Sometimes I use twitter to contact people about upcoming gatherings, usually just to confirm time or location, sometimes because I know it’ll be faster than texting or calling, because certain of my friends leave their cellphones at home or forget to charge them. And I’m OK with using twitter in that capacity, because it’s rare that I’m actually inviting people en masse to events that I haven’t told them about otherwise. And typically I’m tweeting at them with an @ reply or a direct message. I wouldn’t just throw a tweet out, not directed to any specific person, saying something like “drinks tonight at such and such a place” or “hey, let’s all go see this movie at this time.” Because sometimes people don’t check twitter, and other times, people who do check twitter but aren’t really your IRL friends will get annoyed by such antics.

But more than once in the recent days, people I know have been using twitter in just that way. And it’s really bothering me. I’ve missed out on several things I would’ve liked to do lately because people haven’t actually been contacting me, they’ve been tweeting at nobody in particular about their plans. Or if they do decide to call or text me, it’s too late for me to join them in their outings because I’m already snug as a bug in my non-Manhattan-located apartment. Look, if you want me to come out with you for drinks or to watch a movie, or do whatever, that’s great, I’d love to. Just make sure I know that you want me to do these things with you, otherwise I can’t do them!

On a positive twitter-related note, Kathleen and I want to start a hashtag. #shitYAYAs say, because apparently we all say ridiculous things at all times.

I moved to NYC last September to get a master’s degree. I graduate in May, and so far I’ve had no luck in finding a job. I’ve had two internships, and I would gladly take another, if I could get it. The publishing industry is rapidly evolving, and while the need for content will always be there, perhaps certain jobs and positions won’t be. I’ve been told people are proud of the things I’ve done. And a friend said to me that I moved here for my “dream job,” so I should be happy that I’m even getting, or taking, the chance.

But the truth is. I have no idea if this is my dream or not. I have no idea what I truly want out of life. Well, I thought I knew. I really thought I had it all figured out. And then last year, that part of my life was gone. Just like that. And I can’t help but have the thought that if I hadn’t moved, if I hadn’t left home to pursue this thing that I wasn’t really 100% sure about anyway, that maybe that part of my life would still be in tact and I would be happier. As graduation looms, and potential joblessness, I keep turning my thoughts back to Michigan, back to home. But I doubt things could ever be the same, even if we both wanted them to be. And what would I do in Michigan? Move back with my mom (no offense meant, I love being around her, but I’d be closer to 30 than 20, and still living with my parents. No thanks.) And what would I do for a job there any more than I would do for a job here? At least at home I’d have people I know and love, and a lower cost of living. But I’d feel useless, and like I wasted my time, and money, even doing this in the first place.

I have about 5 months to get my shit together. But right now I’ve never felt so conflicted and truly lost in my entire life.

Last week I had the opportunity to meet Gary Corby, a genius writer from Australia who is represented by the agency I currently intern with. He discussed his two manuscripts with us brilliant interns. He writes historical mysteries set in ancient Greece, and his main character is the older brother of Socrates. I read one of them, and it’s quite spectacular. His first book will be pubbed in Fall 2010. You should all buy it. Then he took our photo and wrote this awesome blog post about us, called “How to Poison an Intern.”

Note: Joanna, who is wearing the blue and gray stripped sweater, is not an intern but an agent. She also likes Vegemite.

Oh, and check this out. This is the annual fund-raiser/world-record-breaker “Thrill the World” dance. My sister Amanda participated this year. Watch this video. At about 1:10 in, you can see her doing the “booty bounce” and “swim together” parts of the dance. (And yes, those are the technical terms.) That’s her on the far right, wearing the red corset and black pants. She also gets screen time later, so watch the whole thing. And if you do, check out the young girl in the front row. Just awesome.

“I do get annoyed with the inconsistent Americanizations in the US-texts–sometimes Harry wears sneakers, and sometimes trainers. Sometimes they have sweaters, and sometimes they have jumpers. Either always use the British word for something or always use the American!”

I bet there are a lot of inconsistencies in books five and on. And I bet I could tell you exactly why, too. If Manuela Soares was dead, she’d be turning over in her grave reading that quote.

Last week I started interning for two literary agencies that share office space. Everyone who works there is odd in a good way, has unique tastes and areas of expertise when it comes to books, and is really nice and fun to work with. Even the other interns (there are 6 of us total) are totally fun. Especially when we’re sitting together reading query letters, passing around the ones with the most ridiculous contents, getting second opinions on the ones that seem like they might be worthwhile projects. I wish I could share with you all some of the amazingly stupid things I’ve read over the past two weeks, but unfortunately, I cannot. Not on the interwebz anyway.

Every time I go in there I know more and more that it’s what I want to be doing with my life. Reading manuscripts, talking about books, meeting new people… I’m even “required” to go to an industry schmooze fest with a bunch of Tor/Forge employees next week. At DBA. With Laura. Seriously. How could this non-job get any better? The long and short of it is that it couldn’t (well, I guess if I was getting paid, that might be an improvement, but I’ll take resume-improvement and school credit all the same).

I recognized at least two of those names, and I knew Chris Claremont to be funny and elusive with his question answering, from when I saw him at the “Comic Book Club” a few months ago. So I went, listened to them talk about previous and upcoming Marvel offerings for a bit, and then stayed to get the 70th Anniversary collection signed.

While they were talking, I looked around the room and realized I was the only female there ALONE. All the other girls, while many of them seemed like huge nerds, were there with other guys (mind you, not a single group had more than one female….) So when I was getting my stuff signed, all the Marvel guys were being super nice and extra smiley, like they’d never seen a girl before. Then the last of them, Klaus Janson, known for his inking (especially of Frank Miller’s works), flat out asked me if the autographed book was for me. Ummm, I know I don’t have the outward appearance of a comic book fan, but that doesn’t mean I’m not one. (not that I’m a really big into comics, but I like a good story, and Marvel has some of the best.) I honestly felt discriminated against. I was the minority in a room of fanboys, and let me tell you, I’ve never felt more inferior, yet surprisingly superior in my entire life.

What a strange yet satisfying experience.

That is all.

Title: Ballads of Suburbia
Author: Stephanie Kuehnert
Publisher: MTV Books
Length: 368
Age group/reading level: Young Adult (14+)

Summary: The summer before her senior year of high school, Kara nearly died from a heroin overdose. As a freshman, when she moved away from her best friend and then her family fell apart, Kara turned to music, booze, drugs, self-injury, and bad-boy Adrian to make everything better. Between all the parties and concerts, her friends collected their heartbreaking ballads of the moments that defined them. After four years away from her friends and family, Kara returns to Oak Park to confront her past, and to finally write her own ballad.

Review: Stephanie Kuehnert knows angst. She knows how to write angst-y teens. From what I’ve read in interviews and what-have-you, she has first hand experience with cutting, and it definitely shows in how she handles the topic. The ballads, written in first-person from the perspective of Kara’s various friends, all have a different voice, and could easily have been actually written by different people. She deftly weaves them in at the most appropriate moments; they don’t break the narrative, and they give the characters far more depth than just the portrayal of them from Kara’s perspective. Kuehnert does a fine job dealing with every teenage social problem from sex to drugs to abuse to cutting to alcohol…. you name it, Kuehnert confronts, and effortlessly tackles, it.

One problem I had with the book was all the oblivious parents. I mean, they’re all conveniently explained away. And for some of the characters, it makes sense that their parents don’t really care, but the excuse given for Kara’s mom (and Maya’s dad for that matter) not noticing or caring doesn’t really fly for me. Another issue I had with the book was that it was set in 1994-1995, and then, when Kara returns, in 1999. I’m not sure why exactly, other than to make sense of the choice of music Kuehnert picked as the anthems of the characters, bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Nirvana, Jane’s Addiction, etc. Other than that minor detail, all the events that happened could’ve easily been present day, with Kara’s return home taking place in 2009.

As for the design of the book, I’m actually quite impressed. MTV did a nice job, including resources to get help if you struggle with any of these problems, some discussion questions, and an interview with Kuehnert about her experiences with these topics. The cover is pretty good, once you realize that the teens in question hang out at a park most of the time. I have an advanced copy so I’m not quite sure if things are different or not, but the interior is pretty nice too, with the typeface of the ballads different from the rest of the story, and therefore easily distinguished.

Also, can I just say how awesome this Chibi-Robocop is. Chibi-Robo is adorable. He is definitely one of my all-time favorite video game characters. He cleans and waters plants and makes fun noises when he walks!

(via flickr)