We see how much Manny is babied in the first page of the diary. He got a boat load of presents during Christmas while Greg receives a few because he pinched Manny last week. I’m thinking a week is too soon to Christmas for Greg’s parents to return Greg’s presents. That means either the Heffley’s are late last minute shoppers or they just choose to get more for Manny. I know, for once I’m taking Greg’s side. I do realize that the diary is through Greg’s eyes so he could be over or under exaggerating a bit. It is still unfair, I never got my presents than my brother. That judgment is also in my eyes.
Manny is so babied that the family even undecorated the Christmas tree so his ornament could be the first one on the tree. I would have just been told to deal with it, it was my fault I was taking a nap and no one wanted to disturb me. Ever notice how when you don’t wake someone up they’re cranky because you didn’t wake them and when you do they’re cranky because you did; always a lose-lose situation. I figure Manny is just so spoiled and babied because Mrs. Heffley had to deal with Greg and Rodrick she’s just tired and doesn’t want to put up a fight.
It does surprise me how Greg is in 6th or 7th grade and still believes in Santa. I’m not quite sure when I stopped believing in Santa but I think I had it figured out by Greg’s age. I guess Greg has to believe in Santa because if a 4th grader was reading the diary he may get upset at his parents for lying to him and then parents would be made at Jeff Kinney for outing the Santa lie. All I can say is it’s a cruel, cruel circle of lies. I mean a kid does have to find out at some point and what better way than to let Greg ruin it for them.
I also can’t believe Greg plays Net Kritterz, he seems so unnurturing. What I can’t believe even more is that his parents let him spend money on it. They should just send Greg to the arcade instead, if there’s one around since arcades are a dying breed of game play. Net Kritterz does bring me back to my Neo Pet days. I am pretty sure that was completely free, it may not be though. Oh the days when internet ads were enough to keep a website going. Now most online games you have to pay in order to get certain features, thanks FarmVille. I believe it’s a little ridiculous to pay for special features; it’s unnecessary and unneeded for the betterment and benefit to our lives. Of course people will waste money on it though. I will admit, I think about succumbing to this whole pay to play thing. At times I am tempted to pay real cash for features in my Smurfs’ Ville game. Will I ever pay, at the moment no, perhaps when I make millions than I’ll pay for virtual stuff. One may argue this is just like paying for the arcade but I will argue at least the arcade is social.
I’m glad Greg decided to “take one for the team” this time around. He must finally be growing up. His conscious may just have kicked in and he finally decided he owed Rowley from the school safety incident. It is fair to say the festival was all Greg’s idea Rowley was just an accomplice. I’m sure Greg would have short changed Rowley and taken all the profits. Rowley did aid and abed maybe he should have got some punishment as well. Like Greg said though, Rowley probably didn’t realize by sending a note that said “Me and Greg” he wasn’t giving himself away. What has happened to using proper grammar? I know the diary is fiction and the author can write how he or she feels, but if you shouldn’t reveal that Santa isn’t real shouldn’t you have to keep to proper grammar. I know, most kids would have written me and [insert name] but shouldn’t we be setting an example. Some kid somewhere could learn the proper way.
Do kids really think oatmeal raisin cookies are nasty? I liked them as a kid. I am no health nut and I wish I could live off sugary substances, unfortunately that’s impossible. When I was a kid I rarely got oatmeal raisin cookies. When I got some I treasured them, especially when they were chewy. Thinking about it today it’s my firm opinion that oatmeal raisin is the best cookie out there. It’s not overly produced like chocolate chip cookies or Oreos. Those are the brands you find the most. Why doesn’t Nabisco mass market oatmeal raisin cookies? Maybe Oreos and Chocolate Chip are seen as kid friendly. I will admit it’s disappointing when you think it’s a chocolate chip but it’s really a raisin but Mmm Mmm they are delicious.
More important of a question is why are middle schoolers drinking energy drinks? Do they really have that much school work or is it the video and computer games? I know it’s not because they’re up all night reading a good book. There might be a little justification in the fact that soda is caffeinated so it would be okay to have an energy drink, but that is a lot of caffeine. It’s made clear in the diary that these kids are addicted to it; smuggling the drinks behind the wall during recess like it’s illegal contraband. I wonder what they do on weekends, do their parents let them have. Kids are hyper enough they don’t need any extra.
On a last note I like to pour the milk into my cereal bowl before the cereal. Take that Manny!