I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult.

She has written numerous books (I think it's a crazy number like seventeen) and basically all of them are amazing. All of them have different story lines and cover different topics that are hot in society. Not only are her stories interesting, but her writing is SO easy to read. Honestly, I can finish one of her books in a night.

It's not only that she's a great writer, but she seems like a wonderful person. I've watched interviews with her and she's always smiling and bubbly.

I would ask her how she's able to write such spectacular novels. I would ask her how she got started. I would ask her what it feels like to have so many fans and so many books. I would also ask her for some writing tips!

The Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward.

Yes, many people haven't heard of this but logrolling is honestly the coolest sport in the world. Every summer we all train at the lake and then head off to the tournament. I've actually never been, but hopefully this summer. I'm really excited about it!

I have indeed been on stage.

In high school, I was part of the drama and forensics program and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

I was in 3 shows and worked on make up for numerous others.

Being on stage is honestly one of the most frightening, thrilling, and challenging moments. I remember my heart pounding, my face flushed, and feeling like I could do anything.

I love being on stage, and I miss it.

There are two main places where I would love to go if I had a time machine:

1) Meiji Era in Japan
2) 1960s in the USA, maybe New York or California

Reason for number 1:

I have always had a strange obsession with Japan. But my main obsession with it is the history. I love the samurai, the geisha, the tea ceremonies. I just find it all so fascinating! So, with the time machine, I would travel to Japan and see the samurai, listen to the language and try to learn even more about what happened during that time. Maybe even dress up as a geisha (if allowed) and try to learn some moves with a sword.

Reason for number 2:

Also, I have always had a strange obsession with the 1960s. Vietnam War, hippies, pot, radical movements, amazing music. I would have loved so much to be a part of all of it. It's sad because it seems today not many people are as radical as they once were. Also, the music selection nowadays is nothing what it was like back then. Alas...

As of right now, it is:

Kaleidoscope Heart by Sara Bareilles

It never gets old for me because of how raw and truthful all the songs are. Sara's voice is gorgeous and the lyrics are so honest. Each song is different in its own unique way. I've already listened to it plenty of times and probably will in the future!

1) Japan

I've had an obsession with Japan for as long as I can remember. I'm obsessed with the culture, the people, the history, and pretty much everything else that has to do with the country. One of these days I will be going there! I can feel it. :)

2) Australia/New Zealand

New Zealand has been on my mind ever since I watched Lord of the Rings. And Australia was always a big deal for me because when I was younger I learned about the wonderful marsupials that lived there, and I wanted so badly to go and check them out! I want to see the beautiful landscape, scope some Aussie hotties and learn more about the beautiful animals!

3) England

It's the home of The Beatles, Harry Potter, and so many other wonderful things! My dad has been there numerous times and always talks how it's sort of been a second home for him. I would love to walk down the cobbled streets, listen to people chat with their adorable accents, and explore, explore, explore! I'm a little English so maybe that's why I'm so keen on going there (and probably the fact that my dad brags about it all the time).

I love love love LOVE the sound of a cat's (or kitten's) purr.

First off, it's incredibly soothing. It doesn't matter if I'm in the worst mood in the world, hearing a cat purr and feeling it against my skin makes me feel right with the world again.

Second, it's amazing how cats are able to do that with their throats! I feel like if I could, I would be purring all the time.

Third and finally, I'm in love with cats. Not only do their purrs make me happy, their meows are pretty darn cute as well (not after the fiftieth time though, that gets a little old...) Almost anything a cat does I will fall in love with right away.

1) Pretty much anything and everything that has to do with animals and protecting them. I am a fan of PETA, but I do believe that some of there movements are a bit extreme.
I'm vegetarian, and my three cats are basically my babies. I have always loved animals and feel that I have a special bond with them. Anything that will help shelters, endangered species or in between has my vote. I really do believe that animals are special, just like humans.

2) To Write Love On Her Arms

This one has a huge significance for me. Everyone has felt depressed, sad, or lost. There are moments where one feels like they can't go on. Unfortunately, some have it worse. Some suffer from bipolar disorder, or depression. Some actually can't even leave their beds because of the feeling drowning them. TWLOHA reaches out, helps, and protects. I have been down this lonely and scary road, and I know how painful it can be. TWLOHA brings joy, hope and a new chance.

3) Breast Cancer Awareness

I didn't know how scary breast cancer was until a family member of mine actually had it. I always saw those commercials, with the bald women talking about how strong they are, now that they have survived. I would shudder and secretly mutter to myself how lucky I was. I would read about it online, in magazines and see the survivors in stores. I never knew, until it was right in front of me.

My mom was lucky. I mean really lucky. If she hadn't been checked out sooner, the cancer would have spread further and she probably would not be with us right now. Everyday I think about this, and everyday I am grateful. My mom is strong. The strongest person I know. Even with death staring at her, she merely glared at it and never backed down. She was scared but she never showed it. She wanted help, but she never asked for it. My mom has been a fighter, ever since I was little, and I know that trait of her will never stop.

This is a tricky question.

I do and I do not. Sometimes I believe that what had just happened shouldn't have happened. While, at the same time, I realize that everyone learns. Whether what happened was disastrous or wonderful, huge or tiny, life happens. I don't really think to myself: "I wonder if that was meant to be" I let life do its thing.

So, yes, everything does happen for a reason. However, if we all kept thinking this to ourselves, we would be so absorbed in this thought we would forget how to live. The best thing to do (in my opinion) is just go out there and try your best. People make mistakes, but it's part of life. Live. It's the best thing one can do.

Her name is Shana Martin. She's a logroller, a fitness trainer, a teacher, a lover, a fighter, and a friend.

She has done so many things: won many awards for logrolling and fitness, fought for Huntington's Disease, helped me along with many other people when they were down, and overall has given hope to many.

She never stops. Every time I talk to her, she's always moving. Tomorrow she might be in Canada, and the day after that it might be L.A. And what's so amazing about her is she is so human. There are moments when she complains. She will get stressed out. She will want to lie down and sleep for days and days. The thing is, she never quits. And it's this quality about her that inspires me to do great things. When I talk to Shana or search up another amazing fact about her, I think to myself, "I could do something like this. I could change the world too."

Anyone I know who has met Shana has automatically loved her. She might be superwoman, but she is also hilarious, loving, and not afraid to not act her age. When you hang out with her, you can't help but laugh and go and be crazy. She's always energetic, ready for more, even if she hasn't slept in a week. She might be thirty, but no one could ever tell. She acts like she's 18 and sometimes I do believe she is.

I have known Shana Martin for almost 11 years. Those years have been wondrous, a little frightening sometimes, and so much fun. Meeting Shana has shaped me into a better person, and now I feel like I can do awesome things too. I might not have a six pack like her, or be able to run the boom in less than 20 seconds, but I still feel amazing, because I was able to meet her.

Now, this story isn't really about a "road trip" but it still took about five hours to get to the place, so I consider it one.

My sophomore year in high school, our musical was Little Shop of Horrors. Now, for anyone who has seen this, they know that the show has a huge human eating plant. Our director had decided to borrow a puppet plant from a school way up north. To be nice, he thought that we should go and see their version of the musical. Now, not everyone jumped at this opportunity; it was on a Saturday and it would take all day. Not many people wanted to spend their day driving for hours and hours to spend only a couple hours watching a show and then drive back. Well, me and four other friends jumped at this.

The day arrived and our director told us to follow one of the student's moms. So, my friends and I bundled into a car and were off. We sang songs at the top of our lungs and giggled about silly jokes that now wouldn't make any sense. The scenery was beautiful. The green pastures seemed to go on forever and ever and the sky was the bluest I had ever seen it. Maybe it was because I was with people I loved, maybe it was because I was in such a good mood, but that day was damn beautiful.

As the night slowly turned dark, we noticed that we were going in circles. Our friend who was the driver continued grumbling, saying that the lady leading had no idea what she was doing. Sooner or later, everyone in that car was agreeing with him. Finally, she had started to pull into a barn. A really creepy and old barn. There was a house right next to it with a small porch light on. My friends and I looked at each other, wondering why the hell the lady had lead us here. I remember my heart thumping like mad. The supposed leader slammed her car door as she walked towards us. She was saying something about directions and how they were making no sense. My friend, the driver, told her that he should lead, since he knew where he was going. Finally, after some consideration, the lady agreed and our car was the car to be followed.

Reading this, it might not seem like such a great trip. But those people I was with were my second family.

The trip back from the musical was even better then when we were driving up there. We were telling scary stories, going around to person to person and listening quietly. The only sound was our voices and the sound of tires driving smoothly on pavement. I remember one of our friends falling asleep in the backseat, and how we all smiled at her and whispered even more, trying hard not to wake her up. The world outside was dark, with only the car lights and stars guiding us home. At that time, I believed we were the only ones on that Earth. As I looked at each one of my friends, my heart fluttered. With love. With joy. With content. I was at home. Even in a car in the middle of nowhere. I was home.

I do believe that everyone has a little optimism and a little pessimism in them. Maybe some have a little more of one than the other.

I'd like to say that I'm more optimist. Yes, when I was younger I had a very dark look on life. There were many reasons, but all of them made me believe that my future would be very grim. Now, I'm more optimist because of how my life has taken a huge 360 turn.

I want to say I'm an optimist because I do believe that wonderful things happen in my life as well as other peoples. I try to be as cheerful as I can. Of course there will be those moments where I believe nothing's going right, that all I want to do is grab my chocolate ice cream and hide under the covers, and that tomorrow will be the worst day of my life. But, for all those other moments, I'm going to stay content. I think that my life right now is amazing, and I am expecting nothing but the best.

Oh gosh, so many things!

Obviously I would go shopping and buy clothes. Then I would buy lots and lots and lots of books. I would buy really nice presents for my friends since I can never buy them exactly what I want. I would buy nice toys for my cats and those really crazy cat tree things. I would buy my parents a house and take my mother shopping. I would also give money to different organizations: one for animal testing/rights, another for breast cancer and another for depression.

Left over (if I had any...) I would put into my college fund.

Parents
I love them. A lot.

And I know they would do the same for me.

Cell phone
I can call 911, a friend or anyone for help.

Also, I'm kind of screwed without it.

Love to all my contacts*

he was tall. handsome. gorgeous eyes.

I pushed him away and at the same time he ran.

The story behind the whole thing is too long, but I had needed him so much that he became tired. He finally broke away from my hold and ran away as far as he could. We fought a lot and he broke my heart. I had thought that he needed me as much as I needed him. Guess I was wrong. But, of course, I was fifteen and I really didn't know much.

To me, he was was my world. And to him, I was only a piece of it.

It's a typical love story told by a typical girl. I loved him, he broke my heart, the end.

We don't talk anymore, but I still think about him. And I always wonder, if I went back to those moments, would I change anything?

The fastest animal on earth...except today..cause it's my day off...:O)

I would have the power of talking to animals.

I have always believed that animals are trying to tell us something, but we never really know what. I'd love the ability to read their minds and finally know what they're saying.

animals.
they understand me in ways other people can't.

they are always there. they are fascinating and never cease to amaze me. they know things that humans could never figure out. to me, they are friends and i want to work with them when i'm older.

music.
no matter what mood i may be in, music can flip it like a switch. it makes me want to dance, cry, laugh and think all at the same time. music to me is the most important thing in my life. i do not think i could live without it and i can't understand people who say they don't like it! how can you not like music?! it's everywhere.

friends.
always there for me.

make me smile no matter what.

gives me support to do anything i want.

never ever judge me.

they love me for who i am, and that's enough.

books.
reading is my escape from reality.

logrolling
the best sport in the world with the most amazing people. i miss it everyday.

it gets me in shape, gets me tan and makes me feel like i'm actually doing something good.

my parents.
they brought me into this world.

they have supported me in ways i never imagined possible.

they are always there for me. they will listen to me, no matter what the problem is. i love them more than anyone and they have helped me more than anyone. i would never be able to thank them enough.

chocolate
delicious. good for you. can eat it at anytime.

traveling.
new experiences. opens your eyes. learn new languages. makes you realize how vast the world really is.

writing.
i can express myself so simply, but make it so complex. it soothes me and as the pen writes on the paper, i feel myself becoming happier. not only, but i am becoming a better person and a better writer. i love writing and it has been with me since early childhood.

Dancing on the Table [6/6]

Break out into a musical number and start dancing on the table.

OK, no, I really wouldn't do that.

"so....how bout that weather?"

Facebook

I waste who knows how my hours on my laptop.

Well, sometimes I'll do something productive...like write a paper or look up information or talk to a friend.

But mainly I'll just watch youtube videos that probably kill my brain cells and go on facebook merely looking up people who I never talk to.

Yeah, I'll look back on these moments and think about what I could have done with that time. Oh well.

Moulin Rouge has been my all time favorite movie since I was about thirteen. It has so many qualities in it that I just love...

It's a musical and I'm a musical fanatic. It has great songs and amazing people who can actually sing. My favorite all time scene is when they sing Roxanne. I always get tears in my eyes and I always have goosebumps.

It's a romance. Like most girls, I'm a hopeless romantic and this movie makes me sigh, cry and smile all at the same time. Christian is an amazing man and seems like the perfect mate for most girls. Of course, Satine is not so welcoming at first, but it's their differences that makes their love just so enchanting.

It's random. I, myself have so many random moments so this movie is perfect. For anyone who has seen it, you know what I'm talking about. From the green fairy who jumps out, to the elephant, to servants who are amazing dancers. Even after seeing it a million times, I'm always excited to see what happens next.

I love Moulin Rouge. It makes me cry at the end because of how strong Satine's and Christian's love was. You put yourself in their position and you try to imagine losing the person you love most. Not only that, but this movie was beautifully made and it has some of my favorite actors.

I can watch this movie over and over again without getting tired of it

I would love to be Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. She's a very independent character who doesn't take crap from anyone. She also knows how to kick box, which would be an amazing skill to learn.

Although she is very tough on the outside, she does have a soft interior, which is another part I love about her. It shows that she is human, like everyone else. She stands up for what's right and what she believes in. No matter what, no matter what anyone says, she will keep doing what she loves and what she thinks she needs to do.

Salander is by far my favorite heroine. Every time I read one of the books, I feel like I should go and do something inspirational. She's bad-ass, tough and smart. What else could be better?

ShutMyEyes

Alright, so this person isn't "historical" but I love her and she has influenced me quite a lot.

Sylvia Plath.

The reason for this is because of her writing. Whenever I read her poetry, or any of her writing, it's so raw and real. When I read it, I understand it. I know what's going on. I can feel the emotions that she's spilling out on the page. This, to me, takes so much talent that I can't help but envy her. I love to write and I try to improve every time I pick up a pen. Plath is my favorite writer because of her amazing talent. I would ask her so many questions, most personal. Questions about her depression, her jack-ass husband and her ideas. What made her mind create such deep and powerful words? The Bell Jar is one of my favorite books and I melt whenever I read it because of how true it is.

So, that's it. Plath is one of my heroes and I wish she was still around today. I know that if she was, she would have made more beauty and touched more people.

Sunset on the Bluff Trail at Montaña de Oro State Park, California

I would love to go to California! First off, I've heard awesome things about it...the ocean, the hippies, the trolleys. Also, one of my very close friends lives there so I would obviously visit her. I'd especially love to go to San Francisco.

I also really want to visit Florida. I love beaches so I would enjoy tanning and swimming. I've been invited but was never able to go.

Oh yes, and Colorado. It's supposed to be beautiful there. My dad talks a lot about it and says that the mountains are a sight to see. I'm not much of a hiking person, but I think I'd make an exception if I went there.