The days leading to the graduation of Tyler Alicea.

Summer 2011
Senior Year

Day 1

So I sort of flubbed with the whole counting down to graduation, but that doesn’t mean I can’t start back up! Today was the first day of senior year!

This morning I woke up especially early so that I could go hang up signs with Luisa and Courtney for newspaper. We ended up trashing my awful cat poster (the other two posters I made weren’t so bad). Afterwards we went to student council, where we just talked about things going on during the first few weeks of school.

After student council, I went to homeroom to see that I had the same locker as last year. Also, Haroon wasn’t there. Shame.

I walked to Physics and saw Shaleen, Shana, and Nate and talked to them for a bit. I got to Fierro’s room and he was blasting music from his giant sub-woofer that was in front of his desk. Immediately I knew this was going to be a great fest. The class, however, does lack one thing: females! In a class of about 20, there are zero girls in the entire class. This could either be the best or worst thing ever. Oh well. Fierro is still awesome.

After block one, I went to Web Design with Bachman, which is an ‘eh’ class as of right now. I don’t know anyone, so we’ll see if I keep it. I went to Creative Writing with Kleist afterwards, which was noice. I still didn’t know anyone in the class, but I think it’s going to be a great experience. I was picked to read my story since Kleist saw me hanging up posters, and he loved it. Woo!

Gio and Courtney came into the classroom right as he finished talking about my short story, and the three of us talked to Kleist for a bit after class and then walked around the school. Courtney and I ended up in Wescoe’s room, and we just talked for about 10 minutes. 

AP Gov. had a surprising twist when I learned that Mr. Denofa was still on his leave of absence, meaning that Mr. Mahon would be teaching the class. This could end badly. 

Overall, the first day of school was a huge success. I work tonight and then I have a chapter of Gov. to read tonight for Mahon.

Day 33 (July 6, 2011) - This morning I got up and got ready. At noon I went over to Courtney’s, and we went out to lunch. Instead of the usual Panera, we went back to Dave’s Deli, where she took me to lunch way back when. We got there, and I had a BLT. It was pretty good, just as I had remembered. Courtney and I spent about an hour there just talking and relaxing until it was time for us to get going. We got back to my car and sat there for about five minutes deciding on what we were going to do next. After watching about two minutes of Sarah Marshall, we headed off to CVS so that I could get my father a birthday card.  I didn’t get him The Office card, in case you were wondering. After I finally picked a card, I drove Courtney home and then headed to the bank and Barnes and Noble. I spent about ten minutes looking at the Nook Touch and then went home. My dad showed me his Kindle, and then I went to go talk to Mrs. Chemidlin about her Nook. She said that she loved hers. When I got home, I played a bit of video games and then headed off to bed.

Day 33 (July 6, 2011) - This morning I got up and got ready. At noon I went over to Courtney’s, and we went out to lunch. Instead of the usual Panera, we went back to Dave’s Deli, where she took me to lunch way back when.

We got there, and I had a BLT. It was pretty good, just as I had remembered. Courtney and I spent about an hour there just talking and relaxing until it was time for us to get going. We got back to my car and sat there for about five minutes deciding on what we were going to do next. After watching about two minutes of Sarah Marshall, we headed off to CVS so that I could get my father a birthday card. 

I didn’t get him The Office card, in case you were wondering. After I finally picked a card, I drove Courtney home and then headed to the bank and Barnes and Noble. I spent about ten minutes looking at the Nook Touch and then went home. My dad showed me his Kindle, and then I went to go talk to Mrs. Chemidlin about her Nook. She said that she loved hers.

When I got home, I played a bit of video games and then headed off to bed.

Day 32 (July 5, 2011) - Today I worked all day. For some reason, however, it was really slow. I got to work around noon, and Kevin, Brandon, and I spent a good portion of our time goofing off. As always, I was the drive-thru presenter. While making a milkshake, something went terribly wrong with the whipped cream. It came out too much! So this is how we ended up with the milkshake with a face. Sadly we didn’t give it to a customer, and Macho drank it. Also during work, we spent the whole time talking about a new McDonald’s movie that we’re going to make called When Customers Attack. It would star Miss Chicky and feature various celebrities including Seth Green, Queen Latifa, and Optimus Prime. Of course, every celebrity represents one of my coworkers, but it would be mean to reveal who’s who.  After work, I honestly did nothing.

Day 32 (July 5, 2011) - Today I worked all day. For some reason, however, it was really slow.

I got to work around noon, and Kevin, Brandon, and I spent a good portion of our time goofing off. As always, I was the drive-thru presenter. While making a milkshake, something went terribly wrong with the whipped cream. It came out too much! So this is how we ended up with the milkshake with a face. Sadly we didn’t give it to a customer, and Macho drank it.

Also during work, we spent the whole time talking about a new McDonald’s movie that we’re going to make called When Customers Attack. It would star Miss Chicky and feature various celebrities including Seth Green, Queen Latifa, and Optimus Prime. Of course, every celebrity represents one of my coworkers, but it would be mean to reveal who’s who. 

After work, I honestly did nothing.

Day 31 (July 4, 2011) - Happy fourth everyone! Today was quite the busy day for me. This morning I got up, got ready, and went over to my great aunt and uncle’s house to celebrate the holiday. In addition, we were also throwing a surprise 65th birthday party for my Pop-Pop. There was only one problem though; he got there before anyone else. When we got there, my Nana, mom, and I rushed into the dining room, closed the blinds, and quick decorated.  And then everything just sat there. Everyone walked outside wondering if he had seen anything yet, and we assumed that he would casually stumble into the room and see everything. When we finally got to surprising him, he at least acted surprised, even if he didn’t know.  By far the best present anyone got his was from Uncle Bob, which was a stuffed squirrel with an orange tail. In real life, my grandfather spray paints squirrels tails orange to see if they come back. Oh Allentown. Afterwards, I went swimming outside for the first time this summer. Uncle Dan, Justin, and I threw around this water ball, and I got pegged in the back. Fun. We got home from a successful party around six, and then I got a message from Tom. He wanted to get a group together to go see the fireworks at the library. So we both called people around and got about ten people together: Tom, Luisa, Ashley, Justin, Emily, Haroon, Julie, Anthony, Courtney, and myself. I got a bunch of awesome pictures (I found the lens cap for my camera), and afterwards we walked around Main Street until we decided to head home. It was a great time! Also, I saw Devon. He broke my sunglasses when he picked me up. I now need new sunglasses.

Day 31 (July 4, 2011) - Happy fourth everyone! Today was quite the busy day for me.

This morning I got up, got ready, and went over to my great aunt and uncle’s house to celebrate the holiday. In addition, we were also throwing a surprise 65th birthday party for my Pop-Pop. There was only one problem though; he got there before anyone else. When we got there, my Nana, mom, and I rushed into the dining room, closed the blinds, and quick decorated. 

And then everything just sat there. Everyone walked outside wondering if he had seen anything yet, and we assumed that he would casually stumble into the room and see everything. When we finally got to surprising him, he at least acted surprised, even if he didn’t know. 

By far the best present anyone got his was from Uncle Bob, which was a stuffed squirrel with an orange tail. In real life, my grandfather spray paints squirrels tails orange to see if they come back. Oh Allentown.

Afterwards, I went swimming outside for the first time this summer. Uncle Dan, Justin, and I threw around this water ball, and I got pegged in the back. Fun.

We got home from a successful party around six, and then I got a message from Tom. He wanted to get a group together to go see the fireworks at the library. So we both called people around and got about ten people together: Tom, Luisa, Ashley, Justin, Emily, Haroon, Julie, Anthony, Courtney, and myself. I got a bunch of awesome pictures (I found the lens cap for my camera), and afterwards we walked around Main Street until we decided to head home. It was a great time!

Also, I saw Devon. He broke my sunglasses when he picked me up. I now need new sunglasses.

Day 30 (July 3, 2011) - Today I worked from noon to eight, and I wanted to get up early to do things, but once again, I woke up late. I got to work and I was the drive-thru cashier. I swear, today every customer must have been making an effort to annoy me. Seriously, the first hour or so was almost as bad as pulling teeth. We don’t sell a southwestern sandwich, we sell a southern style sandwich. We don’t have raspberry iced tea, we have sweet tea. Why do you want your fires without salt? It was quite frustrating, but I survived. Out of no where there, it started to pour. I was on break when it started, and it was funny to watch all the stupid kids run in and out of the store. When I got back to the window, every time I opened it up, I got pelted with water. Eventually I put on the rain jacket, even though I couldn’t find the semi-stylish red one. After a while of endless customers, Brandon took orders and money, while I caught up on dishes. Doing the dishes was a nice break from the idiocy of the customers today, and I was glad when I got off at eight.

Day 30 (July 3, 2011) - Today I worked from noon to eight, and I wanted to get up early to do things, but once again, I woke up late. I got to work and I was the drive-thru cashier. I swear, today every customer must have been making an effort to annoy me.

Seriously, the first hour or so was almost as bad as pulling teeth. We don’t sell a southwestern sandwich, we sell a southern style sandwich. We don’t have raspberry iced tea, we have sweet tea. Why do you want your fires without salt?

It was quite frustrating, but I survived. Out of no where there, it started to pour. I was on break when it started, and it was funny to watch all the stupid kids run in and out of the store. When I got back to the window, every time I opened it up, I got pelted with water. Eventually I put on the rain jacket, even though I couldn’t find the semi-stylish red one.

After a while of endless customers, Brandon took orders and money, while I caught up on dishes. Doing the dishes was a nice break from the idiocy of the customers today, and I was glad when I got off at eight.

Day 29 (July 2, 2011) - This morning I got up bright and early to be at work at seven. Of course I was greeted by not the usual Life cereal, but instead this generic brand “Oat Wise.” Okay then? I got to work, and I, like always was in the drive-thru window. In better news, Vickie was running for me, so it wasn’t all painful. Things were going well (except for one customer who had to make things difficult) until about ten, when all of a sudden the power flicked off and reset everything. Yay summer brown outs! After everything rebooted back up (that takes like five minutes. At least McDonald’s doesn’t use Vista.), we were back on a roll.  After lunch, Pops took me out of the window and put me in grill area. I love it when he does that. We talked for a bit, and he said we set a new record for breakfast, despite the brown out. It always surprises me that we keep breaking all these sales records. Where do all of these people keep coming from? After work I came home and took a nap. We ate dinner, and the afterwards I watched the first disc of season two. Ah how I missed the Dundies.

Day 29 (July 2, 2011) - This morning I got up bright and early to be at work at seven. Of course I was greeted by not the usual Life cereal, but instead this generic brand “Oat Wise.” Okay then?

I got to work, and I, like always was in the drive-thru window. In better news, Vickie was running for me, so it wasn’t all painful. Things were going well (except for one customer who had to make things difficult) until about ten, when all of a sudden the power flicked off and reset everything. Yay summer brown outs! After everything rebooted back up (that takes like five minutes. At least McDonald’s doesn’t use Vista.), we were back on a roll. 

After lunch, Pops took me out of the window and put me in grill area. I love it when he does that. We talked for a bit, and he said we set a new record for breakfast, despite the brown out. It always surprises me that we keep breaking all these sales records. Where do all of these people keep coming from?

After work I came home and took a nap. We ate dinner, and the afterwards I watched the first disc of season two. Ah how I missed the Dundies.

Day 28 (July 1, 2011) - Holy crap! It’s already July? Jeez, time has been flying! Today I didn’t wake up until one in the afternoon. I wasn’t in the mood to do anything at all, so I mostly bummed around and played video games all day. Mostly some more Minecraft and a little Plants vs. Zombies. I still need to play some Pokemon: Black, but I figure I’ll get back into that sooner or later. At seven I went over to the community center and saw Tom outside. All my friends were going out to go see Transformers while I was stuck going to do my swim test for summer camp. After waiting for a while, it was just Tyler D., Daniel Keyser, my brother, and me in addition to the adults. Sucks to be Brady and Danny O.; they’re going to have to take their test at camp. I did a couple of laps around the pool in addition to the swim test to substitute running with swimming for the day. After swimming, we all chilled around the community center, and Tyler D. showed us his Droid Charge. That phone is massive! Afterwards when I got home, I talked to Janice for a bit and then went to bed. I hope that this is the end to this crappy week.

Day 28 (July 1, 2011) - Holy crap! It’s already July? Jeez, time has been flying!

Today I didn’t wake up until one in the afternoon. I wasn’t in the mood to do anything at all, so I mostly bummed around and played video games all day. Mostly some more Minecraft and a little Plants vs. Zombies. I still need to play some Pokemon: Black, but I figure I’ll get back into that sooner or later.

At seven I went over to the community center and saw Tom outside. All my friends were going out to go see Transformers while I was stuck going to do my swim test for summer camp. After waiting for a while, it was just Tyler D., Daniel Keyser, my brother, and me in addition to the adults. Sucks to be Brady and Danny O.; they’re going to have to take their test at camp.

I did a couple of laps around the pool in addition to the swim test to substitute running with swimming for the day. After swimming, we all chilled around the community center, and Tyler D. showed us his Droid Charge. That phone is massive!

Afterwards when I got home, I talked to Janice for a bit and then went to bed. I hope that this is the end to this crappy week.

Day 27 (June 30, 2011) - Since I wasn’t going to New York today like I was supposed to, I didn’t even bother waking up early. I got up and my mom drove me to Dan’s so that I could go pick up my car (I drove the Lexus home with him last night).  Today was the release of the Piston patch for Minecraft, and trust me, I have become obsessed. I pretty much played all afternoon and created an unnecessary amount of red stone contraptions.  After dinner, I went over to Shaleen’s because Mackenzie, Shaleen, and I were supposed to go to So Fun!. When I got there, however, I was in for a surprise; Kenzie would not be coming and in her place would be Kellee, Courtney, and Abby. What a crew! Shaleen, Abby, and I got there first, and we didn’t even both to wait for Courtney and Kellee. I got cake batter this time, and it was pretty good. Courtney and Kellee eventually showed up, and I felt completely left out. Apparentlyas we were leaving, my parents came to So Fun!, but I didn’t see them at all. Anyway, we went back over to Shaleen’s afterwards, and then made a trip to the new CVS. After that adventure, we walked to TJ’s house to go talk to her for a while, and then I went home.

Day 27 (June 30, 2011) - Since I wasn’t going to New York today like I was supposed to, I didn’t even bother waking up early. I got up and my mom drove me to Dan’s so that I could go pick up my car (I drove the Lexus home with him last night). 

Today was the release of the Piston patch for Minecraft, and trust me, I have become obsessed. I pretty much played all afternoon and created an unnecessary amount of red stone contraptions. 

After dinner, I went over to Shaleen’s because Mackenzie, Shaleen, and I were supposed to go to So Fun!. When I got there, however, I was in for a surprise; Kenzie would not be coming and in her place would be Kellee, Courtney, and Abby. What a crew!

Shaleen, Abby, and I got there first, and we didn’t even both to wait for Courtney and Kellee. I got cake batter this time, and it was pretty good. Courtney and Kellee eventually showed up, and I felt completely left out. Apparentlyas we were leaving, my parents came to So Fun!, but I didn’t see them at all.

Anyway, we went back over to Shaleen’s afterwards, and then made a trip to the new CVS. After that adventure, we walked to TJ’s house to go talk to her for a while, and then I went home.

Day 26 (June 29, 2011) - Once again I got a phone call from work at ten asking me to come in. I ignored the call at first and called back, and Dot asked me to come in. I said I could, and get ready so I could be at work by eleven. When I got there, it was ridiculously slammed. I was on counter for the majority of the time, after spending a little bit of time in grill area. Towards the end of my shift, I was running and truck came. I went to the back of the store to talk to Shelly, and she said that she had thrown away the cardboard box that Vickie and I decided was my hiding spot. Disgraced, I took a picnic bag (I also call it the DD-bag, since we label our bags A, B, and C) and made it into my new home. I left at four and got home remembering that I needed to go to Dan’s Camera City to get a lens cap for my camera. In the end though, I opted to not go because 22 would have been backed up during rush hour. Instead, I went over to Freedom to go running, and it didn’t go as well. I ran about a 9-minute mile, and around the end I started to feel a pain in my side (this happened once before while running in gym class with Courtney).  When I got home, my mom told me that the trip to New York was to be canceled because of money problems. I was really bummed out, but I’ll survive.  Around seven, I headed on over to Uncle Dan’s to talk to him for a bit. I haven’t had the greatest week, so I figured he’d be able to cheer me up. I started a round of Words with Friends with Lauren (she is very good), and ended up talking to Dan until almost midnight. He even let me drive his Lexus home. It’s not every day that you get to drive a 40,000 dollar car!

Day 26 (June 29, 2011) - Once again I got a phone call from work at ten asking me to come in. I ignored the call at first and called back, and Dot asked me to come in. I said I could, and get ready so I could be at work by eleven.

When I got there, it was ridiculously slammed. I was on counter for the majority of the time, after spending a little bit of time in grill area. Towards the end of my shift, I was running and truck came. I went to the back of the store to talk to Shelly, and she said that she had thrown away the cardboard box that Vickie and I decided was my hiding spot. Disgraced, I took a picnic bag (I also call it the DD-bag, since we label our bags A, B, and C) and made it into my new home.

I left at four and got home remembering that I needed to go to Dan’s Camera City to get a lens cap for my camera. In the end though, I opted to not go because 22 would have been backed up during rush hour. Instead, I went over to Freedom to go running, and it didn’t go as well. I ran about a 9-minute mile, and around the end I started to feel a pain in my side (this happened once before while running in gym class with Courtney). 

When I got home, my mom told me that the trip to New York was to be canceled because of money problems. I was really bummed out, but I’ll survive. 

Around seven, I headed on over to Uncle Dan’s to talk to him for a bit. I haven’t had the greatest week, so I figured he’d be able to cheer me up. I started a round of Words with Friends with Lauren (she is very good), and ended up talking to Dan until almost midnight. He even let me drive his Lexus home. It’s not every day that you get to drive a 40,000 dollar car!

Day 25 (June 28, 2011) - I didn’t do much before work this morning. I got to work at noon, and I was in the drive-thru window. At first, I thought it was going to be a terrible day, but honestly it wasn’t that bad. I honestly have some weird coworkers. I talk about Parrot a lot, but there are a lot of other weirdos there too. I’m actually going to start writing down some of the things that they say from now on. For example, Parrot, today, said that I was normal because I agreed with him. Oh jeez. I also saw Kaleigh Birdsong today! I can easily say she made my day. Work wasn’t busy until about the last half-hour, where there was about a line full of idiotic customers. I left work at eight, but forgot my paycheck, so I had to go back. When I did get my paycheck, I grinned from ear to ear—this paycheck is probably the largest paycheck I’ve earned. I got home from work, played some video games, and talked to Mackenzie for a little. The picture above s the first thing I saw when I walked into my room. I didn’t know my cat could read! Or that he had laser vision! I’m excited that on Thursday, I’ll be heading to New York!

Day 25 (June 28, 2011) - I didn’t do much before work this morning. I got to work at noon, and I was in the drive-thru window. At first, I thought it was going to be a terrible day, but honestly it wasn’t that bad.

I honestly have some weird coworkers. I talk about Parrot a lot, but there are a lot of other weirdos there too. I’m actually going to start writing down some of the things that they say from now on. For example, Parrot, today, said that I was normal because I agreed with him. Oh jeez.

I also saw Kaleigh Birdsong today! I can easily say she made my day.

Work wasn’t busy until about the last half-hour, where there was about a line full of idiotic customers. I left work at eight, but forgot my paycheck, so I had to go back. When I did get my paycheck, I grinned from ear to ear—this paycheck is probably the largest paycheck I’ve earned.

I got home from work, played some video games, and talked to Mackenzie for a little. The picture above s the first thing I saw when I walked into my room. I didn’t know my cat could read! Or that he had laser vision! I’m excited that on Thursday, I’ll be heading to New York!