Rachel's Ode to Maths

This is a cool article sent to the Goss by a student in 6th class in Dunboyne (nice place in Ireland) - Clover passed it on to me - it's pretty good so I thought I'd publish it here on my Amy Blog.

I've added my own comments on it of course! If you've read my books you'll know I'm a maths geek, sad but true!!!!

Amy XXX

Make Maths a Friend! by Rachel
:)

To me, Maths has no personality. It’s like a dead person, it doesn’t exist. (How can you say this, Rachel? Amy)

There’s nothing deep about it. You can’t leave your own mark on it. It doesn’t express who you are as a person, because in maths there’s always an answer but only one. You have no choice. You can’t leave your own stamp on it. But maybe I’m missing something? There could be some secret to maths no one knows. Something deep hidden behind the numbers. (See, Rachel, you're getting it now - Amy)

All subjects can be thought about in different ways, In the end I think it all depends on our attitude towards it. Maybe if we think about Maths in a more positive way, it will appeal to us differently. We just think of maths as a bad subject because it seems like that subject everyone just has to hate and groan about, because if you think about it, it’s not very popular is it? (Except with me!)

Maybe maths seems bad to us because it is one of those subjects we just love to hate. Pretend for a minute maths had feelings, I don’t think it would like being complained at so much, would you?

I know I wouldn’t be the first person you’d think of running to for tips on maths but here are some on how you can help improve your attitude towards it. (You go, girl!)

Tips:

1. Think of maths positively. If you think about maths in a positive way. It will come out like that on the paper.

2. I know I said before maths has no personality, but as hard as it is try your very best to pretend it does. Pretend Maths has feelings like a person. Pretend he’s...Max! If Maths was a real person you wouldn’t wan’t to hurt his feelings would you? So try your best doing the sums for him, and not only the teacher will be pleased.(I know this sounds crazy, but try it out and it might work.)

3. Try come up with different ways to get the answer . You don’t have to figure it out the same way as everyone else. Everybody is different and has a different approach. Even though I said there is only one answer there are still a hundred ways to get it. (Abso-doodle-lutely, Rachel!)

4. Tutor! Yes tutor. If you feel you have a strength in a certain area don’t be afraid to help someone who doesn’t. Once you know you’ve helped someone get an answer you’ll feel much better about yourself and tutoring also is a brilliant fun way to learn as you can still learn by teaching someone.

5. There are so many different areas in maths that if you feel you’ve given up (Never Give Up!!) in a certain area don’t be afraid to give a go at another one, you never know, surprisingly you might like it, it’s always good to try new things.

6. Ok so this is my last tip and so for the final one I think overall it’s all about how we look at things. Like me you may think that maths is boring or nothing to it, or not deep in any way. But try turn those bad thoughts the other way round, you know all the moaning and bad thinking won’t make it any better. Pretend Maths is all the things you think it isn’t and you just might believe it! So that’s it I think by writing this down I’ve seen maths in a different way and you should too because I guess really in the end the numbers don’t bite! (Rachel, you are so right! Numbers don't bite. But my baby sis, Evie does - ow, ow, ow. Have to go, she's got my leg . . . . Amy)

Yeah for Mills and Clover

I have decided that this week is National Yeah for Amy's Friends week. There's an old Czech proverb that goes 'Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends.'
Apparently people live longer if they have good friends - honestly - Mum read it in The Irish Times today!

I could have told them that - friends are vital - like lip gloss, UGGS (yes, I'm still wearing them, sorry!), Converse, and, um, Johnny Depp. Can't live without them.

And I'm so lucky to have 2 fabber than fab friends in Mills and Clover. I know technically Clover's my aunt, but I still count her as a bestie. She certainly saves my skin enough to qualify!

And Mills - well we've been bfs 4eva. And I hope we'll grow wrinkly together. And looking at Mum's furrowed Star Trek brow, that won't be all that long . . . yikes. She's pretty stressed out at the moment.

Hope you have at least one fab friend too. Makes life much more fun, doesn't it?

Yours in friendship,
Amy XXX

Cool Play List from Kate

Check this out - my friend, Kate came up with this play list! Cool, eh? She really knows her stuff.
Thanks, Kate!
AmyXXX

Some Pop Type Music:
1. Christina Aguilera - Candyman. Fun tune - And extremely talented, just like most of her stuff. She composes her own music and writes the majority of her lyrics. She is just amazing. One of my favourite artists!
2. Britney Spears - Baby One More Time. Her older stuff definitely is more fun, and filled with fabulous bubblegum pop. I mean, yeah, people still like her no matter what though, just 'cause she is Britney!
3. Taylor Swift - Fifteen. Easily connectable with many teens. She writes the best country pop love songs out there.
4. Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River. He's hot, and extremely talented. The male version of Britney or Christina.
5. Hey Monday - How You Love Me Now. This Band make the most perfect pop rock music out there. They have awesome love songs, and headed by gorgeous Cassadee Pope.
6. Miley Cyrus - See You Again. She is the new Britney - and Disney's current leading lady. She makes a good mixture of pop, rock, and dance music. Worth a listen.
7. Lady Gaga - Bad Romance. She is said to be the new Madonna, but i believe her to be much more than that. She has an amazing voice, and is way original in her music, fashion, and ideas.
8. Paolo Nutini - any of his songs from the Sunny Side Up album - a Scottish singer/songrwriter - listen to Candy, or Growing Up Beside You ... great ballads and good poppy tunes (he has been up at the top of the UK and Irish charts for a while now)
9. You could also take a listen to Katy Perry and Florence and the Machine - Katy Perry in the charts now with Starstrukk and Florence and the Machine have been doing very well with You've got the Love
9. And finally - some Black Eyed Peas perhaps? Meet me Halfway.

Indie - Pop - Rock:
1. Panic! At The Disco - New Perspective. This band has gone through many changes, as a band, and in their direction of music.
2. Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care. How do you not love this alternative rock band? They have come a very long way from travelling in a small van touring for three years, to each having their own personal mega huge tour bus. Now, on a hiatus, I would not be sure if you would want to mention them. They do have amazing music though... and their bass guitarist is Pete Wentz who is probably one of the most politically/socially conscious artists around - does great work e.g. on Invisible Children http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php
3. Paramore - Brick By Boring Brick. Like Taylor Swift, they are young, and have the ability to connect with their young audience. They make pop, acoustic rock mainly, and have managed to beat out legends like Madonna, and Mariah Carey, this year in the album charts! They were on the Twilight soundtrack. http://www.paramore.net/
4. Now, Now Every Children - Cars. This little band from Minnesota, are actually the definition of awesome. They have catchy indie pop tunes that will make you very happy! Listen to the single - Cars. http://www.myspace.com/nownoweverychildren
4. Tegan and Sara. Smart pop music. Truly amazing.
5. We The Kings - Check Yes Juliet. I love this powerpop band - They have a fairly unique sound. Also, They sound really amazing live.
6 + 7. Blink 182 or Green day. Everybody loves these two trio's! Legends...
8. Cobra Starship - check them out - http://www.cobrastarship.com/

Irish Bands:
1. Jody Has A Hitlist - Walk It Off, Son. These pop punk musicians, have a really huge fanbase, for being unsigned. Live, they are amazing and have awesome covers, of big charting pop songs.
2. The Script - The Man Who Can't Be Moved. It is amazing how big they have gotten. They make very catchy, beautifully written music.
3. Take a listen to Mick Flannery - http://mickflannery.com/videos/ maybe not your average teen girl's music - but good.

Thanks, Kate! You diamond rock, girl!!!

Yeah - Saw Seth

Saw Seth today - yeah! And finally got my Valentine's Card. He was supposed to call around on Sunday but things didn't quite work out the way we'd planned. Life's like that, isn't it?
Mum wanted us all to go to Milano's for family lunch - family food fight more like. Alex is a little devil with the dough balls - they never stay on his plate! Evie just chews on the pizza crusts and then spits them out - it's gross!
Anyway, Seth's card was so cute - red with a cut out picture of a house on it. Says:
My home will have no windows, doors or floors. Nor bricks or mortar.
My only home is in your arms and nowhere else.
Aaaahhhhh! So cute!!!!!!!!!!!
AmyX

Half Term Blues

Half Term - Hurrah!

Here's the thing - I love not having to get up for school - yeah! I love not having homework - double yeah!!
I love being able to see my friends every day and going to the cinema and checking out the new gear in the shops but . . .
And it's a big BUT

Mills has flown off to Bristol to visit her aunt, and Seth is busy looking after Polly at the moment (Polly's his mum and she's pretty sick so he likes spending lots of time with her) so I was all on my ownio most of today.
Hate to admit it, but I'm feeling kinda lonely right now.

Thank goodness for a/Glee b/ Facebook and c/my books. :)

I'm re-reading Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever at the mo - so sad - brilliant book!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Ask-Amy-Green/157542427175?ref=ts
and that's my facebook page - drop in and say hi!

And as for Glee - I've recorded the whole thing so far on our SkyBox and I'm off now to check out my fave clip - the boys' mashup of It's My Life and My Confessions - genius. Just the thing for a quick cheer up. Addicted to Finn - moi? Absolutelo not!!! Ahem.

Check the song out on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Tqdi5NZ3Y

Hope to see Seth tomorrow - if nothing rubbish happens - cross your fingers for me!

Amy XXX

Oh la la!

OMG as the D4s would say - I'm so, so sorry. I meant to tell you all about non uniform day and I quite forgot - oops!
Well, it was hilarious. Annabelle and Sophie were both wearing navy shorts with gold buttons down the front - kind of a nautical look. They nearly had kittens when they realised they were wearing practically the same outfit. Annabelle made Sophie put on her tracky bottoms and Sophie wasn't amused!
Then Sophie got her own back by 'accidentally' pushing Annabelle into the sand pit at the bottom of the long jump during break. She had this shiny spray stuff on her legs (don't ask - I think it's supposed to make your legs look thinner or longer or something) and the sand stuck to it. She looked like a piece of sand paper.
She spent all afternoon giving Sophie killer looks.

So what did I wear? Skinny jeans, blue glittery Converse Clover gave me, my new Fraggle Rock T and my denim jacket. Normal stuff really. I didn't want to stand out too much.
And Seth - jeans, new checked blue and white Diesel shirt his mum, Polly got him - she has great taste - not like my sad female parental. He looked edible.
And Mills - jeans and a pink hoody.

What else? Half term next week - yeah, yeah, yeah! Can't wait to catch the new Percy Jackson film with Seth and Mills. And watch Glee over and over and over and over and over again!!!
Toodle pips.
Till next week.

Your bestest friend,
AmyXXXX

Have you read Summer Secrets yet? No! And why not pray tell??????

Monday - Amy's Diary - No Uniform Day

Monday

Amy’s Diary

OK, first up my new book is glittering away on the shelves right now - I spotted it on Saturday in the Eason shop in Dundrum Shopping Centre – big yeah! You can't miss the cute shiny pink cover.

Me and Mills were in Dundrum (the biggest SC in Ireland) looking for cool new Ts for our No Uniform Day (tomorrow) in aid of Haiti. Our school’s called St John’s and it’s in Blackrock, near Dublin city in Ireland. It’s pretty OK most the time. Except when the D4s* start pushing everyone around. But let’s not talk about them – too tragico for words.

Anyway, I found a cute black Fraggle Rock (weird Muppet puppet dudes) T in Zara, and Mills went for a white one with a girl’s face on it and a big red Minnie Mouse bow.

I can’t wait to see what all the D4s turn up in tomorrow! Tiny cheerleader skirts probably . . . they think Quinn Fabray (the Glee head cheerleader – I heart Glee!) is the business. Sad or what? Go Rachel I say. Although for a Crombie**, Finn’s kind of interesting.

Anyway, till tomorrow . . .

Hugs and kisses,

Amy XXX

*Girls who live in (or aspire to live in) a posh area of Dublin called Dublin 4. They wear UGG boots, say OMG a lot, and tend to move in orange fake-baked packs. Prone to meanness.

** Irish guys who play rugby and wear a lot of Abercrombie and Fitch. Fave expression ‘lege’ eg ‘Brian O’Driscoll, now he’s a lege.’ D4s find them wildly attractive – figures!