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 Pokémon 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). There's smudges and fingerprints (e.g. p7), indicating a failure to follow a simple common-sense rule of "don't mess with stuff that are being exposed to dangerous chemicals".
Significantly, the school project documents Chris making the CD cover where Sonichu first premiered.
Cover
A Week With Christian Chandler
[Photo: Chris, dressed as Ash Ketchum, poses with the now-deceased Patti Chandler.]
Page 1
A Week With Christian Chandler
(A Self-Documentry)
© 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
[Photo: Chris, seated on his bed, holds up a number of Pokémon trading cards.]
- Christian is getting ready to go to the Pokemon TCG League at Books-a-Million.
[Photo: Chris stares down a younger opponent, about to put his last card into play.]
- Christian is playing a round of Pokémon with a fellow Trainer.
[Photo: Several young League members are playing a variation of Musical Chairs.]
- 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 their van. But, even though they worked hard today, putting and taking, there is still a lot to move back to Ruckersville.
Page 5
[Photo: Chris's bedroom appears cluttered, yet cleaner than it's been of late.]
- This is Christian's Country Room.
[Photo: Barbara Chandler, looking remarkably slim, is carrying a box.]
- His mother is bringing in the last box from the van into the living room.
[Photo: Chris's soon-to-be-former living room is completely 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.
Page 11
[A poorly lit photograph of Chris sitting on his bed.]
- Christian is checking on his cards in his book and decks.
A picture showing The Wall of Originals. It only shows 33 cards.
- This is Christian's "Wall of Original Pokemon Cards."
[Another poorly lit photograph showing a cluttered room which apparently is the forerunner to CWCville.]
- This is Christian's City Room.
Page 12
Thursday, May 4, 2000:
On the 6th day, we followed Christian, and photographed the achievements of Christian and his friends. 1st, we noticed on the wall of the Cafeteria hallway were posters from Computer Graphics classes; one was his, and we photographed it. Next, in Christian's Contemporary Living class, he, Tiffany and Sarah were fixing filled pasta shells. garlic bread and a salad. Christian did not have any salad; lettuce or tomatoes (and a few other vegetables) alone makes him feel green in the face. But After the bread and pasta shells were done (Christian and Sarah made the shells together) they all enjoyed a little something Italian. And during Photography class, he mounted a photo of his mother (he took and developed it himself) and later colored it.
Page 13
[A photograph of a butt ugly poster with the initials "CWC" all over it. The tagline is "Computer Graphics... Make some neato stuff.]
- Christian's Computer Graphics poster has a lot of Pinball action.
[A photograph of two girls are shown eating salad. One plate is empty which is evidently Chris's. Perhaps if he ate something healthy he wouldn't shit his underpants.]
- Sarah and Tiffany are enjoying their green salad.
[A photograph of a photograph of Barbara Chandler. The picture is framed in a cardboard frame decorated with lines of Magic Marker.]
- This "Mother of the Year 2000" Award will be presented to Christian's mother on the Mother's Day of 2000.
Page 14
Friday, May 5, 2000:
On the last day of our week long journey, we followed Christian through one tough Friday. Christian came to school wearing a dress shirt and pants, a tie, and his cap and gown were in the bag. He went to English class, and took a vocabulary quiz. After the quiz, Christian signed the Senior Memory Book of his friend, Miranda Mitchell. During Trigonometry class, he took notes on SSA triangles and the Sine formula. Then in Computer Graphics class, he sketched an idea for a self portrait, and it suited the requirements. But, he'll have to wait till next class, because he needs a couple of his "home files" to start him off. In Spanish 2, he started on a test, but he did not finish it, because he had to go for the Senior Group Photo. Christian had to walk down a mile-long hill to the football stadium, and when he got there, he put his stuff down in the entrance, put on his cap and gown, and went to join the group of seniors. After the long wait for the pictures to be taken, being crowded like a sardine surrounded by immature teenage bots, and having the hot, hot sun shining down on him and everyone else, he went back to the shady entrance. He got his stuff, and on the way back up the hill, his bus driver drove down to tell him that she called his father and told him about Christian and the photo shoot taking so long. So Christian walked back up the hill, he became tired and sweaty. After he entered the school building, he rested in the open commons for a few minutes. Then he buzzed for his father to pick him up, got ready to go, chilled out, and got picked up by his dad. And that concludes our week-long documentary of...A Week With Christian W. Chandler, the autistic boy that has made it this far. :)
[A photograph of Miranda sitting at a desk.]
- Miranda's first reaction to Christian's nice message.
Page 15
[A photograph of Christian drinking Dr Pepper.]
- Christian is getting started on his lunch.
[A photograph of an exhausted Chris sitting by a lunch table bench.]
- Tired and sweaty from the mile-long climb in the hot sun, Christian rests for a few minutes.
[A washed out photograph of Chris working on his Pokemon cards.]
- Christian is preparing his decks for the Pokemon TCG League Tomorrow.
Page 16
Christian W. Chandler 4/24/Y2K Photo., 2.
Page 17
(In cursive writing) Christian's Parents.
[A photograph of Bob and Barbara Chandler.]
Robert F. Chandler Jr. Barbara W. Chandler