amylicious! : novel

I'm a college girl now. What?

amyh — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:19:00 GMT

I write to you now from the beautiful Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. I'm about nine to ten hours from home, where I grew up, where I've lived my whole ilfe, where most of my friends remain. Is it hard? Oh yeah, it's hard. And I've only been here two days! After my parents left on Friday, I spent time setting up my room, meeting with my CWS group (a hilarious bunch — I'm looking forward to that class this year), went to dinner with my roommate and her already-large group of friends (how does she do it? I wonder), and skipped out on some other festivities that evening (a book discussion on the summer reading, a party over at Tussey and Terrace) so that I could finish unpacking and setting up my space, then curl up in bed and cry, talk to a few friends online, cry some more. It was tough. People tell you that you'll be homesick, that you won't be the only one — I wonder if anyone else is as homesick as I am?

Luckily yesterday, my crying was minimal. I got up, got pancakes with my roomie, took this lame freshman survey, and then lounged in my room until lunch time. I mostly just wanted to be alone, cried a little, but then decided that if I'm going to mope and wallow, I might as well be productive — so I got out my novel and proceeded to continue with revisions. My roomie and her friends came back around noon and I left to go eat lunch with them. Our CWS groups met up again, this time about this tree project we're doing — our entire class (as in class of 2012) is planting a tree, whoo. We walked out to the tree orchard they've got going, roamed around while we wondered what it was we were supposed to be doing, then walked out to the Peace Chapel — which is nice, yes, but it was incredibly hot and thus we all became very grimy, sweaty, icky. After that, I went back to my room to change and chill and read before "dinner with the student government" (which I assume meant that they just paid for it — because nobody from student government made themselves known at dinner, haha). I went by myself and made myself be friendly and ask someone else if I could sit with them — and the two people I chose ended up being so supernice and wonderful and they schooled me on Western Pennsylvanian slang and wondered why I don't have a Kentucky accent and I hung out with them and a big group of people that they know the rest of the night. I felt special, knowing that if I put my mind to it I can actually make friends.

Of course, what am I doing now? Sitting up in my room on Sunday morning writing this (though I did take a quick break to go with my roomie to the Help Desk and then to "brunch" which consisted of pasta and pizza — delicious, right?). My roomie and I are taking a shuttle to Wal-Mart later this afternoon so that we can buy a bookshelf and one or two more power strips. Honestly, we have a wonderfully large room, lots of closet space — but shelf-space is incredibly minimal! We each have a shelf in our closet and that's it! So a bookshelf will be wonderful for, you know, books, as well as our TV and DVD which we have yet to set up (though last night we found the cable hook-up! Yay!). But until then, I kind of just want to chill in my (finally cooled-down) room and work on my novel revisions a little more and perhaps read a bit, too. People have told me that it's important to get out, make friends, socialize — but I think my peace of mind requires this alone-time. And peace of mind is something I plan on keeping this year, especially now when I need it most.

Classes start tomorrow. I'm excited.

Somebody give me something interesting to write about, plzkthx.

amyh — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:17:00 GMT

1) So I just watched the most cracked-out episode of Ugly Betty ever. Toxic perfume made Betty nutso! But oh my god, you guys, even though I am totally in love with Henry, I am feeling for Gio. He likes Betty so much! Oh man. Oh man. Am I a bad Betty/Henry shipper? Maybe. But ever since Henry and Betty finally got together, it's like Gio is in the show more than Henry is! What the hell! Sigh.

2) I know, I know. I've been lax on my posting lately. What can I say? Pretty much nothing has been going on. I got into two more colleges — Centre and UK — and I've made more progress in Crime and Punishment — which I adore at the moment. I need to get into major revision mode with my novel and I need to write more Wands songs with Michelle (two shows! February and March!). But right now, at this moment, I actually need to be doing Psychology preview questions. Ah well. That can wait a few more minutes.

3) Even though the writers' strike totally and completely sucks, I'm actually kind of happy that all of my shows are ending around this time. Why? Because when Urinetown rehearsals start up, I might not be able to see some of the shows when they come on at their usual time! And I really don't like watching episodes online. I have no problem putting up with the commercials on TV, I swear. I think that there are one or two more Ugly Betty episodes left, and two (I think?) more of Chuck. Oh man. I never ever thought I'd become one of these people — people who actually tune into a TV show every week! — but it kind of makes me happy, knowing I have these shows to look forward to. It's fun! (And I love commenting about Ugly Betty to Saskia over gchat or MSN or whatever client we happen to be using, because she has no idea what I'm talking about.)

4) Speaking of TV shows, I added Chace Crawford (from Gossip Girl) on Myspace so that I could look at his pictures (HE IS TOTAL EYE CANDY, OKAY? OKAY.) and oh my lawd. I could stare at that face all day! Now I'm wishing Gossip Girl was still going... need more Chace... okay, stop Amy, stop!

5) Maybe soon I'll have something interesting to write about. But until then, um. Hey! I know! You guys give me ideas! What should I write/rant/whatever about? :P Because when you leave me to my own ideas, it obviously isn't pretty.

Oh my god, oh my god you guys!

amyh — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:31:00 GMT

Yes, that would be me cueing the Legally Blonde soundtrack. (I almost typed Legally Cloned. Wtf?)

Why, you ask?

I just finished the first draft of my novel.

Holyyyy freaking crap.

This is so amazing.

I would elaborate, but I have a lab report to write up for Chemistry. Oh lordy.

NYC + Ugly Betty + General Insanity

amyh — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:37:00 GMT

I should be writing, and I should be doing school work, and I should definitely be finishing work on my college apps.

But instead, all I can think about is RED RED RED YAY.

Yesterday, during the SAT, I kept finishing every section early (I guess that's what happens when you get so used to taking these dumb tests), and so I would gaze off and begin thinking about all things RED and writing — NYC! This site! Released on Thursday! Holy crap!! When the proctor would tell us our time left, or when the timer went off, I would snap out of my daydreaming and actually be surprised that I was in a classroom taking a test, instead of at home freaking out about RED.

The closer it gets, the more insane I think I'm becoming.

I mean. New York City.

This is going to be amazing.

Saskia and I are traveling up together the morning of the party, going to basically have a blast, see two shows (one Broadway, one off-Broadway), go to a museum or two, eat at some fantabulous places, and attempt to stalk the cast of Gossip Girl (this last one is going to be a little bit difficult).

(I would adore stalking the cast of Ugly Betty as well, but they don't film in NYC, they're just set in NYC. Sigh. Oh, Henry. I'll find you someday! I just rewatched the last two episodes of Ugly Betty last night and man. My heart melts whenever Henry comes on screen. He's just so... perfect! You know I'm going crazy when I'm upset that, because of the release party, I'm going to be missing an episode! I need my weekly Henry fix! And I've been like, "Maybe Amy G has DVR or TiVo or something... or maybe I can be guaranteed 45 minutes of computer time on Friday or Saturday so that I can watch it online...." God. I'm so crazy. FOR HENRY.)

But anyway. Saskia and I are taking much of Tuesday to do some shopping. I have to work a bake sale at school for a while (we're selling to the hungry voters, raising money for orchestra's Disney World trip, hee!), but then we're gonna shop shop shop till we drop! And then pick ourselves back up and go teach little kids at Saskia's middle school. I'm the guest speaker, talking about songwriting, haha. Oh man. I'm so bad with little kids, though. It's kind of scaring the crap out of me.

But anyway again. (Man, I've forgotten where this entry is going.) I'm superstoked for the release party, regardless of the fact that it interferes with my Henry time. Not only is it going to be a grand ol' time, but Saskia and I are reading! And it scares the bejeesus out of me, the idea of reading in front of all those people, but at the same time: how can I pass this up? Why would I give up such an amazing opportunity?!

The next day, I think Saskia and I are going to head to a museum, eat at fun places perhaps. I need to find a record store in NYC that sells Serge Gainsbourg records. It is imperative that I own one! (Plus, if I get one, maybe my english teacher will play some Serge for the class. How amazing would that be?!) (This reminds me that I need to scan in that page from Vanity Fair. I keep putting that off.)

You know what? I need to go. I need to get dressed, do homework, do college application crap. I need to remember that I have school before November 8th, I have school before November 15th, and I have school forever afterwards.

But can I really help it if this RED thing is taking over my life? Of course not! It's finally hitting me. Now. It didn't hit me quite so hard even when I got the book. But the release date comes nearer, Saskia says one of our classmates is going to buy it, and I need to get another copy and get it signed for my nana.

This is crazy. But it's amazing, too.

Oh. I did have a question related to this website. Haha. The release is getting so close, as I keep saying, and maybe I'm just being super impatient, but I'm wondering when the layout is supposed to be up? I'm so curious about what the finished product will be! It's exciting me like whoa.
Oh! Oh! Just thought of this: if possible, perhaps threaded comments on blog posts and such? Like on LiveJournal? That would make me quite happy.

More things that I love right now.

amyh — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:06:00 GMT

• Laney and Mr. Turner — the two main characters in my novel. No matter how stuck I get with writing, when I just read through a scene with the two of them, something inside of me flutters a little.

• The Red Sox. Sure, they were three games down to the Indians. But, uh, 2004? Three games down to the Yankees? AND THEY TOTALLY KICKED ASS? 'Nuff said.

• Kenyon. After visiting yesterday, I discovered my love for it. My true, undying love. Funny: I never wanted to go to school in Ohio, never, but driving around to and from Kenyon, walking around campus, I completely forgot I was in Ohio. It. Was. Amazing.

• Stephen Colbert. I just finished reading his book I Am America (And So Can You!). Um, freaking genius. (Is he really running for president?! 'Cause I'd vote for him. I would. Sorry John Edwards. But this is STEPHEN COLBERT. Ahem.)

• Meeting authors. This month (well, late September and into this month) I've met... uh. Mark Z. Danielewski (Only Revolutions is AMAZING, but I've yet to read House Of Leaves). Scott Westerfeld (I haven't read any of his books yet — am about to start Uglies, though — but he's friends with John Green, so he's been on Brotherhood 2.0. Nerdfighters are kind of the best ever). Poets Jessica Care More, Naomi Shihab Nye and Nathalie Handal (after going to each of their readings, I was overwhelmed with this need to write a few things of poetry that helped me get to know Laney a little more). Anthony Rapp (RENT GOD, but he wrote a book, too!). Yeah, this month kind of rocks. A lot. I'm so stoked for the RED Release Party — and I'm so curious, because I'm dying to know if any favorite writers of mine will be there :B haha. (This reminds me, I've gotta e-mail John Green and beg him to come to my school! Pretty pleaseeee?)

• Purchasing tickets! Money-eaters, but do you know how exciting it is to receive your Spring Awakening and Altar Boyz tickets in your inbox? VERY exciting is the answer.

• Brotherhood 2.0! Nerdfighters rock.