Amy Sonnichsen
My So-called Teenage Life Blog Hop
Today I am joining this fabulous blog hop hosted by Andrea of Maybe It’s Just Me, Christa
Desir and Amy Sonnichsen.
We are supposed to post an old entry from our teenage journal, but alas, my old journals (which are embarrassingly hilarious) are all buried in a box in my parents home (a couple of states away). Yeah, I should probably finish moving my stuff out of my parents’ house now that I’ve been married over 11 years.(!!!)
But since I haven’t done that, I’m posting a journal entry from pre-married life. I read through these with hubby, and they are also quite embarrassingly hilarious. So sit back, enjoy, and maybe blush once or twice for my former self. 🙂 [Note: The ellipses are all in the original text. No skipping here. I just really liked ellipses.]
2/22/00 — I went skiing, for the first time this season, yesterday with M– (bro.). We went to Beaver Creek up in Logan. It was okay . . . except that it got really hot and the snow got kindof slushy. The first time down I did a major face plant. I still have a sore neck. 😡 Later in the day, M– took a bad fall and I think he got a mild concussion because he lost his short term memory. It was kindof scary. It started with: “Wow, I can’t remember how I crashed. Which lift did we go up last time?” How did I fall? . . . Oh, well which lift did we got up last time? . . . ” etc. I decided that we should go home.
You know, so much has happened yet I don’t want to go back and relive it all right now. . . . I got a guitar for Christmas.
9/10/2000 – S– told me that on both Friday & Saturday he wanted to come over with his engagement ring and propose on the spot. He said he decided he could give up chocolate for me and that even the cooking thing wouldn’t bother him, but that he didn’t want to lose my friendship over chocolate (that had been one of his concerns). He did say, however, that he couldn’t give up hunting. 🙂 Funny boy. If only it were as simple as that. He invited me over and offered to come over, but I told him “no.”
I can’t tell you how tempting it is. First, I really do care about S– and I am really attracted to him. The thought of leaving the whole dating scene is very tempting, and then I wouldn’t end up as one of those old maids to whom everyone always gives those sympathetic looks. But, unfortunately, I just don’t feel good about it. I don’t know if it’s just silly fears or not, . . . Anyway, so I have to admit that my first proposal wasn’t at all like I imagined. It feels nice to know that someone cares about me that much, but it feels awful having to tell him that I don’t feel the same way.
4/23/01 — Oh! One thing I forgot to write is that X– told me that he had been interested in asking me out right when S– and I started dating. He told me that he was just getting ready to make his move when the whole S– thing started. He said he was really jealous and it was like an extra twist to the heart that S–‘s real name was [the same as his]. This might sound awful, but I was glad to know that it made him jealous. It’s always interesting to hear things from a different perspective.
—
Okay, I’m sure that’s more than enough. Oh, the drama! I just want to smack myself sometimes. Ya think it was a concussion? Just because he lost his short term memory?!!! But hey, I got a guitar for Christmas. 🙂
And gosh, my view of “old maids.” I was how old? I think I read too much Anne of Green Gables growing up.
But oh the, “interesting to hear things from a different perspective” bit. Interesting indeed, My Former Self. Interesting indeed. *Shakes head*
Have a great day ya’ll!
Speak up:
11 comments| TAGS:
Amy Sonnichsen, Blog Hop, Christa Desir, drama, ellipses, My So-called teenage lifeBelated Year-end Review
So, confession. I did not make any resolutions this year. Nary a one.
I had good intentions, but we were on vacation, then life was coming fast, and next thing I know, here I am, 3 weeks into the new year with nothing done.
But if you recall last year’s discussions about resolutions vs. goals, well, let’s just say that I always have goals I’m working on. And I actually did accomplish quite a bit this past year.
So today I’m giving you my top 5 goals accomplished in 2012:
1. I ran a half marathon. To be honest, it still boggles my mind that I ran for 2 hours and 15 minutes straight. That’s a long time. And I don’t know if I can ever make myself do such a thing again. But I did it ONCE! And man was I proud of myself. (You won’t mind a little bit of pride to seep through here, will you?)
2. I started the Hacky Sack Club with the fabulous Amy Sonnichsen. This was not a goal I set, but rather something that grew from connecting with a kindred spirit. I am particularly proud of this one because I tend to be extremely reserved. Did you just die of shock? Yes, despite all the crazy videos I’ve posted in the past year, I am a VERY reserved person. Not shy, per se, but I do tend to keep my talents and deepest passions inside. Breaking out of that just a little, and sharing myself a little more with others has been surprisingly satisfying. So THANK YOU for indulging me with it all. And P.S. It’s still open to members! 😉
3. I moved half-way across country without dying or killing anyone. Overexposure to the question “Are we there yet?” almost did me in, but fortunately we discovered the cure in time: “Here, play with my iPod.”
4. I finished writing a book. A book I’ve been in love with since the idea first struck me. We shall see what happens with it from here, but let’s just say that IT’S AWESOME! I know, humility and all that. Sorry. But if I don’t love it, how can I hope others will?
5. I signed with an agent. *Heehee* I still giggle when I say that. And I still sometimes go back and read the e-mails to make sure it’s real. In truth, I don’t feel like this is something I really accomplished, but rather something I’ve been working toward for a long time that finally came to pass. But since this IS a writing blog, I thought it should count.
So how about you? What did you accomplish in 2012?
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Amy Sonnichsen, Goals, Hacky Sack Club, half marathon, New Year's ResolutionsHacky Sack Club: Congratulations Edition
Happy New Year! I hope you all had wonderful holidays and that your new year is already swinging in with all sorts of good things.
I know at least one person who finished the year with a super bang: Amy Sonnichsen! She was offered rep by the fabulous . . . well go read her blog and find out!
Wait!!! Don’t click over yet!
Because you don’t want to miss this. Some of you may recall that the
fabulous Amy did a little video for me when I signed with Agent
Fabulous. I’m ashamed it has taken me so long, but I couldn’t let this
go without returning the favor with a Hacky Sack Club video of my own.
Hope you enjoyed, and Congratulations, Amy! So excited for you. 🙂
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18 comments| TAGS:
Agent, Amy Sonnichsen, Guitar, Hacky Sack Club, The Green BathtubThe Next Big Thing
Last week I was tagged by both Amy Sonnichsen (my Hacky Sack Club Partner-in-crime) and Stina Lindenblatt (one of my favorite bloggers) for the latest tag game going around: The Next Big Thing! Like Stina, I’m going to hold off on my WIP, but I will share about one of my labors of love:
What is your working title of your book?
The Peanut Butter and Jelly Friendship
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Forever ago I wrote a terrible book about a girl whose best friend had to move. Terrible. It may or may not have come from personal experience. 😉 So when I pulled it out and reexamined the plot, foreclosures were ravaging the US, and a new story was born.
What genre does your book fall under?
Contemporary Middle Grade.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I don’t watch TV and I’m horribly behind on watching movies, so all the kid actors I once knew of are now grown up, so I don’t know. Yeah, yeah, cop out answer, but honest!
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
When selling her appendix on e-bay doesn’t work,
ten-year-old Annie Jenkins seeks other ways to save her best friend’s house from
foreclosure.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Hopefully represented by an agency. 😉
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? May we see an intro?
If you count that horrible, awful version I mentioned above, I wrote the bulk of it in a month, though the first chapter had been written about 7 years prior to that.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I think it has similar themes to WHAT HAPPENED ON FOX STREET, but Annie is very much like RAMONA.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Egad. I’m a little embarrassed to admit (which I think you’d understand if you read the book), but much of what happens was inspired by my own childhood. However, the larger themes are very much influenced by the rocky economic situation the world is going through. I really wanted to explore how foreclosures were affecting the kids who are touched by them.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Well after that last answer, I better come up with something good before ya’ll fall asleep on me. So let’s just say that this book involves pirates and lost treasure, not to mention prune juice and turkey poop. What’s not to love?! 😉
And I am tagging (no pressure tags here):
Melissa Sarno
Old Kitty
Theresa Milstein
Vicki Rocho
Lenny Lee
***
Rules of The Next Big Thing:
*Use this format for your post
*Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (work in progress)
*Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.
Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:
What is your working title of your book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
What genre does your book fall under?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? May we see an intro?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Include the link of who tagged you and this explanation for the people you have tagged.
Be sure to line up your five people in advance.
Speak up:
20 comments| TAGS:
Amy Sonnichsen, pirates, Stina Lindenblatt, The Peanut Butter and Jelly Friendship, turkey poopWinner and a Question
Today I have winners for my giveaway of Leigh Moore’s The Truth about Faking.
And drumroll please . . . . .
Hurray and congratulations! Just let me know what format you would like (see that “Contact Me” page up top?) and I’ll have it off to you.
Now, next item on the agenda. So I have this 8-year-old who has recently turned into a voracious reader, and I mean VORACIOUS! I’m talking zombie-piranha here. He has ripped through pretty much every book in my personal library, and a good number from the library as well.
He’s gone through The Lightning Thief series (and its spin-offs), The Magic Tree House series, The Secrets of Droon series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Prydain series, the Molly Moon series, gosh just more than I can name.
So I need suggestions. What books would you recommend for an 8-year-old boy?
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16 comments| TAGS:
Amy Sonnichsen, Book recommendations, Of Muses and Meringues, Rick Riordan, The Green Bathtub, winnersLicense Plate Revealed & Hacky Sack News
So it has come to my attention that very few people got last week’s license plate.
My heart is saddened.
Dun, dun, dun, dun . . . dun, dun . . . dun, dun. CAN’T TOUCH THIS. Dun, dun, dun, dun . . . dun, dun . . . dun, dun. HAMMER TIME!
If you are not now singing in your head, then I’m afraid you must have missed the epicness that was MC Hammer. All my sympathy. 😉
And just because I love license plates, here’s another challenge for you: SHKITOF
Now, the announcement you would have all been waiting for had you known about it:
The Hacky Sack Club is back with a new (optional) challenge! And this one is even more embarrassing. Like, I’m already blushing, and the thing isn’t even MADE yet.
Amy Sonnichsen (gosh I love her) and I have committed ourselves to the Hacky Sack Club’s
Yes, you read that right. We’re taking this thing to new heights of embarrassment. We’ll be posting videos of ourselves doing something
ethnically musical on Monday, August 27th. And no, you really don’t want to miss this.
If you’d like to join us, let one of us know. Then when you post
your video, also let us know so we can let all our followers know (so
everyone can visit your blog and join in the mirth). I know you’re all dying to take part!
Just remember, we’re not laughing AT you, we’re laughing WITH you!
For the record, I’m an NOT doing this because I lost a bet (this time). We
at the Hacky Sack Club simply believe that life is too short to waste
being normal all the time.
We also believe that part of a fun community is breaking down barriers and being silly every once and awhile.
If you have already joined the Hacky Sack Club, you do not need to take part in this activity, but we’d love it if you did. And anyone else who is not already a member, we will still send you a hacky sack in the mail when you join. Yay!
That is all. No stress. No hacky sacking required. Visit our Hacky Sack Walls of Fame Shame (Amy’s and mine) for more details.
So if you were going to join us, what ethnic music would you feature?
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12 comments| TAGS:
Amy Sonnichsen, Hacky Sack Club, MC Hammer, Music, personalized license platesHacky Sack Club Inductee: Melissa Sarno
I know I don’t usually post on Wednesdays, but after seeing Melissa’s deliciously fabulous video, I couldn’t resist. Melissa, of This Too . . ., not only hacky sacks, but she speaks Hindi while doing it!
Perhaps that doesn’t sound impressive to you native speakers of Hindi out there, but to us simple folk who are native English speakers, it is truly an accomplishment. And I feel it’s relevent to mention that the mere act of speaking while trying to kick a little bag full of bean is a talent in and of itself . . . I certainly didn’t attempt it on my video.
Congrats Melissa! Welcome to the Hacky Sack Club!
And if anyone else wants to join, click here for the deets.
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Amy Sonnichsen, Hacky Sack Club, Hindi, Melissa SarnoHacky Sack Club Inductee: Leigh Moore
So yay! Amy and I couldn’t be more proud. Our Hacky Sack Club numbers are slowly growing.
Leigh over at That’s Write, one of my favorite bloggers, has posted her humiliation video, showing off her mad juggling skillz.
Cross my heart and hope to die, I DID NOT coerce her or blackmail her in any way. Seriously.
And the Wall of Shame Fame is finally up. Look up that to that brand-spankin-new tab between “Books” and “Contact Me.” I know you want to be on it! Rules for joining are here. Simple version? Post a vlog of any random skill of yours and e-mail us to let us know it’s up. Easy as pie.
So anyone else out there ready to join? We still have hacky sacks waiting for good homes!
P.S. Wanted to make a quick mention of a contest over at The Ron Empire Wants You. She’s piggy backing onto Ellen Oh’s Post titled “Why the Pretty White Girl YA Cover Book Trend Needs to End.” A worthy cause that I think deserves some attention.
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Amy Sonnichsen, Hacky Sack Club, That's Write Blog, The Ron Empire Wants You, YA Book CoversHacky Sack Club Inductee: Catherine Denton
Today, I introduce to you to the first ever Hacky Sack Club Inductee:
*throws confetti*
*releases a gaggle of balloons in the sky*
*toots a new years horn*
Hurray and welcome to the club!
All the rest of you, go check out her Hula-Hacky Movie Debut.
And happy day, Amy and I still have hacky sacks to send if you want to join the club. I know you’re thinking about it . . . I have ESPN (hee, hee). We can’t wait to see your video next (hacky sack optional)!
The Wall of Shame Fame will be up shortly. 🙂
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Amy Sonnichsen, Catherine Denton, Hacky Sack Club, Wall of FameWinners!
My Nostalgia Contest has ended and random.org has chosen some winners. Hooray! *throws confetti*
You two are the proud new owners of a pack of Garbage Pail Kids! Send me your addresses and the Garbage Pail Kids will be on their way.
And Happy President’s Day to you all (even though I know many of you don’t celebrate it). If you want to read something President-ish, here’s a link to last year’s post. 🙂