Yeah, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? While I battle the cold and too-soon snow, I get to bundle up inside and watch Once Upon a Time, on ABC. It’s really a great show; you should check it out if you haven’t already.
Anyway, I’m here to post some music for all of you. It’s an older song by All Time Low, but it has a good beat. The lyrics sound mean, in a way, but I think it’s something people can relate to.
You probably think I’m crazy . . . well, happy Halloween everyone!
Yeah, me too. Honestly, I’m a little shocked, if I do say so myself. What is she rambling about, you may be asking. Well, NaNoWriMo, of course! If you don’t know what National Novel Writing Month, here’s a cute little comic that will explain while I sigh and rub my temples at your lack of needed knowledge.
I wish I had great friends like that. I mean, my friends are great. Probably some of the best friends out there, but they just don’t have that ‘let’s drop everything and lock ourselves in a room with only a laptop and a pack of saltines for a month’ kind of attitude I’m prepared to take on full-heartedly. Of course, I have high school honor classes, numerous family functions and other random nonsense activities, but I’m willing to try this NaNo ride again.
Last year was not successful for me at all. I was so fed up with the book I was writing that I gave up on it. (Shh, don’t tell anyone!) What are some things I learned about NaNo? Well, here are five tips from little ol’ me.
1. You need to write a story you like. It can’t be an off-the-wall idea you thought of at midnight on Halloween. You have to really believe in your story and trust that it’ll go far. You and your novel need to be connected!
2. Rid yourself of drama this week. Last year, November was filled with drama for me. I lost my lifelong friend to the popular girls, and it ended with an explosion that could rival The Final Battle of Harry Potter. So, this week, get the drama out and over with. Don’t let it boil till mid-November. It’s better to fix things now, instead of later. (I’ve realized if you leave your characters alone for too long, they’ll do naughty things with each other, then argue and complain before resorting to cannibalism.)
3. Stock up on good snacks. Really, who doesn’t like to munch while they’re thinking? My personal favorites are Goldfish, Kellogg Fruit Crisps, and soft pretzels (preferably from Philly’s Pretzels, but any are good!). Great drinks to wash down all that salt? Arnold Palmer’s Half Lemonade and Half Iced Tea from your nearest Wawa or old-fashioned Stewart’s root beer.
4. Throw all editing techniques out the window. Go right now and open your window and toss out all the knowledge of commas, semicolons, and adjective usage. Make sure it lands somewhere comfy, though, because you’ll need it for December, when you’re clawing at your eyes over what you’ve written.
5. Make a playlist of your favorite songs. Let the music be your literal soundtrack for the next month. No need to listen to the washer running or the telephone ringing upstairs (leave it, Sally’s saving the world right now. She wouldn’t stop for a telemarketer.) Music makes me feel happy and energetic. If you don’t have an iPod, use the program ‘Spotify’. It’s so great! I’m using it right now actually . . .
What else can you do? Go online and look up ‘write or die’! Better yet, I’ll give you a link: http://writeordie.com/
On the right-hand column, you’ll see a little box where you can enter info such as a word goal, grace period, etc. It’s a program that lets you type, but if you stop, noises and alarms go off. I find it helpful, especially for English essays.
Until November starts, we have a few days. To get prepared, use these sites/forms:
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2011/10/nano-prep-planning-your-novels.html
http://vampisthenewblack.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/planning-for-nano-11/
http://novelnovice.com/2011/10/25/nanowrimo-prep-week-4-make-a-plan/
I wish you all good luck on this NaNo journey! I’ll try and post again before November, but once NaNo starts, I’ll either be too busy to write or you’ll be too busy to read my useless posts of rambling. 
I promised a review, didn’t I? Well, here it is! My book review for the second book in the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. Enjoy!
Summary:
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name.Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth
Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem - when the Voice took over he mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk.
Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery - although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely - enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.
Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes od Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.
Stars: 5
Rate: 9.5
Pros: Well, I love Greek mythology. It’s just so interesting and exciting. There are so many back-stories and secret tales. Rick Riordan crafts such a unique blend of the mortal world and both Roman and Greek mythology. The characters in this novel really come to life, and I love how Riordan didn’t wait on the romance this time around. I love a little bit of romance mixed in, if it’s done right, and here, it definitely was.
Cons: It ended! I have to wait another year for the next book. Realistic cons? I think Riordan did open up a lot of loose ends that he left opened. Of course, there’s another sequel, so I can’t be too picky.
Overall Recommendation: This book was well-written and it reminded me why I love Rick Riordan’s books so much! If you like mythology or have read any of the Percy Jackson books, you’ll love this series. It’s got the components of Percy’s series – including him! – with more added to flesh it out.
I know I’ll be buying the next book as soon as it comes out. Here’s a little bit of the prophecy from ‘The Son of Neptune’ about the third book, ‘The Mark of Athena’.
Wisdom's daughter walks alone,
The mark of Athena burns through Rome.
So, I’m currently reading ‘The Son of Neptune’ by Rick Riordan and loving it! I’m seriously in love with this book. It has such a rich storyline and the most unique characters. My obsession with Greek mythology may deserve some credit for my love of this book, too, though.
I’m hoping to have a review for you guys on Thursday, seeing as I’m almost done reading and I have a half-day on Thursday. I’ll have a bit more time to just relax and chill
Some things you should know . . .
If for some outlandish reason, you can’t do any of my orders . . . erm, I mean, suggestions, then enjoy some music from The Maine below. Listen to the lyrics and find the meaning. Hint: It’s really not about a simple girl in a simple world.
Stay happy, live free, don’t regret anything.
~The Writer
Hey guys! I know it’s been a few days, and you’re probably starting to think I only blog ever few million centuries when the moon is full and that certain shade of blue that isn’t quite gray, but certainly not cerulean.
Or you think I’m crazy, which I will fully agree to, but don’t expect me to try and change that. I’m stuck like this till my very last breath!
So, my volleyball season is ending quick, and I’m finding my schedule’s a bit more freed up. I’ll have time to blog, write more, and occasionally get more than seven hours of sleep per night. (I’m sorry, but it’s just not cutting it anymore!)
I recently started another blog of sorts, but it’s not like this one. It’s letters from people to others. It’s a chance for everyone to say what they have to say and not care who reads it, because it’s anonymous. Interested? Go to http://www.dearyou---sincerelyme.blogspot.com to learn more! I’d love for my followers to follow and view that site, too!
That’s all for today. I’ll have some sort of inspirational post for all of you tomorrow night, hopefully. For now, stay hopeful, keep smiling and rock on
Yes, I have fallen prey to the down sides of high school. The elbow-juts in the hallways, the insane number of assignments and homework (wait, you mean that’s due next Friday, right? Oh, this Friday? As in, two days from now? Oh, all right. I see.) If the awkward side-steps and eternally dislocated shoulders weren’t making themselves loud and clear, the smack in the face today definitely did.
It was a run-of-the-mill volleyball practice. Or, no, not really. We had to start practice late so the JV/Varsity girls could get their gym set up and ready to go after the assemblies that had taken it over for the day. It was already raining outside, sending breezes of water into our gym and making it awfully chilly, if I do say so myself.
So, for those of you who think volleyball is just an intense version of ‘keep-it-up’, it’s really not. I wish so. To give you the jist, there are three positions. Outside, middle and setter. The ball goes to an outside or middle, is passed to the setter who then hits it to an outside or middle and they (hopefully) smack it down over the net.
There’s a rough picture for you. To practice, we split into two groups for hitting drills. The middles go on one side and the outsides on the other. Setters set us the ball, we hit it over. Simple, right? Yeah, if only it could be a tad bit more easy.
Anyway, that long, rambling explanation probably wasn’t needed, but you’ll understand why I was practicing with girls I really don’t like that much and not my friends on the team. I am a middle, along with four other girls out of our twenty-person team, so there’s a difference. While I was making my approach (running to the net with fancy footwork) I felt the ball hit the back of my 
And then it hit my neck.
And my shoulder.
And then a voice said, “Crap, I missed.”
Then, it hit my head in the back. Yeah, she didn’t miss that time.
It’s one thing for your friend to be funny and toss the ball at you, but to have a girl you know doesn’t like you throw the ball at your head repeatedly . . . not the best feeling in the world. I tend to have trouble controlling my anger, too. Honestly, get me started and I won’t stop. Being a writer gives me quick and easy access to thousands of metaphors and similes that I can throw out for hours on end. I just won’t stop.
So, this post isn’t to bash the bully. It isn’t to make you feel sorry for me and run over with a box of tissues. It’s just to show that we all have bad days or people that annoy the crap out of us. In case my post wasn’t as lighthearted as you expected and now you’re feeling depressed, enjoy this picture of a psychotic kitty!
Still not feeling lighthearted and fluffy? This kitty’s head sure does.
Bye for now, bloggers! I’ll see you all next week! By the way, check out my new site, http://www.dearyou---sincerelyme.blogspot.com!!
I was just on Facebook, looking at awkward pictures and reading stupid statuses when I saw a post from my boy, Hunter Hayes. HE'S RELEASING HIS ALBUM EARLY ON HIS WEBSITE! A 72 HOUR LISTENING PARTY! This boy is gorgeous (just look at him), genius . . . I'm hopelessly in love with him :) So, go to http://www.hunterhayes.com and start listening. 
That's it for now! I've got to go listen to Hunter and breathe in his music!!
Dear Seth,
You’ve completely changed all of my expectations for high school. Do you realize that? On that first day, you were a brief brush.
Literally. We were in biology, just the freshmen that day. You had to stand next to me to see the fish tank, and your skin was like fire against mine. It was a butterfly feeling, really. When you turned to face me, we were only a centimeter apart. You blushed and whispered, “Sorry.”
I didn’t know you were in my study hall block, Seth. I didn’t know I’d be counting the moments until I’d see you again. Every study hall was a game of laughter and secret smiles. You’re such a golden boy. You ask how the teacher’s day is going, compliment everyone and do what you’re told. To top it off, you’re a wrestler and have the muscle to show it, and you’re brilliant.
Do you have any flaws, Seth? Or is this all just an act? Walls you put up to keep people from really seeing you? I’ve been trying to figure you out for weeks now. You’re always so happy, so carefree. I wish I could be like that.
I’ve been trying to decide whether or not I like you, Seth. I mean, obviously, you’re sweet, caring and cute. Liking someone though . . . liking them to the point where it could become love . . . I don’t know if I’m ready to join your fan club. You’ve got girls blushing and giggling around every corner. You’ve even got poor Miss Rivera tongue-tied.
If I only saw you, I wouldn’t have these feelings. You’d just be another boy in my classes. It’s more though. In biology, you lean your chair back and let your head fall on my desk while I read, watching me with your light grey eyes. Once I reached out and ran my finger over the top of your head while you sat thee. Your hair was so soft, Seth.
When we were in study hall, the juniors and seniors were giving you a tough time for talking to me. They weren’t being mean, really, just annoying. They kept asking if we were friends, and I wanted to know the answer as much as they did. Maybe more.
You gave me a smile and said, “We’re bio buddies.”
Maybe you were only thinking about biology class and how we sit so close to each other, but I started to think of more. Bio means life, Seth. You basically said we were buddies for life.
Of course, you probably didn’t even realize that. Still, I wouldn’t mind being bio buddies with you.
Seth, you’re this whirlwind of a boy. I know you’ll be voted ‘Most Popular’ and ‘Nicest’ in the yearbook. I know you’ll have the whole graduating class on their feet when you walk across the stage in four years. I know you’re going to go far, Seth.
Why am I hesitant then? Why don’t I just accept that I like you and be done with it?
Because I’m not ready to be a follower. I see the way girls look at you. Even the sophomores in our biology class trip over their feet to see you. There’s already so many girls chasing after you.
Then there’s the small fact of my friend, Nathan. We’ve been friends for years now and I really started to like him. It doesn’t matter that his last relationship ended in flames or that he doesn’t even recognize my feelings. . . I can’t give up on him, Seth. I just can’t.
I’m giving you the choice. Either let me in and know the real you or just let me go. I’m not ready to add my name to your fan club, Seth. I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’ll need more of a reason to.
Love,
The girl who can’t love you
So, in case you haven’t heard, don’t know or just really don’t care . . . I wanted to let you all know that Rick Riordan released the second book in the ‘The Heroes of Olympus’ series! It’s titled ‘The Son of Neptune’ and focuses on Percy Jackson and two new characters, Frank and Hazel.
I haven’t gotten the chance to buy the book yet. It came out on October 4, but I’ve been too busy to even think about it until now. This four day weekend is going to be spent catching up on me-time and reading the books my teachers detest.
Have you read ‘The Son of Neptune’ yet? Want to read it? Comment and let me know your thoughts on Rick Riordan and the books he’s written. If you haven’t read any, I really advise you to read ‘The Lost Hero’! It was definitely my favorite, and if you need more reason to read, check out my review. (Just scroll down the right side of my blog and click on the little link that says ‘book review’)
Happy Columbus Day weekend, everyone! Stay happy, live free.
