbed in the hood, I went to the beach with Cvalda (E>), and I got scratched up by a big dog. So it was a pretty successful weekend!

Anyway, while I was celebrating my mother's big day, I remembered that I once wrote a journal entry about my mom's birthday! Here it is.

Mr. Nicky And
the lovely
present
My Mother's birthday
is in June. It is
June 14, 1996. I'm
gonna give her
my fruit basket.

I bouth a
card for her.
I'm gonna buy
her a ring With
my money. I can
buy her something
else. She likes

When she gets
alot of presents
from me
because she loves
me a lot.

A few comments:
- I had money in 1996 to buy a card, a ring and something else?! What did I do with it?!
- My mother likes getting presents from me because... she loves me. I'm going to use that line this Christmas with my family. I want more presents for me because I love you all!
- I'm gonna give her my fruit basket? LOL!
- My mother's birthday is June 13th, not 14th.

Ghosts in the Attic: Happiness

I've been kind of down lately. Don't worry readers! I'm not looking for a hole under my house to crawl into or anything. I've just been a little sad lately and Joni Mitchell's Blue has been getting a lot of spins.

When I'm sad, I try to think of the things that make me happy, and then stay away from them and wallow surround myself with those things. So what makes me happy? Let's look at my 1st grade journal to find out!

My friend's
make me happy
Because they
treat me rite.

1. Friends! Who isn't instantly cheered by a phone call/text/visit from a good friend?! Even in 1st grade I appreciated how my friends made me happy by treating me right - i.e. sharing their snacks with me, letting me be line leader, talking to me on the bus, etc.

The best thing is that my friends don't even need arms to make me happy. An extra long neck will do!

I pet cats
make me happy
becuse they love
me to and I love
them

2. Pet cats! Doesn't it just warm your heart to see your cats approaching you in the middle of the night to devour you with their leech-like mouths cuddle with you?

Well my cat only comes in my room to break my things, knock down plants, attack my dreamcatcher, or rip up the posters under my bed. But this page makes sense because it absolutely makes me happy when I stay over Josh's house and Hermanita, Mowgli, or Baberz come up to me looking for some love. AWW.

My family makes
me happy because
I love me

3. Family! Because... I love myself!

LOL!

So guys, what makes you happy when you feel like crying a million storms?!

Ghosts in the Attic: Books Report

Can you believe it folks? The semester is almost over!! Well, most of my readers don't look at life in terms of semesters or school years, but the semester being over is a big deal for me. And considering that this will be my last year of school after being in school for as long as I can remember, this is a really big deal!!!

But I still have one semester left. Next semester, I hope to learn about Latin American writers, Shakespeare, US history in the 20th century, and poetry. Since I'm enrolled in all of those courses already, I'll probably accomplish these dreams. BUT, a more important questions begs to be asked...

When I was in 1st grade, what did I want to learn in 2nd grade? FIND OUT NOW. [click to enlarge]

In second grade

I wan't to
learn about
how to do division
and how to
do times.

I have two major problems with this journal entry.
1. WHY DID I WANT TO LEARN MATH?!?!
2. Why did my teacher cross out my perfectly fine how TWICE (ok, I could have made the line longer) but she didn't correct the apostrophe in wan't or the phrase "how to do times"?? Mrs. Gural, what were you thinking??

I wan't to
learn about
science and
about books
report and
space and
earth.

Alright, this is more like it! Books report!!!

But again, Mrs. G crossed off the "s" in books but didn't add an "s" on report! Did this teach me anything?

Well somewhere along the way I learned how to correctly write "book reports" so it's OK. But isn't it funny that I wanted to learn about all that stuff that I don't care about at all anymore, like division, times, science, space, and earth? It make me wonder...

What was something you wanted to learn about that you don't care about anymore?

Ghosts in the Attic: Zero Hot Dogs

Growing up, my father worked all day and night in his pizzeria. Me and my siblings would starve and die sometimes have to come up with some creative dinners when he wasn't there to cook for us.
But occasionally, he would have the day off and we would either have Burger King (whoppers for everyone!), or he would cook on the grill. Here's a journal entry in which I chronicle one such cookout.

Entry dated May 28, 1996

On the weekend
I wen't outsidide
and helped my
father with the
grill. He made
cheeseburgers
and hotdogs.
I aet both of
them they were good

Note that "helping my father with the grill" meant that I carried a few slices of cheese from the refrigerator to the grill. Although I am now a master chef, I didn't even know how to make mac 'n' cheese until last year.

AND HOT DOGS? I do not eat hot dogs. I can't believe that I ate a hot dog AND said it was good..... What was I thinking?

and some saled
I aet two and
1/2 cheeseburgers
and 0 hotdogs
On Sunday I
played a lot
and read James
and the giant

Oh wait, I ate zero hotdogs...

I'm not sure why I lied on page 1, if I was just going to tell the truth on page 2. Mrs. Gural was probably so disappointed in me.

This makes me think about how our tastes change over time. While I still eat 0 hot dogs, I do like some stuff that I hated as a child, and conversely, I don't eat some stuff that I did like as a child (like eggs!). Which leads me to question time!

What food did you used to hate that you now love? or
What food did you used to love that you now hate?

Ghosts in the Attic: Polymorphism

Even though there are many advantages to being a human, I sometimes wonder how life would be if I were a different animal.

If I were a monkey... my rain forest home would probably be knocked down and I'd die...
If I were a duck... my lake would probably be polluted and I'd die...
If I were a deer... my forest would probably become a highway and I'd get run down by a crazy motorist who beeps his horn at me like it's my fault he's speeding...

Luckily, first grader Enrico didn't want to be any of those animals. Instead, he opted to be an animal that could hide away from the horrors of the world...

Entry dated May 7th, 1996

What animal would I
like to be. I would
like to be a turtle
be cause it is little
ny favite color and
can hide very good.

Aww! I remember when my favo animal was a turtle (this coveted spot was later taken by monkeys--green is still my favorite color).
But the part I find most fascinating about this entry is how my young self wished to be little so he could hide away... I guess that related to the fact that I was very shy as a child and never talked... How things have changed!

Oh, and are you absolutely terrified by that picture I drew? That turtle's head creeps me out!

Question Time!
If you could be an animal, which animal would you be?

Ghosts in the Attic: Take It Off

When I was younger, I actually used to see my extended family. Now, I see my siblings and my mother for a few months out of the year and never, ever see my extended family. I have cousins and aunts/uncles who I used to see all the time that I haven't seen in years.
Anyway, in this entry of Ghosts in the Attic, I discuss hanging out with some cousins and the VERY interesting games we played....

On Saturday and Sunday I wen't
to my cusin's house. I
played nintendo.
I played Aladin
and zombys ate
my nabor's.

See, I was in 1st grade and already loyal to Nintendo! Since my days playing Aladdin and Zombies Ate My Neighbors (the best SNES game ever!) I've managed to collect just about every Nintendo console and handheld system and am somewhat of a Nintendo fanboy. But my childhood days were not only spent playing video games. Apparently I got some exercise as well?!?

I watched T.V.
and played soccer.
I had fun at
my cusin's house.

Although I don't watch much TV now, I can see myself watching Are You Afraid of the Dark when I was in first grade. But playing soccer/exercising on my own free will?! I don't remember this. And now readers, get ready for the MOST AWESOME game I ever played at my cusin's house:

I played games
on a pole in the
dark and in the
geroge.

Is a comment even necessary here?

Ghosts in the Attic: Double Feature

In a surprising bout of brevity, I actually wrote a journal entry that was only ONE PAGE! So this week, you get a double feature.

Entry Dated April 1996

On the weekend I went to
the pizza store and aet pizza
and buht candy mosetly. I colo-
red. I eat cookies. I whent in the
van.

Short and sweet! And how amazing is that van drawing?! I personally think that boomerang-shaped tire is a masterwork. Though I don't know how it got us very far.

And what is with me spelling something correctly and incorrectly on the SAME PAGE?! (went/whent)

So anyway, since I realized I probably put my teacher to sleep with that snoozefest of an entry, my next entry was titled "Imagine" and in it, I describe something strange slash interesting!

Entry Dated May 1, 1996

I was walking to school and

I saw a fish in a tree.
It was playing with a
monkey. Then I saw a
Big elephant that
had a pig on it's
back. Then I saw a
dog withs skalls.
The a skunk that
was talking to a boy.
A flower flying. Alex
eating money. And then
I made it to school.
But the door
was flying.

I must say, it looks like my writing skills def improved since the first GitA entry! I had very few mistakes in this entry! And very importantly, I started using cursive, which is currently the only way I write.

And come on, those short choppy sentences ("A flower flying. Alex eating money.") surrounded by the longer sentences shows that I clearly had a knack for syntax even in 1996.

Hmm... looks like my 'interesting' entry is boring too! Oh well. You guys can feel free to leave me comments about how cute I am or something! Oh, and SCHOOL IS OVER!!! YAY!!!

Ghosts in the Attic: Childhood Optimism

For the second time in my 1st grade journal, I wrote about a family gathering. It's funny that in 1996 I met with my father's side of the family in the same month that I went with my mother's side of the family because I currently don't ever see either side of the family!

But this entry is noticeably darker in tone...

Click to enlarge.

Entry dated April 15th, 1996

"On Saturday and Sunday I wen't
to my Grandpop's birthday. We
had cake played outside ALL
people were there even people
I did'ent now. Neses Uncles Aunts
Babys grannies and poppops
And three suprisesis A goodtar
from verginya presents. And
my Aunt is having a baby."

Notice that I was into hyperbole at the time. ALL people were there. I also love that I said that 'grannies' were there (lol!), since I'm pretty sure only one grandmother was at this family gathering. And I actually remember that guitar that my grandfather gave us (from Virginia). But of course my brother and I didn't understand how amazing that gift was, so we just ignored it and play with cheap Power Rangers toys.

"But I do hope the baby don't
die as soon as it comes out.
because my cusins girlfriends
had a baby like that and he ran
away."

OK, first, I must say: those cloud drawings are terrible!
So this page troubles me a little. It's one of those instances where I wonder if I shared too much information with my teacher. It might also be a testament to how morbid I was in 1st grade... This explains my love of Anne Sexton!
But on a lighter note, isn't my quote bubble genius?

"We found 900000000000
pitures from when evry-
one was small.
The End"

Yay! Photos! And mas hyperbole! I remember finding those 900 billion pictures. I love looking at old family pictures... And I was obviously a budding storyteller at the time, with the way I added that note of finality (The End). Although it looks kinda like the last frame in a horror movie about murderous little kids.

Ghosts in the Attic: Bad Dremes

I've always found dreams fascinating and worthy of reflection. When I wake up, I often think about my dreams for a while, trying to uncover the latent content. Sometimes I even write them down!

I don't really remember when my fascination with dreams began. But now I might have a clue.

Entry Dated April 11, 1996

Bad Dremes
On night I had a dream
that I saw a whit blue
and red thing in the bushes I
whent to what it was when I
toutch it I went some where it
was dark the the lights whent
on and this man was there he said
my time is out so beware and I
died that week

This short entry describes my future death. After checking out an American flag (?) in the bushes, I'm teleported to some hombre who tells me my time is up. Then I die on January 5, 1996.
For some reason, I ditched punctuation for this entry. I can only attribute this stylistic choice to the fact that my young mind probably thought by leaving out punctuation, the story would read much faster and feel more frightening.

And is that not the best drawing you've ever seen? (Click to enlarge, btw.) Dude next to my tombstone totally looks like a vampire. Must be Alex crying at my extremely well-crafted tombstone, holding a flower in his paw and wiping his eyes with a rigid tissue.

Bad Dremes
I was stuck on the wall
and monsters were stroming
my pain with thare fingers they
were singing my life with thare
words killing me softly with
song I scremd and died.

I must have been listening to The Fugees one night before bed....
My only comment about this entry: I wish there was an illustration.

Ghosts in the Attic: Happy Birthday To You

Welcome back to my 1st grade journal. In this entry, I discuss my teacher's birthday celebration!

Entry dated April 10, 1996

Happ Birthday Mrs Gural
Today was Mrs. Gural Birthday. We had a party. With juies and cake and Doenuts. My table was first to get a nother doenut. We spelld out HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MRS. GURAL.

My favorite part of this page might be the 'we had a party' sentence. It totally looks like 'we had a panty.'
When I read the next sentence, I pronounce 'juies' like 'Jews' which makes the party sound even better!
I also love how I sent Mrs. Gural birthday wishes TWICE on one page! (and forgot the 'Y' the first time)
More coffee stains!

Samanthas Mom came in to tape us. today A PerFEce-ANal BASKETBALL PLAYER is comeing here. But i don't no when. But I no that Kyle was H. Kiara was A. Lindsey was P. Sal was P. Kenyeta was Y. Scott was B. Julie was I. Danny was R. Hanif was T. Happy Birhtday Mrs. Gural

I'm pretty sure I didn't have ADD as a child, but I apparently had a brief spurt of it while writing this entry. I very quickly jump from the taping of Mrs. Gural's birthday celebration to the fact that a PerFEce-ANal BASKETBALL PLAYER was coming to my school that day (what a nice birthday treat for Mrs. Gural!). I love the way I connect the thoughts again (I don't no when. But I no that....) and then start listing which classmates held which letters.
To clarify, as I said on page 1, we spelled out "Happy Birthday to You Mrs. Gural" -- this means each student held up a letter and then someone (Samantha's mom?) took a picture of us, and apparently videotaped us as well.
Believe it or not, I actually remember all of these classmates! Except for Lindsey (sorry).
Also, you might wonder why I put the news about the basketball player in all caps. It's because I used to actually like basketball. Weird, I know.
Also, note that in order to cement my role as teacher's pet, I once again wish Mrs. Gural a happy b-day!

Nicole was H. Elyssa was D. Andre was A. Sam was Y. Sara was TO. Jaasmeen was Y. A I don't Remember who else.

And then I just list the rest of the order, to the best of my ability. Know what this makes me wonder?
What was I?

Ghosts in the Attic: Betting Your Kids

Welcome to the first entry in a new series: Ghosts in the Attic

The other day, I was rummaging through the attic when I came across a few old journals. I was so amused by the entries that I've decided to share them on Hotel Tuesday.

So in Ghosts in the Attic entries, I will post pages from a journal I kept when I was in 1st grade. The entries are usually prompts given to me by my first grade teacher (who sometimes makes guest appearances in my journal!). After I've exhausted those entries, I will move on to my 2nd grade journal!

So without further ado, here is the first entry from my 1st grade journal.
(click images to enlarge)


(Note how this is 'Journal #2' -- I really hope I can find Journal #1 eventually! I have to search the attic more thoroughly. Also note how strange those clouds look and how the flower looks more like a heart than a flower.... And is that a snowflake on the bottom right? I was a talented artist.)

Entry dated April 8, 1996

On Easter I wen't to a party. Evey one came there there was a bad boy thare his name was colin. He was smakeing me and my brother. And throwing bag and balls at us. He was yelling he was blousting our eardrums I was dieing.

Alright, I was not a fantastic speller in 1st grade. And I think I took the apostrophe from 'won't' and applied it to 'went.' Something that confuses me about this page is the fact that I spell there correctly on line 3, but incorrectly on line 4.
I remember Colin. He was quite the mischievous child. While I understand how Colin threw balls at me and my brother, I don't really get what 'bag' he was throwing... his mother's purse perhaps?

I love the illustration here, mostly because Colin is yelling "yaaaaaaa" and I can SO hear that sound right now.
I also love how I was obviously a lot less dramatic when I was young (I was dieing).

"And then his mommy betted him and then he started to do bad stuff again. I wen't crazy so I just watch are you afraid of the dark. Are you"

There are a lot of great things about this page, starting with the first sentence. I guess when you're young you don't really think about filtering your thoughts for your teacher. So I just tell my 1st grade teacher that Colin's mother 'betted' him, which is the way my childlike mind put abuse into words.
I also like how I thought watching Are You Afraid of the Dark would allay the craziness I felt thanks to Colin doing bad stuff. The opening movie was scary enough to make me crazier!
I also love how I asked my teacher a question and gave her boxes to check. Obviously I was starving for some teacher attention. I'm glad to know Mrs. Gural was not afraid of the dark.
And of course, my drawing is pretty amazing and looks JUST like the real logo.

"And his mom betted him again. he cryd again and again. he was so bad then he left. And I was steel thare I aet jolly Ranchers and Rabuolies and sladed and mackarome and some more jolly Ranchers."

Back to the abuse! I hope Mrs. Gural wasn't concerned....
I love how quickly I jump from Colin's bad behavior to his departure, all in one sentence! "He was so bad then he left." Brilliant.
And doesn't my Italian dinner sound yummy? I'm still a huge Rabuoli fan.
And suddenly my recent dentist visits are starting to make sense.... Why didn't someone smake those Jolly Ranchers out of my hand?

I actually remember this family gathering, though only vaguely. I also remember that when I was young, apple was my favorite Jolly Rancher flavor, though that has changed. Aren't family gatherings the best?