Summer has Arrived

Hello! The school year is over once again. I had my last final yesterday.

The Tuscarora Review is the art magazine I was co-editor of this semester

I feel awful guilty for abandoning my blog and blogger friends for the past year. I have had an amazing year. School has been so much fun, my grades have been great, I got into Phi Theta Kappa national honors society, I got into the honors college at my school, I was the president of film club, I have been nominated for the Slater Award for the best honors research paper on campus, I was co-editor of the art magazine, I had a short story in the art magazine, I am making a website to publish honors projects for my college this summer as an honors independent study, and I fell in love. Unfortunately, the man I fell in love with broke up with me this week. Yes, it was during finals. He was my first serious boyfriend, and I'm having a very hard time dealing with this breakup. I still only have sweet things to say about him.

For the first time, I was forced to read classics. I typically only read new YA books as they come out, but I took American Literature this semester. It was fantastic! I now love classics as well as modern books. I read The Great Gatsby for the first time just in time for the release of the movie. 

Tomorrow I intend on attending the Gaithersburg Book Festival. Maggie Stiefvater, Adele Griffin, and Jessica Spotswood will all be there! I haven't been to a book event since BEA.

Speaking of BEA, I am really upset that I will not be making it to that incredible week in New York City this year. I receive the emails from BEA. They are taunting me. I would be able to go, but I do not think that it's fair. I haven't been blogging AT ALL this year. BEA was probably the best experience of my life thus far, but I would feel like I was cheating if I attended. I would be cheating. I haven't been a blogger this year. Someday I'll go again. I might stick to blogging and go next year, or I might attend it for business next time. I know that blogging is business for a lot of people, but it was just fun for me. The most satisfying fun. I will attend it again and many more book events. After all, I do intend on going into the publication of books. 

I have decided on a four-year college that I wish to attend once I get my associates degree at my community college. St. Mary's College of Maryland. It is an all honors college on the coast of Maryland. The more I look into St. Mary's, the more I want to go there. The more I look into any other college, the less I want to attend them. 

I'm not sure what to do with myself now that school is over and summer is here. I was excited to spend the summer with my boyfriend, but now I don't know what to do. I applied for a job at Barnes and Noble. I want a job with books, but I also applied for receptionist jobs. I DO NOT want to work in retail or at a restaurant. I feel very lost right now. It hasn't even been a week. I'm not sure how to get over him. I'm trying to figure out how to be okay again.

I'm hoping this post will kick me back into shape! I want to be an enthusiastic blogger! I want to post frequently! You can yell at me if I don't post anything within the next couple days.

Goodbye School, Hello BEA

I know I've been MIA for quite a while now, but school is over now! I'm back!
I had a full load this semester and there's a very good chance I got all As. I'm waiting for my grade to be submitted for my last class. Creative Writing. Ahh, it was definitely my favorite class this semester. I had so much fun writing and critiquing with a fantastic group of students. I also had Psychology, Social Problems, and Health Education.

Now that school is over, my mind is completely devoted to BEA! I didn't have time to join everyone tweeting and blogging about it for weeks like I'm sure most people have been. I'm leaving in a week already! I scheduled my bus up there. I'm staying with my cousin and her husband for the week. I'm looking up everything I need to take with me. I'm planning out my days there.
This is my first time attending, and I've been practically jumping up and down in my chair with giddiness for this exciting event. Do you have any suggestions for me? I feel so unprepared!

I also really want to check out Teen Author Carnival. I heard about it a year or two ago and really wanted to make it. I guess I'll probably be able to this year! Anyone else going?

School's Out for the First Time

My first semester of college is over! Yes, I only took one class, but it was all very new and stressful for me. I took English 101, and I loved it. I excessively stress over everything, so I am glad it's over. My big research argument paper was on the effects of Twitter on language, so then I joined Twitter and found authors and fellow book fanatics. It turns out that they all have blogs. o.o This new world of tweeting and blogging is wonderful! Now that class is over I intend to join this world! I had my last class about 3 hours ago and now I'm starting this blog. I'll quote, review, ramble. This is only the beginning! Ah, I'm looking forward to this summer. Here I go!

I'm considering having my friends and family take bets on how many books they think I'll read this year. Sadly, it will definitely be less than the past two years. 2009 was 131, 2010 132. I doubt I can make 133, I'm way behind and know I'll be very busy the rest of the year. I'm at 44 so far, and it's May! Wanna take a shot at it and guess how many you think I'll have read by Christmas? (I go by Christmas, not New Years, because I get new books and Christmas, so I make sure I'm not in the middle of a book on Christmas, unlike New Years.) I'll write down guesses and check them at the end of the year. This is probably too soon to announce my plans, because nobody knows about my blog. I'll just have to re-announce this later.

I really hope somebody reads this... Maybe comments... I shall continue with this blogging later. MY FIRST RAMBLING! WOOT!