god . . .i just typed a really long entry and then the internet browser quit on me. damn! ok .. . this is going to be really brief, b/c i need to get back to hw. well, today was pretty rough. my mom left for China. i drove her to the airport. it was really hard for me b/c she hasn't been home for a while and she immediately had to leave again. she won't be able to call/email in China either. normally, i'm fine with parents away . . . but this year, i've found i need more and more advice and support. the thing that really set me off today was when i was labeled a "skipper" when i came back to school . . . i mean, i only missed two friggin' periods and i took a test that was scheduled for today before i went to drive my mom to the airport. i don't think anyone realizes how important it was for me to have a final conversation before she left. it's not fair for people to start calling me a "skipper/slacker" before they've heard me out. today i felt like no one would even listen to me . . . and that really hurt. i'll get over it though . . . i just need to divert my attention for a while. other than that moment today, i've really appreciated all my friends this year. unlike previous years, i feel like i can really share things and laugh. the only problem this creates a distraction from my homework. i'm finding it increasingly hard to focus on studying . . . which is very unlike the "old me" . . . and it's freaking me out . . . yeah, well . . . i'm going to go back to hw . . . . chemistry test tomorrow . . . ugh. . . . but . . . HALF DAY TOO! THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!