Denny's Utopia || Version 2

So...ya wanna hear about Les Mis? I'm going to tell you.

Chicago was wonderful. The city is wonderful, bustling, busy, full of opportunties, everything one could want in a city. Then again, you mention the crime rate, the absurd thefts, rapes, and murders in Chicago, and that makes it a bit unappealing. Still, while I was there, most Chicago people were very welcoming. So, we start out riding on charter buses to Chicago. Fun. It takes a grand three hours to get to downtown, where about 117 noisy, tired, Grand Haven AP English students are dropped off at the Waterfront Place on Superior Ave. Even more fun. Jason, I, and a group of my friends wandered off to the huge mall and are immediately stunned by the selections and the prices. Most of the mall was empty, since it was Wednesday morning. There were some stores I had never heard of, such as Chiccano. What does that mean? Anyways, we didn't find too much at Waterfront, and we ventured across the street to F.A.O. Schwarz (a huge, gigantic toy store) and Borders Bookstore. Could it get any better? After all, you have a huge store full of toys (video games, mind you) and next to it, a huge store full of novels, magazines, playing cards (right, Jason?) and get this--a cafe! I konw, it sounds really like I don't get out much, which I don't, but anyways, I loved Chicago, especially Borders (nowhere to be found in Grand Haven) and FAO Schwarz, not indigenous of GH either. We probably spent fifty something minutes at both places each, and my friends literally had to drag me out of Borders. Ahhhhh. We then vamoosed to eat at Chicago Place, where on the top story, they have a huge food court. Lovely. I had a pita from Pitas Pavillion (coincedence since this is chemokinetic.pitas.com). Jason got some Panda Express, Nikki some Japanese food and Ryan from good ol' Taco Bell. Jason, unfortunately, had a bad stomach ache afterwards. I tell ya, homemade Chinese food is the best. Anyways, after eating, we explored Chicago Place more, and then the rush was on. In about half an hour, we went on a rush to American Girl Place (I got something for my sister's doll Kit), Niketown (Nikki needed a catalog), and Walgreens. We still had an ounce of energy to go back to Waterfront and get the buses! Then we're off to the Auditorium Theater to see Les Mis. To wrap up Les Mis, it was WONDERFUL! I loved the acting, and one of the songs, "On My Own" really caught me. The set of Les Mis was beautiful, and an addition plus, it rotated! Whoohoo! Shocking. The Auditorium Theater was huge, and I felt like the President walking into the White House, even though a small cup of soda was $2.50. As much as I like Chicago, I am reminded I am in the Windy City of High Prices. The play was wonderful, and my favorite character would have to be...Valjean. He was the protagonist, thank goodness. I don't think I would have liked a villain. After the play, Nikki tripped over this man from Chicago, and he gave her such a mean look. This happened while we're all waiting for the buses, which got stuck in Chicago traffic. Anyways, they came, like a half an hour late. Booo. We stopped at McDonalds (Gateway to the Arch, what's that?) for dinner. Fast food doesn't bode well for my stomach. Hehehe. Anyways, the ride home was really boring. We got back around 10:30 PM, and I still had to do some Chemistry. I got to sleep around 11:45 PM and still had to go to school the next day! Egad! That's my Chicago trip--it was great! Kudos for now.

Den wrote on Saturday, January 26, 2002 at 10:44 p.m.

I am so busy with make-up work from my Chicago absence yesterday. I will write more about it this weekend, but briefly, I loved it! Chicago is wonderful. I think I will live in a big city when I grow up--so much opportunity, so little time! Anyway, I have tons of homework and again, not enough time. So, Chicago was good; more this weekend. Time calls. Kudos for now.

Den wrote on Thursday, January 24, 2002 at 05:26 p.m.

On tomorrow, we are going to Chicago to see LES MIS at a theratre there. This is supposedly the event of the year for AP English. I have to do work for tonight and tomorrow, so I am completely overloaded. With Science Olympiad starting up, I also have this feeling of "Egh! Too much to do!" Anyway, I have to do a bunch of this reading for AP US and some Algebra II assignments. I hope I do not miss too much important stuff in my classes tomorrow! Kudos for now.

Den wrote on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 at 04:58 p.m.

Good morning! My only updates are that last night was a Science Olympiad party! Whooohoo! It was at Mike Ackerson's house. It would have been a blasting party, but not too many people showed up. Still, it was not that bad of a party. Let's just say it was better than some of the other parties I have been to. Clinging onto my last moments of the weekend, I really want to see A Beautiful Mind before the weekend is over! Alli P has already agreed to see it with me. Let's see who else wants to go with us! Adios. Kudos for now.

Den wrote on Sunday, January 20, 2002 at 10:19 a.m.

YAY! YAY! YAY! Rejoice. Peace. World happiness. Whoohoo! I was just on the Parent Internet Viewer. It looks like I aced everything, except for Chemistry, where I got an A-. Despite my difficulties in AP Language, I still am able to maintain an A in that class. Alas, if everything goes correctly, I should be ranked first in my class of 2004. All that hard work pays off! Whoohoo! I was first last year, but I had so many ties. With two AP's, and if O'Neill does not count, I should be first! YAY! Kudos for now!

Den wrote on Friday, January 18, 2002 at 02:31 p.m.

Exams are done. However, I'm still worried and stressed. I feel my English skills constantly 'diminishing.' It seems like whatever I write is not good enough, always needs improvement. All my English teachers in the past have been very supportive. They are wonderful people, but none have actually taught an AP level class. Mrs. Shaw has, and it seems like she thinks of my writing as poison to the world of literature. It's very depressing. All I have ever seen is 100% on my essays. Mrs. Shaw, although an extremely nice person, does not appreciate my writing. If she does not like my writing, what are the chances that the professors in college will? Is English my forte, or have I been blinded by easy English classes? GTG. Kudos for now.

Den wrote on Thursday, January 17, 2002 at 07:09 p.m.