Today marks the 114th birthday of aviator and heroine Amelia Earhart.

She was an amazing pilot who set many flying records and was the first to attempt daring feats. She was the first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic ocean, fly across the Atlantic solo and first person to fly from Hawaii to Califorinia and etc.

Amelia was born on July 24th, 1897 in Atchison Kansas. I’ve been lucky enough to visit this wonderful place 3 times in the past year. The most recent  time being  last week for the AE festival. I am the youngest volunteer they’ve ever had at the AE house and had a blast doing so. I met so many people and made so many new friends that I would have never met if it wasn’t for Amelia!!

No matter how far I go in my writing and music career, I will always have a spot for Amelia in my heart and in my life. Happy Birthday A. I love you <3

1) My First 5 Husbands by Rue McClanahan. She’s one of my heroes and this book opened my eyes of what an amazing, strong and wonderful person she was. It’s an amazing book! (and it’s hilarious too!!!) It shows just how much you can do anything if you can dream it and you want it!

—————————————————————————–

2) Amelia Earhart Bio (DK series). This book is the one who introduced me to the amazing person who is Amelia Earhart. I was the first book I’d ever read about a woman who changed history, made a name for herself and was her own person! A lot of what I learned in that book has shined into my life.

—————————————————————————–

3) Nancy Drew Notebooks series. When I was a kid, I LOVED this series!! It showcases Nancy Drew as a young girl, solving mysteries with Bess, George and Ned!! I remember staying up at night with my little flashlight from Home Depot, reading under the covers trying to finish the book!! It opened my eyes to what you could do as a kid!

—————————————————————————–

4) The Diary of Anne Frank. This book changed me. I swear, there were parts of that book that sounded like MY diary! It was amazing what she went through. I don’t cry very often, but this book choked me up. I will always remember her.

—————————————————————————–

5) Between a Heart and a Rock Place by Pat Benatar. She is one of my heroes (like all of the women in this list) and this book (again) opened my eyes to what prejudice against women musicians in the 80′s. It was shocking. You would have never known what crap she went through.

—————————————————————————-

Ok, here’s the trick. Scroll up and look at these books again and I want you to find the common ground. It’s ok, I’ll wait. Ok you’re back, did you find it?! If  not, I’ll tell you.

All of these books have been written by or about women who were strong, confident and amazing and who have all made history ALL in different ways. Each of these women will have a special place in my heart until the day I die.

Rose Nylund: [walks up to Blanche holding newspaper] Blanche, it’s YOU!

Blanche Deveraux: Oh, you’re gettin’ so good at that, Rose. [points at Dorothy Zbornak] Now who’s that over there?

 I am sitting in my room, looking at the sun outside, while watching my all-time favorite show: “The Golden Girls.” It was seven hilarious seasons of cheesecake, one-liners and good/bad 80s fashion!

From Left to Right-Estelle, Rue, Betty, Bea.

The show revolves around the lives of 4 older women, all single, who share a home in Miami as roommates. Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), a substitute teacher, now divorced,while sharing a house with Midwestern born Rose Nylund (Betty White) and renting from southern belle Blanche Deveraux (Rue McClanahan), must start caring for her 80 year old mother, Sophia (Estelle Getty), after the nursing home she was living in burned down.

All four of these ladies were so different, that you could not have put 4 more perfect women togather. Their diffrences was what made them so fun to watch and to see how they acted together was amazing and could not have been better. That’s why I think their spin off The-Golden-Palace (only starring Betty, Estelle and Rue) wasn’t as successful. It’s like baking a cake; take one ingredient out and it just doesn’t work.

This show has changed my life in so many ways. It’s introduced me to my hero Rue McClanahan, given me advice and has given me one of my best friends, Maria. I wouldn’t have known her if it wasn’t for Rue and this show!!!

I love this show and I tip my hat to all the people who wrote it, starred in it and produced it. Thank YOU for a being a friend.

I’d love to go back in time to the 80s but until I can get the DeLorean up to 88 miles per hour, it’s just a dream

“Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right”- Oprah

Hi people! This is my list of things I want to happen this year and if they have the world CHECK!! next to it, it’s done!!! hahaha
 

1) Fly to Vermont

2) Meet 5 Celebs-CHECK!!!

3) Solve a real mystery

4) Finish writing my books

5) Win a major contest

6) Learn to dance-CHECK!!

7) Be on Oprah-CHECK!

Meet President and Michelle Obama

9) Have a better relationship with Artie (my sister)-CHECK!

10) Dream big

Thanks for reading!! Hope you all had a nice holiday and a great 2011!

 Signed, Syd

“Lots of your friends want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”-Oprah Winfrey

 When I was in the first grade, I was sitting on the blacktop outside the school during recess, without anybody to talk to or play with. Then, I looked across the playground and saw another girl in the situation I was; lonely and by herself. I walked across the blacktop to talk to the girl, without knowing that at the other end, was somebody who was going to become my very best friend.

(From Left to Right)- Jessica. Me. Our friend Allison

 That girl was/is Jessica. A girl one year younger than me, but my equal in every way. We’ve been through a lot together over the years. She’s spend a lot of time over at my house and vice versa. She even calls my parents by their nicknames! They consider her their third child because we are such good friends.



Jess. Allison and me back in 2008

 We have such vivid imaginations, so when we get an idea together, it’s insane! I remember one time we did a video for another friend’s birthday. We wrote this hilarious skit and we couldn’t stop laughing for about an hour after we wrote it! It was too funny.

 Recently, things haven’t been so chummy. Jess moved to Vermont about 4 months ago. I miss her dearly. We talk so a lot and we are currently writing a novel together. We are collaborating very well (better than I thought to be honest!) Before we put something in the story, we ask the other and state our opinion. We don’t get mad; we don’t fight. We just work out what we both thing what will work with both of our ideas. We are an amazing team.

We have been best friends for as long as I can remember and we will be until the end of time. She is the person I can always talk to and even though we are a thousand miles apart, she is always there for me and I am there for her. I miss you so much Jess. You are my bffl (best friend for life) and my sista xoxoxo  

Allison, Jess and me at Jess’s going away party back in either May or early June.



Hello people!!! This is an interview I did with an amazing friend of mine, who happens to be a published author!! Her name is Maria Capozzoli and here is our interview. Done on June 10th 2011 by text message.

Me- How old were you when your love for The Golden Girls started?

MC- I was 13

Me- What did you think of it at first?

MC- I wasn’t fond of it because I did not understand it, nor did I see the point of the show.

Me- In our friendship, we’ve both shared a love for Rue “Blanche” McClanahan. What drew you to her more than the other women?

MC- There was something about Rue that set her aside from the others. She came across the screen as strong, bold, and daring women; and I liked that. It was as if I had already knew her.

Me- What is your favorite thing about Rue?

MC- That’s a tough question, but I’d have to say her strength. Over the years, she went through a lot and she never gave up or lost hope right until the end.

Me- How did you come up with the idea to write a book about your love for the show?

MC- You know, I’ve always wanted to do something big in my life and to be known for something. So when I decided to write the book, I said to myself “write what you know a lot about. The Golden Girls.’

Me- What did your family and friends think about you doing this?

MC- They were very supportive. They thought it was great. I mean, no high schooler is thinking about writing a book!

Me- Did you ever think about giving up?

MC- Yes. Many, many times; but I got through it! Thankfully, or else we wouldn’t have met!

Me- True! Very true! So what kept you going? What made you think “I can do it!”?

MC-  Like I said I wanted to do something big in my life and this was it. I wanted to prove that I could do it; and lastly I did it for the Girls.

Me- Around how long did it take you to do everything?

MC- It took me 2 years for everything, but we are coming to an end of a long tunnel and I’m happy to see the light.

Me- Did you ever thing growing up that you would fall in love with a show like this and end up an author because of it?

MC- Never, The future is a complete mystery and I’m glad mine has something great in store for me.

Me- Do you plan on writing more books?

MC- I would love to write a biography on all the Girls and a book about the 1970s sitcom “Maude”, but for now I’ll take a little, well deserved rest!

Me- Amen to that! What is your dream for this book?

MC- I would have loved for Rue and the other late actresses to have seen it. My goal now is to have Betty White see it. I think she would like it. That is my only wish for this book.

Me-  I must say, I commend you for doing this. It’s hard enough trying to write a book, but writing one when your a busy fifteen year old! That is an amazing feat for which I applaud you.

MC- I know it was hard, but I managed to get through it to see the final result; and thank you for allowing me to be apart of this amazing opportunity.

Me- Thank you.

You can buy Maria’s book “My Life as A Teenage Golden Girls Fan” now online and you can find her on Facebook to get updates on her book and to where you can buy your copy.

Facebook.com/My Life as a Teenage Golden Girls FanAmazon.com/My-Life-as-a-teenage-golden-girls-fan
DorranceBookStores

Mkay, where should I start? My life rocks. I have awesome friends. Amazing family. I am a fantastic songwriter. I was on Oprah. Some of my best friends live really far away. I can’t live a day without music. These are the things I would say to the world. These are the things you need to know about me. Over time, you’ll learn more, but for now this is what you need to know to understand my posts.

There’s something the same in every one of us AND then there’s something different.

We all have feelings, we have all cried one time or another, we all have things and people we love. I love music and history, but I love my family more than anything else.  Another thing we all have in common: we all have thoughts. These are mine.