• Period 1-Gym-Gym is funky this year. We have it every other day, and previously, during the non-gym days we would have another period of science. Due to budget cuts, however, we no longer switch gym with science, but rather on days with no gym, there is no class at all. That means I’ve got a free first period every other day, which is insanely cool because I can choose to sleep longer or get more homework/study time.
• Period 2-Physics-And fuck, I’m gonna need that study time. Everyone says physics is hard, and that my teacher gives low grades. He seems like a nice guy, if a bit estranged. He’s having us use an online homework system which requires us to download a PDF file and then submit our answers online. It was terribly convoluted when he described it to us, but the system is straightforward. It means I’m not going to get that before-school time to rush and finish my physics work, but if it’s as hard as people say it is, I wouldn’t have enough time anyway.
• Period 3-Precalculus-The fact that I’ve not been strong in math at Stuy should be made up for by everyone saying that my teacher is nice and gives easy tests. So far the nice part is true, and only five math problems a night can’t be beat.
• Period 4-American Studies-This is a joint English/Social Studies course, so there’s a lot of incest going on. There’s a shitload of reading and notetaking to do, but isn’t that always true? I’m going to focus much more on actually taking notes in class this time. I hate social studies.
• Period 5-American Literature-Next period we move next door to English. The teacher is, simply put, cold and heartless. If you raise your hand he will give you no quarter if you provide a partial answer, he won’t even hint that you’re on the right track. He will act as if you did not get the right answer, thereby humiliating you, removing any sense of morale reinforcement and rendering you a mumbling ninny. Ooh. Ninny. To top it off, everyone says that he greatly values class participation, which means that it’s going to be one fucked up year of English.
• Period 6-Lunch-Food. The other white meat.
• Period 7-Advanced CAD-Drafting was the cause of many droopy eyelids last year, mine included, but I’m still not discounting it as a potential career. The teacher is pretty cool, because everyone loves corny jokes as long as the joker knows it’s corny, and you do get a sense of satisfaction when you’ve completed a drawing. It’s like creating a work of art, except for us unartsy people.
• Period 8-AP Computer Science-The only AP I have this year, and it’s one that I’d take even if I didn’t get credit for it. We’re learning Java, and though the room makes me want to purchase stock in deodorant, we each get a computer to use. They’re nice Linux computers with quiet keyboards. There’s something orchestral about the clattering of keys as I type, but it’s a nice change feeling the smoothness of typing on a quiet keyboard. Physical things aside, being in Linux means that while we’re able to use Firefox and we get to play around in the UNIX terminal. Years of IRC already prepped me for moving around within the system, so I got into it without any problems.
• Period 9-Computer Technology-aka Computer Hardware. We learn everything technologically related, from fuses to RAM to building a computer that will be used in the school. Combine this, APCS and ACAD, and this is a tech-filled term (much to my delight).
• Period 10-Spanish-Another last period Spanish class. I already feel dead by the time this period comes around, and the fact that I just came from a very hot room doesn’t help. The teacher is pretty nice and she’s as unconventional as my previous one, so I expect to do a lot of singing and dancing (after all the windows and feet have been stowed away, of course).

My workload’s been startlingly hefty, which is why I’ve been (very) lax in posting. This was the large post that was keeping me from posting quick tidbits, so I should resume my normal flow from now on.

• Berserk is possibly THE coolest anime I’ve ever seen. It mixes blood, violence, character development and sex to make a medley that makes you want to keep watching the next episode, especially towards the end. The first episode makes no sense, so if you don’t feel you can bear 30 minutes of confusing stuff, just start at episode 2. You won’t have missed much.
• Chobits gets credit for being able to mix the most perverted comedy in anything that was not a hentai with the most cute and heart-wrenching moments in anything I’ve ever seen, anime and otherwise. If you like romantic comedies and relish in perverted twists, you’ll love Chobits. If you like romantic comedies and can bear perverted twists, the romance will captivate you anyway. It’s good shit.

Don’t ask how I got to the page, just laugh at its absurdity.