January 18

It started snowing today, as I'm sure you know (being all buddy-buddy with the weather god and all). Today, when I was looking for something warm to wear, I came to the shocking conclusion that I only have two hoodies (one of them's yours- you forgot it last summer), one windbreaker, and a pair of boots to last me the rest of the winter. Chiron's given me permission to go out and buy something new.

I went with Rachel. Remember, Rachel Dare? The one who... never mind. Anyway, I managed to find some mortal money at the bottom of my trunk (Dad sends ten dollars to me every Christmas. I don't go out much, so I've basically been hoarding it for about ten years). Rachel and I grabbed a taxi and drove up to downtown.

"I can't believe it. I'm actually going shopping," Rachel's eyes stared hungrily at the clothes hanging in the display windows.

"I can't believe it, either," I murmured. Not that I was happy to be shopping, but I was surprised I was. "So, um, where's a good place to shop?"

Rachel looked at me, puzzled. "You've never been shopping in downtown New York?" she asked. I nodded miserably. "Then you have never had a teenage life."

"Hey!"

"Annabeth, you are the only girl I know who asks me, 'Where's a good place to shop' when we are standing in between Coach and Louis Vuitton."

"Speak English, please."

Rachel goggled at me. "You have no idea what those are?"

I shook my head again.

Rachel tutted in disapproval. "They're high-end stores. That's all you need to know." We walked in silence for a bit. "Hey! The Gap!" Rachel pointed.

"Gap in where?" I asked.

"No, the store," she explained patiently. "See?"

"Ohhh," I said, feeling stupid. "Another high-end store?"

Rachel shrugged. "Not really. It depends on what you buy. Come on, let's go, before all the good stuff's taken," she yanked me inside.

It was really warm inside, like I'd just stepped out of the freezer and into a toaster. The room was buzzing with quiet conversation, and the latest pop tunes blared out of the overhead speaker. People milled around, folding clothes, taking them off the rack, putting them back on the rack.

Needless to say, I felt very out of place. "Okay. So.. um.. what now?" I asked Rachel, who was trying on some sunglasses from a nearby rack.

"Anything you want," she said, looking in the mirror.

"Excuse me?"

"Go wild in here. Walk around. Pick out what you want. Try it on. If it fits, go buy it," Rachel told me.

"Err.. okay.." I said, wandering away. Thankfully, most of what Gap sold were T-shirts- in every color! You can't imagine how happy I was.

Okay, okay. I know what you're thinking. Annabeth, you're so boring. Can't you and buy something totally outrageous, sexy, and expensive for once?

Nope.

Guess I'll add that to my list of New Year's resolutions...

January 22

The snow's really coming down hard this year. We're six inches deep and it's only been two days. Are you sure Zeus isn't mad at you or something?

Anyway, we took advantage of the snow and had this huge snowball fight with the all the cabins except the Aphrodite kids (They didn't want to mess up their hair). Connor and Travis are really good at aiming, and they knocked our fillings out. The Ares kids got really competitive over who could throw the hardest though, and before you know it Hermes and Ares are chucking snowballs at each other. Then the Hephaestus cabin tries to break it up, and it ends up into one massive snowball massacre. The Athena, Hestia, and Demeter cabins took this opportunity to get hot chocolate from the mess hall and watch the carnage.

Good day today. :)