"Girly" Teenage novels

"Girly" Teenage novels

(This is just a sidenote - remember that photography I was doing? Well, neither of those posts are being particularly easy to create alongside school; for a heads up - one is a review of some skincare and soapy type things and one is a DIY textiles instruction post. They will be up ASAP, but in the meantime, there is this!)

After John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars", I don't think many people could argue that all "young adult novels" are frilly and insubstantial. Despite the fact that I am a massive fan of science fiction and horror, I love curling up on the sofa with a mug of tea and "Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging." (Don't judge me, they're funny :) ) But The Princess Diaries and Louise Rennison novels are far from the only ones out there, and these are a few picks of some that maybe have a little more depth to them. They're teenage novels, but the revolving theme is not necessarily romance.

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac: Gabrielle Zevin

I cried, nay, bawled, reading this for the first time. It is a coming of age story equally as good as "The Perks of Being a Wallflower", despite the fact that the character is of age technically, when the novel begins.

Naomi forgets four years of her life after falling down her school steps, and ends up essentially stuck between being twelve and being seventeen - and as the novel progresses she begins to stop trying to fit back into the mold of who she was before the accident, and begins to try to become who she wants to be. There is a romantic subplot, but it never really takes over and it is mostly a beautiful novel about being alive and how time never stands still.

9/10

Adorkable: Sarra Manning

Do NOT be fooled by the title, which gives the illusion that it is a far more poorly written novel than it is. If you are a fan of Tavi Gevinson (which you totally should be, because she is fabulous) then you may draw some wonderful parallels between her and the protagonist, Jeane. It is told both from the perspective of Jeane - a zeitgeist and blogger in Lower Sixth form, and Michael - a high flying all rounded student about to leave for university - and it documents their unhealthy and dysfunctional relationship in some of the most realistic prose I've read in a young adult novel. There is a bit of back story about their unsatisfying childhoods, but the majority of the novel focuses on the romance. Is romance the right word for it? I don't know, but it's a fine split between love and constant arguing. It's fabulous.

8/10 

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

I must start with a plea for this one - whether you have seen the film or not, whether you enjoyed it or not, you have to disregard it when you read the book. This book is far deeper than the rom-com that was spun off of it, and it is easily my favourite young adult novel. It is based on two young punk teenagers - the straight bassist for a queercore band and the daughter of a record label giant - trying to escape equally detrimental relationships.

You really get the awkwardness that they have just met and their relationship's beginning isn't plain sailing (the entire novel happens in one night), but unlike in Adorkable and no matter what the characters may think, you can tell that they are really good for each other. There are also a lot of music references that make me glow a lottle inside.

10/10

Seriously Sassy: Maggi Gibson

This is the first in a series of three, about an ecologically enthusiastic, guitar playing teenager who is trying to balance school, getting a record deal, relationships, friends, her dad trying to become a politician and saving local woodland.

Whilst it is mostly a tweenager type book, Sassy does mature a lot throughout the series and it is still well worth the read because all of the characters are either likeable, or really fun to hate.

It's a little corny, but it is very sweet and very reminiscent of being an early teenager. It was probably one of the first "teenage" novels that I read, and I am glad because you have a fully rounded female protagonist who is wonderful.
7/10


Angel Cake: Cathy Cassidy

This story revolves around a shy immigrant, a cake baking truant and occasional arsonist, an overweight goth, a rat stealing orphan, a bitchy bully girl and all of the problems they drag along with them. Almost the entire novel revolves around the budding romance between two of the characters, Anya and Dan, although there are interesting political undertones about Liverpool, immigration, language, animal rights and families and how they don't always stay together. There are some lovely little vignettes within the story, such as the "pyjamas in the park" tale and the "angel boy" snippets, and the only issue I have with it is that everyone except the protagonists remain reasonably 2 dimensional.
7/10 

Along For The Ride: Sarah Dessen

Although to be honest, any Sarah Dessen novel will do, as they are all lovely. In fact, I'd recommend reading them all, as there are a few crossovers - although it is in no way a series. This is a story about oppression and grief, but it is also about fixing things when they go wrong, and about trying new things and about the cute dirt biker who you keep running into late at night.

It's romantic, but it's special and it is definitely worth reading, if summer novels are your thing. Don't be too disillusioned at the start - I know I was - but as a rule, from there is is all plain sailing upwards, with a heartbreak or two along the way.

You will probably end up hating a few characters, and that's okay, but the most frustrating thing about this book is how the relationship takes a bit of a backseat half the time.

8/10

Stealing Harper: Molly McAdams

This book is equally as frustrating as it is satisfying, because the protagonists spend most of the book with other people, or wishing that they were with other people. Gut wrenching and heart twisting, it is the kind of unlikely romance that makes people's hearts melt just a little bit.

She is a sheltered good girl at college and he is a slut tattoo artist. It is literally the good girl bad boy cliche, but for an amateur writer it is very well written and it does make me care about the characters, despite the fact that I think the ending is unrealistic and rushed.

Hey ho.
6/10

Would you like some more of these? Maybe with a different genre? I've barely scraped the surface, so let me know. Bella x

 

Filler Post: Sorry for Abandoning You!

Filler Post: Sorry for Abandoning You!

It has been exactly a week since Valentines day, and we have only just seen the last of it. I personally love the way that after Valentines day, tack rose shaped chocolate goes on sale, and the single community rejoices. I spent my Valentines day being not the third wheel of a relationship, but being the fourth wheel, which is pretty impressive. And don't tell me that means that we are double dating, it so does not. Wheel number three and I have friend-zoned each other (i.e. we're both friends and content to be thus) so far it is unreal.

A lot has happened to me in the past week. I adopted a rescue hamster called Banjo - who was originally an escapologist at Pets at Home. I became an only child (i.e. both my siblings went on their school ski trip and I didn't). I went to see The Book of Mormon (I love theatre, but I personally found it quite disappointing), I went snowboarding and killed my knees in one of the most epic crashes of all time. I auditioned for National Youth Theatre and started story boarding a graphic novel. And I sewed a skirt, which I might make into a blog post all of its own. So whilst it doesn't excuse the fact that I didn't blog at all, I have excuses reasons at least been productive.

I'm about to do some photography so that I can give you lot a proper post, so I shall see you either later today (depending on the organization skills that I either have or do not) or in the next few days.

Toodle-pip x

Labels

Labels

I know a lot of people go for the "I don't conform to labels" front, and it is true that no label will fit a person perfectly. I, however, like labels, to an extent. I feel like in large quantities you can begin to figure out who a person is. Labels can be useful. Imagine trying to do anything without labels.

Can you pass me the...um the...I mean, it's white and fluid (but only if it identifies that way obviously) and come from the udders of a cow - oh no, I don't mean that! It could come from any animal - or plant, I can't discriminate against the plants like almonds! Not just almonds, it was just an example, I mean, can you extend your arm or leg or face or stomach and bequeath unto me the...

Can you pass the milk is so much more concise, right?

Here are some of my labels. I am a cis-female teenager, who identifies as pansexual. (Oh yeah, I find frying pans just so fucking sexy!) I am single, I am short (5"3) and I am Caucasian. My birthday is on the 21st of May so I am on the cusp of Taurus and Gemini. I have a dual nationality - Australian and British, but I've lived in England, in and around London my entire life. My hair is light brown and my eyes are green-grey-blue with a brown rim around the pupil. I am a daughter, a cousin, a niece, a granddaughter, an older sister, a friend and a student. I currently study Textiles, Art, Drama, Music, Geography, French, English, Maths, Double Science and Religious Studies. I am a radical third wave feminist. I took a weird online quiz that told me according to Carl Jung and Isabel Briggs, I am ESFP which stands for extroverted, sensing, feeling and perceiving. I am a dog person. If I had to sum up my personality using a song title (god, I really am a music slut, aren't I?) I would probably choose Punk Ass Bitch. I have been described as an optimistic pessimist and a pessimistic optimist. I am pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and I am a republican with a small "r" (as in I do not believe in absolute monarchies, dictatorships et cetera).

Whilst labels can be super useful, they can also be super harmful, especially not if the person is not labeling themself, but is having a label thrust upon them. We've all seen the Mean Girls cafeteria scene, where everyone is neatly placed into boxes. In real life I have been called a nerd, a geek, a punk, an emo, an asshole and a feminazi. Some examples of the countless other labels we freely use to describe others include fundamentalist, delusional, perfectionist, idealist, realist, extremist, terrorist, Catholic, Jew, Muslim, pessimist, pacifist, narcissistic, optimist, racist, liberal, homophobe, jerk, stupid, pro-life, pro-choice, two-bit punk, and loud-mouth. The problem with labels is they are merely shells that contain assumptions. When we are taken in by a label, we are taken in by opinions and beliefs. That is, we willingly accept statements without evidence of their validity. The assumptions become stereotypes, which soon become put-downs. Before you know it, we are engaged in name-calling or verbal abuse.

Just because a jar of jam is labelled peanut butter, does not make it jam. And the sooner you can open the jar to discover the jam, the sooner it will become that thing to everyone else. It is important to define labels so that you can describe yourself accurately, it is when you let your labels define you that issues arise.

Thoughts? Bella Fern x

Best Worst Delivered Lines of All Time

Best Worst Delivered Lines of All Time

In my deep and dark heart, I love B movies. Not Bee Movie, but B movies. Films made on an incredibly low budget, often where you find the hidden gems of actors just beginning their careers, or perhaps whose careers have now waned away. Some of these movies are fabulous. Yes, I'm looking at you Tremors and I'm looking at you The Blob. And I was watching another set of these films and thinking about how variable the acting is. You have everything from truly heart wrenching stuff, to...well, the terrible.

Not all of these lines are from B movies. Some are from television series, and even films made on a much larger budget. But all of them are both terribly and hilariously delivered. Enjoy!

Mommie Dearest. I'm sorry, but how can she have such a strong opinion on wire hangers? What? Weird line, weird delivery.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation was a sequel which should probably not have existed, right? Wrong. This line, so sensitively delivered is a reminder to all who wish to seek a career in the performing arts, of the standard that they must attain.

Doctor Who, a wonderful and beautiful thing. But really? No, not the mind probe!

Troll 2 is a film not exactly renowned for its Oscar winning acting performances. But this particular scene? The delivery was just right.

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is an...interesting program. The only way I can think of, that this line could be a good idea, is if he accidently read the stage directions. Funny, though.

Taffin. Mr Brosnan, there is a lot to be said for shouting. In moderation. Wow. Um. Okay.

The Room cannot be omitted from this list. It's the grandfather of all terrible acting. But this line is the one we all mock and we all love to mock.

Any glaringly obvious omissions from the list? Let me know :) Bella x

People who Annoy me on the Internet

People who annoy me on the Internet

I'm annoying. I'm on the internet. I am a bigoted, hypocritical bitch. But hey ho! Let's go for it. They say it isn't a blog until you've posted a list. (Actually, I think I made that last bit up. Leave me alone! I'm new at this!)

1. THE SHOUTY CAPS LOCK PERSON OMFGGG!
SAYING EVERYTHING USING CAPS LOCK DOES NOT MAKE YOU SMARTER OR EVEN LOUDER. And neither does excessive punctuation!!!!!!!!!! ALL IT DOES IS MAKE ME FLINCH AND GET A LITTLE SCARED OF YOU!!!!!!!

2. The pedant
Dubbed "Grammar Nazis", these people are more than a little annoying. Sometimes, it's worth it. Sometimes someone has used such excessively bad spelling and lack of punctuation that I can't read it easily. But more often than not, they pop up on a comment you or a friend made late a night and yell that I should "never end a sentence with a preposition!" or that "the subjunctive belongs there!" There is a time and a place for these people (please help me with my English controlled assessment) but you have no place on the comment I made about peanut butter at 10 last night. It was probably a typo anyway.

3. The "lets try to get a rise out of her/him"
And guess what? Pedants from number two. I know that "lets" should be "let's". What are you gonna do about it? Do you see what I mean? They're the people on feminist pages who comment about how nice a girl's tits are, just to see how many people they can get to yell back at them. They are the people who find the most hardcore Star Wars fans just to comment that "“Thank god Lucas added the double “no” in Return of the Jedi", if they've done they're research, or if they haven't just "Star Wars sucks, lol!" When in doubt, these people often resort to homophobia. If they had their way, they would have "faggoty gay homos" plastered over the foreheads of everybody they could find.

4. The uber fan
At the other end of the spectrum, you have the fangirls, fanboys (fanmen fanwomen?) who cannot cope with the slightest bit of criticism. I loved Harry Potter, but the second you mention that you didn't think that Snape was anything other than god, then at least one of them will descend, like vultures to a carrion. Disney? Great, but I think that the lyrics "where they cut off your ear if you don't like your face" are racist. But no. I am a mild mannered monster who should probably be stabbed. This is not all fans. This is not all fangirls, boys, fanmen fanwomen... they are the select few who ruin my cosplay with the line - "That badge is proportionally too short." Thanks.

5. The exaggerator
Exaggeration can be funny, nay hilarious. It's the bold faced lying, which, because I am so gullible and stupid trusting and kind, I take to be true and then share around my friends. Did you know that 47 people die because they are allergic to memory sticks every year? And if tigers could speak, because of their bone structure they would have a lisp? Or even that, yeah, over the weekend I had an amazing party and One Direction turned up? Me neither.

6. The censor-er
This one is really short. If you are going to swear, swear. Fuck. Shit. Cunt. Bitch. Whore. If you are uncomfortable with swearing online, then don't. Flipping? Fine by me. Shizzle? Yup. But it's the f***s and the b****es and the c*nts that p*** me the f*** off.

Obviously I could go on. For a long time. A long, long time. But for now, these are a few people who press all the wrong buttons. Who pisses you off online?

Behind the Camera

Behind the Camera

I am the kid in school with the camera. I take photographs, it's kind of my thing. It makes me incredibly happy, it makes me incredibly more sane than I would otherwise have been.

But I'm also an attention whore.

To an extent that is. I'm a very shy person in real life, unless you know me in which case I seldom shut up. I can't public speak, and once I had to stand up in front of the class whilst a song of my choice played, and I shook so much I couldn't write for another five minutes. But I've found the guts to public speak before, and I can do it (under a lot of pressure) and more than that, I'm a theatre kid. It's not the audience I am afraid of. It's the showing myself.

Sometimes, like the photography, I retreat to backstage. I just completed a play where I wrote the lighting and sound scripts, burnt the sound effects onto disks and eventually assisted the technical department in a professional theatre using my script and effects. But more often than not, I'm the child whose reciting Shakespeare or trying to find Neverland.

I love photography for itself, but I also love that within my circle of friends, it's me that they come for for photographs, for film, for editing, for working out how to attach the 88mm lense to their dad's camera...I'm pretty sure they get something out of it as well. My best friend Claire got over 500 hundred images to use for her Bronze DofE trampolining proof...whilst I got to scrounge around in the dirt for my own trampolining images.

Here is the problem! Because I am always hidden behind the camera, there are virtually no pictures of me. That's a tiny exaggeration; it's not like people don't offer. There are so many lovely people who offer to get a picture of me pirouetting or performing a front landing...but because of the experience I have with a camera, I'm a massively picky snob.

There is a photo shoot I've wanted to recreate for a while, and I know exactly how I would do it, I've experimented with the makeup and facepaint I would use, I even know how I would make the costumes. But in my head, I am one of the characters. In fact, because I designed the ideas in my head, I am the girl who I see as the main person. That doesn't make me the best person for the job. It is just what I think, I suppose.

I am not entirely sure where I am going with this post. I suppose it's about the child peering out from behind the camera at her peers who all look fabulous, doing what they do and wanting in on the action, and you can see that as a metaphor for life, but it isn't really. We are told we can't do everything we want to do in life, and I guess that's okay. But it would also be really nice to, just for once, be in on that and be the girl who stands in front of the camera and gets to say "Cheese!" 

The Blackfish and I

The Blackfish and I

Yesterday, I watched Blackfish, a documentary that was released just over a year ago, on the 19th of January 2013, which debated the practice of keeping orcas or "killer whales" in captivity. Whilst I have never been the best animal rights advocate - for instance I eat meat - I found this film very interesting and it inspired me to do further research.

Firstly, you must understand that Blackfish is a documentary created to portray a particular viewpoint. I went into this documentary with a mindset that I would not over anthropomorphise these animals, and that I would question what the documentary told me. I tell you this, not to degrade the documentary but to reassure you that I have tried to be as open minded as possible, and as thorough as is reasonable in my research, before writing this post.

Frankly, it's shocking. The fact that these creatures can be kept in captivity is shocking to me.

Killer whales, orcas (orcinus orca) are the largest species of the dolphin family. Found in all of the world's oceans, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas, they are opportunistic predators - apex predators meaning that in their natural habitat they are at the top of the food chain.

More than that, they are incredibly intelligent. There are five distinct "races" of killer whales, which have different manifestations of culture. The races vary in social behaviour, hunting techniques and vocal behaviours. Within their pods they are highly social. This sociability does not translate into captivity, as humans have a very limited understanding of the way that the pods interact and often the races are mixed. Whilst in the wild a calf will never leave her mother, in captivity they are often separated, and calves separated from their mothers struggle to ever raise calves of their own.

In captivity, killer whales are loved for their "trainability, striking appearance, playfulness in captivity, and sheer size". There are 45 orcas in captivity in the world, and 32 of these were bred in captivity. The documentary, Blackfish, focuses on Seaworld, with references to other parks; however orcas are kept in 11 different parks worldwide - SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio, Miami Seaquarium, Marineland Canada, Marineland (Antibes), Loro Parque, Mundo Marino, Kamogawa Seaworld, Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium and Seaside Dolphinarium. In captivity, they are kept in what are essentially "glorified swimming pools" whilst in the wild they swim up to 100 miles a day.

Whilst in captivity there are several statistics that make me a whole lot less comfortable with buying into Shamu. The most obvious is life span. In the wild the average length an orca may live for has been disputed - however most accounts with a scientific basis in fact seem to place the number from about 60 to 100 years for female orcas, and for males approximately 40 years, although some can live to up to 70 years old. In captivity, this is substantially shorter - most killer whales live into their mid twenties. It is important to note that there have been exceptions, Corky II and Lolita have been recorded as still being alive over 40 years of age in captivity.

The shorter lifespan may be due to the fact that in captivity orcas are far more susceptible to captivity. For instance, only in captivity has an orca died of pneumonia. More than that, pneumonia is an incredibly common disease in orcas with many - some studies indicate over 25% - killer whales dying of it. The majority of captive male orcas have a collapsed dorsal fin - in almost 90% of male orcas - as well as several female captive orcas. This is almost unheard of in the wild, with collapsed dorsal fins occurring in fewer than 1% of the killer whales, and this is normally due to serious injury, such as when the orca is shot or collides with a boat.  The most likely reasons for this occurring is the lack of space and too much time in the air as opposed to under the water, supported by a study in 2002 when a stranded orca's dorsal fin showed signs of collapsing, but when the whale was returned to open water the dorsal fin corrected itself.

Perhaps the most controversial of reasons to keep orcas in captivity is the large number of human fatalities and injuries caused by killer whales. In the wild, there have been no confirmed attacks - fatal or otherwise - on humans by orcas. In captivity, it is estimated that approximately 24 people have been directly attacked by captive orcas. The majority of these attacks are biting, but some include ramming in the water and dragging underwater. These attacks have lead to internal bleeding, broken bones, ruptured organs, heart attacks, drowning, hypothermia, blood infection and deaths.

Blackfish focuses mostly on Tilikum, the largest bull orca in captivity, who has been involved with three human deaths. He currently resides in SeaWorld Orlando. After his capture in 1983, he was placed in the since closed SeaLand, Victoria, Canada. Keltie Byrne according to different accounts either slipped into the pool or was - the more sinister of the two - dragged in by her boot. Tilikum and two other female orcas tossed her between them until she drowned. In 1999 a dead homeless man was found in Tilikum's pool, draped naked over his back, having suffered substantial injury. On the 24th of October, 2010, Dawn Brancheau was dragged into the pool by her arm after not rewarding Tilikum when he missed a cue. She died of hypothermia, drowning, multiple severe crush traumatic injuries, scalping and the complete avulsion of her arm. However, whilst Tilikum is the most infamous of the orcas, there have been other deaths caused by killer whales in captivity. In Loro Parque, Alexis Martinez was crushed to death in the jaws of the killer whale Keto. Aside from this there have been many near misses and cases of repeated aggression. Kasatka has bitten three humans in shows, and once dragged a trainer, in 2006 underwater, nearly drowning him. The trainer had puncture wounds in both feet as well as several severed ligaments in the left foot.

This aggression translates between the whales as well. "Raking" is when orcas assert domination and show aggression. The most famous incident of inter-whale aggression showed Kandu V attempt to assert domination over newcomer Corky because there was not enough space for them both. Kandu attempted to rake Corky, missed and collided into the edge of the pool, bursting an artery. She bled to death after a forty five minute hemorrhage. Other instances involve whales biting each others genitals and fins which does not happen in the wild as during altercations whales can separate.

So, what do you think? The culture of whales being kept in captivity is hugely controversial, and for me at least, I struggle to see the the perspective of those in favour of the institutes that keep the whales. Whilst they do raise awareness about the killer whales, orcas are not actually endangered and keeping them in captivity only encourages activities like whaling. What we see is actually a sick society which glorifies the animals in a circus like stadium but that is actually detrimental to the whales and keepers.

Free the orcas? Yes, please.

Music Slut

Music Slut

The other day, my wonderful friend called me a "music slut". I'm still not entirely sure what this is, but when I asked the person in question, they simply referred me to my own main Spotify playlist, which currently has 1153 tracks and is 64 hours long, and expands regularly. Whilst I still don't have a definition for music slut, looking at those statistics, it looks like he might have a point.

I decided to make up a few questions, and answer them. Because #yolo literally my entire life is one drawn out playlist of songs and music. The same wonderful friend described me as "Lost in Stereo," a few minutes after this. Feel free to answer these questions if you like :)

Favourite 4 bands?
[4 is a good number, okay. It leaves room for the all time favourite band, and the others that you know deserve mention!

My Chemical Romance. I've said this before. They're amazing, they have a wonderful evolution through the albums and were definitely one the best post-hardcore, and later punk rock bands I've heard.
Falling in Reverse - they're one of very few bands that I literally love all the songs to. That might be because they've only released 2 albums, but I remain the eternal optimist.
Green Day. They are a staple, they make up the bulk of my main Spotify playlist. I love at least one song from every album, and there are a lot of albums.
Blink-182 got me into skate punk, and are now to blame for my current obsession about learning to skateboard.

Favourite solo singers?
Marilyn Manson, David Bowie and Bribry. Although Tom Milsom's music is really happy and uplifting and always makes me smile. And he has flipping awesome hair. I would steal it if I could.

All time favourite song?
Jesus of Suburbia.

First album you bought?
I was a bit of a pop-punk obsessive when I was around seven so I do believe it was Room on the 3rd Floor by Mcfly.

Current obsession song?
Walking Disaster, Sum 41. Don't ask me why. I won't remember in a week. Two days ago it was "The Drug in Me is You."

Favourite Cover song?
"Beautiful Delilah", covered by The Strypes. "Maybe Somebody That I Used to Know" by Mayday Parade. Or maybe Korn and "Kidnap the Sandy Claws"

What's your genre?
Mostly punk rock. A bit of skate punk, a bit of punk pop. Other stuff. I don't know...

First concert?
The Strypes, at the Electric Ballroom in Camden.

Favourite rock opera?
The Black Parade. Definitely.

Favourite "small band"?
Uptown Mayhem. Just listen to them. They're wonderful. Punk rock and grunge with a powerhouse of a singer in Abby, they're amazingly talented. I wish I lived in Chicago! So badly...

Secret Musical Indulgence?
Musicals. All the musicals. West Side Story, Matilda, anything really. And then I belt it out in the shower. Same goes for Disney songs. And Starkid! So much Starkid! love.

What were you listening two a year ago?
I was going through my indie/ rediscovering old records-ey phase. A lot of The Undertones. A lot of Blondie. Squeeze, obviously. Stuff like that. And Teenage Dirtbag on repeat. I never will get Wheatus out of my head.

Two?
I went through a grunge phase, although I was pretty narrow minded when it came to bands. Mostly Pearl Jam and Nirvana, to be honest. But a lot of those bands. I've always been obsessive about music. I need it in the background of my life.

What are you currently listening to?
My playlist is currently on Shuffle. While I wrote this answer, it just shifted from Ruby Tuesday by The Rolling Stones to Strange Love by Karen O to Fuck the Rest by Falling in Reverse. (I got a cup of tea halfway through.)

Can you play any instruments?
I sing, quite well. Classical Italian and Musicals. I play the harmonica kind of decently, mostly because I heard Billie Joe play it in Minority and I really wanted to learn the part. I was an annoyingly fangirl-ey 13 year old...

Lyric that you wait for the perfect opportunity to quote?
Nobody's perfect and I stand accused. Please, someone call me perfect. (Pfft that will never happen.)

Are you in a band?
I wish. None of my friend are into the same kind of music as me. I've been trying to form/join one for about a year now, because it's all I've ever wanted to do.

Have I missed anything important out? I can't remember. Never mind. This is another one of the those annoying stuff about me posts, so I'll try and cut them out in future. Hey ho. Ho hey.

Bella x

Glasses schmasses...

Glasses schmasses...

So very recently, I started wearing glasses. I have mild astigmatism, which affects my ability to see straight lines (I think, who knows?) so I only have to wear them for reading. And because I only started wearing them so recently, and because I take them on and off all the time, I have started noticing some stuff...

The good points? I can see now. Wow. Who knew that most people could actually read what time their train was coming, because believe me, it used to baffle me on a day to day basis.

There are, of course, benefits to wearing glasses. For a start, I can see now. I know what the lesson is about without actually listening to the teacher (thank god). I know when my train is coming. I know whether it's my bus or someone else's, without having to awkwardly turn to a complete strange and ask. Because of stupid society ideas, apparently they make me look smarter (read: completely geeky) and that can only be a good thing. I now have a reason to wear the "who you calling four eyes?" badge on my school uniform.

And I became oddly popular for a day with all the "Wait, you wear glasses now?" Yes, random citizen. No shit.

But whilst I love not mistaking random people for my friends and not getting headaches as often, there is no denying that wearing glasses can suck. Majorly.

For a start, I have had to bury my headphones deep in the bowels of my bedroom. It's earphones only for me now, considering that all headphones seem to do is shove the sides of my glasses into my skull. That means that annoying people who I love to death but mostly hate my friends can walk up to me and pull out an earphone to tell me trite rubbish their important problems, in the middle of the silent, solo moshpit that is my mind.

Has someone left a copy of the Metro on the train seat? Better yet, has my friend found a hilarious cartoon in the paper that she wants to show me? Great. But I can't see it. Because I don't have my glasses. If I had my way, I would have school glasses and home glasses, because, because I don't wear glasses all the time, just for reading, it means that when I take them off I leave them annoying places. And then I can't see to find my glasses.

I was born and raised in England, so obviously I drink vast quantities of tea. This is going to sound weird to pretty much everyone. But nevermind. When I drink tea, if I breathe, then my breath reflects off the tea and makes my glasses steam up. It's not just with tea, though. I can't read in the bath anymore. I have also noticed that if I have wet hair and I'm outside, then my glasses steam up then! What? No one told me about this...

I just count down the days until I can afford contact lenses. One day, one day...

Bella x