Leading up to New Year's eve!!!!

Sunday December 30, 1990

Rating 95%

And if you can't read my writing:
-Aunt Maria had a 7 lb 11 oz baby girl named Alexis Maria at 9:30 am.
-Had a snowball fight at church
-Went to see "Three Men and a Little Lady"

Monday December 31, 1990

Rating 100%

And if you can't read my writing: Today we went to a church New Year's Eve party at the Adam's Mark Hotel. There is one good thing. I will be writing in you again in another diary. I will include everything from ratings to !! :) when I said goodbye at the end of each day. Writing in a diary has been a unique experience and I hopefully will continue it for years to come!! Good Bye!! !!

Welcome back!!!!

Friday December 28, 1990

Rating 100%

And if you can't read my writing: Today was a great day. I woke up at Max's house and we went outside to play in the snow. It was supposed to be two to four inches but now it was four to six. I love the snow. It's a change from the 60 degree Januarys. At Max's we built a wall of snow. Then we used the snow blocks for a snowblock fight. Good Bye!! !! !! !! !! !! !!

Christmas 1990

And for everyone's entertainment, here is Christmas, 19 years ago, from the viewpoint of a very excited 6th grader...

December 25, 1990 

Rating: 100% (Of course!)
 

In case you can't read my writing: Today (100%) was a great day! We woke and opened our Christmas present. We got six Nintendo games - Caveman Games, Goal, Bases Loaded II, Bubble Bobble, Adventure Island and Jaws. I also got a camera and a ceramic thing that [sings] "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." I also got a Vanilla Ice tape, Dominoe Rally, a model car, two model planes, two M.C. Hammer music videos, a tennis outfit, many sweaters and MUCH MUCH more. Then we went to Pop-Pops. We played Nintendo, ate dinner, opened presents, played with Krikor and just hung around. This was definitely one of the best Christmas's ever. Good Bye !! !! !!

Christmas Eve!!!!

December 24, 1990 (6th grade)

 

In case you can't read my writing: Today was a totally radical day. Ryan, Jason, Uncle Andy and Aunty Lynda came over for Christmas Eve. They gave me two model planes. Tomorrow when we wake up we will open our presents. I absolutely can't wait! Good Bye!! !!

One of the most exciting nights of the year for me was Christmas Eve...but as much as it may seem like it was all about the presents - it really wasn't. Even as a young kid, deep down, I appreciated the fact that for a few hours, my family would be together with no distractions. We spent Christmas Eve 1990 with my mother's brother and his family - and it was always a blast. Their kids were much younger than my sister and I, so it was our chance to be the "big cousins."

We left out the cookies and milk and crossed our fingers that we had been good enough that year to warrant a trip from Santa Clause....Lucky for us, the cookies and milk were always gone the next morning...

Tonight, 20 years later, I won't be waking up to open presents. But I will be waking up and driving 5 hours from Rhode Island to Philadelphia...but nonetheless, it's going to be 5 hours, with my wife, and we are going to be together with no distractions. A little different and a little unorthodox, but just as peaceful and enjoyable.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and happy holidays to all!

Pre-Christmas Double Header!!!!

Doing my last minute Christmas shopping...but here you go...

December 22, 1990

And if you can't read my writing: Today was a totally awesome day. I wrapped all my Christmas presents. I think I will make Adrina's Christmas. I was invited to Jessica's (Weisbein) birthday party. It's in mid-January. I can't believe Christmas is only three days away. I think the fun of Christmas (not all of it) is giving presents and also going downstairs and being able to open the presents. Good Bye !! !! !! !!

December 23, 1990

And if you can't read my writing: Today was a great day. We went to Church and Sunday School. You'll never guess what happened in church. Michael Paretchan who was serving on the altar with Chris Boyajian fainted. Tonight we went to a movie called "Almost an Angel" starring Paul Hogan. It was extremely funny. Good Bye!! !! !!

Angela's Party!!

December 21, 1990 (6th grade)

Rating 100%

 

In case you can't read my writing: Today was an awesome day! I went to Angela Cocivera's party. I dance with Lyndi a couple of times. I think we might get back together!! (Yayyy) Keep you updated on that one! I also played spin the bottle. I spun 3 times. Two times I landed on Debby K. and kissed her on the lips. I also landed on Lindsey R. once. Good Bye !! !! !!

This was a BIG night! I remember driving up to Angela's house with my mom - a big white house with colorful Christmas lights set up. To say I was nervous would be an understatement...For what? My friends would be there - the kids in my class were great and even though I had arrived only the September before to this new school, I didn't feel like the new kid anymore. But I shook with fear as I ascended the stairway leading up to Angela's house. Why? Because I knew what was going to happen that night..

Spin

the

Bottle.

Spin the bottle - the "gateway" game...the next step...the secrets, the intrigue...the scheming... One never knew whether the bottle was going to be left to its own choice or if someone was going to grab it and force you into pure awkwardness...but it's the elementary school child's first taste of the gambling thrill...I knew before Angela's party that there would be Spin the Bottle and I was nervous!

Lyndi and I had been on the rocks (on again/off again girlfriend since 5th grade) - so clearly Angela's party was our chance to mend some of our differences. And yes, I did address my diary and say "I'll keep you updated on that one!!"

Dancing (slow dancing....fast dancing was absolutely out of the question) was a BIG step for me. It took me so long to get up the nerve to ask ANYONE to slow dance. I'm not quite sure what I thought I would mess up - but for some reason I was deathly afraid of slow dancing.

Lucky for me the party went well - and now I could focus on more important things. In a few short days, Santa (is it at all surprising that still at 10 years old I firmly believed in Santa Clause?) would be arriving and I had to be on my best behavior...

More exciting: NYC...or Harrisburg?

December 19 and 20, 1990

In case you can't read my writing:

December 19, 1990: Today was a great day. After school we went to Pete's. Then we went to the office until 10:30!! We found out that our 6th grade class trip was going to be to New York. I voted for Harrisburg because we would be able to see the senate in progress. It would've been so neat! Good Bye!! !! !!

December 20, 1990: Great day. Had class Christmas Party. Wanted to ask Lindsey Rose to dance but I didn't get a chance since they only played one slow song.

"Pete's": Pete Longo was the guy who used to cut my hair when I was a kid. I would sit in the chair for hours and mostly talk baseball while Pete trimmed my hair....I was the typical 5th grader - I knew every batting average of every player and every ERA of every pitcher. Thanks to Google Street View I pulled up Pete's barbershop....same sign, same corner.....I remember it like it was yesterday - I think I'll drop in on Pete one of these days!

As you will see, I will frequently mention "the office." My father started his own medical practice when I was 10 years old. My mom was his office manager and took care of everything short of treating the patients...so it naturally followed that my sister Adrina and I spent many a long night doing out homework and eating dinner on the floor of one of the patient rooms or in the lobby...

New York v. Harrisburg: Wow - I mean wow. What 11 year old chooses Harrisburg over NYC? To see "the Senate in progress"??? Man...I hope you all realize that this is a sign of (humorous) things to come...

And of course....the class Christmas party...well, with Angela's party approaching, I wanted to get one slow dance in at the class party. But due to the fact that only ONE slow song was played, I just didn't have a chance.....but the next day was Angela Cocivera's party....

School Winter Concert!

December 18, 1990
Rating: 100% 
6TH GRADE

In case you can't read my writing: Today was a great day. We had our school winter concert. It was great. I was one of the soloists for the song "Let It Snow." Also at the end of the song the whole chorus threw up fake snow. I'm invited to Angela's party on Friday and I'm definitely going. We had an open house for the office. There was so much food. There were loads and loads and loads of lunchmeat and bread. It was extremely fun. Good Bye!! !! !!

I love this post - 20 years and one day ago I was at the winter concert - and I remember it exactly. I remember I stood next to my buddy Ashley Baquero for our solo and I remember the gym where we sang the song. To be selected for the big solo was a BIG deal for me! (Clearly Angela's party was also on my mind - more on that later). The "office party" was my dad's newly established medical practice - he was on his own that year so we did not see him very much. I was obviously very happy to be there - enjoying the LOADS and LOADS of lunchmeat! (what do you want, I was a chubby kid!)

The Color Purple

February 18, 1990 
Rating 71%

(I used to rate each day for some reason from 0% to 100%. No doubt an early manifestation of my obsessive compulsive tendencies)

In case you can't read my writing: At the end of the day today Mommy started being kind of a jerk. She and Daddy always give Adrina alot of special treatment. Well, I've gotten pretty darn sick of it! I was being a grump until Mommy and her precious Adrina got mad at me. She was mad at me ever since I said I didn't want to watch the movie "The Color Purple. I wanted to watch the Kennedy's. Meanwhile earlier in day Johnny was being a crank because he didn't want to do anything when we were over his house. I'm not mad at him. Sometimes he can be an obnoxious spoiled brat. I don't care if he reads this. Good bye!

You learn a few things about me in this post..

1) I have a younger sister named Adrina. We love each other very much and are about 16 months apart. You'll see my determination to prove that my mother and father favored Adrina over me...I spent a good deal of my childhood gathering evidence to prove my case - in the hopes that one day, a grand confession would come down from my parents finally admitting that yes, all of these years, that they indeed had favored Adrina.

2) I love politics. Why did I have to watch the Color Purple? Even now, if I were flipping through the channels, and I had the choice to watch the Color Purple or a documentary about the Kennedy's - you're damn right I would pick the Kennedy's! Sorry Oprah.

3) Johnny. Johnny was a friend of mine growing up - and we had quite the tumultuous relationship! You'll see he is a guest author in many of my future diary entries and mentioned quite a bit. I assure you - Johnny DID exist and was not a figment of my imagination. Apparently I also feared that he would read my diary entries - so for some reason I chose to cross out certain lines during those years for fear of it being read!

My thoughts and feelings - from 20 years ago.

I originally started this blog to chronicle my training for the Philadelphia Half Marathon...and after the run, I sort of "ran out" of material. Well, my friends, I have stumbled upon a new purpose...pure gold...my diaries from 1990-1992, kept at the direction of my mother.

Some entries are hilarious and some are just plain weird...but I'm going to take this opportunity to share with all of you all of my thoughts, feelings, and otherwise - from 20 years ago. It's an amazing experience and if any of you kept a diary as a child, I highly recommend digging it up.

In 1989, my family and I moved from Churchville, PA to Rydal, PA, a suburb about 10-15 minutes outside of Philadelphia, PA. I was new to the school - and anxious about making friends. The kids welcomed me with open arms (I still count them as my closest friends to THIS DAY) - and so did the teachers. Sadly some of the people are no longer with us - but the memories are as fresh in my mind now as they were then. I remember my first slow dance, my first "girlfriend", our breakup, the day my pet guinea pig Curly died (your jaw will drop when that is posted), and my recollection of the current events of the time....

I plan on posting a few a day...so join me, in reliving the innermost thoughts and feelings of a 10 year old battling his way through the early 1990's!!!!

ENJOY and PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT! (especially if you are mentioned!!!!!)
-TRIG

FEBRUARY 7, 1990: The Day I Wore Cologne 

Rating for the day: 80%

In case you can't read my writing: February 7, 1990: Today was an okay day. At first a lot of the kids made fun of me because I had cologne on. I had to tell them a lie that Daddy had sprinkled it on me. Oh Well! Otherwise today was great. I had Enrichment. For Enrichment, Mrs. Powell let us have a 20 minute recess. During that time we played football. The teams were me and Scott J. vs. Andrew and Gary while Eric was steady QB. The score was 28-2! We won. I had 3 TD's and Scott had one. Good bye!!