Tenley the Moose

Hey girls, it's Tuesday. First things first, my punishment for not blogging last week. You guys decided to have me dress up like a moose and then make my best moose sound. I can't say that my costume or my moose sounds are at all accurate... but they are definitely embarrassing. So without further ado, I present "Tenley the Moose":

Moving on, this week is BOOK WEEK! My favorite topic. Currently I've been reading "The Last Little Blue Envelope" by Maureen Johnson because I won an advanced reading copy last year through Accio Books and let me tell you, it's amazing! I'm not totally finished yet, because I had to stop and write this blog, but I'm about three quarters of the way through and loving every second of it. Specifically, I'm loving every second of the new character Oliver (crushes on fictional characters FTW!). 

I also went to the library recently and checked out "The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Gothgirl" and "Kind Dork". I haven't started either of them yet but they both sound awesome and I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Last weekend I explored a local used bookstore for the first time. I know what your thinking, "if it's local, why haven't you explored it before?" Well, it is local, but its on the other side of town and I don't go down to that area much. But I'm glad I did because its unbelievably awesome. I got several books including a copy of "The Great Gatsby" for 4.99. I've read the book already, twice actually. Once in my Junior year of high school and once on my own shortly after my senior year, but I've never owned the book. Now however, I own it and I can highlight like crazy and it will be wonderful.

Books that haven't come out yet but that I'm excited for, include: Maureen Johnson new series coming out later this year, I think in the fall and Tina Fey's book of short comical essays. Seriously, Tina Fey is probably the only actress/actor who could write a book that I'd actually buy.

Finally, I think I'll leave you with my top ten favorite books. This was incredibly hard because I love so many books, but this is what I came up with.

1. "WinterGirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson
2. "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
3. "I am the Universe" by Barbara Corcoran
4. "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson (I really like Laurie Halse Anderson)
5. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix" by J.K. Rowling
6.  "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
7. "Boy Meets Boy" by David Levithan
8. "Before I Fall" by Lauren Oliver
9. "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan
10. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Yeah... I think that's accurate. Although, already I'm thinking of books that I left out. But that will do for purposes of this blog. Emily, I'll read you tomorrow.
DFTBA
Tenley

Currently reading: "The last little blue envelope"
Currently listening to: My brother watching something on t.v. in the other room. 

I expect to eat more bread bowls

Hello, it's Tuesday... in case you didn't know. Today's been pretty uneventful aside from me eating a gigantic bread bowl full or soup for dinner. It was delicious, but also huge. But the delicious part must be outweighing the rest because I'll probably have another bread bowl soon, not like tomorrow, but in 2011. Hey, that was interesting and totally pre-planned way of moving into the theme. So, because I love lists as much as I do (a lot, in case you didn't know) I'm going to tell you what I expect from 2011 in a list.

Things I expect to happen in 2011: 
1. Write everyday and get a little better at it. The first part of this is my resolution which I've already told you about. The second part is basically me expectation for my resolution. I don't intend to become the best writer ever, or anything close, but I do expect to get a little better at it then I am now. Also, I expect to make writing a daily habit, mostly because I'd really love to be at that point.

2. Work a lot, or as much as humanly possible around my class schedule, and continue setting aside part of my paycheck everytime I get paid. There's no real reason for this, I'm just one of those people that feel better when I have money in my savings account and it's definitely a good thing so... why not?

3. Get a new car. The car I have now is a Pontiac Sunfire Convertible 1996 that I've had since I was sixteen (my first and only car). Its a good car, it runs and everything, but it's starting to have a considerable number of problems. I've already been told by my parents that they are willing to chip in to this "Tenley needs a car" fund. Which is nice, because that means I'll be able to get a decent car.

Things I'd like to happen in 2011: 
1. Ace all my classes this year. I generally do okay (A's and B's with an occasional C) but it would be really freaking awesome if I could ace all of my classes.

2. Attend a Nerdfighter/Youtube gathering. The big one's are Vidcon and Leakycon but due to money and the location of those gatherings neither is very likely. But, maybe a local gathering? Driftless Pony Club is going on Tour soon and Lauren Fairweather is pretty much touring full time. So, maybe?

3. Find some kind of volunteer program I like and become a part of it. I partly want this to happen because it will look good on applications to grad school when I get to that point and partly because I've always wanted to be seriously involved in some kind of volunteer/charity organization.

And... I think that's it. Well, at least, that's the bulk of what I expect/want to happen this year. 2011 has started off pretty well and hopefully it will just keep getting better.

Emily, I can't wait to hear the news that Katie says you have for us, tomorrow.
DFTBA
Tenley

Currently reading: "Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging" by Louise Rennison. I like it so far, not great in terms of plot, but its absolutely hysterical if you just want something funny to read.
Currently listening to: Um... the noise that Skype makes when people message you.

Christmas in a List (actually three lists)

Hey girls, it's Tuesday. My room is really hot, hold on. *turns on fan* Ah, that's better. Anyways, I'm really glad were going to start posting regularly on here again, I've missed it. I'm also excited for the group chat we're planning on Facebook. I don't even know when its gonna happen and I'm excited.

So, how were the holidays you ask. Well, they were awesome! Okay, I actually didn't do a whole lot for the holidays but they were still fun.

As far as presents go, my family decided that this year no one could spend over twenty dollars a person (my Dad totally broke this rule by buying my Mom like seven different presents). Here's the list of presents I gave to my family:

To my Mom: A pair of slippers because she's always saying her feet are cold.
To my Dad: A Chess set because he absolutely loves chess and as always wanted a really nice wooden board.
To Daniel (brother): Two Doctor Who comic books and the first comic in the Justice League series. Also, a monopoly card game.
To Kristina (sister): A necklace and earrings (black).
To Rachel (other sister): A necklace and earrings (silver) (not the same one's I got for Kristina but admittedly they were on the same rack in the store).

I also bought Kristina and Rachel a painting set (one a picture of a horse and one a teddy bear), but I forgot to send it to them (their both in Michigan). So... yeah, maybe I'll get around to that at some point.

As far as my presents go, here's another list:

From Daniel: A picture (he's into photography) of a horse which he then turned into a unicorn using some digital magic. Also, he added in a rainbow... John Green would love it. As do I.
From Rachel: One of those bath set things. Which I love, although I'm always a little concerned when someone gets me a bath set, does that mean they want me to take more showers?
From Kristina: It hasn't come in the mail yet because she's broke and was waiting for the rates to go down and now its January and she hasn't sent it because she's either busy or forgot or has been lazy. Either way, I don't know what it is.
From my parents: A basketball thing that hooks on to a door. Which I love because it combines to of my favorite things, not leaving the house and balls (twss). Also, as a stocking stuffer they got me a yo-yo, a maze game thing, a kaleidescope, and a candy cane.

Aside from presents here's a list of things I love about the holidays:
1. I love that my parents still put things like "from Santa" or "From Comet" on our presents even though we all discovered the Santa lie a long time ago.
2. Pumpkin pie.
3. I like that even though I'm in Virginia and it usually doesn't snow like ever, it snowed just in time for Christmas.
4. I like that its perfectly acceptable to do nothing.
5. And on a cheesy note, I like that it brings the family together no matter what the circumstances surrounding Christmas are.

As far as New Years goes, let's just say I hate a lot of chips. Emily I'll read you tomorrow.
DFTBA
Tenley

Currently reading: "Eat, Pray, Love" and "Nation". I couldn't decide which one to read first, so I'm reading them both until I get so into one of them that I can't put it down.
Currently listening to: "Crushed and Created" by Caitlyn Smith
Comment question for those of us who are terrible at coming up with things to comment on: What's your favorite kind of chips? Mine is definitely Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles. They have to be Ruffles though, any other kind are just not as good.

Tuesday Used to be an Internet N00b

Hey bloggers it's Tuesday!

To start off let me say how glad I am that this is a blog and not a vlog and therefore doesn't involve you having to hear me right now, because I currently sound like a 12 year old boy going through puberty.

Anyways, I'm Tenley, and apparently, according to the poem Jasmine posted, I'm full of grace. Yay me... I would never have said that about myself, and I don't think anyone else would (except maybe my Mom), but I'll take it.

Because I suck at introductions and I don't want to write a paragraph where every sentence starts with "I'm", here's a list.

Basic Info:
Name: Tenley
Home: Virginia
Age: 18
Career plans: librarian
Education: Just finished my Freshman year of college as a liberal arts major.
Hobbies: writing, reading, youtube (youtubing?) and drawing (I'm not very good, just fyi).

Well, that sounded like a resume. Sorry, I've been job hunting all day. No luck so far, but hopefully someone will call. *crosses fingers*

As for how I found out about Nerdfighters and such, here's the story:

From the time I was born till the time I was 16 I lived in Michigan on this private road that Comcast refused to come down, so... we had dial-up. *GASP* I know, its shocking. However, after my junior year of high school my Dad got a new job and we all moved to Virginia, where, by the grace of God, we had high speed internet. So as you can probably imagine I spent the rest of the summer watching Youtube video, after Youtube video just because I could (for those of you who have never had dial-up it takes about 45 minutes to load a 4 minute video... on a good day).

Sometime at the beginning of September my government teacher announced that we'd be talking about the election and the V.P. choices tomorrow. When I got home I got online and on my iGoogle page in the most discussed box there was a video about Sarah Palin (John's video). At which point I clicked on it for two reasons, 1) I had high speed and I could and 2) I wanted to impress my classmates with how much I already knew.

So I watched the video. I liked the video. I didn't subscribe though because at the time my internet n00b of a self thought it was one of those "subscribe for 3.99 deals" (yes, I was that dumb). And so some time past but I kept seeing videos from that same guy (or Hank) and was like "is this all he does". Then on October 22nd I was watching one of their videos that I can't remember and got curious so I got an account and clicked subscribe thinking I could go back or close the window after I saw what was there. But I never got the chance, because another page didn't load, the button just turned white and said I was subscribed. And from there its just been a long tale of obsession and awesomeness.

Emily, I'll read you tomorrow!