8 years ago, today, I was sitting on a gym floor wishing that the other students around me would quiet down, and sit in their lines, so that we wouldn't get into trouble. I was 14, a high school freshman, and I was concerned about open house scheduled for later that night. I hadn't got much sleep the night before, and I knew that with the open house, I wouldn't be getting much that night, either.

Around 9:30/9:45, the coach still hadn't come out, and I was getting antsy, along with my classmates, when the three coaches and their students assistants rolled out a television on a cart. It was on some news channel or other, and I thought that the class across the gum was going to watch a video on sportsmanship or health, or some other such nonsense. Then one of the student assistants ran over to us and told us that the World Trade Center had been hit by a plane and a bomb went off in the Pentagon. Now, I was 14, and I clearly remember not believing them. I thought it was a joke, so I rolled my eyes and moved on. The rest of the class was soon gathered around the television, and I eventually joined them when I saw that none of them were in trouble for not sitting in their lines.

I saw the second tower get hit on the news while the reporters were talking, and I remember them being shocked when they realized that it wasn't a replay of the first tower. I honestly don't remember if what I saw then was a replay of it actually happening, or the actual event in real time, all I know is that it seemed surreal.

I remember the announcement over the intercom about what had happened when I made it to my next class, and I remember them saying that open house was canceled. I remember my classmates cheering. It didn't seem real, see. We were still thinking about our falling grades, and the stress of our parents meeting our teachers and the lack of time to complete assignments for the following day.

I remember finally understanding when I went to third period (Speech) and we did nothing but watch news coverage of the events.  It wasn't a bomb in the Pentagon, and apparently, there were other targets. Lunch was a somber affair, and none of us really wanted to be out of the classrooms away from the televisions. We immediately went back and watched silently, trying to understand.

Fourth period was geometry, and it was out in a hot portable and I remember expecting to come into more television coverage of the events. We did math, because our teacher said that nothing else had changed, and we had to learn our proofs.

I can't say that I really understood what it meant that regular people went to work like everyday of their lives, and then the building erupted in flames around them, or collapsed on top of them. I still don't know if I can comprehend what happened to normal families all over New York and Washington, DC. I just remember events as I remember them.

Snagged from everyone:

Inspired by Doctor Who's "Turn Left:" Pick one of my stories and tell me a point in the tale that you'd change -- something tiny or big -- and I'll tell you how that one difference would have altered the course of the entire story.

( Bad day with awkwardness and insults... )

My laptop is dead!

But, in a move of considerable stupidity, I neglected to look at my AC Adapter to make sure that it was functioning properly... It's not. So, it might be alright (the laptop I mean.) Eh, we'll see. I'm getting a new AC adapter, because I refuse to take this thing back to the gawd-awful repair shop. Those people couldn't find their way out of a paper bag. It's almost as bad as the time I was patronized by the AAA worker. Dude, I'm a chick, not a moron.

Aaaanywho, I may be back with some regularity in a few weeks. For now I live on borrowed time on my parents' PC. I'll be back in the fic world later, peoples :)

This lovely machine of mine is showing the early symptoms of DEATH. I may disappear with little to no explanation. Well, here's your explanation. The good news is that I've discovered that Apple gives a discount to teachers... MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

So... just to let y'all know, I will be short a computer very soon, but with any luck, it won't be for long. Here's hoping I can recover my files!

OMG! They're playing the first new Futurama movie on Comedy Central (in convenient bite sized chunks) Peace out! (gotta show love for my original OTP)

Don't know why, but I did. Don't think I'll put it up anywhere but here, so yeah. No title, as it, too, would be depressing. This is me avoiding my school work... I don't think I like this me. This me kills off characters that I adore.

( I warned you... )

 So, today was supposed to be the first day back from Spring break for me,