A Week With Christian Chandler
A Week With Christian Chandler is a school project Chris did to document one week in his high school life. The report itself and the information within it provides valuable insight into Chris in his early years, including the development of some of his current hobbies, mannerisms, and habits. The report was done in April 2000, during Chris and his family's return to Ruckersville. Chris constantly shifts from present to past tense and back again, because he is an idiot.
Chris openly admits falling asleep in class on a regular basis, a behavior some believe went unchecked, and might have influenced his present laziness, indolence, and the like. Christian also mentions winning a Pokemon costume contest, despite the fact that his Ash costume was the same one that he wore every week.
Chris seemed to have undergone basic behavioral adjustment classes, including a "coping class/study hall" class (pages 8-9). During these classes however, he liked to spend his time reading R. L. Stine books, rather than paying attention. In his years on the Internet, that has become evident.
Chris disparagingly refers to some of the other students on his school bus as "slow-in-the-minds" on page 6. It's not fully spelled out whether these are bullies or other special needs students, but the fact that he dreads the bus on page 8 and the reference to "immature teenage boys" on page 14 suggests the former. Either way, his high school life was not as pleasant as he would portray it later.
The black-and-white photography in the booklet is a failure, too - all common newbie mistakes that are easy to correct. Many photos are shot in under-lit rooms, against the light from windows (e.g. top on p3, p10, p11). Some have been underexposed in enlargement phase (e.g. top one on p3, bottom one on p15).
Cover
A Week With Christian Chandler
<A photograph of Christian, in full Ash Ketchum regalia, posing with the late Patti Chandler.>
Page 1
A Week With Christian Chandler
(A Self-Documentry) [sic]
© 4/24/2000
April 24, 2000
Chandler's Publishing Co.
Now: 6008 Partingdale Cr.
Richmond, VA 23224
(804)-674-9474
As of 6/20/2000: 46 Branchland Ct.
Ruckersville, VA 22468
(804)-990-0198
Page 2
Saturday, 4/29/2000:
On our 1st day of following Christian, we followed him as he was getting ready to go to the Pokemon Trading Card Game League at Books-A-Million. All ready to go, Christian and his mother leave for the League. On the way, they stop at B.P. gas station, so Christian could fill his sports bottle with some refreshing soda pop. After Christian enters Books-A-Million for the League, he sees someone with a rare, holographic "Team Rocket" Dark Raichu card. So he offers all his tradable holo rare cards and non-holo rare cards, but the boy did not want to trade his Dark Raichu card. After signing in with Marc, the Gym Leader, he trades a few cards, then he plays many card games. Much later, because of the release of the Team Rocket cards, now available in stores, a party was held with games and prizes. We watched as League members played a Musical Poke Ball game. A costume contest was also held; 5 people came dressed as Team Rocket members. But Christian was wearing his Ash get-up, like he usually wears every Saturday; it was originally a Halloween costume, but he thought of it as also a formal item to wear for the League. So, he entered and won 1st prize, a cool T-shirt. After receiving the T-shirt, he left for home so he could go to Ruckersville before it became dark.
Page 3
<A photograph of Chris holding up what appears to be a deck or several decks of Pokemon trading cards.>
- Christian is getting ready to go to the Pokemon TCG League at Books-a-Million.
<A photograph of Chris staring down his opponent, who is about to put his last card into play.>
- Christian is playing a round of Pokemon with a fellow Trainer.
<A photograph of the card players playing a variation of "musical chairs", a popular children's game.>
- The League members are playing a round of Musical Poke Balls.
Page 4
Sunday, 4/30/2000:
On the 2nd day, Christian woke in his country home in Ruckersville. He helped his mother by moving heavy and light boxes, furniture and stuff from the van to the house, and house to workshop. Afterwards, they loaded the van, got ready to leave and left for Richmond. On the way, they stopped at Country Cooking restaurant in Orange County for lunch. Later, they returned to Richmond, and re-unloaded [sic] their van. But, even though they worked hard today, putting and taking, there is still a lot to move back to Ruckersville.
Page 5
<A photograph of a very cluttered bedroom.>
- This is Christian's Country Room.
<A photograph of Barbara Chandler carrying a box. This picture is significant, as it shows Barb in a state of evolutionary transition. After consuming sufficient quantities of food, she evolves into Snorlax.>
- His mother is bringing in the last box from the van into the living room.
<A photograph of a family room littered with junk.>
- This is more stuff in the City living room to bring back to Ruckersville later.
Page 6
Monday, 5/1/2000
On the 3rd day, Christian spent an "ODD Day" at Manchester High School. The 1st class he went to was his English class with Mr. Goss. During class, Mr. Goss discussed the difference between Shakesphere's [sic] world and the real world of today. Christian rested his eyes after Mr. Goss's discussion, and before the bell rang. Next, he had Trigonometry...I'd hate to be Christian when his nerves kicked into action after waking up from a "notey" snooze cruise, but I was. Next was Computer Graphics...it was great for him today, because he got to print his own CD cover. Next was Spanish 2...he took a quiz today, but I think he feels confident in his work. And finally, after a hard "odd" day, he rides home on a bus, but unfortunately, it had a few "slow-in-the-minds" on it.
Page 7
<A photograph of two men sitting in a classroom and having a chat. There is a white fingerprint on the photo, which seems to have resulted from Chris's liberal use of adhesive.>
- Mr. Goss is chatting with his fellow teacher friend.
<A photograph of the cover of the Christian's Favorite Hits! CD.>
- This is Christian's CD cover after print, in the process of cutting.
<A photograph of three Chesterfield County Public School busses lined up and waiting for the students to board them. Two obese women are standing next to the furthest bus.>
- These busses are full of nutty "slow-in-the-minds."
Page 8
Tuesday, May 2, 2000:
On the 4th day, we follow Christian on an easier school day, an "Even Day." 1st, he went to English class...he cruised on a "Zzzz," while starting to read a "Dollhouse" story. 2nd was Photography class, but with the immature boys, and getting up to develop photos, he never falls asleep in that class. 4th was Contemporary Living. Today, Mrs. Tortorella talked about eggs and microwaves, and from the eggs, I'm hungry. Which brings up lunch; on an odd day, Christian eats alone, but on even days, he is with friends: Tiffany, Sarah, and Brian. Brian was not there today; he went on a field trip to D.C. 6th was Coping/Study Hall. During the free time in this class, Christian likes to get into a good book. And at 1:30, our hero leaves for home on...that bus.
Page 9
<A photograph of Chris speaking to one of his teachers.>
- Mr. Bayuk and Christian are looking over a test strip for proper time length check.
<A photograph of Chris at lunch with some of his friends. The girls look very apprehensive.>
- Christian is eating lunch with Tiffany and Sarah.
<A photograph of Chris sitting down and reading a shitty book.>
- Christian is reading an R.L. Stine novel during Coping class.
Page 10
Wednesday, May 3, 2000:
On the 5th day, we decided to take a break from lugging the tripod around at Christian's school. But instead, we will observe the daily activities the [sic] he does at home. He likes to play his video games (i.e. Pokemon, Sonic the Hedgehog, etc....). He also likes to go onto the internet to browse for new Poke News articles and to check the status of visitors (or he updates) his website, CWC's PokeSite 2! He also likes to go swimming at the YMCA pool; he needs to cool off after a hard day anyway. He also likes to sort and look through his book of Pokemon "Trading Card Game" cards and his decks. And he also likes to express himself in his art. Then later, he brushes his teeth, takes a shower, say [sic] "good night" to his parents, watch [sic] a little TV, then he goes to bed with music to relax to.
<A photograph of Chris in his bedroom, playing video games.>
- Christian is playing Pokemon Stadium for Nintendo 64.
Pages 11-17
