2011... an interesting year, should I say? A lot of firsts for me.. hmm, let's see...
First year of Fine Arts.
First time being in a band and actually getting to do lead vocals on April 17th.
First time going to National Fine Arts as the harmony vocalist.
First year in public school, leaving homeschool.
First year as a teenager.
First year playing bass.
First year reviewing books.
First year (in a long time) that I've finished a book in less than a week, thanks to Sara Shepard and her books "The Lying Game" and "Never Have I Ever".
It was a year of "firsts". But, 2012 is coming... with even more firsts, and a lot of seconds. I will repeat all (hopefully that will include nationals--- 2012 we're going to Louisville!!!) things. 2012.... I'm going back to the start.
It's a new day. A new month. A new year. A second chance to show everyone what I've wanted to, and don't worry I'm not a serial killer. A second chance to change everything that went wrong. And don't be nervous about that Chipotle video... I still eat meat... poultry, specifically.
Dear 2011,
"Nobody said it was easy. It's such a shame for us to part. Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it'd be so hard. I'm going back to the start."
-"The Scientist", originally by Coldplay
I am going to live 2012 like it is my last. Because you never know what will be...
This year was just epic, television-wise. As you see, I don't say "TV" anymore, I prefer "Tele." It's what the British say, as I am obsessed with London now. Not that it wasn't already obvious... I am a Doctor Who complete nerd, my favourite (I write "favourite" instead of "favorite" now because that's what the British do!) channel is BBC America, and my favorite Coldplay song is "Cemeteries of London". And, I don't say "Cem-e-tery" anymore, I pronounce it "cem-e-try"... it's what the British do!
So, here are the world's best shows up for voting... choose wisely... very wisely. If I don't get enough votes, someone is gonna get sent to THE DOCTOR'S office... no pun intended. Anyway...
"Doctor Who." Ah, who doesn't love the Doctor? When I saw my first episode, I admit to being freaked out. So, never let your first episode have The Silents in it, okay?
The first video shows the entire life of "Doctor Who", from its beginning in 1963, up to where David Tennant (2005-2009 or something like that) regenerates into Matt Smith (2009-present). It is very emotional for me when Davy (my nickname for the Tennant) regenerates, knowing how much he doesn't want to and even this girl who didn't like Tennant by any means really loves him when he regenerates. It almost makes me... miss him. But he's moved on to great roles, trust me. And if Matt Smith regenerates---something I rarely like to talk about---even if he moves on to better roles, he will always be known as the guy who played The Doctor.
The second video... I'm really embarrassed that I posted it. But whatever. I bought that song on iTunes because it's so catchy! And I know I'm a half-geek. I'm not a full-on nerd because I'm not good at math or science... BUT! I am doing really good in math right now! What I mean by really good is C. But still. It's a high enough C to get me through the next two weeks of the quarter and the test we took before break just might have raised my grade to a B! So yeah. My goal for the test was to get a C, which still means I'd have to revise. But I think I did pretty good, I might not have to revise. I probably do, but there's still hope!
The third video was a preview for the season premiere. That episode... I didn't like it at first because Amy and Rory (they're in the beginnning of the second video, standing next to Matt Smith) werent in it, but then I started to adjust and was like, "They're not in it? Whatever. The Doctor didn't die, so be happy." And then... THEY APPEARED AT THE END! I was so happy! And I love how they're like,
"Come on in, blah blah blah..."
The Doctor: "Uh, I should probably get going."
Amy and Rory: "But we have a place set for you."
The Doctor: "Why would you set a place for me if you didn't even know I was gonna come?"
Amy: "Because you always do!"
Rory: "Come on."
The Doctor: *Stands by himself for a long time and then suddenly realizes a tear just fell down his cheek. Becuase he's not human, he doesn't know he can cry. Like when this lady and her kids were crying a couple minutes ago in the episode, he was like, "Happy crying. Humany woomeny." And then he realizes he's crying and I'm just like "AWWWWWWHHHHHH!!!! THIS IS THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!"*
"Switched at Birth." It comes back on American tele (sorry I failed you guys... this show isn't British:*( ) January 3rd! From seeing the trailers, you might be like, "oh my gosh, Hope... that show is too dramatic." But that's what I love! I am a huge drama queen, but not in a "she thinks she's hot" kind of way. I just like to exaggerate things. So this show? Awesome. One problem, though, honey.
You stole my idea. I wrote a story (finally finished it!) called "Unspoken" about a deaf girl and a mute guy. Just when I was about to make some changes and make the guy deaf instead, this came along. I did post a lot about that book... ABC Family, did you have somebody checking my blog? If so, I'm contacting Judge Judy! Then again, you did add in kids being switched at birth and more drama than I did, so we're cool.
"The Walking Dead." This show is... kinda gory... doubt anyone will vote for it. And it's not British, by the way. But I like it. It's coming back on in February. I love that all my shows are coming back on one after another... "Doctor Who" came on Christmas day... that's December, in case you don't know. "Switched at Birth" comes on in January. "Walking Dead" comes on in February. Yay.
"The Lying Game". I haven't seen that show in awhile. It came on right after I got back from Phoenix... just to find out the setting was in Phoenix! In the books it's Tucson, though. I love the books. I have "The Lying Game" and got "Never Have I Ever" for Christmas. The next book, "Two Truths and a Lie", is coming out on my mom's birthday--- February 7th! I watched all the episodes up until school started, which means I only saw like four episodes. When school started I didn't have time to watch it anymore, especially because the show comes on Mondays. I tried recording it but my dad kept deleting it. This time though... oh yeah, I'm going back to the start (winkwink, my next post says something like that). I'm going back and watching all the episodes. And while doing so, I'm gonna re-read the books. Nobody said it was easy... no one ever said it would be this fun!
REMEMBER TO VOTE!!!!!
P.S. "Lying Game" is not British, either.
P.P.S. And I'm not British.
P.P.P.S. I'm black.
Ah... how was your Christmas? Mine rocked! And yes, I mean ROCKed... my Christmases are always music filled, aren't they? So, I spent almost all of my $25 iTunes gift card in a good twenty minutes despite how freakin' slow iTunes is, and saved about three dollars to buy my Fine Arts performance track, plus two more songs just for the pleasure of buying two more:). So, that money went by fast, just like the year in itself. Then, my not-so-middle-class uncle gave me A LOT of money, as usual (I feel so rich right now... maybe I'll be snobby if I decide to be), and I don't know what to do with it. Then my aunt who is also quite well-off gave me $20, and my grandma got me a $50 gift card to Target, and someone else gave me a $25 one to the same store... I'm rolling in cash! So I might save for an electric guitar... or another iTunes card. Then my parents got me the book I asked for, "Never Have I Ever" by Sara Shepard. I started reading it two days ago and finished it last night. It sooooo good, and I think I know who Sutton's killer is. My parents also got me a music thingy with a treble clef on it and something else music related... yeah...
SO! It's been a great year, hasn't it? I think great years should have great endings. So, after seeing Mrs. Jenilee's blog post about her favourite posts from 2011, I decided to do the same--- relating to my blog(s), though! And wow... I really like the posts I made this year. Once again, I've written over 200 posts! In my blog's nearly three years of being around, more than 500 posts have been published! Yipee!
So, since I turned thirteen this year, here are thirteen of twenty-eleven's best blog posts!
2. "This is Goodbye" - a sad poem I wrote about... I don't really know, it was for Language Arts class one morning. I guess it's about a breakup, not like it was written from experience.
5. "Phoenix Days Are Held in a Photograph" - a post full of photographs (includes a pic of me!) from when I went to Phoenix for National Fine Arts with our group's band, plus Drew and Lauren who went for the missions thingy and Drew made it to Nationals for photography, Lauren for poetry (I was the harmony vocalist in the band). Also, this post includes a picture of my obsession--- Church's Chicken!!! And there's a lyric post for "Excuses" by Deas Vail, the song our band got second place in Ohio for.
6. "Relient K is for KaraoKe!" - a post about Relient K's cover album that came out in June. Now they have Part 2 of the EP out!
7. "Mono Vs. Stereo" - a post about the difference between mono and stereo, for people who want to learn more about music that don't already know too much about it.
9. "I Will Never Say Never" - a post about believing (or Belieb-ing) in yourself even when you have to sing in front of everyone you've ever known.
10. "Meet a Young Author" - my very first interview with a published author, Victoria Kasten. I heard her speak at the 2011 Homeschool Convention and found her at her booth. I asked her if she had any time for a few questions, and she politely obliged! She was very comfortable and open to answering the questions of a twelve-year-old.
11. "Meet a Meteorologist" - my very first interview with a meteorologist who works for local tele (British people say "tele" instead of "TV", so I say "Tele" now) broadcasting in Dayton, Ohio--- Jeffrey Booth. I e-mailed him and didn't think he'd reply, but... surprisingly, he did. I said I only had a few questions for him, but it ended up being quite a few. And, I even got him to visit this blog to see the interview!
13. And then... "The Baby of Shame" . I tried to go in order by month from most recent to least recent, but this one's from October. It's classic. Once you've seen the baby of shame... you can't unsee it.
I hope your Christmas ROCKed. So, here's a couple rock songs (and a few pop) to vote for!
"The Story of Us" by Taylor Swift... catchy song, eh? Now, please don't hate on me when I say I love country music. I LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC! It's amazing! I love Tay Tay (T Swift)'s voice especially. It's kinda little-kiddy, like mine. So, to those that have heard her new song "Safe & Sound" for "The Hunger Games"??? You know that song keeps replaying on my iPod, which has to get fixed. But I love that song. I think The Civil Wars and Taylor Swift should like, band together or something, because they sound really good together in that song. REALLY GOOD.
"Take My Hand" by The Cab. I bought this song on iTunes and was greatly disappointed. It sounds nothing like this. The tempo is slightly different which is fine, but the guitar is distorted and TOO LOUD. However, the vocals are nice. Like in the iTunes version of this, after it says "Down to this place that I know..." it repeats "Place that I know!" and I love that part. However, in the verses they have some robotic BGVs that kinda ruin it for me. But I love the synth in the iTunes version. Overall, I like this version better, so that's why you're seeing pictures of Megan and Liz.
"Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato. Honestly? The covers of this are better than the original, in my opinion. I bought Cimorelli's version (I like their live version better... the studio version overuses auto-tune) and I love Boyce Avenue's version... did I tell you I'm seeing them live in March if I get my way (which I probably won't)? But the song has just such a powerful message and that's all that matters to me.
"Oh, Imagine That"! by Max and Simon. This duo has really had a good year. First, they had a song featured in Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis' new movie's soundtrack. Then, this song was featured on JCPenney's back-to-school commercial. So you thought you've heard this song before? Now you know how! And, it's living happiness in a song... who wouldn't like it? "Imagine that, imagine back. Imagine this, imagine that. Imagine that. OH! Imagine that!"
"Bleed" by Hot Chelle Rae. I love 1:21 through to 1:34. This band has skyrocketed also, and this song is waaaaaaay better than the famed "Tonight, Tonight". I remember when I was practically the only one of all my friends that had heard "Tonight, Tonight" and then all of a sudden, EVERYBODY knows that song! And I heard them play it live... um... no comment. But this song is amazing. I'll never be sick of it.
"Far Away" by Tyga and Chris Richardson. It's one of those songs you know you have to buy from the second you hear "Walk a thousand miles... just to see her, see her, but she's FAR FAR AWAAAAAY!!!" It's just such a sad song!!! You know "The Scientist" by Coldplay? Well yeah, I hate that song, but the music videos have the same thing. In "The Scientist" the girl dies in a car crash. In "Far Away" the girl dies in a car crash as well but I think her death was much, much worse... she was hit by a semi truck and that was right after she got in a HUGE fight with the guy. Sucks for him, eh???
"Fixed at Zero" by VersaEmerge. Sierra's voice haunts me when she says "There's a vulture on my shoulder..." And now I think my favorite animal is a vulture, all because of this song. Creepy stuff, I know. Like, I was watching this stupid movie and these guys were riding motorcycles in the hot Nevada desert. Their bikes all happened to break down because they were too stupid to stop for gas and didn't realize the sign by the gas station said "No gas for 200 miles". So they're like, crying as they're walking with their bikes and this vulture appears out of nowhere (me and Faith were singing this song) and they're just like, "You get the heck outta here!" That was a really stupid movie... I need to find out the name of it... in fact, I think it was actually a series, LoL!
It's Christmas day! Yay! I am having a great Christmas! It's so much better than last Christmas. It still feels like a normal day because snow just doesn't wanna fall on the Miami Valley this year, does it? We haven't had a white Christmas since that ginormous storm back in like, '04 or something. So I don't even dream of white Christmases anymore, because I know that in Dayton, Ohio; they just don't happen.
I got an iTunes card as my favorite gift this year. (and a new computer for the whole family--- you know what that means? No more Microsoft Word 2001 {or something like that}--- We're updating!!!) I downloaded eighteen songs and still have $5.47 left... hmm what should I buy? I know I have to keep at least one dollar so I can buy my "Behind the Scenes" (Francesca Battistelli) performance track for Fine Arts.
So, the first thing I did was buy "Christmas Lights" by Coldplay. This song is just so true. Like:
"When you're still waiting for the snow to fall, it doesn't really feel like Christmas at all."
In Dayton, it never feels like Christmas!!!!! Which is weird, I mean, HELLO, I live in a pretty cold climate. But oh well. Welcome to Ohio...
But this song also means, may it sound like pun was intended, hope. "Christmas night, another fight. Tears, we cried a flood." Sounds like a pretty sad Christmas Eve... no one would feel like celebrating Christmas. But...
"Those. Christ. Mas. Lights, light up the street, down where the sea and city meet. May all your troubles soon be gone. Oh Christmas lights, keep shining on!"
Even if you're having a bad Christmas, guess what??? Think about it like this: You're celebrating Christ's birth--- there's no reason to not be happy! Jesus is alive (still)! He was born so we could have new life! So that when he died on the cross that fateful Friday (and people wonder why I love Fridays... hmm...), we could be separated from sin and set apart to serve God. So you can choose to be an atheist or whatever if you want, you were born with free will. But, remember what this day really is. And ask yourself:
Why do YOU celebrate Christmas???
Is it for getting gifts? Do you like giving the gifts? Are you like me, someone who likes to try something new every year? (Making homemade cards for everyone in my half of the grade---that's twenty-seven kids---was intense this year. Super difficult.) Well, here's MY question for YOU:
If you don't believe in God, why do you celebrate Christmas? Because that doesn't make sense to me, just being honest. I wouldn't celebrate a holiday for someone I don't believe in. Maybe you're a kid and your parents believe in God so you celebrate it anyway, and I understand. But I don't see how someone can celebrate a holiday for someone they don't believe in. Christmas has become a holiday for just giving and receiving. But remember what the ultimate gift is, who gave their life for you...
"I think you've forgotten who really defeated the White Witch, Peter."
-Lucy, Disney/Walden's "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"
Don't forget who Christmas is really about, alright? Merry Christmas, y'all. PEACE!!
Hello! You know I like indie music because I'm always blogging about Deas Vail, Katie Costello, and Yael Naim. Well, you should know at the very least.
So here are your options for voting!
AND DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! We have had a huge decrease in voting this year.
"The Right Mistakes" by Deas Vail is probably my favorite song off the album. It was my favorite from the start.... no, "Desire" was. But this one is like, classic. And you know that OHMIGAHITSJAMES guy that posts like, a whole bunch of Deas Vail videos? Yeah, he went to Phoenix this year! For Fine Arts, just like I did!
"Stranger" by Katie Costello is so ghostly... so creepy... but amazing! Katie has a way with words that really creep me out. Her voice is beautiful and yet still so creepy. They chose the perfect episode of "Switched at Birth" to play this song that got her more publicity! "Anywhere Place" was also featured on the show. If you like Regina Spektor, you're really gonna like Katie Costello.
"Go to the River" by Yael Naim... ah, this girl is slowly moving away from the title "indie"... Her song "New Soul" has been blasted on several Apple commercials. Her song "Come Home" was also on "Switched at Birth". This one is my favorite of hers. Now I really wanna dance toward a river... however, Mad River is not nearly half as peaceful...
"Cemetries of London" by Coldplay--- best Coldplay song ever, yet I'm stuck with only Mylo Xyloto on my iPod... should have bought Viva La Vida, I know (I have "Viva La Vida" the song, but not the album).
The first thing you might say is: "Coldplay--- there is NO WAY they are an indie band!!!" And you're right. They are one hundred percent mainstream, no doubt about it. But this song is probably one of their least popular. Besides... I love this song.
It's so creepy. Yesterday I watched this thing on the History Channel about, guess what? London! I've always wanted to go there, but now I'm not so sure. Let's just say this: The song "Cemeteries of London" is awesome. But watching a show about the REAL cemeteries of London? Uh, creepy.
London's history is dark. And this song goes along with it all too closely. Like:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"In the night they would go walking 'till the breaking of the day..."
History Channel:
Body snatchers would steal bodies from their graves in the nighttime.
"Through the dark streets they go searching..."
History Channel:
Ever heard of Sweeney Todd??? He's fictional, but still.
"So we go down to the river where the toiling ghosts spring..."
History Channel:
The sewers of London sent all their deadly waste down to the river. It protected London from a Cholera outbreak! Yay, London!
"We go underneath the arches..."
History Channel:
All the murderers hid in the underworld... like the sewers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But my favorite line is:
"God is in the houses, and God is in my head, and all the cemeteries of London. I see God come in my garden but I don't know what He'd say, For my heart, it wasn't open. Not open. Singing la la la la la la eh..."
"Things aren't always what they seem, you're only seeing part of me. There's more than you could ever know behind the scenes..."
-Francesca Battistelli
"Worlds Collide" is about film star Jack Harrington and Grace Winslowe. Their relationship began like a scene from one of Jack's movies: Hollywood film star marries girl-next-door Grace Winslowe after a tragic car accident brings them together and they find that they are attracted to each other. Grace made the move from her Chicago home down to Los Angeles to start a new life and ended up crashing into the car of Jack Harrington. Little did the two know what fate had in store for them.
This changes everything.
While driving on the interstate on a rainy day, Grace loses control of her car and hits Jack from the back. Just a few months before Jack had lost his girlfriend in a crash like this one, due to drunk driving. He is now looking for a wife, a steady relationship. The two end up getting married (don't worry, that won't spoil the book for you--- there are A LOT of surprises in there!), and the longer they're together, the more secrets are revealed and their lives slowly being to unravel.
Will the marriage last, or will it end in tragedy just like the other Hollywood marriages? And can they keep their sanity when individual worlds collide?
I think my expectations were met pretty well. It ended exactly as I thought it would. Can't tell you how, but... it kinda has a chick-flick ending (but it's amazing, I'm tellin' ya, and totally unpredictable!). I would say this book was overall awesome, but had its fair share of dry parts.
I recommend this book to fans of romantic fiction.
If you're a fan of "Valentine's Day" or "New Years Eve", you'll like this book. If you like the shows "The Lying Game" or "Switched at Birth", you'll really like this. Full of secrets, a small bit of scandal, and comedy. Definitely comedy. This book did make me laugh on some parts, and it is rare that I actually laugh when reading a book. The secrets are unbelievable. Scandal? Only at the beginning.
As for me, the book was pretty good. Not something I would lead a parade for, but definitely something I'd read again. It took me a long time to read it because of my schedule, but I enjoyed it. It's really jacked up because at a picnic I saw my friend Kiana and it was a rainy day and I ran to hug her and fell back, book in hand, now muddy and cover half-off.
My complaints? Well...
The book was really boring in the middle, but the beginning and ending were really interesting and kept me up late at night. Another complaint is I wish I heard more about Jada, the biographer in the book. And I wish that the plot moved just a tiny bit faster. Also: Alison, try numbering the chapters.
Due to there only being a few complaints, I'll go on and give four stars.
Paperback. 330+ pages. Published by: WaterBrook Multnomah.
Special thanks: to WaterBrook Multnomah press for providing me with a free copy of this book for the sake of reviewing.
