Monday, March 31st 2003

Dear Journal,

Whoever said that March was "In like a lion an out like a lamb" is a complete idiot! It's snowing! Snowing! What the hell is that about?!! It's gonna be cold tomorrow, my 18th birthday. I know, 18, It's hard to believe. I still feel like a little kid! 18 is a grown-up and I am certainly not ready to be one!

On Saturday my parents went up to Poughkeepsie to have dinner with Ryan and Sylvia and they tried to make me believe that they were coming home the same night, but I've always been one step ahead of them. I knew full well that they were not planning on coming home, so I had people over. It wasn't a party, just a chill night. My parents didn't suspect a thing.

Tonight the girls came over and my mom made me my birthday dinner, The World's Greatest Tortellini and Death by Chocolate. We hung out for a while and then I went out with Annie and her cousin TJ and got completely stoned- hence my messy writing.

I need to pass out, what am I even wearing tomorrow?

Laura Leigh

Reenie and Drew do not screw around. No one is to set foot in their house when they are not there. And I didn't just get a little stoned, I got completely stoned.

April 2nd, 2005

Hippies on the grass.

Very hungover. Threw up in the museum. Ate chicken and french fries.

I love Munich. I love being surprised by a fabulous place. The sky is overwhelmingly blue.

The Sun Also Rises.

-LL-

I believe that was a note to read the book, which I later did.

April 1st, 2005

I'm 20!! I've been drunk since yesterday.

City of Contrast.

Hitler used Munich for nationalist socialist party. Beautiful city. Beautiful day. Drunk! Started Jaeger at 9am. As it should be. Back to the tour ...

____________________________________________________________________

My 20th Birthday in Munich. From what I remember it is literally the coolest day of my life thus far ... but the next day, wow, that was a tough one.

I cannot seem to track down any of the photos during the rage (It's probably for the best) so I've added a nice tame one from the when the drinking began ... the evening of March 31st.

Tuesday, November 30th, 1999

Tonight I was on AOL, and Amanda was all excited because this older guy had send her a naked pic of him - because she had lied about her age. Once she signed off I told him the truth. I ended up talking to him for a while about stuff, and he said I really got him thinking, that he'd liked talking to me. He made me realize that I am intelligent and insightful. A while ago I gave Jenn advice and she said to me, "Oh my God Laura, when you find a guy who is worthy of you he'll be so lucky!" I thought she was just saying it, but I realized she really meant it. I am very deserving of something wonderful, and I know that someday I'll find it. I shouldn't be ashamed to be so philosophical - I like me - and so do others. Life's not perfect, but who's is?

Laura Leigh

Uhhh. I'm not sure how to respond to my intelligence and insight. I suppose this gem of an entry speaks for itself.

Sunday, November 21st, 1999

I got it dyed!!

The only way to describe the color is a reddish-purplish-auburn, at first I wasn't amazed, and they cut my hair, which really depressed me, because I had been growing it out, but when I brush it out, I must admit, it looks great!

I baby-sat my cousins yesterday. Today we went to the mall and I got my leather - I love it! I'm so happy!

Laura Leigh

Don't worry, it was just a leather jacket I'd been dying for. What a rockstar.

Friday, November 19th, 1999

Dear Journal,

Tomorrow I'm dying my hair. I haven't been able to decide which color - but then - I have this wig from Halloween, it was long and black. I was so bored so I put in on, I was messing with it and started to cut it. I ended up cutting it up to my chin. I looked so good! I wish I had really thick hair, 'cause then I'd cut it that short. Maybe I will eventually. So I think I want to dye it black, it will look so different!

Wish me luck!

Laura Leigh

Some teenage girls are tiny and cute and gorgeous. Other teenage girls, like I was, are awkward and mousy and horrible. We think we can solve the problem by doing wretched things like wearing blue glitter eye shadow or dying our hair black. I blame my mother for not saying, "Laura Leigh, I love you, but do your best to just blend in for the next few years."

Wednesday, November 17th 1999

Dear Journal,

I stayed out of school yesterday - I had this killer migraine. Today I felt much better. I've been thinking a lot lately, about RENT, about how one person had that inside of them. I want to find that something inside of me. There is also this author I love, Donna Jo Napoli, she is absolutely amazing, her words and her writing, it's just so beautiful. Everything flows in this beautiful way. I've been looking for info on her, I would love to write her. It really is time for me to get started, if I'm ever going to make an impact.

Laura Leigh

I had just seen Rent for the first time, and like most young teenagers, it blew my silly little mind.