The S word...

It has started to become that time of August where summer seems to come closer to an end.  In only 14 more days, it will be September, that depressing, sad month where the rest of that summer vacation time flies out the window and suddenly (If your a kid, that is) you're back in school.  The weather will start to get colder, and the days will start to get shorter, and us kids are buried in homework and forced to go to bed earlier.  The only difference this year, is that now, Nicholas, my brother, will be joining me in the wonderful zoo I like to call middle school.  He will be a Smarts Mill Middle School (or SMMS) 6th grader, and I, will be an 8th grader, which is nothing to party about, since for the first time have mid-finals and exams and SOLs to look forward to.  (More information on that later, when the time comes.  Let's not focus on the bad things) But, for now, we still have about 3 more weeks before we have to start worrying about the 'S' word.  Which is great, but that time is going to go fast.  So for all you adults reading this, enjoy the rest of your school-free-life.  You have your job to dread.  And for all you kids...good luck for this new school year.  You will need it, I'm sure.
Another piece of news is that on Friday, one of my dad's old co-worker from Athens, Iro Alykafora, and her boyfriend, Stavros, are coming to stay with us for the weekend.  Last Friday they flew from Athens to New York City, which is where they are now at the moment.  This is their first time traveling to America, so naturally we will be showing them around the Capitol as well.  They want to see some monuments and museums while in D.C, and from there we will see what else we will do with the Greek folk!  I will post what happens during our Washington D.C. Adventure, but for now, the basement needs vacuming.

Love,
Danielle, Future 8th Grader and Optimist About Education

What'sa Matta?

Our family really isn't that big.  It's just me, my brother and my parents.  But our extended family is much, much bigger.  And, on top of that, we are spread out all over the world.  And with such long distances, and so many people to keep up with, connections with other family members are severed, and sometimes even lost.  Life is so busy these days, and expenses are so huge, that soon the phone calls and the letters and packages decrease until your completely cut off from your own family! But it doesn't necessarily have to be that way anymore.  The Matta Connection is MY way of staying in touch with my family, no matter where they live or how often I see them.  If you want to mend those severed family relationships, then stay tuned to The Matta Connection.  It's your ONLY direct line to all things Matta.

Much love,
Danielle