#BringBackTheTravelers #SaveTheTravelers, Please!

So I get that Katy is busy with school and all, and I get that almost no one gets on here anymore. I also get that sometimes you just aren't inspired to write stories, so you don't for a long time, and then after a while they just never get finished (what do you think happens to everything I start writing, oh that's right they just sit on my computer where no one can find them, because they never get finished!).
But I also feel like if you post part of a story on your blog for the world to read and fall in love in with the characters that you should not just leave said loved characters in terrible circumstances never to be saved. All fictional characters deserve an end, whether good, bad, or just down right terrible. And all readers that are in love in with said fictional characters deserve to get to read said ending, whether it be good, bad or just down right terrible. I also feel that "Her torch revealed a long, straight tunnel on the other side." is not an ending, if it was it'd be worse then down right terrible. I mean, what's on the other side of the tunnel? Do the people that they're trying to escape from find the tunnel and follow them?
So anyways all this to say that I understand that a couple months ago Katy said she was in a rut with writing the Travelers, but I also feel that after almost two years it's time the Travelers returned and got an ending. I alsooooo happen to know that someone is on break till the end of January and surely that's enough time get out of a rut and at least start towards an ending. 
In the mean time……. to help you get past writers block to help you get out of your rut to help you write more, to help be sure your fans don't get mad and stop talking to you, and to be sure that Taylor, Frank, Falcon, Rita, and Thoren and get the ending they deserve here's a video all about how to get over writers block! ;)

P.S. What I really want for Christmas is for you to bring back the Travelers. I know you can't really wrap that up with a bow on top, but all the same…if you did finish it you could, cause you could print it off and then wrap it up with a bow on top. Also I realize that you probably won't be able to finish it by the end of break but even just a short part 16 would be am amazing! Also in case you forget what happened last, here's a hint. ;)

July 2014

Hello! Here I am again, writing to you on a hot and humid day while sitting in front of a fan. Feeling...well, other than overheated, fine. Except...

What am I doing?

I have once again neglected to do anything I promised to do back on May 16th, a date which now seems like an extremely long time ago. What have I done since then?

I have been at my job, I've made some new friends, and I've been spending time with family and friends, as well as wasting some time watching TV shows, and then more work, etc. What I have not been doing is trying to get "The Travelers" to come back from the dead. It's as if I think it will write itself, which might be more likely at this point than my actually getting to writing some. I fully expect most if not all of you to wonder why on earth I don't just go and work on it rather than sit here and write apologetic blog posts.

The truth is, I'm not sure why I don't.

I did have some ideas for it; I think I am in a rut. I always want to work on stories, but half the time I have writer's block.

At this time, I feel that I may need to step back and consider who I am as a writer, who I have been, and where I should and want to go. Obviously, during the semester, I spend most if not all of my time writing papers, a decidedly different type of writing. Consequently, my academic and critical writing has improved drastically. My fictional writing? Hasn't improved as much. I feel a need to keep searching for my identity as a writer and be open to changes and inspiration. This is not the death knell for "The Travelers." Rather, I am finally starting to come to terms with the fact that I am in a writer's rut at the moment and I need to experiment and try to get myself out of it.

In an attempt to keep the blog alive, I would like to try to get some good conversation going in the comments: I'll introduce the first topic, but feel free to introduce your own/message me.

I'd like to hear about one of your favorite books. What is it, who wrote it, why do you like it. Is there anything you don't like about it? How's the writing? Are the pacing, characters, etc. well developed or not so much? You can address any of these questions or any others; I'm hoping for all of us to be introduced to some new reading ideas.

Spring/Summer 2014

Hello, everyone.
I know I haven't posted since this past winter, but it's because during the semester, I rarely have time for anything other than doing schoolwork and trying to live my life in general. I do still care about my blog (how many times have I said that?) and I try to come back to it whenever I am able to.

Currently, I am taking a three week long summer course which is my lab requirement for the geoscience class I took this past semester. I just finished my Sophomore year. After I am done with my summer class in a couple of weeks, I will be going back to work at the ice cream parlor where I worked last year.

A word on my writing: I know many of you have faithfully followed "The Travelers." I realize I have left all of you in the lurch, as well as my poor characters, unless my having been so sporadic about it has meant that everyone has lost interest. I am undecided whether I will continue the story, partially because I have been unsure of where to go with it. Please comment if you have any thoughts about this story and whether you would like to see it continued.

I also am interested in doing more song covers for my youtube channel, but I have to get going and figure out which songs I want to do and then actually get my act together and record them. Again, let me know any thoughts you might have or if there's any song requests (I will try to fulfill requests but again, I do not know when any of this will happen).

I realize all of this seems up in the air, but know that I will continue trying to keep up the blog over the summer.

For now, I'll leave you all with a fun question (I hope it is fun): comment and tell me one of your favorite things to do in the summer! (I love to have picnics with family and friends.)

2014 Movie Challenge

Recently I posted my 2013 year review. I did a short review of every movie I saw in theaters last year. That didn't include any other movies which I saw which was probably quite a few! Many of you probably know that I love to watch movies!

Thus, I'm going to put this out there:
Anyone who wants to can suggest a movie I haven't seen that they think I should watch and I will do everything in my power to watch it this year! This is solely for movies already out on DVD. That is, it's a movie you've watched and like, and can't imagine why I haven't watched it yet since it's so good.

After watching each, I will post what I thought of them here on my blog. I promise to be nice and I won't say anything bad about a movie you like!

2013: Looking Back

I'll bet you're all shocked that I'm posting. Preciosa and I decided to both write year review posts for our blogs (her blog is Really Kool Posts), figuring that the most shocking thing that could happen would be for us to post on both blogs!

Whether you are interested or not, here are my highlights of 2013.

January: Lots of fun times with family because I was on winter break from school. Starting late in the month, I began my second semester as a freshman. I took four classes, and Women's Choir (Creative Writing, Short Story, Introductory Sociology, Everyday Gender and Sexuality, my first Women's Studies class). This remains my favorite semester thus far in my college career, though as with all semesters, it had its frustrations.

February/March: I really don't think anything of note happened to me other than going to school.

April: interviewed for a job at my school (at an ice cream parlor) and got the job! This was during Spring break, and I was overjoyed to have gotten a job for the upcoming summer. The end of April to the beginning of May was spent finishing the semester and training for my new job.

May: Successfully finished my freshman year of college but didn't get any less busy because this is when my summer job really kicked up. Starting in May, everybody who's anybody wants ice cream, and they want it now. I quickly discovered in working with the public that this can be a tall order. I began to learn to scoop more quickly and efficiently; yes, there is an art to scooping ice cream.

June: Kept working, but what was fun about this month was that my best friend Preciosa came to visit! She was even here for my 19th birthday. We had so much fun together, going places, watching movies, and just plain hanging out! I was so sad when the visit was over and hope to see her again before too long! As far as turning 19 goes, it's a kind of crazy feeling! The party my family and friends threw me was awesome, though.

July: Hardly had time for anything but working throughout the rest of June and July, and work just got busier and busier as it got hotter. At work, we changed the system from ordering ice cream and then paying, to ordering and paying at the same time. It was a way better system for everybody in the long run, but a lot of people got really ticked off. Some would ask us if the new system really was better, and when we answered in the affirmative, they would still be very unconvinced. That's just the way it goes!

In the second half of July, my mom and I took our second trip to Peru, though, if I really want to go into detail on this, I should probably write this trip its own posts. In short, it was a good trip and great to see all our friends again and make new ones, too.

August: More ice cream. Work got busier. And busier. And, oh, busier. My last day of my summer job was the day before I started back at class as a sophomore. I am unsure whether I will go back to this job or if I will do something different; I kind of want to work at the Women's Center at my school.

The Fall 2013 semester started at the end of August, with a full roster of classes, and Women's Chorus: American Literature, Poetry, Problem Solving, Feminisms and the Arts, and Literary Studies.

September/October: School. School. School.

November: School, and an amazing Thanksgiving break spent with family and friends.

December: Finals! That was a crazy time! I did my very best and then happily began my Christmas break, full of preparations and fun with family and friends. I went to two movies in December, both of which were good and fun!

This brings me to the movies of 2013. I went to a total of five; here they are in order of not so great to really good, according to me:

5. Star Trek: Into Darkness (May 2013): Mostly just explosions and people getting into various kinds of grotesquely violent altercations. Not Star Trek.

4. Les Miserables (January 2013): I hate to put it so far down the list, so close to the Star Trek movie. In actuality, this movie was pretty good and this musical has some great music (though not all of it was given its due justice by some of the singers). This movie did have some amazing aspects to it; visually, it was an extremely beautiful, particularly on the big screen. Though, I liked it much better the second time around.

3. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (December 2013): I liked this movie, though I thought the first Hobbit was better. I was disappointed by the lack of musical themes which Howard Shore had composed for the first movie; the main heroic theme in Unexpected Journey was gone from this Hobbit movie. However, the characters were right on again and I liked the addition of the elf Tauriel, who in terms of female characters in the LOTR and Hobbit movies combined, is almost as cool as Eowyn and definitely better than Arwen. The barrel scene was great and Martin Freeman's Bilbo Baggins carries on the tradition of thoroughly lovable hobbits.

2. Gravity (October 2013): I had difficulty deciding whether this one should be #1 or not. This movie captivated me. It is well-made and has an intense story. I saw it in 3D and it is the best 3D movie I've ever seen. In this case, the technology definitely did work to create a fuller experience. My main problem with this movie is that I don't think it will be enjoyable to watch without a big screen and 3D technology. However, with these two aspects, to experience this movie is an amazing thing and I think even without them, the story is exciting and captivating, and powerful.

1. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (December 2013): this movie earned top space because it is the first entirely enjoyable movie I've gone to in a long time. It's been quite a while since I just sat down and watched a film like this, just an enjoyable story with no grotesque violence or incessant swearing and excessively steamy romances. This was just a great story and very well-made to grab your attention and keep it.

Though I have numbered these movies in terms of how much I liked them, I would recommend all of them except for Star Trek, particularly if, like me, you are a fan of the real Star Trek. The other four movies are definitely worth a watch, depending on your own personal movie preferences.

Happy 2014, everyone. I hope the new year is full of great things (and great movies) for you.