May 20th*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Hi Everyone!

Alright, so now I finally have 5 real articles in print!!! [ : I thought I would post this article, because this is one I'm extremely proud of.  IT has to do with something going on halfway across the world! Here it is.

Kenmore 7th grader’s blog

inspires worldwide network of

service

Laura Stockman, the Kenmore girl who started “making a difference” through a service blog in fifth grade, didn’t expect to launch a whole new trend.

She began by doing small things – making lunch for her family, or shoveling a neighbor’s sidewalk – in memory of her grandfather, believing that this would help her grief. Her “25 Days to Make a Difference” blog, begun in December 2007, helped her reflect on the service work she had done and connect with others with the same goals.

Now a teacher from Melbourne,

Australia, inspired by Laura’s idea, seeks to spread the word to schools around the world. Jenny Luca, teacher of class 7C in Toorak College, Mount Eliza, connected with Laura through a Skype Web cam which enabled Laura to talk to Luca’s classroom about what she had been doing for others.

Inspired, Luca created a “ning,” an online social network to try to get teachers and students from all over the world to share what they are doing to making a difference in their own communities. The goal of “Working Together 2 Make A Difference” is to create partnerships between schools that can help students to understand that the desire to help others is universal. “The possibilities can be endless, based on the limit of your own imagination,” Luca says.

“It is fantastic that Mrs. Luca has invited others to participate in the project,” Laura said. “It allows people who don’t have blogs to communicate together and help make a difference wherever they are.”

Service projects can come in all forms, such as raising money for charity through a dance or bake sale. Students can volunteer their time after school, by cleaning up their town park, or by working at service organizations, such as their local library or animal shelter. Local communities have already started making a difference. Alden high schoolers made Christmas cards for Meals on Wheels participants and sent thank you letters to soldiers. Depew Middle held a clothing drive for Compass House. Other projects include students making regular visits to a retirement home; a contest to design an environmentally friendly shopping bag; and raising money for the Light Up the World Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing energy-efficient lighting to Third World countries.

Once school communities have done their service projects, they can post on the ning through a blog or a video. Schools can join at any time to connect and inspire. Schools, teachers or students can join the ning by following the web address: http://workingtogether2makeadifference. ning.com, and creating their own profile page.

Luca hopes that people who are self-starters and motivated can help spread the word. She says: “Just as long as there are interested people who are willing to do a small act to make the world a better place, we will be happy.”

Some of Luca’s students shared their thoughts on the service project with these joint responses.

NeXt:How were you inspired by this program?

Students:We thought it was good that at such a young age Laura realized what was wrong with the world and decided to make a difference, showing her willingness and enthusiasm to succeed. This showed us that everyone can make a difference, you don’t have to be older!

NeXt:What are some service projects your school has done?

Students:We’ve made and sold lollies [lollipops], typed for other people, worked for our moms, packaged and put information into envelopes, taught computer lessons to parents, filed for some teachers, and held a car wash.

NeXt:What do you like about helping others? How does it make you feel?

Students: It makes us realize that however bad our day is, there is always someone having a worse day and we can do something about it.

Sarah H.  is a freshman at ***** High.

Isn’t it interesting? [ : Well, now I have to cross some more things off my to-do list… I’m down to 9 things!! Woo-hoo!

*.*.*.*.S.A.R.A.H.*.*.*.*

May 19th*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Hello Followers!

My life is H.E.C.T.I.C. right now. I am way behind in EVERYTHING. Including blogging. So, I am allowing myself 5 main things to type by 9:10 so I can stay on schedule.  (I am plagiarizing Sarah Dessen’s idea of Friday Five, basically! lol!)

1. I have way too much stuff to do. Really? You want to know? Another boring To-Do list:

*piano

*PowerPoint

*Leadership Essay

*Global Extra Credit

*Math Regents Review

*Global Map

*Bio Homework

*Global DBQ Essay

*Global DBQ Outside Info

*Print Up Muslim Project

*Some Sister’s Grimm Questions

*Download iTunes by Saturday.

Woo-ooo. I feel… overLOADED.

2. I am writing a lot now!! [ : I am ALMOST FINISHED with my novel! Soo exciting… then I get to type it all over the summer!

3. I will be taking a vaca from blogging in a very short time… I need to start studying for Regents. New material=grades aren’t doing so good. I need extra help, which means time is used up.

4. I will be marching on Memorial Day with the band, playing trombone! So come see me in a polyester uniform if you hang out around Buffalo! If you know who I am, you’ll know where I’m marching. : P

5. I have an article in the paper on Wednesday! It’s on an Australian lady… please be sure to check it out and support my writing skills!

SHOOT-ing-peas! I’m four minutes off schedule. **grrrrrr**

Write Soon!

Your Overbogged, Slowly Dying,

Sarah

May 15th*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

Hello Followers!

Well, where to begin? Hello, again! I’m sorry for slacking… that was really bad. I’m just trying to stay more focused… actually, no. I’ve just been lazy. So, this week in brief:

Whee! Now I only have to:

*Write two NeXT articles

*Homework (Math, Global)

*Create a PowerPoint

*Practice Piano

Better smaller than larger! [ :

That was short and stupid, but I need to update my shelfari and look at my Sarah-Land account quick. And practice piano and try to do my homework. TTYL!

Sarah [ :

“. . . And as fall turned to winter, the Darlington peach trees started dropping their leaves again, gently, like they were letting them go. It wasn’t the same as giving them up. It wasnt the same as losing them.”

May 9th*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Hello Followers!

I am sneaking this post in quick between printing pages of my Mother’s Day book. Yes, that time-consuming part of the year. Again.

This year, I took a more adult approach and wrote about appreciation and all that good stuff, instead of the horrible old, “I Love You, Mommy! Now, can I get ice cream for being such a good girl?”

Come on. You know what I mean.

I also actually nonreluctantly spent a total of $36 on gifts, as well as created two handmade goods she is sure to love. Aah, yes. I love sentimentalality. It is a beautiful thing.

Secret #3: Sometimes it makes me smile to know I made my mom cry… tears of joy, of course! You weirdo! It’s just wrong to want to hurt your mom’s feelings!!! >:oC

Yes, Mother’s Day is an awesome holiday. You slave away till 10:30 p.m. creating wonderous gifts, and then shower really fast and zonk out. (That’s my upcoming schedule, in case you were wondering.) Three HOURS on a home made book! *sigh* But, my mom’s worth it. Yeah. She’s a doll!

But, it does make me mad. Now I still have to do:

• Two NeXT articles
• A PowerPoint for the ASPCA
• and a contest entry for Sarah Dessen

Tomorrow, on Mother’s Day! How will I manage THAT? Oh, good heavens. Curly fries! Weinerschnitzels! : P

It is getting really late for me, and I need to put together a book. For my mommy. And hide the gifts. And shower. And make my bed after my mom changed it. ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

Your Super-Stressed Blog Host,

Me.

**For The Mommies**

“A mother’s greatest gift is her daughter.”

May 8th*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Hello Any Readers!

This will be a really short blog post because it is 11:20 and I need to get up early tomorrow to go Mother’s Day shopping!

Well, tonight was Prom Night for half of my school. And when prom attendees early dismissal bell rung at 11:20, the school was SOO quiet that you would believe that everyone died of the swine flu or something.

That was pretty bad to say, but it was true! I never knew Juniors and Seniors were the cause of all that noise! That was basically the only interesting part of my day.

BESIDES about 5 minutes ago. I went on that lovely sarah-land.ning.com to see if anything new was happening, and I met two girls that can potentially be my online friends! Lol! I think. Well, at least I know we all like Sarah Dessen, all like writing, and they were interested in my site! (thanks, Myranda and Stefanie!!!) I hope that I can at least try to become friends with them. Who knows?

I really must be off, because I am a sleepyhead.

TTYS!

*Sarah*

**A Quick Quote**

“Some things don’t last forever, but some things do. Like a good song, or a good book, or a good memory you can take out and unfold in your darkest times, pressing down on the corners and peering in close, hoping you still recognize the person you see there.”

May 7th*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

Bonjour, mon amies!

I am in disbelief… I have found my happy place. sarah-land.ning.com. The home to my favorite author, Sarah Dessen. My inspiration, my creative heartbeat.

Maybe that’s a little too freaky.

BUT, I got to go on sarahdessen.com and see the “Lock and Key” Contest to win an advanced copy of her AWESOME new book, ALONG FOR THE RIDE!!! I am pumped. I will go out to Borders and fight to the death for a new copy of this book. Literally.

Sarah Dessen is just… [ : She knows how to use imagery in amazing ways, and her technique is beyond disbelief. I am proud to call her my role model.

So, this was basically a fan blog. Proclaiming my love for Sarah Dessen to the world. Wow.

On the subject of our normal lives, I have finally CONQUERED that Bio Paper!! Happy times, big grins. No more slavery! But, I still have the schedule of doom set out for me.

Tonight:

Bio H.W.

Math Paper

Bio Corrections

Global Review Sheet

Global Extra Credit

Friday:

H.W.

Piano

Bio Extra Credit

Sarah Dessen Contest Entry

Cleaning The Fishies

Saturday:

Shopping with my mom and aunt

PowerPoint for ASPCA

NeXT #1

NeXT #2

Sunday:

Piano

Free (??)

That was quite boring. But gave you a peek into my awesomely bogged down schedule. Ha. Mwahahah. And I keel over and die, since it is 7:11 and I have approximately 3 hours of work. Bugger.

Well, I must be off to cross off tonight’s To-Dos.

Bio and Global and Math, oh MY!

[ :

You Know You Love Me,

XOXO,

Sarah Irene

**Just A Quote…**

“My school was SO tough, the school zine had an obituary section!”

May 6th*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Hello!! [ :

I am much, much, MUCH better after the heartbreak of yesterday! I am wearing my luvly french shirt, my feet are toasty, and I feel very bubbly.

Except for my bogged down schedule…

PlAn Of AtTaCk:

1. Math h.w.

2. Global Essay

3. Bio Paper

4. Global Extra Credit

5. Math Graded Assignment

6. Bio Extra Credit

7. 2 NeXT articles

8. Yearbook Write- UP

9. Practice Piano

Can you tell my life is busy? If you can’t, then something is wrong with you. Literally. You should get it checked out. And now I have a major headache. Oy!

And then, I have joyous pleasures!! I just got these super cool free gigantic sunglassses from Charlotte Russe, courtesy of Seventeen! They are super-awesome, orange shading into a prettiful purple… and I just adore them! 80’s much? [ : Uber CUTE!

Haha! Only in my blog can you hear of heartbreak, crazy schedules, foreign languages, and… sunglasses? And smileys! Wow.

Secret #2: I have an issue with procrastination. I can run a bit from it, but I can’t hide. It always finds me, even if I’m entirely focused on the facts.

Yes. I am one unique child. Or, as my quiz result said, “You’re a hipster. A person infatuated with music, writing, and crushes… you are quiet but have a VERY eccentric personality. People who get to know you fall in love with you, or learn to live with your quirkiness”.

They couldn’t have explained it better. I guess I am stereotypically a “Hipster”. Ohkay, then.

So, I must be off to conquer this mound of work. But, can you believe it? I’m  really starting to like this blogging thing! This is really my own diary, but I am actually committing… I’ve written for… four days straight now? I think!

[ : This is fun. I also have to add ten to the list... I need to make a PowerPoint presentation for the ASPCA. *sigh* Well, not a bad thing... just another thing to add to the list. And clean my fishies.

I must be off to slay the dragon! Farewell, my comarades!

“And, at that moment, a lilting melody lifts to the moon as a single sparrow sings.”

May 5th*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

Hi.

This is going to be a very different type of blog post, because I feel really weird right now.

Mood: Torn inside. Very melancholy… happy but heartbroken.

Thoughts: I have a ton of work to do: yearbook write up, NeXT, global, bio,  bio paper, extra credit. But I just feel so… saddened. This is the third time I’ve ever felt heartbroken… the first two were after my fishie’s deaths, now after… a death. Of something. Kind of stupid. Oh God. But I need to FOCUS and work. Except this is not a normal blog posts. Because of an event that occured recently.

Hmmm…

A Random Haiku

A harmless tiny chat.

One mistake and your insides sink.

Who could’ve thought… you?

Yes. This is a horrible blog post that means much to me. Words as meaningful as teardrops plinking onto this screen.

How can life go wrong?

How can you be so happy and then have your spirit felled?

What is a friend, a pretender, a comarade?

Are they all the same… multipersonalitied people that you let into your lives to take a glimpse and then dissapoint a bit?

I have the questions… but not the answers. And how can you live with yourself while you’re thinking,

“Was it me? Was it them? Am I vain? Am I just plain naive?”

I can’t take it. The silence, the noise. None of it makes sense. And probably won’t. For a long time.

I guess there is forgiveness… maybe it was a misunderstanding. Maybe they’re sorry, and I’m sorry too. But too shy to admit on either hand. I’ll wait and see.

For now, I am just… relieved. A bit more through the writing.

I am not a sympathy eater, but a sympathy writer.

Secret #1: When I am upset, I plunk in the earbuds, turn up the iPod, and write. Random stuff.

Some of it turns out good.

Others are just emotions.

Sometimes it’s just doodles.

Other times it’s just a blank sheet of paper.

So, who are you in my life? A good story waiting to be told? A person who enlightens my feelings? A person who colors my life? Or just a blank sheet of paper; a story unwritten or a piece of my life I can never decipher?

For now, I’ll just be….

Naturally,

Me.

“Staring, at the blank page before you, open up the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you can’t find… Reaching, somewhere in the distance… no one else can speak the words on your lips… Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins… The rest is still unwritten.“

May 4th*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Hello Everyone!

Now, today was an interesting day. I was just SOO wound up… bursting with energy and focus! We are now learning about the medieval times in Global,  which was fun to watch a video about! Squires, princesses, knights in shining armor… all the stuff of reality fairytales! But that’s not all about today.

Once again, I’m supposed to be finishing that Bio paper, but I am youtubing just a little bit.  It’s 4:00, so I’ll give myself around 10 more minutes of freedom! [ ;  Actually, I was youtubing Susan Boyle. I love her, because everyone is always judging by actions and looks, not personality, character, words, or anything else. Aren’t there some quotes to teach us… like, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts“. That was a total explanation in S. Boyle’s part. That just makes me so happy, when someone can open the world’s eyes to good! [ :

This was a pretty short blog post, compared to my usual essays, but I do need to get to efficient work. So, I must sign off. Talk to you soon!… Maybe write a comment?

*Just a Thought*

“Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.“

May 3rd*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Hi Everyone!

I guess the real question for me to ask is:

“Does anyone really care?”

And, I’d have to say, the likely answer is probably no.  I DO have this nagging feeling that I have no followers to pay attention to this blog. Yet, as I’ve read before in mags,  a blog is “mainly a diary that is for your benefit online.  You choose to share it with the world as a place for your feelings to be known”. Which, I guess, is a plausable answer.  It still, though, is this tinge of dread when you know you are kind of wasting your time sharing your thoughts. With no one. I guess I can relate to a quote that was brought to my attention by a friend, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” And THAT’S some good ole Dr. Suess for you!

I am actually supposed to be doing a Biology paper on Leukemia right now. But, I also like to share parts of my day with you. Right now, I am surrounded by the scent of chocolate chip muffins wafting from the oven, the sound of my dad rummaging through the garage, the feel of smooth keys beneath my fingers, and the thoughts of just a moment of peace. Aah. Summer is on its way. [ :

I guess I should say that, for a teen, I want this to go somewhere. In a perfect world, a girl just like me would take sight of this, post a comment with her blog address, and become long-distance great friends in a way. That would be wonderful! For now, I just hope to see myself grow from the posts. I just mentioned on facebook today; I have come to discover that my stand-by theme song is John Mayer’s “Say What You Need To Say.” This is quite the ideal when I’m posting a blog, or writing a fiction piece. It makes me feel happy to know I have a theme song I can grow into. My faults? I need to get a backbone. Aka en anglais: I need confidence. And,  if you want to be the perfect reader and look up the lyrics to the John Mayer masterpiece, you will find that the lyrics fit me to a T. BUT, I do need to “have no fear for giving in“. I am plenty glad that I’m taking the Public Speaking elective next year!

Well, that Bio paper is kind of hovering over me with guilt. So I must pursue and conquer. Or die trying.  So, I must bring this updated post to a close. Not without a few last thoughts, though!!

Some Things To Think About:

• I  will be posting a new poem today under a tab above! Please check it out and leave feedback if you happen upon it.
• I PROMISE to update my blog as frequently as possible to give you a mirror shard’s glance into a life of an American teenager.
• Give yourself a challenge today: Have the heart to go onto your local ASPCA’s website to see some events going on. Even if you’re not a animal lover, those critters deserve a second chance!
• And, on a final thought, get your Cinco De Mayo ideas into preparation! Make sure you have enough ingredients to make something deliciously Mexican… you can’t break the tradition! Ole!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I appreciate all of your viewings and hope you’ll stop by again sometime! [ :

*JUST FOR YOU,  SOME WORDS OF WISDOM*

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”