May 19

First, the good news. Only two new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in BC in the last 24 hours. And we can go back to school on June 1.

We also played tennis and basketball on the weekend since some of those outdoor facilities just opened.

We have been on lockdown because of this dreadful pandemic since March 16. It is grueling. Things really started to turn sour earlier in March.
* last trip to the library where I took out 160 books and I didn't believe my mom about rationing them so I read them all within a week and now I just have mountains of books messing up my room
* last haircut
* last baseball practice
* last meal in a restaurant (aka the worst birthday my mom has ever had and my dad's, six days later, was even worse)
* MLB spring training shut down and the season didn't start

What are people even supposed to do without sports?

Thank goodness I had just played my final soccer game for the season before everything fell apart. I said part of the F word when I heard the announcement about Little League World Series being cancelled.

Today was supposed to be our first day of a little bit of freedom. Restaurants are allowed to open today for dine-in service. We called pretty much every restaurant in Victoria but no one is quite ready to open yet.

omen

What a school year so far.

This is me on the first day of grade 5.

All dressed up in my Texas Tech baseball shirt and eager (not really) to start the new school year. I only got out of bed for the promise of a sticky cinnie roll at the cafe near my school.

As soon as I leave the cafe, there is a dead baby bird right there on the sidewalk. I should have given up right then and there.

Instead, I persevered and endured all kinds of nonsense. Then I went to California for Thanksgiving (amazing fun times!) and then I took two months off of school (that turned out to be a good idea) and now I go to public school (which also turned out to be a really good idea).

RIP little baby bird.

baseballing

Well, that was a busy season that has not really let up yet. 

These photos were taken during the May tournament and were just recently sent to me by a photographer who works with one of the other teams. What a treat it was to get photo evidence of what will likely be the best inning of my entire pitching career (except that time a few weeks later when I finished an inning in six pitches.)

And the pitcher tags the runner OUT at the plate.

no place like home

At long last, baseball season has started. It was a grueling wait - even though I didn't really take a break. I did fall ball, pitching clinics, batting clinics, winter clinics with my own league and another.

But still. To be park in my own park, eating concession food is the best ever. They even have veggie dogs this year! And 1700 candy bags in stock. Apparently, that only lasts one month. (If I wasn't above using emojis, I would insert a shocked face here. a toothless shocked face because that much candy will ruin some teeth.)

Wait, I just realized that baseball season hasn't even started. It starts next Sunday. But I have had a few practices and my first game is on Thursday. Stay tuned for the game score. My first game is against my last year's coaches and my batting coach so I am going to hit at least a triple.

going to California

I just spent 11 fun-filled days in sunny California!

Several days after Christmas, we packed up the car on the most miserable dreary rainy day and headed for Seattle. The drive was brutal and took way longer than it should have. Friday rush hour traffic in the Seattle rain: a losing combination.

The next morning, we headed for SeaTac where I boarded a flight - alone!

I arrived in California and was greeted at the airport by my grandparents. and then I met my cousins. so many of them. We celebrated a belated Christmas. Then we proceeded to have all the fun and eat all of the pizza in the entire state.

And, just as my mom predicted way back in November when she booked my flight, I tried to play the "I'm sick" card for my first day back so I could miss school. She did not buy it. Off to school I went.

Mostly, I am heartbroken to be away from my cousins.

the good old days

While trying to get some photos organized to print for my great-grandmother Mary, I happened across this one. a classic from the good old days. me at a political fundraiser.

This is me meeting the lovely Congressman Doggett for the first time. Why did I have that look on my face?

Reason number 1 to love him:

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D, Austin.
NRA rating: F
NRA campaign contribution: None

grade 3, the first day

Today, I started grade 3. We are on a new routine so I will be going to bed at 8:00 each night. I did that last night! I was asleep immediately!

I woke up independently at 6:30 this morning and was ready to go NOW. I bathed, ate, brushed my teeth, put my shoes on, gathered all of my school supplies. ready.

Two things about my photo below:
1) I am still wearing my wristband from the Clallam County fair and I will never ever take it off.
2) People say my biceps look huge. I have been working out. Thanks for noticing!

I was the first student to arrive on campus. We got my locker set up and then my teacher invited me in to spend the next thirty minutes with her until school really started. I am trying my hardest to be her favorite student.

So far, I am overjoyed with my class. We get silent reading every day after lunch. The school has added more restaurants to the lunch delivery program. Cross country running starts in two weeks.