Ashley > Recent Status Updates

"Andrew is my little brother. He is four going on five. Seth is my stepfather. I do not know exactly how old he is."

LMAO I love little observations like this from Karen.

FIRST KISS. SWOON!!!

I have a crush I need to get over, maybe this'll give me some tips lol.

"It seemed having a pet disrupted the flow of one's daily routine."

IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY!! I love my mornings when the kitties just want to snuggle, so getting out of bed (even for work) is a low priority.

I can't believe there is such a big fuss about a monthly contest. Like, the news is there for the drawing, but there was a winner last month, and presumably there will be a new one next month? And the fuss of changing the billboard and commercials with the month's winner? And a restaurant giving away a thousand dollars - MONTHLY?! (Also why had nobody heard of the contest if it's this big of a deal?)

Okay now I see why everyone hates Karen: "I cannot wait to make my statue, even if the capybara is not very cute." YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH, KAREN BREWER.

"Soon the doorbell rang. 'That's Mary Anne!' called Kristy. (Kristy has a good friend named Mary Anne. She is a baby-sitter, too. She was going to help with trick-or-treating. That was because nine kids were going out. Even Kristy could not watch nine kids by herself.)"

Oh, how times have changed: Karen's family goes on the plane with the flight attendant to get her settled. "Andrew cried, though. 'I want to go with Karen!' he shrieked. (Mommy and Seth had to drag him off the plane.)"

Whoops, should have read this one before #21 Karen's New Teacher.

Ah, we get some closure from Karen's Rollerskates: she did win the autograph contest against Ricky. His baseball player couldn't touch Karen's witch, Mr Tastee, and the random-ass actress.

I love that these books have continuity between them, though Emily Michelle was tossed at us in this book without any lead up.

"His cat is named Rocky. His dog is named Midgie. These are stupid names. I would have named the cat Jones and the dog Vance. Jones and Vance are really great names."

I AM HOWLING. I forgot how sassy early-series Karen is. (Though I'm sure other fans would argue that she is ~spoiled and ~bratty.)

"I sat down in my inflatable easy chair and let her finish my packing." Lmao inflatable furniture, that takes me back to the year 2000.

"I was maddest of all when Dad was late to his own meeting. He walked through the door at 7:15. 'The meeting's half over,' I announced. I was sitting at the dining room table with a pad of paper, two pens, and a pitcher of water.
'Stacey,' said Dad, 'this is not a joke.'
'I know. That's why I got to your meeting on time.'

AHAHAHAHA SAVAGE, STACE!!

My favourite BSC blunder, Claudia writes: "Stacey I am begging you. Please do this for me. I have never been stuck on an island before." Clearly she has forgotten the events of Super Special 4 when she had not only been stuck on an island, but marooned on a deserted island with one other teenager and four children (one of whom was sick.)

"The BSC has had so many experiences. I'd have to write a book - a whole set of books - if I wanted to tell our complete story."

Say, a whole 131 books, plus 15 books to document their travels, 36 for their mysteries, 4 for the bigger mysteries...

"...but my life was on autopilot. I was stalled."

Hmm, maybe I'll get a little more from this book than some good Degrassi goss.

"Do you think I'd look better with short hair?" she asked me, holding up her hair.
"No," Margo answered for me. "Your face is too fat for short hair."
"Thanks a lot," Mallory shot back irritably.
"I didn't say you were fat," Margo defended herself. "You just have a big face."
"Big faces are nice," Claire said. "Barney has a big face."

"No," Mom replied at the same time. "What would you like to hear?"
"Hanson?" she suggested.

BE STILL MY TEENAGE HEART

I can tell the author works or has worked in a public library, because she has perfectly encompassed what regular patrons are like. Patricia comparing the reference interview tips she learned in library school versus the actual "reference" questions had me howling - it's so true!!

Okay right away... since when does Kristy's house back onto a wooded area? And Cary lives nearby? And there's a big house in this forest that has never been mentioned before? (And you KNOW Karen would have been OBSESSED with a spooky mansion in the woods that is apparently easy for the kids to walk to.) Anyway, I just really have a tough time with this new development at the end of the series.

I am having a heck of a time getting into this book.

Guess I'm a couple books behind in the California Diaries series, because Mary Anne just mentioned Gracie.

"He even sent me to live with my grandparents in Nebraska until he could cope a little better. I was too little to remember Nebraska now--" You don't remember Nebraska because you were sent to Iowa, Mary Anne.

I'm not overly digging this, but the synopsis has me hooked enough to keep plugging away at it.

Well this took a turn.

It's crazy to me that it's two weeks 'til Christmas, and the mall is JUST setting up their Santa now. That seems so late!

SECOND IN THE SERIES?! ARGH!!!

Why does 11-year-old Tiffany need a baby-sitter? Good thing Mall or Jessi weren't the only ones available!

I hate the name Sumner.

I thought I wanted to read all of Sarah Dessen's books in order, but the first chapter has me questioning if I'm still that into contemporary teen fic. I'll keep reading, but 15 books might be a lofty goal lol.