but from the eighth grade this time. and yes, I do think it's a big deal. so let's all let out a cheer for Tomas Bandong! the passage from middle to high school is an important one, fraught with excitement, thrill, and sheer terror. lol. but fresh middleschool grads ought to enjoy this last summer of innocence, while they can, eh?

this illustration was rendered by a professional artist at the graduation dance afterward, as Tom and his friend Lauren posed for a little while. Tom says the artist, Ms. Gilmore, called herself a "caricaturist." and he proceeded to IM me the definition (as well as the pic of course): "car·i·ca·ture -- A representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject's distinctive features or peculiarities are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect." i must say. she succeeded amazingly well in capturing Tom's distinctive features, as i would have known it was him even had he not told me. as for Lauren (who's the smaller girl in this picture), according to Tom she's just a very good friend. he puts their relationship this way: "...like a Dawson's Creek type thing. Dawson and his next door neighbor." Uh yeah, Tom. Cool. Cute. ;-)

Tom is attending Aragon High School this fall, but before that, he's coming to ATDP this summer, and taking a heavy load of computer-related courses: Programming in Scheme on MWFs and my Advanced Internet Classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tom, be sure to spend the weekends outside working on your tan. Hehe. Don't you miss all those soccer and baseball games?

check out Tom's way droll 'monkey' page.

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