New Music!!

So, I love He is We so much. They're original and different and so great. If you haven't heard of them yet, you just have to listen to one song, and I swear you'll be hooked. I love them! Here is one of their newer songs from their recently released EP album, Skip to the Good Part.
So, take a listen. Leave a comment, telling me what you think, or recommend a new artist for me to check out.

Blogging with Windows Live!

So, this is my first time to try and blog with Windows Live on my new laptop. I’ve never used the program before so I’m hoping it works and posts correctly and all that. This is mainly just a test post, but feel free to comment with your feelings about Windows Live if you’ve ever used it!

I'm still alive . . . somewhat

High school is tiring. It's that tired that clings to your eyelids from the second you wake up to the moment you lay your head down that night. With my alarm clock going off at six every morning and volleyball ending at five, it's a long, nonstop eleven hours in between. Then there's homework, dinner and of course, I've got to socialize with my family at the very least.

It's not all bad, though, I guess. I feel a lot more freedom in high school than I did previous years. It's just a long day, you know? You can feel the past changing and the future looming ahead a lot more. People change, and so does life. It's one of those things that happened to sneak up on me.

This post is mainly to let you guys know that I won't be posting as often. I'm really sorry, but it's just not possible. Once things calm down, I'll be back to my usual schedule and I'll make sure to get my "Dear Friend" letter up and going and keep the "Mazin' Music Sundays" alive!

For now, you can expect a post per week, at best. Comment on my posts to let me know you care if you read this, by the way! I'd love support from fellow high-school go-ers. Until next week, though, I must say ciao!

By the way, check out Lady Antebellum's newest album "Own the Night"! My personal favorite off the album is "Cold as Stone", especially the musical bit at the end!

I'm back!

I realized today that I've been missing since August 27 . . . so sorry about that guys! I started high school on the sixth of September and it's been a whirlwind week since then. In my four days of school, I managed to get only one late so far! I'm hoping that's an achievement on my part.
So, today is September 11. I'm sure that, wherever you are, whoever you may be, you know what happened on this day ten years ago. A terrorist attack on the United States led to the falling of the World Trade Center (Twin Towers) and ended so many lives too soon. Even in those moments of sorrow, our country came together to save those that were still breathing, mourn for those who weren't.

When I see videos of the towers collapsing and burning, my heart breaks. Those tiny dots you see hurtling out of windows and to the ground below? God, it's just so, so sad.

We all have different views on 9/11. Maybe you lost someone, maybe you didn't. I didn't lose anyone I knew, but I was only in kindergarten. What about you? Where were you the day the Earth stood still?

While you dwell on the past for just a few moments, here's a favorite song of mine by the wonderful Toby Keith.

Stay free, Americans. Live happy.

A Letter to a Friend

I just made the decision that once a week, I'll write a letter to someone and post it on this blog. Of course, I'll change names and such. The letter may not always be to a friend, too. This week, I'm writing to someone I met and can't seem to get out of my head . . . if you know what I mean.


Dear Nathan,


Remember when everyone thought I liked your best friend? At first, I did. It wore off, though. He could be annoying, in all honesty. The time I spent with both of you . . . people thought I was trying to get close to him, but I wasn't.

I started to love your quirky little facts and gorgeous eyes. You made me laugh and smile more than I had in awhile. We started hanging out more and more, with our friends, of course. Still, though, you made me feel like we were in our own little world. It was a magical feeling.

When we went to that camp at the end of the school year, everyone was having fun. We played tag in the pool, snuck off to the gazebo and spent the day together. When you risked detention to sit next to me on the bus (boy-girl seating was frowned upon!) my heart fluttered.

Was I just a speed bump? Something to stop at and pay attention to, but only for a moment? I really thought we were going somewhere, thought we were becoming something.

And then, a week later, my friend was texting me to tell me you asked her out. I played the role of a good friend, patching up your arguments and letting you two be happy. It broke me inside. It broke my heart into pieces that nothing could put back together. When she broke up with you, I waited. I gave you time.



We were at your friend's house the other day, and I thought of telling you. It's been months since you dated her. Would it be too soon for me to tell you how I really felt? We were talking when you looked at your friend and then at me. You pointed to me, made a heart and then to your friend.

Can't you forget about him? I don't love him, and I never will. I want you to be my friend again, Nathan. Can't we please be friends, like we were before I liked your friend and you dated my best friend?

Please,

Ashley

It's Friday, Friday, Friday!

Yeah, who would've guessed? I'm a closet Rebecca Black fan.

No, not really. Although, her songs are catchy.

Anyway, I decided to post today about what's been going on. The blog's been updated. I took away a few widgets, changed the template and switched a few things. What do you think? Does it look better now than before? If you have a scroller along the bottom of your screen, you can view my whole blog by changing your zoom percentage to 80% in the bottom right-hand corner. It won't let me change it, so sorry for that.

I'm glad that my twenty followers are nice enough to check in on my blog every now and then. Tell other people about this random blog of ramblings, too, guys! I'll be reviewing books, giving advice and showing you the latest in the music world.

School's starting soon for me, but I hope to be on often. Don't forget to stop by and tell me how your first days are going, no matter what grade you're going into.

It's time for me to go, but I wish you a good last weeks of summer and the best of luck in school!

And the storm rolls in . . .

Isn't that picture gorgeous? I like to think so, seeing as I took it. The sunset was really pretty that night in Jamaica and I just couldn't resist capturing it.

Well, that's pretty much the happiest part of this post. These last few days have been eventful and chaotic in my house. I started volleyball on Monday and had a good time, but during practice yesterday I got my foot caught in someone's open duffel bag and twisted my ankle.

It was a lovely trip to the doctor and then to get x-rays done. Turns out, my ankle was sprained, and now I get to wear a lovely little ankle brace for the next week or so. I guess I really shouldn't be running without looking down every few seconds, right?

My sister had to go to the doctor today for what looked like a tick bite. She was diagnosed with lyme disease, but she'll be all right. It just needs a good dose of medicine every day for the next two weeks. She doesn't seem to mind too much, so I'm guessing she's feeling the same as she usually does.

The icing on this wonderful cake of pessimism? There's a hurricane heading for my state, and it's supposed to be pretty bad. I hope it's a little better than expected. I'm crossing my fingers and the toes I can!

Hope all of you are having a better week than me, but hey . . . after every storm comes a rainbow!

By the way, what comes after a hurricane? A firework/rainbow/unicorn explosion? I hope so!

Back in the States!

Yes, I have survived Jamaica and made it home in one piece. It's an awful big accomplishment if I do say so myself. My trip was good, but not excellent. It was pretty, yes. There were pools, yes. The ocean was clear, yes.

Was there internet access? No. Was the hotel service magnificent? No. Was snorkeling awesome? No.

That last one is mainly for all of the people that told me to go snorkeling.
"You'll have fun!"
"Don't be a wuss; go and snorkel!"
"So, you're just going to be lazy and sit on the beach all day?"

I went snorkeling to please those people, you know. It was terrifying. The water was rough, I couldn't see a thing and, the icing on the cake . . . I cut my foot on the coral! Three pretty little pieces of purple coral were lodged in my foot, and I had to go to the hospital nurse to get one removed. The other two are still in my foot.

All in all, though, it was a good trip. It was really nice to just get away from everything, you know? You're probably wondering what else I did. (Did she really get coral in her foot and that was it?) I did a ton of stuff, and I'll be posting pictures soon.

Have a good Sunday, guys! I'll post some music for y'all later!! :)

The friends we make, the lives we shake

After reading Tangled by Carolyn Mackler (check out the review, guys!) I realized that our lives are all based on a million chance meetings . . . like the people I met at the Taylor Swift concert a few nights ago. Or the friend I went with. Maybe I'll never see those new people again, or maybe, one day they'll replace that friend I went with. It's all so random . . . this life, this world.


Without friends, we wouldn't be the people we are, right? We all have friends, different kinds with their own little quirks. I decided to write a post about those friends, or, about my friends. Maybe you'll be able to relate, maybe not.



My Best Friend:


We love the same music, books, snacks . . . we're practically twins in some aspects. Despite that fact, we do have our differences.


She loves softball, I'll always be a die-hard volleyball fan. She goes to a personal trainer, I go to the gym. She doesn't like to write short stories, I live off of them.


So, we have our differences. The key to our friendship though: we let things be. There's no arguments over stupid things, no begging for sleepovers, no persistent text-messaging and calling. We talk when we want, say what we want to say and do what we feel like. Friendship should come easily (that's not to say it's all butterflies and rainbows, you've gotta make an effort); if you've gotta really work at it, it's time to leave it.



The Know-It-All:

We all have that friend, right? Either they're always getting top grades or they know about the latest gossip, and they flaunt it. It can get annoying sometimes.

My friend is super-smart, and she doesn't let me forget. While, sometimes, I want to narrow my eyes and stick my tongue out at her, I just remind myself that she might know all about math and reading, but there's stuff she doesn't know.

Keeping things light lets us stay friends with each other. We don't argue and we don't get annoyed when the other wins (whether that be a geometry final or a writing contest). Friends shouldn't argue over the little things. So stop yourself if you find yourself bickering without reason.


The Butterfly:


I once heard about a girl being described as a butterfly, no faster was she tacked down than she was escaping and running off. My friend reminds me of Bridget from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She can't be tied down.


Not by a boyfriend. Not by a friend. Not by anyone.


I used to try and keep a leash on her, but there's no point. Friends like these come and go, and you just have to let yourself have a good time while it lasts. They come quickly, but they leave oh so soon.


So, enjoy them. Let them in, but know they will go. Butterflies can never stay forever, you know.


Here Tomorrow, Gone Today:

She laughs at your jokes, agrees with your decisions and makes you feel like you could be friends forever. Then, suddenly, you're realizing she wasn't always like this. She used to be mean, used to be evil.

People change in the blink of an eye. One second, they're an enemy and then . . . they're an ally, standing beside you. It all changes so much, though. I once had a friend who promised me forever. When the tide shifted and the sun stopped shining. . . friendship's a fickle thing. It comes and it goes. It rains and it snows.

Here's a poem I wrote after the fallout of a really, really long friendship:

Our Friendship’s Fall

Friendship is built from
Love, hope and trust.
When we’re little, it’s formed
From faith and pixie dust.

It’s supposed
To be strong.
It supposed to
Last long.

So why didn’t ours?
One day, it was there.
Now it’s gone.
This doesn’t seem fair.

We were so close;
I knew your dreams.
You knew my wishes,
But nothing is as it seems.

Was I just a toy?
Something to be thrown away?
Is it because I changed;
Stood up for myself that day?

You promised that we would
Be best friends forever,
So why has our friendship
Suddenly been severed?

We’re both at fault;
We can both be blamed.
Honestly, though,
I’m not ashamed.

Our friendship was rocky,
Before this whole mess.
All because you started
To care about it less.

Our texts were short,
And you stopped calling.
When I wanted to make plans,
You were always stalling.

I backed up,
And I stepped away.
I promised myself my emotions
Would no longer sway.

I’m sorry I really saw you,
For what you truly are.
You were no longer my friend;
No longer a shining star.

Friendship is built from
Love, hope and trust.
When we’re little, it’s formed
From faith and pixie dust.

None of that matters, though,
When you’re only acting.
Your lies and the stories you wove,
They’re all so impacting.

I’m turning away,
And ending it now.
I can’t do it any longer,
So go ahead and take a bow.

Don’t bother calling.
It’s over, once and for all.
I’ll try not to remember
Our friendship’s fall.

It hurts, doesn't it? When suddenly your 'best friend forever' is defriending
you and deleting your phone number from their contacts. It comes down to one
question though: Do you really want to be friends with someone who can erase you
so quickly?

The Friend of the Opposite Sex:

that you almost always wind up falling for. Yeah, I've got one of those. Actually, you know what? I've got two of them. I let myself fall in love with one of my closet guy friends and it was a really big screw-up on my part.

But you know what? I don't care anymore. I like him somewhat now, not as much as before. Call me all the names you'd like, but I even find myself leaning closer to my other guy friend. The thing is, I know nothing will ever happen between us. It makes me feel risky and confident to lean in and brush an eyelash from his cheek.

Let yourself fall in love with that guy you hang out with all the time. If you fall, he might just catch you.

Or he might stay a friend and put a trampoline where you're going to fall.

WE THE KINGS =D

Yep, I'm a shameless fan-girl. Bite me.




Or, you know, please don't. I don't like to be bitten by strangers. Rabies scare me.



Anyway, the title of my blog post is due to the fact that I am going to see We The Kings, Hot Chelle Rae, Downtown Fiction and a few other bands in concert tonight with two of my friends. I'm super excited.

So, I'm going to the concert, yadda yadda ya. I decided that even though it's a Thursday, I'll post a music video for you. This way you can see the band that I love so much! Here is We The King's song, Skyway Avenue.

So, that's all for now. I better go get ready for tonight! Have a great Thursday night and Friday, guys!

Christmas in July :)

I love July 25, because it means that Christmas is half a year away. Six months seems like a lot, but it's the months before it, too. Halloween, then Thanksgiving and then Christmas and then New Year's. Everything happens so fast around that time of year.

Today is also my little sister's birthday. She turned ten *tosses confetti into the air* It's hard to believe how much things have changed since we were little. It's still funny to see how mature (this I type while she jumps up and down, shouting at some object) she is compared to the little youngsters I babysit.

Another point to make . . . this is my 50th blog post on this blog!! I don't think I've ever made it that far before. Well, I have to go and get ready to go out to dinner but I just thought I'd let my 18 followers know what's up in the life of this rambling writer.

I've been thinking . . .

I promised that, soon, you'd get another message from yours truly about life, love and all that other stuff. I've been thinking about it, and I know what I want to say. What I want you guys to hear and pay attention to . . .

So, we've all had our hearts broken. Maybe your "true love" dumped you via text message (been there, done that) or your best friend left you when the going got tough. Or, maybe, you lost a loved one, like a parent or sibling. We've all gone through storms and showers, right?

I'll tell you all what I've told countless friends and relatives. These are all my honest opinions. If you don't like it or agree with it, then fine. Go ahead and leave. I won't chase you down.

It's all right to cry. Let it out. Crying won't make you less strong or immature. If you don't cry, it'll all just build up inside of you until you have to bubble over. Don't let it get to that, because it usually ends with more problems than what you started with. Believe me, I've been there before.
If you lost your friend (not due to death, sickness or any of that sort) you need to ask yourself if it's worth it to try and patch things up. Sometimes, you realize that things just weren't working out. Adults and counselors try to tell you to make it work, sort things out . . . what if it isn't worth it? What if the friendship was toxic? Just hurting you and breaking you down? If it was, let it go. Move on and come out stronger. Don't let it tear you apart and eat at you.

For those of you who had someone die . . . I lost my grandparents (only two, not all four) within a year of one another, and I didn't even know my grandmother. It was tough. I saw the difference between losing someone you knew like the back of your hand and losing someone who was never around. My best friend lost her dad when we were only eleven or so in a freak accident. My advice for you: stay with your friends. Don't listen to people who try to make you feel childish for being upset. You have a right to scream and curse and be angry at the world. (I know people say you shouldn't, but it's all right. Let it out!) And remember, refer to the first bullet.

That year-long relationship was just ended with a text, and you're feeling like crap? I know how you feel. So, I'm only fourteen. So, my longest relationship was three months. Big whoop. I've seen adults divorce, my older relative in tears over boyfriends and my friends just shatter to pieces.

1. 
   
   Your parents are getting divorced or maybe you are. The love just isn't there. Think things over, really and truly. This applies for people getting married and divorced. Think of the bad times (arguments, fights), but remember the smiles, the laughs. Sometimes, it's easier to cut ties and go your seperate ways. I'm no expert on marriage, but it's not some light thing to just do for fun. Think it over. Really.





2. Your boyfriend (I'm guessing I don't have boys following me, but if you are a guy, or have a girlfriend, then just change this post to fit your relationships) broke up with you and you're feeling lost. I've seen it before. If you don't know why they ended things, ask them. Don't sit and sulk and wait for time to start moving again. Be brave, be strong and find out what went wrong. Don't let them end things with a text saying 'it's over'. Make them talk to you. You'll regret it if you look back in a few years and remember that you just let it all slip by. Don't let that happen to you.





3. It's three A.M. and you're sitting in your room, trying to figure out why your first boyfriend just broke up with you. You were dating for over a year. He was your first everything. Your friends ran out of things to say, and you don't know where to turn. Honey, it's okay to cry. It's okay to hide under the covers and let it out. Just break down, because if you don't crack and fall apart, you can't be put back together. Remember that time will go on, more boys (or girls) will come and you will come out of this, alive. It feels like the end of the world, but remind yourself that it's all right to cry and eat ice cream until you burst. You'll need time. Broken hearts can't be fixed or made invincible. The only cure for a broken heart is time, friends and a good dose of Ben and Jerry's.

• One more thing for relationships with friends/significant others: Don't let them use you as a personal yo-yo. Some relationships are toxic and no good, to put it simply. If your "true love" keeps breaking up with you and making you wonder why you two are together, let him go. Let him realize what he lost, not what he can mess around with. If your friends keep ignoring you and leaving you out of the loop, think things over. What are you getting from them? Giving them support and respect and trust is great for them, but if they're keeping secrets and letting you just fade away, it might be time for a change.

So, there's my message for today. Friendships and love are important in life, but don't let them take over to the point of stress. You might think differently. Maybe you think people shouldn't cry and that they should just move on and say "Screw it" to the person who hurt them. Good for you. We all have opinions and that's part of mine up there. Those are the things I wish someone had said to me when I was hurting.

Well, ta-ta for now, guys! Best of luck with life, love and surviving this crazy ride.

Jamaica!!!! :)

So, every summer, my parents pack up the cars, get off work for a week and take my sister and me to the Jersey shore. It's fun, sure, but I guess it was starting to get old. My parents decided that this year, we'd go somewhere more exotic, somewhere more unique, somewhere like . . .

Jamaica!

I'll be in Jamaica, staying at the amazing Beaches Negril hotel. (I think that's what it's called) So, when I go M.I.A. mid-August, don't worry. I'm hoping to have internet access so I can post tons of pretty pictures and blog each day, but no promises.

That's a picture of my hotel/resort. :D Isn't it cool? If I'm lucky, I'll be able to find some people to hang out with when I'm there, so I won't be glued to my parents the whole trip. Here's a picture of the beach.

I know, I know. The actual places aren't always as glamorous as they look, right? Well, I'm hoping that Jamaica will be nice, even if it isn't Hollywood gorgeous.

There's your little update for today. Hopefully, you'll all be able to see pictures and hear about my time as an international traveler. For now, though, I bid you farewell! Adios bloggers!

Fearlessness

"Cause I don't know how it gets better than
this. You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why but with you I'd dance
In a storm in my best dress
Fearless"

Taylor Swift sure knows what being fearless is, but do you? Do you know what it's like to just jump and not have any fears?

Fearlessness is a lot of different things. I was thinking about this as I walked with my cousin through an amusement park the other day. She's seven years older than me, and I've always looked up to her like she's the greatest person ever.

So, when she looked at me and just said, "You know, you're so fearless. I could never do all the things you do."

It surprised me. I mean, me? Fearless? Never.


The more I think about it, though, the more I understand what she meant. What my classmate meant when he sighed and said, "You're never upset, never sad. Never angry. I just don't see how you do it."

On the outside, I'm that smart, joyful fearless girl. I'm not afraid of anything. I could never fail.

The thing is, though, I'm not fearless. Not at all. I just know what to be fearful of.


All right, this is where I stop rambling for a moment and see all of your blank faces. What I'm trying to say is . . . don't be afraid of the little things. Don't be afraid you'll wear the wrong clothes or that your hair won't look good. Don't be afraid that you'll mess up while presenting a project or that you'll flunk that test, even though you studied for weeks. Don't be afraid of those things when there's so much more out there.


In life, there are some fears you simply can't conquer. I'm terrified of death. The thought literally makes me break down and cry. That's something I don't think I'll ever be able to change, because it's death. You can't power through it and come out on the other side, totally fearless. It's not possible. Of course, if you do manage to do that, call me up. I'd love to know ;)



Go out and ride a rollercoaster. Fail a test. Ride your bike up a ramp with no safety protection. Jump off a cliff.

Don't spend your life being scared of the things you can change, of the things you can conquer. Being afraid of something means that part of you will never be happy. It'll always be worrying and biting its nails. So, do something reckless and get rid of your fears.

For the fears that remain - like my worry of death - just let yourself get rid of them, slowly, but surely. Let those things that worry you and terrify you just fade away. It'll happen, I promise.

The Apocalypse O.O

So, I'm sure any fellow inkies know about the changes going on for the website these next few days. The site's down, which means more free time to write and blog for me :D If you do go to the site, there's a pretty little countdown button with the days, hours, minutes and seconds until inkpop comes back with all of its new orange flashiness. (I don't approve of watching the timer click away the seconds. It makes you dizzy)

I know I'm feeling a little lost without my inkie friends. If you wanna word war or just chat it up, you can go to this website made by fellow inkie, Tracy Michelle
http://chitchatinkpop.webs.com/summers.htm
It's got different chat rooms for the Summers, Procrastinators, Pink Panthers and so on.

Any summers out there, writing their InkieNoWriSum projects? The big event officially started yesterday, and I'm proud to say I wrote four chapters of Behind That Broken Smile. It should be ready for posting after the little shut down.

If anyone wants to talk to a fellow writer during these down days, feel free to email me at ashley2055@gmail.com

Toodles, for now, my fellow bloggers!

No, the party never stops . . . woah

Tonight is my eighth grade dinner dance/formal, whatever you wanna call it. I've got my hair drying in a towel, and I just returned from getting a mani and pedi :) While I wait for my hair to dry and the dance to arrive, I decided I'll post another little confidence booster of sorts. I'm hoping these little guys help some of you out there.


In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
Robert Frost

See that quote? Robert Frost was right; no matter what happens or how many things tear your life apart and break you down, your life will go on. You will make it through, and nothing is going to stop you from being you. I know, once upon a dreadful time, there were tons of places where people weren't allowed to be themselves, and they weren't allowed to speak up and stand out.

The world's a changing place, though. Maybe you don't live in the USA, like I do. Maybe you live in China or Cuba or Argentina. I don't know, and frankly, I don't have the time to stalk my thirteen followers and find out where all of them live.

I know there will always be people and leaders that try to keep others silenced. There will always be those who feel superior and try to make you feel like you're inferior. But you're not. To feel inferior or worthless or hopeless or anything, you must allow yourself to feel that way. You must give your mind, body and soul permission to think those things and treat yourself that way.

So, why treat yourself like you're worthless? Or helpless? Or stupid? Everyone has something special to give to the world; we all have a hidden talent, no matter how old or young, girl or boy, black or white. It doesn't matter. We are all human beings and we all have the power to voice our opinions.

I'm not saying to start a riot or try to assassinate the president. Those are very negative things, my dears. People who consider those types of things need to seek mental help, immedietely. What Frost was trying to say, as well as I, is that life will always go on, no matter what happens to you. So, if something bad happens to you, don't stand there and let it eat at you and destroy you, because your life will go on and you can't let that continue to happen.

Stand up for your beliefs. Stand up for others. Stand up for yourself.

Well, it's time I go and get ready, everybody. I hope you liked my little speech there. Kinda confusing, emotional and weird, but hey, if it helps anyone out there, I'll be satisfied. Wish me luck, fellow bloggers and followers!

You've Gotta Be Strong

So, the end of my eighth grade year is approaching quickly. It's been as chaotic as it's been fun, which means I'll have mixed emotions when I finally do leave the hell hole I called home for so many years. (Who knew they even had kindergarten through eighth grade schools anymore?)

Anyway, I've been dealing with drama lately. Boy drama, school drama, suicide-thoughts drama. But none of them were actually about me, you know. Well, maybe a little of the school/boy, but no suicidal thoughts for me, dearies :D I've been consoling and helping and holding people up all week.
And I've realized something through all of this. Something that I feel I should share with my lovely followers who deserve a hug and a virtual pound of fudge.

No matter how worthless life seems or how crappy things are, you've got to pull through. I don't care if you hate your family or the school thinks you're a whore. I don't care if you want to kill yourself or your boyfriend cheats on you. I don't care, because nothing is worse than ending things right before the sun comes back.
I was with a girl on Friday who broke down crying so much that she couldn't even keep walking, and she was so, so broken. But you know what? Ten minutes later, someone got her to smile. Someone got her to laugh and hold her head up high.

What is all this random rambling, you ask? This is the rambling of a writer, of a girl, of a teenager, of a friend, of a sister. The message I'm trying to show you all: Don't give up. Whether it's getting a novel published or living your life, do not give up. There is always something to look forward to if you just keep looking.

InkieNoWriSum :D

See that jumble of letters? That's for Inkie Novel Writing Summer which will be like National Novel Writing Month, but we're gonna take the whole summer to write a project or continue one. My goal is to start 'Behind That Broken Smile' (the sequel to 'Behind These Amber Eyes') and get it up to at least 60,000 words.

InkieNoWriSum will go from June 14 to August 18, so I'm hoping for a good novel at the end of it. I know some of my followers aren't inkpop users, but that shouldn't stop you from setting your own goals this summer.

Want to write a novel? Do it.
Want to write a book of poetry? Do it.
Want to jump off a cliff? Do not - I repeat do NOT - do it!

So, that's the jist of my summer plans. I hope to finish up 'Your Name Was Joey' before June 14, but I won't mind working on it this summer if I must. :]

In the world of the media, here's my personal items on the agenda these days.

Currently Reading: Generation Dead
Currently Listening to: Joey by Sugarland, She Will Be Loved and Never Gonna Leave This Bed by Maroon 5
Currently Watching: Desperate Housewives finale tonight, Secret Life and Make It or Break It tomorrow night

So, there you have it, bloggers. I think I'll go make an icon for InkieNoWriSum :)

It's my birthday!!!!! :D

Yep, I'm fourteen today . . . . I'm betting a lot of you didn't know I was only fourteen or maybe you thought I was like four O.o Well, either way, I just wanted to update my blog. I've been busy lately, but I finished Flashbacks of Juliet (pretty sure I had a post about that) and I'm rewriting my query for Behind These Amber Eyes so I might be able to get it published or at least find myself an agent, even though I'm so young. Gotta hope, right? You're probably expecting a book review, and I'll have one soon. I'm reading 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' for a book report, so I'll review for anyone who wants to read, has to for school or was wondering what it was about. I think that's all for today, guys. I'll try to finish up Huckleberry this weekend and get you a nice, fresh review. :]