I'm Officially Smarter than 99% of People My Age

Exactly what the title says.

I got my standardized test scores back today, and I'm in the 99th percentile for practically everything (except math, and that's in the 95th). I'm just the teensiest bit happy.


In other news, I've just joined Inkpop, a site for aspiring authors. Pretty much anyone can join, and if you do, friend me -- but mention this post, otherwise I might ignore your request (there are some trolls on that site!!). Every month, the top 5 picks for the site are read by editors at Harper Collins publishers. They give feedback on your work, and could even make an offer for your book.


Getting back to the test for a moment, let me just say that I did not get a perfect score. Far from it. I was close on the Writing sections, but no cigar. But isn't that a little pathetic, that I can do a kinda/halfway job on the test, and still rank so high? I'm smart and a sharp cookie, don't get me wrong, but the whole thing's kinda sad. Study harder, people!


(Then again, maybe y'all shouldn't. More competition for me.)


Do better next year!

InuYasha -- The Final Act

Okay, so I'm a bit of an anime/manga/musical geek.
I love Sailor Moon and all it's creations to death (whether it be the books, animated television series, live action series, or musicals). I also love anything and everything that Arina Tanemura does. Seriously, she's genius (i apoligize for going valley-girl on you).
But another of my life-long devotions is InuYasha. Whether it's the anime or manga, I devour it, it's so addicting. So when it was announced that there would be a second animated series, based on the remaining books that hadn't been animated, I was overjoyed, if a bit skeptical. The series had ended in 2004, and here it was, 2009. What were the chances that it would be picked up again?
Thankfully, the rumour was indeed true, and InuYasha: The Final Act, is real. The same voice actors, music, and animation style, thankfully, were kept. And add to that the fact that there's no wait for the series to make it's way slowly -- painfully -- over Stateside, and I'm just having a happy moment here, all right?
Forgive my blathering and whatnot, and I'll let you get right to it: InuYasha: The Final Act There's a new episode uploaded every Saturday, and as long as you can read and understand English, you'll be fine (I'm not sure whether or not Hulu translates itself between countries).

Have fun!!

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2010 {Part 2}

Two more videos of my favorite designers for your enjoyment.

Christian Siriano.

My Rating: 8/10

Dennis Basso.

My Rating: 9/10

Gorgeous.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2010 {Part 1}

As the title says, New York fashion week has been going on, and just ended last night. Therefore, I've handpicked a few of the best designers, and will show their videos in the next couple of posts. Enjoy!!

Anna Sui.

My Rating: 8/10

Badgley Mischka

My Rating: 7/10

More to follow!

Summer

Wearing: khacki shorts, t-shirt, golden gladiator sandals

Listening to: Party in the U.S.A.

Where did my summer go? It was just here, and now it's almost time to go back to the daily grind. And by that, I mean SCHOOL.
I'm not opposed to learning, and I get to see all of the people I've missed these past few months, and there are many, many people in the world that don't get to have as good an education as I do (no matter how biased it's becoming), but . . . a lot of it is a drag.
Like having to see that terrible stoner guy that sat in front of me in class all last year. Or taking swim and having my hair all wet and dripping when I'm supposed to be at lunch. Or the fact that I'm most likely taking way too many AP and honors classes, and my head will probably burst. Heh.

But there are a few things that have cheered me up lately.
Like this And this

Unfortunately, neither will save me from having to put up with crap in a couple days. *sigh* If only.

New Stuff

Wearing: black/white Aeropostale sweat jacket, ripped white-wash jeans, black moccasins

Listening to: We Believe You (playlist)

Happy August!
Right now it's a sweltering 87 degrees F here (which is hot for us), and I'm just glad that air conditioning was invented. :D

I've added some new stuff to the blog, cluttering it up, but it's all for convenience -- I just don't know whose convenience it is for.
New songs have been added to the playlist at the bottom of the page. A few Vanessa-Mae songs, plus some more BSSM (my own personal abbreviation). And did you notice that the page takes a little longer to scroll down? That's because of the Seventeen widget I put down there. I think it only applies to those that live in the US, but if anyone has a suggestion of another prize/widget thingie, just post a comment.

Rachelle Gardner, a literary agent here in the States, recently wrote a really good post, detailing the differences between craft and story.

Also, check out my work on Teen Ink so far! It's mostly pictures, though.

I just sent in a new work to them a couple of days ago, and hopefully soon it will be read and posted there. When it does, I'll let y'all know.

Pictures Pictures

Wearing: maroon skinny jeans, maroon & gold dotted top, black ballet flats

Listening to: Paparazzi


Okay, I'm a picture fiend. I love 'em, 'specially if they're taken by me, like the one at left. I have no idea what kind of plant it is, but it was strange, and kinda pretty, in a weird sort of way. I took this a couple months ago, in Connecticut on my vacation. Spring break, I think.

Anyway, this is my picture of the month.







And here's another one. :D

Miami Fashion Week update

The video for my favorite designer of the shows: V Del Sol.


It's a bit cut off, sorry for that.

Miami Fashion Week (Day 4 & 5)

So Miami Fashion Week doesn't have the same status as New York Fashion week, and techically isn't an exciting or fashionable group of shows, but the swimsuits there can still be of high quality.

Well, most of them.

I picked a few of my favorites from the shows to post and comment on, most of them from the later days.

The first is a swimsuit by designer Mara Hoffman. What strikes me as amazing is that without the beaded strings, it's just a normal black bikini.



The second is a white two-piece by Vitamin A. Once again, little details make a piece all it's own. If not for the crossing straps in front (and the model's unhealthy-looking tan) it would be just another ordinary suit.


My third and (I must admit) my favorite number from the shows is this "suit," by White Sands Australia. I don't know if you could actually go swimming in this -- or wear it to the beach without getting stares (not the good kind), but you could certainly try!




Next is a cover-up by Fred Carter. He overdoes the accessories a bit (and the black lipstick, of course), but if the sunglasses weren't there, it's completely wearable.





To the left is an ensemble, also by Fred Carter. It's nice and all, but the model needs more of a chest. I just liked the floppy hat. :D



And finally, this flashy bikini by V Del Sol. It only looks so good because of the ultra-thin model, but that's the way the industry works, and there could be exceptions, as well. I'd probably wear it anyway.

Emmy Rossum video, plus nothingness!

I finally figured out how to get a video on here. *laughs* Anyway, this is Emmy Rossum, in her music video "Slow Me Down," from her album, Inside Out. She's one of my favorite singers and actresses, and I have pictures of her all over this blog (as you may have noticed), and I decided to put this up because it's Independence Day, and I want to celebrate! I'm excited, why aren't you?! *waves flag proudly*

School's Out

Wearing: Studded white-wash jeans, light pink camisole, bare feet (freedom!)

Listening to: LoveGame

Well, school is officially out for me (sorry for all the people who still have to take exams this week, ;D ), which means that I can concentrate on my writing more. For a solid 4 months or so, I didn't even touch my work, life was that busy. But now I'm really getting into it, so hopefully I'll have it done by the end of the summer, before yet another year begins.

College looms, and each year gets even more depressing, in my opinion. Exciting, yes, but also stressful. I like all the new opportunities being thrown my way, but come on! Seriously, how many tests do you have to take? PSATs, SATs, Regents, AP exams . . . there's more, but if I listed them all, my head would probably explode. *too late*

Exciting News! (plus writing links)

Exciting news from me today!! (not that any one's listening, but whatever)
Recently I entered a contest, judged by author Sonya Sones, to write a mini-sequel to her book, "What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know." It had to been under 1,500 words or 10 pages, whichever you reached first. There would be one grand prize winner, and 10 runners up.
I wrote my entry, entered the contest, and promptly forgot all about it. ;^o^
So I completely wasn't expecting an email from Sonya personally, telling me that . . .
I was one of the 10 runners up!!

Okay, so it's a bit anticlimactic, but still. It was a national contest, and it really is awesome to be one of the runners up. Although my work probably won't be published on Ms. Sones' website (like the winner's will be), I do get an autographed copy of her book, and a free subscription to the magazine, Teen Ink. Sounds kind of flaky, but it's still cool.

Also, one of my articles on the Teen Ink website was rated #1 a few days ago, which made me super happy. See it at: http://www.teenink.com/raw/Health/article/89814/sun-exposure

I'm very happy right now. :D Hee.

Roman Holiday

Okay, so I was looking forward to seeing Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn. I was all excited, setting up to tape it and watch it on my only free Friday night of the month, when what happens?

I forget all about it.

I was in a hurry to get out the door, because I was running late, and if my car wasn't out of the driveway in thirty seconds, there was no way that I was going to catch my show. So because I was running late, I forgot to tape it. And TCM, bless their dang souls, doesn't replay movies the same day. EVER.

Or at least this particular one.

And you want to know when I realized that I'd forgotten it? On my way out of the musical, after it had ended, and after the movie had been done for three hours. I had a fun time in the next twenty-four hours, mentally beating myself up for not remembering. But oh well, I guess. Nothing can be done, and I'll just have to wait until the next showing. :(


*perks up* But I had the best time at a party this past weekend. Though actually, I'm using the term "party" loosely, since was more of a gathering (that lasted for 22 hours). We slept over and everything. Very G-rated, except maybe for some of the topics of conversation. If you get our group together, there's no telling what will come up. (As I write that it sounds weird, but it really isn't. Girl stuff and all that jazz.)

Good week, and we'll see what the next one brings. :D

Sabrina

Wearing: ripped+holey white-washed jeans, purple tissue tee, light gray suede moccasins

Listening to: Fearless

I finally got to see Sabrina a few days ago. *sigh* So Good. But it's kind of funny how I'm such a fan of her, and yet I had only seen Breakfast at Tiffany's up to that point. Oh well.

Roman Holiday is going to be on TCM in a few days, too. I'm going out to see a show that day, missing my piano lesson and everything (so bad ;D ), so I have to tape it.
But that's completely fine with me, because then I'll have it on tape!

Anyway, Sabrina was such a good movie. Sure, the plot was kind of predictable, and the lines were just a bit cheesy, but Audrey was absolutely beautiful, and Humphrey Bogart wasn't too terrible, either.

Audrey Hepburn Pictures

I was searching through an online database at school today (while really supposed to be searching for magazine articles about Audrey), when I stumbled upon a treasure trove of Audrey Pics!!! {This first is of Hepburn on location for "A Nun's Story} It was also the final picture in one of her many biographies, "Enchanted."

The one on the right is of Audrey while on the set of "Green Mansions." It's so rare to see her with long hair (it was a wig, but still).

The last one for today (don't worry, I have lots more!) is of Audrey, and it's in color, which is one of the reasons why I picked it. But she just looked so gorgeous that I couldn't pass it up.

Red Eye + Link

I was researching agents a while ago, and came across a great informative link. (Don't I sound smart? *rolls eyes*) So I thought, why not share?
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/agents.html This is from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, but it pertains to anyone trying to track down and weed out suspicious agents. Lots of links from that link that are also helpful. Click, or die!!

On a side note, I've recently become addicted to a show called "RedEye," on Fox News. It's at something like three in the morning, and since I'm usually asleep (hopefully) by then, I have to tape it. It's funny, and kind of witty, but also a bit sick. Some good points are made, one of my favorites from the past week comparing Obama to a jealous stepfather. Very weird, and not that good if you're liberal or anything, but it doesn't really discriminate. They are, more or less, fair and balanced. And Pinch, the New York Times consultant (who's a pile of nyt papers with googly eyes taped on and a string to make the top section of papers move like a mouth) is absolutely hilarious.

Check out http://www.dailygut.com/ for the host's Gregalouge (it's a monolouge, but with Greg), or go to http://www.foxnews.com/redeye/index.html , the show's direct site. No matter what party you are, the show's good for at least a cheap laugh. ;)

Monday Monday

Wearing: blue-gray skinny jeans, plum Old Navy hooded top, black leather + textile ballet flats
Listening to: "Single Ladies"

You know, I live in jeans. Jeans and flats. Once in a while I'll wear leggings or tights or cords, but mostly jeans. This doesn't really interest anyone but me, I'm just realizing. *shrugs*

I went to a concert yesterday at a theater in town. Before you get all excited, it wasn't like a head-banger type thing. No. It was a band concert. The United States Army Field Band & Soldier's Chorus. I was on the edge of my seat. *falls asleep*
But actually it wasn't half bad, and I'm probably the only girl my age to say that. Everybody else is texting on their cell phones and updating their Twitter page, and I'm going to a band concert or reading. Whatever. And actually, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'd rather go to the theater to see a Broadway show (which I do quite frequently) than spend four hours at some lame a** party, drinking alcohol and getting wasted. Which is what most of the kids at my school do.
But to tell you the truth, they shouldn't. They don't have that many brain cells left to fry.
Let's see . . . I recently won something from author Elizabeth Scott, via the blog on her site. To tell you the truth, I had no idea what the heck she was giving away, and didn't really leave a comment to win anything. I just wanted to leave a comment. But, oh well. I'm still kind of happy that I won something. *does happy dance*
Scott is the author of Bloom, "Perfect You," "Living Dead Girl," and, soon to be released, "Something Maybe." Her novels are realistic and very (I'm over-simplifying things.) good. They're not from a major publishing company (i.e., one that is behind an extremely popular series), but that doesn't mean they aren't still good. Visit her site at: www.elizabethwrites.com