Wow. . . I mean, 200 pageviews isn't very much, but still, I'm happy. I'm at 199 right now. If you are the 200th one, though, and you tell me, I'd be happy to do a request or something for you.

I got home from D.C. on Wednesday. . . so two days ago. I realized that I like flying during the day much more than at night. . . I think. It was just amazing when the plane took off. We had to fly through some massive clouds. I can't even begin to describe it, and I hope I never forget it. It was like a whole different world! The giant cumulonimbus (<- - - I'm pretty sure that's what they were, maybe not. . . ) they were like giant mountains in the sky. There were dips and valleys, and peaks, everything. Wisps of nimbus (I think) whisked past, and the wings of the plane glided through it all like the sharpest knives. But it was all white, with blue above and below. The sun on the clouds made them the purest white I've ever seen. It makes me want to be a pilot, just to be able to see that for a job. . . they probably just get used to it. I'd be very sad if the sensation ever wore off, though. . .
Being in D.C. itself was a wonderful experience. I was only there for five days, which isn't nearly long enough, but I saw and absorbed so much. Everywhere I looked there was some memorial or historical significance. I took a moonlight tour, and learned even more. It stopped at the FDR, Vietnam, WWII, WWI, Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, Erojima(?), and Black Wall memorials (I'm sure I'm forgetting like fifty). And goodness, all the buildings had pillars, which fascinated me. I saw the FBI building, Archives building, the Smithsonian's Natural History, American History, American Indian and Air and Space Museums as well as the Freer Art Gallery and the Holocaust museum. The hotel was literally three blocks from the American Indian Musuem, which was just wonderful. I spent most of a day in there, and wanted to stay a week longer. Each museum really did take most of a day, I suppose. I even went on a flight simulator in the Air and Space museum, the only problem was that someone had left coins in it. There were a whole bunch and they kept flying and flinging around while the simulator was spinning. It was like I was being fired on. Ah. . . there's so much I didn't get to see, though! I enjoyed the trip so much. . . I didn't want to leave. Going back to school on Thursday was very depressing, because I felt like I should have been walking down the streets of D.C. instead of the hallways. I'll have to go back. I'm determined to. I love traveling so much, and it's one of my goals in life to get to as many places as I possibly can to learn as much as I can. Plus I love flying, so even one a long flight, I can't imagine getting bored with looking out the window. . . . (that's what I did basically the whole flight.) Hah.

Woa, so I just landed in D.C. about 3 hours ago. I found out that I love flying (except that my ears pop terribly). The whole feeling of momentum and everything. I think I'd like flying better if it wasn't in an airplane, so I could feel the wind on my skin and all. But even so, I enjoyed it very much. The flight was after the sun had set, so everything was dark except for the city lights below. I remember, they formed all sorts of patterns as they blinked and flashed. I particularly liked landing, that little jolt you feel as you hit the ground and the speed that suddenly lets up just before that. Anyways, I hope to take a lot of pictures.
I'm missing three days of school, so along with going to all sorts of memorials, museums, etc. I've got to do homework and study. I'll be getting extra credit for writing journals and essays about what I see (for three classes, at least
) so that helps. I wish schools wouldn't punish kids so much for missing a few days once and a while. I mean, it's not like I've ever missed much school, last year I had perfect attendence and these will be the only three days I'll miss this year. I understand why the schools discourage it so much, sort of, but we're only young for so long, y'know? I hate the idea of having to spend all my teenage years scribbling down notes in a desk. I want to learn all I can, but I want to have time for others things then school, like being outdoors. I'd like more freedom and cooperation from the schools, even though that's probably impossible. But with all the technology we have, it isn't as though my teachers couldn't take a few seconds to email me, maybe? Maybe I'm asking too much. . . I don't know. It's just that, you can't always plan your absences to be on holidays.

My sister and I were in the living room after the whole 'cat eating gerbil' incident. Remember, there was still one gerbil missing, and we were all worried. All of a sudden, Milo (the offending cat) started circling and sniffing around one of the reclining chairs. My sister was watching him and looked confused. When I saw her and Milo I jumped up and shouted for her to grab the cat. I thought, well, maybe the missing gerbil was still alive and that's why Milo was acting so strange. I also worried, though, that Milo was just going after more remains. . . She scrambled to get Milo (nearly giving me a heart attack. I didn't think she'd get him in time) and as soon as she did, the gerbil came running out from under the chair.
Oh I was so relieved. It ran under the couch and we threw Milo on the porch. Then, when we pushed the couch back, we realized there was a hole next to the wall. We thought the gerbil fell down it, which probably would have killed it. We were so upset, even though we kept looking for it in the basment. My mom thought it probably fell and broke its neck. I wasn't so sure, because the hole would've dropped it right on top of a table. Everyone was really stresed, so we decided we should all just calm down and be quiet. If we were quiet, the gerbil might come back out.
I was sitting on the living room carpet, and about to do my homework when I noticed my dog, sitting very stiff-like with his nose pointed straight at his food bowl. I thought that he wanted me to feed him, but it was weird how he was almost pointing. As I was about to pick up the bag of food from the corner I got to thinking (kinda hopefully) "wouldn't that be amazing if he was actually pointing to the gerbil." And all of a sudden the gerbil ran out! It ran under the radiator, but my sister finally caught it. I was so proud of my dog (Sparky). I don't think I've ever had such a pure proud feeling. He was just amazing, how he sat there and pointed, hoping I'd come check it out. Jeez, I always thought he was smart (even though he never shows it) but I never expected him to do something so awesome as that. I can't praise him enough for how happy he made me feel. I love you Sparky! (I know, I know, I might be making a big deal out of it, but I've never seen anything like that. ^^) I'm also very happy to have found Ed, even though I'm very sad that Aya was killed. I'll miss Aya. ^^ He had white hair, just like Ayame from Furuba. I hope Ed doesn't have any internal injuries. My sister will be keeping a close eye on him.

My mom picked me up after school and drove me home. We got to the door and were wondering if my sister's bus had dropped her off yet. As we opened the door, we saw my sister sitting in the computer chair (it's the first thing you see when you come in the door). Her lips quivered a bit and her face scrunched up the way mine does when I try not to cry. There was a down-turned shoe box in the center of the floor. My mother finally asked what had happened and my sister said that "Milo did something terrible." Milo is our cat. Beneath the shoebox were the remains of one of her gerbils, Aya.
Milo, while my sister and I were at school, had knocked the gerbils' glass cage off my sister's shelf. We found the shattered cage in her room. We can't find the other gerbil, Ed. We don't know if she's safe, or even alive. I feel so sorry for my sister. She was the one who came home to it first. Of all the days for her to get home first, too. Normally, I'm home before her. I could have lessened the blow. I could have done something. She wouldn't have been the one to see her pet layed out before her. I could have put the shoebox over the body so she wouldn't have to see it. I feel guilty. I feel so sorry for those poor gerbils. I felt sick when I understood what had happened. I still feel sick thinking about it. There's a blood-stain on the carpet that won't let me forget. I can only imagine what my sister feels.