February 13, (because I steadfastly refuse to write 'Dear Diary')

Today was my 10th birthday. And, you might wonder why I'm in such a foul mood on my birthday. After all, there were presents, cake, a nice party, cake, a huge family reunion, cake – well, you get the idea. So how can I be anything but giddily happy on this day? Well, the answer is, Mom. Apparently, one of her friends told her that writing in a diary helps 'develop one's inner world', or something equally as corny. And so, threatened with a possibility of not being allowed to watch the annual Indigo Battle Conference, I agreed to write this damned journal.

Yes, a journal; because I consider this a journal, not a diary. Because dignified gentlemen and seafaring captains keep journals; diaries are for little girls with a crush on Gary Oak, grandson extraordinaire of the world-famous Professor Oak. Or, as I prefer calling him, ugly arrogant jerk.

Anyways, my Mom gave me a daily quota of two full pages to fill, so I shall proceed to fill out the pages with doodles. Well, maybe not doodles; my aunt Katharine would probably skin me alive for doodling after all the hours she spent trying to teach me to paint. Note that the operative word is 'try'. Well to be fair, I'm not that horrible at painting; it's just that I would much rather read a book. And the simple fact that my books are mostly covered with a thick layer of dust says a lot.

February 14,

I hate this whole diary thing! Apparently, my Mom didn't agree with my sense of humour and banned me from the telly for a week and increased the quota to 3 pages. And so, I spent practically the entirety of the afternoon trying to get her to rescind her punishment. I tried everything, from plotting revenge inside my room to skulking - erm, using diplomacy. Because I most certainly did not beg, thank you not-so-kindly. Needless to say, that didn't work.

And what's even worse, is that it's raining heavily outside, so I can't even go outside! Anyways, after two hours of plotting and scheming, I waved the proverbial white flag and staggered to my room, making sure to cause extra noise in an attempt to annoy Mom. Not too much noise, of course, that would be asking for trouble, but still. And all of that is why I am sitting at my desk and writing in the stupid journal instead of doing something fun.

… I'm so bored! So bored that I'm actually writing in this journal to simply pass time! A few weeks ago, I might have gone to Leaf's house to hang out, but unfortunately, she moved out last week. A pity, really: after Gary with that annoying arrogant smirk that he seems to have been born with and his bookends – ehem – friends who probably hang out with him for no other reason than that he's considered the 'coolest' bloke in town, and girls who swoon and sigh and then promptly deny it (and I most certainly haven't paraphrased "I Won't Say I'm in Love", thank you very much), Leaf was a breath of fresh air. I don't know what like more about her: the fact that she isn't afraid to get her hands dirty, unlike the other girls, or that the first time that Gary tried to hit on her, she replied with a condescending laugh and then proceeded to tear into him verbally. Or that she repeated the same action in the following twenty time Gary tried to flirt with her. On the twenty first she was a bit tad too upset over the recent death of her old-time family pet, friend and partner in crime, a Purrloin named Rita. So she may or may not have broken Gary's nose for daring to suggest that she 'let him help getting over that annoying fur-ball and go out with him'. Or maybe it was because of his attempt to buy her out with 'cooler and stronger Pokemon'.

But, well, she moved out of town last week, so I can't exactly go over and visit anymore. So, what to do, what to do… I'm not desperate enough to paint, and I'm definitely not desperate enough to read. But I'm getting there, slowly but surely. And the regular, quiet yet very clearly discernible sound of ticking is driving me crazy! And Mom banned me from watching the TV. Of course, I could try to risk it and turn it on anyways. But I'm pretty sure that she would hear it from the other end of the house over Laelynn's crying. And as a two-month old baby, she certainly cries a lot. And, adorable (just don't tell her that, 'kay) adopted sister or not, she's a two-month old baby. And two-month old babies are annoying. It's a rule. Just like rule #34 of the Internet, except in real life. So, yeah…

February 15,

I swear, the world is out to get me or something. I mean, getting grounded from the Telly is bad enough, but now I also find that it's flooding. And I don't know why. The weather forecast predicted several days with a clear sky. Not to mention that the monsoon season is several months away. And despite sitting with my sketchpad for about half an hour, I still haven't decided what to draw. Which might explain why the sketchpad is on the floor.

So, with nothing left to do, a pick up a lamp and brush. Cleaning off the dust and cobweb off the bookshelf with the care of an archaeologist examining an ancient artefact, Dr Ketchum holds up a thick physics book. And, flicking a tiny spider off the priceless artefact, the Doctor settled down the tome onto the table with a dramatic thump, and gingerly flipped open the page with abated breath…

Whatever, I'm bored again. The physics book was surprisingly interesting, but it's just not my cup of tea. I mean, I've never had problem with memorising anything once I understood it from inside out. Problem is, the books just simply don't explain things inside out, and the teachers are oftentimes less than helpful. I don't exactly blame them, I mean, some of my classmates still haven't memorised the multiplication table, so they have to cater to the needs of the majority. Not that I'm not annoyed.

Well, the rain doesn't seem like it'll stop anytime soon, and it'd already managed flood up by about two more inches. And yes, I did check; I plunged little twigs about 5 inches apart, just like Christopher from that 'Winnie the Pooh' book that my Mom used to read me when I was a wee little midget. So, I suppose I might as well read that biology book that Daisy sent me several years ago before she flew to Kalos to study in that fancy University.

…I swear, if I don't find some other activity aside from reading, I'll go crazy! Mom is busy with Laelynn, like usual, inspiration is adamant on escaping my grasp, and I'm banned from watching TV.

The only thing that could be worse is if a Gyarados decides to take a springtime vacation in Pallet while it's flooding. Though, I suppose, it won't be half as bad if it decides to snack on Gary.

February 16,

…I hate my life. In the last two days, out of sheer boredom, I have read around four books. Note them, four thick science books! Oh, how have the mighty fallen! My Mom, of course, is positively glowing with happiness that I've apparently 'decided to take my future seriously and study'. As if! I swear, once it stops flooding, I'll refuse to touch books for a month. But, for now, since I still don't have anything to draw, I guess books are going to be my only companions. I sigh with despair; from Leaf down to books… my circle of contacts seems to be shrinking before my very eyes.

Well, on the bright side, School is cancelled because of the flood. Though with how much I'm reading, it probably doesn't make a difference. Another funny thing is that a Gyarados did apparently swim up to town. Unfortunately, it was driven away by Professor Oak's old Dragonite before it could eat Gary, but what are you going to do…

Skip forward to several days…

February 23,

Today the flood has finally retreated away! Oh, I'm so happy I could almost kiss Gary. Key word being almost; I wouldn't kiss him if my life depended on it. Boredom has been a cruel, cruel mistress, let me tell you. Due to sheer boredom, I have read about twelve various books and completed about three quarters of all exercises in my Math's textbook. Oh woe, oh angst!

Anyways, nothing really changed. Gary is still a prick, Laelynn is still annoying, and Mom has found another excuse to ban me from TV. I love her to death, but sometimes I swear that she'll be the death of me. A slow, agonisingly boring death filled with mathematic equations and character analyses. Well, At least I got a letter from Leaf. I miss her, I really do. I mean, without her, there's no one who can beat Gary and get away with it! Anyways, she's settled down in Viridian. She made a friend named Amanda who she's nicknamed 'Yellow' of all things. Then again, she started calling Gary 'Blue' ever since she found out that the blue colour is synonymous to homosexuality in some Eastern-European language. And, while I think it's fitting, I refuse to use it, because our long-standing rivalry and hatred would receive a whole new meaning that I refuse to accept.

Anyways, school will start again next week. Until then, I think I'll draw Gary-dos, by which I mean various pictures of Gary on a date with a Gyarados. Oh, it'll be absolutely glorious!

…

I hate my life. The original excitement of drawing Gary being eaten by the massive Water-Flying type has ebbed away in approximately two hours. And I've run out of books which are even remotely interesting. Why would I say that? Because the books I have left are all either Greek/Kalosian/Sinnoh mythology, or along the lines of 'Mill on the Floss' and "The Picture of Dorian Gray". And school will only resume next week. And Mom absolutely refuses to let me go outside until they fix the roads. And knowing the bloody bureaucrats, it won't happen for a long while. Heh. Well, at least I have something to read aside from War and Peace. That's at least something.

February 28,

Yippe yeay. I hate my life. For the last five or so days I've had nearly nothing to do but read. And I liked that! Dear Arceus, I actually liked that! I liked analysing the actions of various characters and their seemingly illogical actions, like why Sibyl Vane decides to quit acting, or why Dorian Gray is such a moron, or why Mrs Reed suddenly decided to repent before death (really, stupid clichés, pah), or how Stephen Guest's and Maggie Tulliver's romance, or how… I'm ranting now, aren't I?

And what's more, is that I have been reduced to reading literary classics! And not the fun stuff, like Hobbits or the LOTR series, no; some why, he found that he liked multi-layered plotlines that for whatever mystical reason made you reflect upon the book and think about what-ifs. Oh, how have the mighty fallen!

Anyways, on a brighter note, I only have a couple of days left until school. I'd never thought that I would ever look forward to going to school, but there you have it. Boredom, ladies and gentlemen, is a cruel, cruel mistress. I would have called her another word, but I think Mom would kill me for it. Quite possibly after a long laugh about it, but have little doubt that she would kill me. Just like Medea – you see what boredom has done to me?! I had become educated, cultured! Well, I guess I'd better calm down before I spit more. Anyways, I weep for the life I had. I was perfectly happy with my mediocre existence that revolved around preparing for a Pokémon journey when I turned 11, because that is when we're allowed to go to Hogwarts- err, I mean, go on a journey. Yes sir, we, proud eleven years old snot-nosed kids will set out in a tidal wave of irresponsibility, immaturity and incompetency.

…What the hell am I even writing? Why the hell have my thoughts on next year's journey changed so radically?! Why, it's the books, I tell you, the ruddy books – you see what I mean? I don't even know what the word ruddy means, and after a two-week long reading session I'm already picking up random and completely unnecessary phrases! I tell you, people, books were created to brainwash people into believing stupid stuff. It's all a conspiracy, I tell you, a conspiracy against humanity and the very concept of fun itself! So let us arm ourselves, brothers and sisters, with matchsticks, TV remotes and Gameboys and march on a crusade against those leather/carton-bounded abominations!

… What am I even writing? Sigh… I give up.

... Yes, I was bored. Well, still am as a matter of fact. Yes, I know that I haven't updated in heck knows how long. But, you know, inspiration is a... let's just call it something very bad, and leave it at that. Anyways, writing in this format should be easy, so I think (but no guarantees here) that the updates should be more stable.

As for the other stories... The Misadventures started as a crack fic. I realized that I'm not good at crack-fics. So if anyone wnats to adopt it, by all means. Just PM me. Though if no one volunteers, I will try to finish it on my own. As for the 'White Rose', I am reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaally close to renaming it. I had an idea in mind. As I wrote, that idea got scraped. And so, yeah... On the bright side, I've been writing chapter 3 (about 3,5K words right now).

So, as usual, please, please, PLEASE review because I know that my writing sucks, I just don't know what specifically. Oh, And if you have an idea of how to rename The White Rose (because I'm dry on ideas), please leave a PM. I'd ask for a follow, but that would just be conceited, so yeah... Until whatever day I finish chapter 3 for TWR.