AN: Sorry I haven't updated in a while. It's not that I've been busy, it's that I've been bored to the point where I stop having good ideas. Anyone else out there know what I mean? So, here's to music references your songs parents probably listened to when they were teenagers and that-could-never-ever-happen jokes. Enjoy!

Also, just FYI: I will be talking about Hanukkah and Rosh Hashanah in this chapter. Sam is Jewish (as seen in The Fright Before Christmas), however, I am not. (I just spent an hour researching it.) So if I mess anything up in those regards, please don't hate me, just leave a review telling me what I did wrong. I will be more than happy to fix anything and I'm so sorry if I offended anyone.

Wednesday, December 5th:

Dear Journal,

Life is good.

It's December, my favorite month of the year. Hanukah starts in four days. I have two best friends, and I'm getting to be decent on the guitar (my grandma is still taking me to that and it's still fun). So there isn't a whole lot of stuff to write about. I guess I'll just tell you what's new since I've last written in here.

I got a somewhat-new CD at the mall, The Better Life (2000) by 3 Doors Down, yesterday. 3 Doors Down is a relatively new band, and The Better Life is their first album. I heard their most popular song, Kryptonite, on the radio and decided I liked it. I looked the album up online and found the other songs. And I finally bought it yesterday when I asked my grandma if we could go to the mall after guitar practice.

As soon as I'm done writing this I'll download it onto my computer and then onto my Creative NOMAD mp3 player. I heard some of the songs have cuss words in them. I'm still kinda new to cuss words, but it's not like I can't just skip the songs that have them. Though until I know which songs have them and which songs don't, there's no way I'm playing them without my headphones in. My parents would flip if they heard me playing songs with bad words in them.

I also got a Billy Joel Piano Man record while I was in the music store. Yes record, as in an old record player record. I actually have a record player in my room, and I'm starting a collection of records. Piano Man (1973) is the second album in my collection after Combat Rock (1982) by The Clash, which I found with the record player in my basement last week.

My favorite song on Piano Man is Piano Man, of course, and my favorite Combat Rock song is Should I Stay Or Should I Go. I know you're just a notebook, but I like thinking I'm talking to you, so Journal, do you have a favorite song? A favorite album? I have a few favorites. I also like Silver Side Up (the 2001 album) by Nickelback (and reason I'm not entirely unused to curse words) and American Pie (the 1971 song) by Don McLean.

But I've talked about music long enough. Now it's time for me to listen to some!

See you soon, Journal,

Sam.

Tuesday, December 18th:

Well, Journal, yesterday was the last day of Hanukkah. Last night Uncle Jem came over and we lit the last candle on the menorah, sang some songs, ate some potato pancakes, played with the dreidel, and handed out gifts. I had saved up some of my allowance and bought my mother a pink necklace and a matching pair of earrings, my dad a sweater, Grandma a big picture frame, and Uncle Jem a huge CD case. I even learned how to play some of the traditional Hanukkah songs on the guitar over the past few months and played some of those while we sang last night. I myself received a pink dress from my parents, a book from my grandma, and a guitar music book from Jem.

Part of the time was spent praying and meditating in front of the candles. I have to say I really like that part. It's nice just to think in quiet for a moment. To thank God for all He has done for all our people and all He has brought us through. (Because he has brought us through a lot, there's no doubt about that.) It's like the calm before the storm that is the celebration part of being thankful for all He has brought us through.

While Hanukkah isn't nearly as big or important as some of the other religious and non religious we celebrate, it's probably my favorite. For one, it takes place in December, and I love December. I also like the menorah. Seeing it all lit up is such a pretty sight. Hanukkah has a great atmosphere in general. Being inside while it snows outside (Living somewhat near Lake Michigan, we get a LOT of snow.) sitting around the table as a family, who doesn't like that? December puts me in my best mood of the year and Hanukkah makes my parents less overbearing. Not to mention Uncle Jem and Grandma are both here.

And Journal, GUESS WHAT? Uncle Jem told me he started looking for jobs closer to Amity Park. It's fairly unlikely that he'll find one as nice as his current job, but he's at least looking! I really hope he can move back...

It almost may be too much to hope for,
But I hope this hope comes true.
I wish my dream would happen
So I can be with you.

Bye,

Sam Manson.

Friday, January 4th:

Dear Journal,

I'll have to keep this entry short, because I have to write an essay about what I did over break. This entry is really just me procrastinating writing it... I like English class but I don't like essays. (I don't think anyone does.)

Anyways, it's 2002 now, and during Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) I made a resolution to be not as hypocritical (I didn't make a resolution last year, but now I kinda wish I had just to see how far I've come). Let's see how well this works.

I went back to school today and faced the obvious fact that I'm not the only one who made a resolution. Danny's voice is no longer as quiet as it was (although the difference is pretty subtle) and Tucker is now carrying around his PDA everywhere. I'm glad Danny is coming out of his shell a bit (even if he was already pretty loud and opinionated around me and Tucker, he was still shy around other people), this'll be good for him. But Tucker's resolution... geez. I keep telling him that carrying portable electronics and being on them all the time will never be cool, but he says it's "the way of the future" or some crap. Whatever. If he wants to be obsessed with technology, he can be my guest. I really don't care.

I guess I have to write that essay now.

Wish me luck,

Sam AKA Samantha.

AN: Again, I'm sorry for the long update. I really didn't have a whole lot of ideas for what Sam could talk about this chapter, and I ended up having to do a lot of research (I've been researching Hanukkah, old mp3 players, oldies music and other stuff for the better part of two hours now.)

DID YOU KNOW:

was created in 1998?

-Youtube was created in 2005?

-Hanukkah isn't the biggest Jewish holiday?

-You put the candles of a menorah in from right to left, but light them from left to right?

-Madonna has done a version of American Pie?

Oh, and ask your parents if they've heard of Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down. I bet they have!

Well, goodbye for now,

InsanityIsClarity!