Howdy!  It's your friend in Provo, Utah, Erin-Leigh Hallam!

Hope this finds you well and happy; me, I couldn't be better!  I auditioned last month for a chance to appear on the show, "America's Got Talent", and I made it!!!!  I am so excited!!  Maybe this will be the break I've been dreamin' of for all my life!  I hope so; I'd really love to become a country music star!

I am 12 years old now; I'm in the sixth grade at Provo Elementary.  I love school, but the kids tease me about my taste in music; they're into either Lady Gaga (GAG!), T-Pain, Taylor Swift (double GAG!!), or Adam Lambert (BARF!).  I tell them that what they like isn't music; to me it's just noise, and oooh, do they get mad at me!! (I sometimes need to keep my big mouth shut, ya know??)

My big sister, Hayleigh Rene' (she's 14), likes Tay-Tay Swift too; me, I don't care for her.  To me she isn't that country; she's more rock-sounding, as are a lot of the singers today.  Sad because a lot of them don't even know about the roots of country music, and they're misssing out on a lot of great people.  People like Loretta Lynn, who is about as country as they come!

Ever since I met Loretta Lynn last year, I've been on a cloud that I can't seem to get off of.  I know there's more important things than Loretta Lynn (or music), but I can't help myself at times.  I look at the picture of me and Loretta Lynn together, and I can't help but smile!  That was a huge dream come true !!

Ma is still working for the ticket distribution outfit; as for pa, he's still teaching high school; he teaches English to foreign students who come to America.  They keep very busy with their work.  Hayleigh is still as annoying as ever; she and I have gotten into some he**acious fights (mostly about our tastes in music or clothes).  She's always borrowing my clothes and doesn't return them; maybe I ought to set a mousetrap in her closet; that ought to teach her good to stay out of my things!!

It's no wonder I don't have anything to wear:  my stupid big sister keeps stealing my clothes and doesn't give 'em back!!!!

Today I am home from school:  I have a dentist appointment at three.  Have to get my braces on my teeth tightened, and also have a teeth cleaning.  Yuck.  I hate the dentist's!!  Hopefully I will have a good report there!

My sister has to see the dentist tomorrow, to get three fillings.  I keep rubbing it in, telling her that my teeth are better than hers!  (I love picking on her!!  Ma and pa don't; they want us to try to get along, but when your sister does things to make you mad, it's rather hard not to fight with her!!)

Well, I am going to take a bath, then get ready for the dentist's.  I will write in here again soon, probably in a few weeks or so.  Until later, this is Erin-Leigh saying so long; God bless you always!

~Love, your friend, Erin-Leigh in Utah.  :)