| Entry Twenty-Four |
[09 Feb 2012|01:35pm] |
Sometimes I feel like a babysitter destined to tend to the world's biggest infant.
The definition of insanity is repeating the same task over and over again and expecting different results. This seems wildly accurate.
|
|
| Entry Twenty-Three |
[04 Dec 2011|09:14pm] |
I know exam season can be stressful, but I think that people can learn to thrive under that kind of pressure.
I, for one, love exam season. And as soon as it's all done, I get to head back to the drawing board (literally) with Daedalus' laptop. There are still so many nooks and cranies of that thing I haven't even begun to dig through yet.
( Private to Xander )
|
|
| Entry Twenty-Two |
[18 Oct 2011|10:45pm] |
Great. Fucking great. I look like that bitch that sings that stupid song about not letting me get me, or what-the-fuck-ever, that song is stupid anyway, but come on. Why is this even a thing. I've got other, brother-in-trouble things to deal with.
Speaking of which.
( Private to Xander )
I'm not even going to bother to private this. Xander, as soon as you're ready--Dimitry, you too-we're dragging your ass out to San Francisco and we're going to figure all this bullshit out. We're not leaving it to the last possible second. The sooner, the better, and all that.
Thank the fucking gods I already have enough weaponry to take us there without too much damn trouble. I can't believe that's what I spent my final year of high school doing--there were parties and shit, right?--but they're there.
So, whenever you're ready, boys. Take your time.
|
|
| Entry Twenty-One |
[14 Oct 2011|11:00pm] |
I know there are other things I should be excited about for tomorrow, but... honestly, I'm just really excited that I can finally vote! Eighteen is a milestone for that very reason. I don't think about it meaning that I'm now an adult, I've always been very mature for my age and suddenly being the "legal" age won't make much of a difference.
And, since I'm ahead in most of my classes, I can actually go out and do something. I know. Me, going out, and having "fun." And that won't include a museum or weapons designs or creating automatons. Imagine that.
|
|
| Entry Twenty |
[24 Sep 2011|09:05pm] |
University is amazing. I can't believe I had to suffer through four years of high school to get here. I guess it was worth it. I have never felt quite so comfortable in a setting before. Except maybe at camp. It's incredible. And the library here--you can't imagine how beautiful it is. I've gotten lost in it more than once. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!
Besides, it's nice to find a stable place after... everything.
Even better? It's close to Camp. So, on the off chance I don't want to stick around campus doing some work on my evenings and weekends, I can bounce over there.
It's wonderful. I have nothing but good things to say about higher education.
Though, I guess, give it time and I'll find something to nit-pick. Something that I'll want to fix.
|
|
| Entry Twenty |
[22 Aug 2011|05:14pm] |
I always feel a little guilty when I design weapons that aren't Greek. It feels like I'm, for lack of a better phrase, cheating on my pantheon. I suppose it's good to be well-rounded, though. At least I really feel like I've hit my stride. The ones that I'm able to make now, not only am I able to get the weapons properly created, but their disguises as well. I guess I sound a little too confident now, but... well. One day I'd just love to know that the things I've created will be seen hundreds of years down the line.
Starting at Cornell soon. But I wish that they were here to see me off. Big milestone. But I'm going to miss San Francisco. Even though I don't really have any reason to return after I move; I think I'll come back. During the summers or even after I graduate. I think this will always be my home.
( Private. )
|
|
| Entry Nineteen |
[08 Aug 2011|07:53pm] |
I wanted to do this sooner, but I was busy, and let’s face it; this is incredibly difficult to do. Preparations weren’t easy to handle, no matter how organized my uncle had things beforehand. I guess, well, perhaps after what happened to our parents, it made it clear that anything was possible. He wanted everything to be easier for us, just in case. Though I don’t think he ever suspected we would be handling this at such a young age.
My Uncle Rob made it a little challenging to get to know him. He was a little stoic. Very dedicated to his job. He liked to hold people at a distance, though; funny considering how lively and animated he was in a court room. All his clients really loved him. Always sent him gifts. My mom used to tell me that Rob was an incredibly opinionated guy—which I found odd because he was always so quiet and relaxed around the house. It didn’t seem like he judged anyone. Gentle. Compassionate. He spoiled us rotten. He didn’t have to take us in. He didn’t have to give us a home. I wish he would have let us get to know him better.
Our Aunt Jackie was a handful of a woman. She was overprotective. You couldn’t walk two steps out of the house without her texting you in order to get all the details. She was intrusive. But gods, she was also the most genuine, caring woman I’ve ever met. It doesn’t matter that she used to drive us crazy. I miss her so much. She didn’t just take us into her home; she treated us like we were her children, and especially when we needed it most. I did more than my fair share of complaining about her inability to understand privacy but right now, I’d take her sneaking into my room to look for a diary that didn’t exist over her absence any day.
They didn’t deserve what happened to them. They were wonderful, kind, caring people.
I miss them. I’m not the only one.
|
|
| Entry Seventeen |
[26 Jun 2011|11:41pm] |
I should be so, so accustomed to coming into contact with odd creatures, but even I must admit: this one threw me for a loop.
An honest-to-Gods hellhound. (Yes, Xander, just like Mrs. O'Leary.) I was working on constructing an automaton (yes, Xander, like Daedalus) with some parts I found in the forges, and what do you know, there was the visitor.
It looks terrifying, but is actually incredibly sweet. Apparently all a slobbering beast really wants is to be scratched under the chin and fed some raw meat.
Shooting star, the more you know.
Though I don't suggest just walking up and petting one at random. You're likely to lose an arm that way.
|
|
| Entry Sixteen |
[22 May 2011|11:41pm] |
It's a shame my insurance company won't believe me when I say that I wrapped my car around a minotaur.
These are the things you really wish you had covered.
|
|
| Entry Fifteen |
[09 May 2011|08:45pm] |
I think it's high time I came up for some air. Maybe it's time to relax by finally getting my Greek crossbow replica finished. I hate leaving weapons all half-finished and discarded, especially at the camp. Idle hands plus incomplete weaponry makes for a very nervous mastermind.
My brain feels like it's literally about to fall out of my skull. Exams cannot come quickly enough. Just a few short months, and it's off to the east coast for school. Not a moment too soon.
|
|
| Entry Fourteen |
[22 Mar 2011|12:30am] |
Every now and then, people just shouldn't be allowed to fucking talk.
( Private to Xander )
|
|
| Entry Thirteen |
[19 Mar 2011|02:15am] |
How are débutante parties not out-lawed yet? How archaic is that? It's ridiculous. There were a lot of, "I know it's not your kind of thing, but it's important to me" and "well you know, Cornell is really expensive" statements being slung around this afternoon. It's kind of gross how comfortable this woman is with a guilt trip. This is going to be an incredibly tedious couple of weeks. She's not going to leave me alone.
Toni, please tell me you got out of this once upon a time and in an incredibly creative way?
Oh and Xander, be warned. Our wonderful aunt is expecting you to escort the daughter of one of her friends to this shindig.
|
|
| Entry Twelve |
[07 Mar 2011|10:01pm] |
Let it not be said that perseverance won't foster results. I never thought I'd get my hands on it. It's even better than... no mental image could compare to how beautifully crafted this thing is. I'm so grateful to have it now.
Also? The things you see around that camp never cease to amaze me. I should not be used to seeing mythical beasts just roaming around, but there you go.
|
|
| Entry Eleven |
[15 Feb 2011|11:04pm] |
Early admissions. Cornell University. I can't believe it. I just--you're supposed to hear back a little bit earlier about these things, so I didn't think--but here we are. I'll be attending Cornell University in the fall, studying Architecture and Art Design. If I could time travel... well, this would be where I abuse the hell out of it.
I thought I would be scared or nervous about that kind of change coming up, and so quickly, but I'm not. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to get as far away from this high school as I possibly can.
I've been considering leaving the tutoring center and looking for another job. I used to really love tutoring, but lately it's not the same. I don't know what's missing from it these days--but I don't get the same sense of accomplishment from it that I used to. Maybe I just need a change of pace. Or maybe I just need to get out of San Francisco.
|
|
| Entry Ten |
[10 Feb 2011|06:32pm] |
Suspended. Me. For the stupidest thing in the world. It's so ridiculous. I guess I could probably take a bit of solace in the fact that at least my aunt seemed so stunned by this that she didn't even think to ground me. Small comforts. Until she decides to send me and Xander to therapy, which is going to happen, I can see the wheels turning in her frightening little head. Though, it's still an entire week without classes.
I'm going to go utterly insane. The only thing that will keep my mind active is finishing the design on the replica of this.
This is such nonsense.
|
|
| Entry Nine |
[05 Feb 2011|10:21pm] |
Apparently not keeping my eyes on my brother clears up a lot of my schedule. How sad is that? I've taken my first blue prints from Daedalus' laptop and created something. It's nothing particularly spectacular, but I had to start somewhere, and a spear was my best bet. The flank keeping the blades together is impressive, but not as impressive as the blades themselves, nor as impressive as how I'm able to mask the it altogether. Better to keep that to myself. And it's only the beginning. The first creation. There is so much here... from weapons to buildings to automatons that I can control through simple codes and commands.
It's impressive. It's a little intimidating. And I cannot wait to keep building. All of this knowledge... and it's mine. It's so exhilerating.
But having the laptop is making me curious to see just how well I could do designing without its assistance, so I'm going to have to start spending time in the Greek sections of museums to start sketching out weapons and recording their proper dimensions. I don't intend for everything to be exactly like what Daedalus designed; because what would the fun in that be? I'm as excited about my own designs as I am about his. Maybe more so.
This is going to be brilliant.
( Private to Xander )
|
|
| Entry Eight |
[02 Feb 2011|10:19pm] |
I have my first spearhead being made as I type this. The welder, who will be teaching me, is incredible. So handy with metal, so wonderfully talented. I hope he can teach me well. The spearhead itself won't be anything too special, not very Greek, but it's only the first. When I start making my own, you'll be able to swear they were picked off of ancient battle fields. I can't wait to get started.
While he's working on the spearhead, I'll be working on the blue prints for a canister to contain it. It will make for a sturdy weapon, though I still wish I could find that bronze dagger.
Keeping busy is good. And keeps me from getting into more fights with my brother.
|
|
| Entry Seven |
[30 Jan 2011|04:08pm] |
I found this entire section in the laptop about ancient Greek weaponry. There are even designs to replicate them. Granted, they'll never be as spectacular as the old weaponry themselves, but hey, I can make my own weapons! And automatons!
I suppose I should preface this. I have the plans and the capabilities to do so, but for automatons in specific, I'd need to get into a lot of welding and metalwork classes. Though any excuse to take on more studies, I'm not going to turn it down.
It's not just weapons or automatons that I'd be able to build, either. Armor. Shields. Honestly, the possibilities are endless. There is just such a wide berth of things I'll be able to create in the upcoming months, let alone the years.
Already, I know the first thing that I'm going to make. From the plans created, it seems like it will be the easiest. I can't wait to get started.
|
|
| Entry Six |
[27 Jan 2011|04:39pm] |
This laptop. I swear... there's so much on it, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to sift through the contents entirely. Daedalus, now he was a planner. A pure genius. There are a few things added on here that I know didn't just belong to him, and they have a lot to do with the rebuilding of Olympus. Plans and blue prints for these... the only word I can use to describe them is cathedrals. It's sheer brilliance! I would love to add some of my own ideas, but I feel like I need to do a little more travelling before I can do that. See what's left of the structures in Greece before I start mucking up any of this art.
Gods, I've always wanted to go to Greece.
Besides, looking through this laptop is keeping you focused.
I've been to the camp more than once now. I've found a lot of things there; but one thing I haven't been able to find, which bothers me, is this knife that Annabeth keeps prattling on about. It's--well, it's important. I really need to find it.
But for now, I'm focusing on this laptop. So much to read!
|
|
