The One With the 2012 Resolution

Just like I did last year, I came up with a resolution! I looked at my post from last year listing three resolutions I had and the ones I crossed out are the ones I actually followed through with!:

1. Get an SLR Film Camera: Although I did not get the exact same one I used in my Photo class last year, I did get a nice Nikon L35 AF which is still nice :)
2. Start writing more short stories!: I wrote a couple of more short stories than I did last year! One of them even won an award this past month :D
3. Stop drinking so much caffeine!: Umm, yeah... 

So the caffeine thing hasn't changed much, but I feel like I did drink a little less this year. For 2012, I've only come up with one resolution so far and I really hope it works out.

The idea to this came from something I started up a couple of weeks ago. I started writing letters to this person and was never planning to send them. I just wrote on about how I felt about things that were going on between us. I was thinking about it last night when I couldn't sleep and I came up with this one resolution:

1. Write letters to people that have influenced my life: This is going to be a big commitment on my part, but I really want to do this. I want to write at least one letter a day (or every other day, I haven't decided yet) to a person that has come by my life. Each day will be written about a different person (I think I know a lot people). It does not have to be a person I know very well or that I still talk to. If I see someone on the street that makes me think, I'll probably write about them that day. It will just be something about that person from my point of view. I just really want to do some writing and it feels good to have pen and paper again because it seems like everything I do now involves a computer. Hopefully this project turns into something big and helps me in my future writing :)

It's a weird thing, but I really want to do this. The letter will not be sent to the people. Maybe I could send them when I finish for the year, but I'm not really planning on it. Hope you guys like my idea and I'm opened to suggestions!

Something I did in Photo this year w/ Sophia and Yvonne (P.)
[Light Painting]

About 2011: This year came with many surprises and new people. I opened up a Tumblr account, which is probably the best thing ever! I feel like I've gotten closer to many people this year and I'm glad for it. When I started my junior year, I told myself to try not to be so shy when I met new people and it's really helped. I got to go El Salvador, which I hadn't done since I was eight. I even had a chance to see Taylor Swift in concert and it's the biggest crowd I had been part of! My writing and photography skills have gotten a bit better and I've had a few great projects. Last year I won one Gold writing award, and this year I won one Gold and one Silver :) I really want to major in Creative Writing and it feels good to have a sense of what I want in my future. 

I feel really blessed to be around the people I hang out with whether it be at school, family, or friends. I have had many laughs and tears that I couldn't ask for better people to be surrounded by. Sophia, Taylor, Yvonne (P.), Liz, and Mark, I know we don't say it often, but I love you guys. I thought my high school years were going to suck and I would be forever alone, but when I'm hanging out with you guys and laughing it seems way better than to have any boyfriend! xD Leslye, Jessi, Diana, Carla, Elaine, Yvonne (M.), Keturah, and Crystal: I miss you all and it sucks to see us growing up and growing apart. I loved our crazy lunch days and football games, but I understand everything that's going on. I understand that we are growing apart, but my love for y'all has not changed. I'm glad I still talk to some of you guys often and I hope it doesn't change any time soon :) And this one goes for all of y'all! If we do grow apart, just know that y'all will always hold a special place in my heart! <3

Thank you God for the many beautiful moments that You have given me this year. It's one that will not be forgotten :D 

Sorry for going off like that, but it is my blog and you can't tell me what to do! If you read this all the way through, well thanks!

And a Happy New Year!

Lelly <3

The One Where I Remembered That I Had a Blog

I know I have not written on this blog in the longest! I wish I have because of all the things that have been going on. There have been so many changes that I can't believe that they're even happening. So many new books, artists I've discovered, and new people in my life. Junior year has brought on many new surprises. And like any hopeless romantic I have found myself writing hoping to come up w/ a sweet poem for a sweet guy, but of course that hasn't happened. What has happened is new awesome poetry and short stories! So this is what this post is for :)

I have a couple of poems I would like to share and even though I'll probably get very few readers, I hope that those who do read this will enjoy what they see! I've recently been hearing a lot of Slam or Spoken Poetry and some good advice I've gotten is to write about being your age. The first poem may sound a bit cheesy or simple, but that's basically where I am at the moment. I think I used a few creative techniques so I hope you like them. So here it goes:

If I had a Choice

I would cut my hair short.

It would be filled with layers

So I could easily run my fingers through it.

I would dye it almost black,

But enough so the blue streaks

Could be noticeable.

It's practically impossible, though.

My mother's genetics don't allow it.

What with all the knots and curls

That my fingers find themselves trapped.

If I had a choice

These teeth would be put out of pain

From all the wires and rubber-bands.

I would be able to eat an apple

Sweetly sinking into my teeth

Without a knife needing to go through it.

But beauty is pain and

Who doesn't want to be beautiful?

If I had a choice

My left ear would have rings

Like the way Saturn has jewels.

Each ring or diamond retelling

What gorgeous things I've heard

And even the bad things

Because every sound in my life

Comes from something special.

Piercings wouldn't happen either.

I heard that if you leave one out

For even just a few hours, it'll close up.

I wouldn't want my money to go to waste.

If I had a choice

My skin would be traced with ink.

My veins mapped out with words

That will let me say something wise,

Even when I am speechless.

I will always have words

When I have no one else.

I'm pretty sure that wouldn't happen either

Because some spots seem to painful

To have a needle tickle.

If I had a choice

I would try to do some of these things.

But now I give myself excuses

Because it sounds better than telling people,

"Yeah, my mom said no."

This second poem is a follow up of another one I wrote last year. I'm not sure if I posted it on this blog or on my creative writing class blog, but if I did well I hope it's still good. It's about beauty and how children might see it in these days. The poem is written in two parts, but is titled (as a whole) "Meet Lucy":

PART 1: See Lucy See

Snap, snap

Hold that pose.

Flash, flash

Look fierce.

Chin down.

Snap, snap

Flash, flash

DONE!

Click, click

Stretch lips

Make cheek bones higher

Extend length of neck

Eliminate all acne flaws

Suck in cheeks

Click, click

SAVE!

Printing...

Post.

"Mommy! I wanna look just like her!"

Worry...

PART 2: Hear Lucy Say

I am the seven year old

Who can only look up

At perfect faces

Hoping one day I'll look

Something close to that.

The tall high school girls

I pass by every morning

Use these color things

That make their eyes look

BAM!

And then a red crayon

That even mommy uses

To make their lips prettier.

Prettier.

That's what I want to be!

I look at Sarah, my big sis,

And the way she looks at herself

In the mirror.

She always complains,

"I wish I had a better nose."

"I hate my thighs."

"I wish my eyes were wider."

"I hate this tummy."

Some how she looks okay

The way she looks

But not like the magazines.

Maybe it'll help if I say that.

I stand in front of the mirror.

I "wish" for something pretty,

And "hate" everything I see.

(Sorry that it's all gray in the background!)

San Salvador, El Salvador

That's all I have for now, but I hope you like what you read! I'll try to write more often, but sadly no promises :( The picture on the left btw is from the trip I made to El Salvador this past summer! Had a lot of fun and got to connect w/ a lot of family. I was so thankful that I was able to hang out w/ my cousin Rudy who sadly passed away a month after we came back home. Te quiero Rudy y siempre estaras en nuestros recuerdos.

Salud,

Leslie <3

The One With the New Sarah Dessen Book

Wow...so haven't been on here for a while, as in over a month D: And I said I was going to write into this every week? FAIL. Since my last post, a lot has happened for all you curious creepers. I kind of actually had a life! Shocking, isn't it? Sadly, because of it, I started reading less :( But music has always been there which is great. I have many new artists for you guys (hopefully shown in later posts!), but for now... are any of you all Sarah Dessen fans?

If you didn't know, her new novel What Happened to Goodbye will be released May 10 this year. I have been waiting for this since her latest book Along for the Ride and was extremely happy to find out that she was coming out with something new :D Well, two days ago, I was able to get my hands on a copy before the release date! And of course I ripped through that book very quickly. Sarah Dessen has seriously done it again :)

What Happened to Goodbye is based on Mclean Sweet, who's parents divorced. For the next two years of the separation, Mclean decides to stick with her dad who currently moves around the country taking over restaurants that are about to hit rock bottom. Every time she and her dad move, Mclean makes a new personality in every new town and school, and tries not to connect with people. When she arrives in Lakeview, she meets many interesting people and boy of the book, Dave Waver (who kind of reminds me of me :]). The small town was nothing that Mclean expected, and while everything seems to be good on the outside, it sometimes seems like she struggles with her inner self.

I hope I haven't given to much away! I finished the book and it seriously made me cry. I'm not too sure why, but it was an amazing book. I had to return it b/c other people were waiting to read it as well, but I'll probably buy another copy when it's officially released. Doesn't matter if I've already read it, I will probably read it three more times after that :D

Rant of the week? I have one, but I don't really want to ruin this post :( I love Sarah Dessen too much for that haha XD

Yup, I think that's about it! Oh, and even though this might be a bit late and a bit early: HAPPY BIRTHDAY YVONNE AND MARK!!! :DD I love you guys a ton and wish you both a Sweet 16 :)

Thanks, and you guys can also find me on tumblr at: http://speechless-n-redundant.tumblr.com/

Laterz!

Leslie ^.^ 

The One With Imelda May

Wow. I have not posted anything in the longest -.-"" So disappointed in myself! I told you guys UI was going to give this up soon D: Okay must start up again. So this week I have been very moody as some of you might have noticed. To you people who actually saw that, I say: I AM SOOOO SORRY!! I was pretty horrible and I felt really bad.

So I got another artist for you guys! :D Just warning y'all now, some of you guys might not really like this artist because it's rockabilly :o I personally really like it b/c it just sounds...well amazing and fun. And the artist of the week is...IMELDA MAY! I found out about her on this website when they posted about her new album on music website and they had a free mp3 :) And like any sane person I downloaded it and I loved it. Her voice is totally awesome and so different.

The lyrics aren't extremely important if you don't look out for them, but the stories she tells within her lyrics are pretty good and sometimes funny :) I like how she uses the bass/cello and trumpets. You rarely get to hear the cello play such a big role in music these days, but when it does it is absolutely amazing. In Imelda May's songs it sounds nice and funky which is pretty cool. Try listening to "Johnny Got a Boom Boom" and you'll totally see what I'm talking about!

That's about it for writing about the artist. I know it isn't as much as before, but I'm kind of writing this in the middle of class and I also need to pay attention :P But you can listen to one of her tracks on my Tumblr page! Yes I made one and it's pretty good so far. So if you do want to hear some of her stuff just click on the following link --> http://its-jingletown.tumblr.com/

"I go where the Psy-cho!"

Leslie :D

The One with Tumblr

Hey you guys! Okay so I was going to write about an artist for today, but again I never got to it :P So! This is for all you Tumblr people!!

A lot of you guys have been telling me to get a Tumblr, but I am still like meh.... So tell me why Tumblr is so great and why I should get it :o

I know it doesn't seem like a big deal and what not, but let me know why you/people love this site so much!

No rant of the week I think? Except! Teachers should not assign tests/quizzes all on the same day!!!! That's about it :)

RMNAC!

Leslie >.<

Late Post?

HEY!!! Sorry you guys, but I didn't have the time to start a post today :( If I have time later, I'll probably post one on Friday :)

Sorry! D:

Leslie

It's Freezing!!!

Hey ya'll!!! :D So right now it is 29 degrees where I live! This weather is extremely rare and so basically everyone's panicking about ice on the road and the possibility of snow tonight that will also be there Friday. School's are planning to let out early today and canceled tomorrow! YAY!! Even though I'm wearing three shirts, two jackets, two pairs of tights, a skirt, but for some reason no socks, I am happy for this weather :) It's nice to have some kind of change in the weather. Oh! Ruth if you read this, I hope Poppy (doggy) feels better ):

Anywho! I have a cool band for you guys today :) I've been listening to them for a few months now and kept telling myself that I would mention them on here so I'm finally getting to it. The band of this week is The Daylights!

Most recent album, The Daylights.

I first heard about them while I was twitter (yes, I have one! You can find me as @its_jingletown if you want) and I follow a band member from Switchfoot who said that he really enjoyed this band. Their most recent album, The Daylights, was released September 2010 and it's the album that made people start noticing them a bit more.

Their music is more about their words (or at least that's my opinion). Most of their lyrics are very poetic and beautiful. Not that their instrument technique doesn't matter! They play really well and use amazing instruments. I feel like they like to use the cello and violin as much as possible, which I really like. If you hear really closely to their track "Rogue Machine," they know how to incorporate the guitar really well with a nice, mellow tone of the cello. I wish I could get more tracks from them, but YouTube gives horrible quality on some of their songs since The Daylights aren't very popular yet. I'm really hoping I can find them in a store!

If you like bands like Switchfoot and The Fray, I really recommend this band! And as always, if you want a track, just let me know :)

Rant of the Week? I don't think I have a rant about anything today/this week. Oh, actually I do! It's very quick and short: Don't say that you/your community accept all people. It's a complete, hypocritical statement to say that about yourself or the people around you. Sure, after you get to know a person you think they're nice and cool, but it isn't like you've never seen a person who you thought was totally weird and never got near them because they were "different." I think I can fall into the "outsider" category sometimes...or maybe all the time...I don't really know how people see me, and I don't care XP Everyone (yes, it includes me) judges people no matter what.

That's all for today! Please try to stay warm and not get sick!

Because silence isn't always golden,

Leslie :P