Fifty Things about me!

1: What are you wearing? Red robe, black leggings, blue & white striped t-shirt, and a grey beaded necklace.
2: Ever been in love? Uhm, nope.
3: Ever had a terrible breakup? Definitely no!
4: How tall are you? 5'2! I'm taller than most of my friends.
5: How much do you weigh? 82 pounds, perhaps?
6: Any tattoos? No. I might get one when I'm older, though.
7: Any piercings? Yeah, I got my ears pierced a long time ago. I want to get more, though.
8: OTP? Ron/Hermione! They're awesome together!
9: Favorite Show? Amazing Race and Wipeout are my favorites.
10: Favorite bands? Regina Spektor Nickleback, Keane, I somewhat like One Direction, and Fall Out Boy.
11: Something you miss? My stuffed black cat. She was so sweet, I really miss her!
12: Favorite song? Currently it's Enchanted by Taylor Swift.
13: How old are you? Between 11 and 13
14: Zodiac sign? Pisces.
15: Quality you look for in a partner? Kind, caring, empathetic.
16: Favorite Quote? “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't." ― Mark Twain
17: Favorite actor? Emma Watson.
18: Favorite color? Blue and green are my favorites.
19: Loud music or soft? LOUD!
20: Where do you go when you're sad? My room. I unzip my comforter and crawl into it.
21: How long does it take you to shower? 10-20 minutes.
22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? It can take 2 minutes to 10 minutes.
23: Ever been in a physical fight? Nope.
24: Turn on? I like sparkly, pristine, tropical beaches.
25: Turn off? Big messes!
26: The reason I joined Youtube? I'm not on Youtube.
27: Fears? Puppets, Muppets, Sesame Street, and certain noises (extremely loud gongs, creaking chains at playgrounds, and loud banging on metal. I actually worked myself into a a panic crossing under a train bridge, because I kept thinking about the awful noises it would make if I touched it.)
28: Last thing that made you cry? When I accidentally trapped my fingers between the panels of a garage door a few days ago.
29: Last time you said you loved someone? last night, to my mom.
30: Meaning behind your Youtube Name? Again, I'm not on Youtube.
31: Last book you read? Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code.
32: The book you're currently reading? Olivia kidney, Hot on the Trail.
33: Last show you watched? Wipeout.
34: Last person you talked to? My mom, telling her I didn't want to watch any Christmas movies.
35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted?  I don't text.
36: Favorite food? Thai food! I love Thai food!
37: Place you want to visit? London, England, P.E.I, and Tokyo.
38: Last place you were? At co-op.
39: Do you have a crush? Perhaps. : P
40: Last time you kissed someone? A goodnight kiss for my mom.
41: Last time you were insulted? Can't remember.
42: Favourite flavour of sweet? CHOCOLATE! CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE!
43: What instruments do you play?? No instruments. I tried playing the recorder earlier today, but it sounded like a dying animal gasping for its last breath.
44: Favourite piece of jewelery? My necklace. It's got clear and black jewels on it, and it's also got a tiny, hollow metal ball with carved designs on it.
45: Last sport you played? Dodgeball at co-op.
46: Last song you sang? Enchanted by Taylor Swift.
47: Favourite chat up line? Waffles or pancakes! It's become my trademark.
48:Have you ever used it? Loads of times.
49: Last time you hung out with anyone? My friends at co-op today
50: Who should answer these questions next? YOU!

  I really, really promise to post more. Au revoir for now!

Book Review: Looking for X, by Deborah Ellis

"Mom used to be a stripper.
 She quit when I came along. She calls it exotic dancing, which isn't quite right. It is dancing, but exotic doesn't mean dancing while you take your clothes off. Inuit dancing could be exotic, but that's not what Mom did. 
 She made good money at it, but it all sort of drained away. Before I was born, she was poor, and we've been poor ever since.
 A lot of people think that just because Mom used to be a stripper, her children are screwed up and will stay screwed up forever. Not so. My brothers would have been the way they are no matter how Mom paid her rent. 
 If I'm screwed up when I become an adult. it will be my own fault. If I'm screwed up now - well, I'm not, so there's nothing more to say about that. Sometimes strippers like to travel. I'd like that."
 Deborah Ellis, Looking for X

 And so begins the wonderful book that is Looking for X.

 In Looking for X, eleven-year-old Khyber lives with her mother Tammy, her autistic younger brothers David and Daniel, who are twins, in the Regent Park section of Toronto, Ontario.
" "They should have called it Pauper Park," I said once to Tammy. "No one would want to live here then," she replied. "Hardly anyone wants to live here now," I answered."

 Khyber has a friend called X, who is homeless and she meets in Allan Gardens. Khyber gives her peanut butter and corn syrup sandwiches, which creates a sort of bond between them.
 Khyber also works at the Trojan Horse restaurant with Valerie, who was named the meanest waitress in Toronto. Khyber mops the floors in exchange for a free breakfast.
 After a visit to X that ends with a fight with neighborhood rough people, Khyber comes home muddy and scraped. Her mother suspects that she was fighting, but Khyber doesn't say anything. Later, Tammy reveals that Khyber's classroom windows were shattered and that Khyber is the main suspect. Khyber runs away to look for X, who is the only one who can vouch for her.


 I loved this book. It's well written, and it is very sad in some parts. Tammy grows from being quiet and motherly to being harsher and quicker to anger, which is interesting to read about. Khyber is a likable protagonist, but X is rather underdeveloped.

 I rate this four out of five stars.

Happy Canada Day!

I wish a Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian readers!

I live in Canada and celebrate Canada Day, so my family and I are driving up to a little town nearby and meeting friends. We're also bringing dinner and watching the fireworks!
The fireworks are so fun! I love the chrysanthemums. I also like the ones that break up into little sparks.

Comment and tell me: Which fireworks are your favorites?

Happy Canada Day from Homeschool Girl!

Another Update

Hi readers!

I've had a busy few weeks lately.


First off, I ran a 5K race with my dad! I won eighth in my age category. Not bad, huh?
Second, there was a HUGE storm where I lived just a couple days ago. There was even hail!
Third, we've finally had some warm-ish weather. Things are looking up for Taryn the Amazing!
Fourth, gymnastics ended about a month ago. I didn't get my Tan badge, but that's ok. I'll try again next year.
Also, the spell-check censors the word Taryn. Hmm. Wonder why.
I recently learned how to sew basic stitches a while ago, so I sewed up Miss Taryn the Maplelea Girl's leg hole yesterday. Her leg fell out on Christmas Day, so there was a big hole full of stuffing that would fly pell-mell around the room whenever I played with her. I made a hospital bed and set up a fake IV drip. She'll be released next Monday!

And now, for today's funny photo....(drumroll)

Thanks for reading!
Love, Taryn (aka Homeschool Girl)

Jogging, Markets, Races, and Blog Launches

Hello readers!
I have been pretty busy lately, so I didn't have a chance to post.
On Friday me and my parents went to an outdoor market. It was super small, but really fun.
The next day, my parents and I went to a huge downtown indoor-outdoor market. Indoors is really fun, because it's got two stories and lots of unique little shops, and a bunch of classy restaurants.
Also, today is the launch of Lost in the Chapters! I really hope you like it.

Today my dad and I jogged 3 1/2 K on a little trail in our neighborhood. It was really fun to do.
I did it because my dad and I are going to run a 5K race in a month, along with some of my friends. There's a beach nearby, so we're going to that after to cool off.
It'll be at 9:40 AM, and it's not near us, so we're going to get up really early to get there. I love morning road trips! They're nearly as fun as eating cake.

Love, Taryn (aka Homeschool Girl)

Update on the Presentation

Hello readers

PowToon isn't working out for me, so I've called a halt to the presentation. Sorry, guys.

Taryn

Rain, Books, and Presentations

Hey, folks!
Super rainy where I live, and icy cold. To think that just a couple weeks ago it was shorts-and-T-shirt-weather.
I've been reading more comics and browsing the Web on my Kobo. And finishing up homework and reading books for tutoring.

Anyway, my Mom and I might be taking a trip to the library later, after lunch. We have a book on hold that looks really good, it's called Unison Spark.
The end of gymnastics is a week from tomorrow. Then we perform for the others and do our routines.
My family and I are going to Toronto soon for a couple days. I've been looking at hotels that are close to where family lives, looking at nearby attractions and restaurants and calculating it into one big PowToon presentation, which I will be showing to my father, once he gets home from work, which should be from 3:50 to 4:00.
My plan can't fail!

Three more days till Lost in the Chapters gets launched!

Love, Homeschool Girl (aka Taryn)

Sorry I haven't posted in so long..

Hey guys, it's Taryn here!
I'm sorry I haven't posted in so long. I've been sick quite a few times, and very busy.
I'll try to post at least once a day on this blog.

So today I mostly surfed the 'net, reading comics and playing Club Penguin. My mom and I are reading this extremely funny series called School of Fear. You should read it!
Also, I visited Chapters on Thursday and bought myself a Kobo Touch E-reader. I've been wanting a Kobo for a while, and I finally got one! It's come in really handy, cause I can lie in bed and browse the Web.
I'm also recovering from a raging cold.

Also, I will soon launch a new book review based blog, called Lost in the Chapters. It'll be up on May 18th.

Love from Homeschool Girl (aka Taryn)