Thoughts on My Breakup...

Ah, hello! I see you survived Christmas. Wonderful! I have an announcement. I'm going through a breakup. Not the breakup you're thinking of. I'm still single. My relationship status hasn't changed in the last...well, it's never changed.

This breakup involves this blog. Well, this website. Blogger has been great! It's been the perfect platform for a new blog. The past two months have been great. But it's time to move on. Onward and upward! Thoughts on Things will be moving to WordPress. I'm excited for this change. There will be a new layout, something more modern. It's gonna be great, I promise. Starting tomorrow, you can find Thoughts on Things at slightthought.wordpress.com.

NOTE! This page will still exist as the Thoughts on Things Archive! You'll be able to find a link to the archive on the 'About' page of the new site. Thank you to whoever bothers to read this. You guys are great. Even if no one is reading this, it feels great to write about my big balls of thought and stick them somewhere. Now for the hard part. The breakup text.

Blogger, you've been great. You're super easy to use and I thank you for that. But I need new options. It's time to call it quits. With you, anyway. Sorry.

End of thought.

Thoughts on the Horror Movie Industry

Happy Festivus! No, seriously, today is Festivus, so sayeth Seinfeld. Time to air some grievances! Or write about the horror movie industry. Which I guess there are some grievances to air surrounding that industry. Moving on...

I need to come clean about something. I've never watched a horror movie made in the 21st century. Not one. Psychological thrillers, yes. Spoofs of horror movies (think Shaun of the Dead), yes. Legitimate horror movies? No. 

I'm a big fan of super cheesy horror movies from the 70's and 80's. Movies like To All a Good Night (killer Santa Claus), Dark Tower (a bunch of Americans and an Eastern European fight an evil spirit in Barcelona) and Lord of Illusions (lots of bad effects- even for its time- and lots of Scott Bakula). These are super weird movies with plots that required a bigger budget than what was allotted. The concepts are cool, but the way these concepts are done are not always so cool. The B movies of this time seemed to step off from more major films. You can watch a post-apocalyptic 80's movie and not consider it a Mad Max knock off. The writers were able to take a major idea (like a post-apocalyptic world) and take it in a new direction. 

I feel like the horror movie industry of the 21st century has lost this ability. Now, I had this thought while I was at Wal-Mart. I was in the movie section, looking for a gift, and I noticed just how many horror movies there were. There were a lot. Probably half the movie section was dedicated to horror. And a lot of them looked alike. I recognized some of the movies, like The Conjuring and Ouija. And then there were the movies one row over. American Conjuring and Ouija: Origins (note, there was a prequel to Ouija, but that wasn't the title). I saw these and I was really disappointed. Because based simply on the title, I can give you an idea of what happens in the movie. American Conjuring deals with a haunted house and super creepy spirits that want everyone dead. Oh, and it's all-American. Somebody watch it and tell me if I'm wrong. If you're going to do a knock off, have the sense to make the title completely different. Please. 

Now, I'm not saying that these movies are any less scary. They're probably freaking terrifying. But there's no creativity. To me, the writers saw a very successful horror film and said "Let's do that." Um, hello? It's already been done. To me, it's like their taking the script, changing the location and the names of the characters and mixing up the order of the jump scare moments. They film it, slap a title on it and send it straight to DVD. They don't even put in the effort to come up with an original title! It's not that hard! But at the end of the day, it's the jump scares that sell. 

Anyway, that's my thought. The successful horror movies tend to be original. All the knock offs are exactly that. Knock offs. If you really want to be scared, watch The Fog or The Howling. Happy Festivus. 

End of thought.

Thoughts on Why I'm Not Having Kids

Finals are over, so I now feel like I can write a post without shirking other duties! Also, I guess this serves as a warning to any guy who's thinking of asking me out (because I know there's a lot of them...just kidding).

First things first. I didn't decide overnight that I didn't want kids. There was a point where I strongly felt that my future husband and I would most certainly adopt. But I've come to realize something...I would be a terrible mother.

I don't babysit. Like, I've watched people's kids for a little bit and it goes ok. I've been a camp counselor for I-don't-know-how-many-summers and I can handle 5th-7th graders. Kind of. But I have never babysat children all day long. I feel super awkward when I hold babies. Watching me interact with kids is kind of like watching a grizzly bear paint its nails. Weird and messy and kind of unnatural. I just don't feel like I'm meant to have kids.

Now, I've heard it all before. "You'll change your mind when you're older." Well, I'm pretty stubborn and challenge acceptable. "You'll feel differently when you meet the right guy." Maybe my Mr. Right doesn't want kids either. You ever think of that?

This isn't just supported by my own feelings. I recently had a conversation with a friend about my not wanting to have kids. His response: "You don't really seem like the motherly type." His words, not mine. He also told me that most guys eventually want kids, so good luck ever getting married.

While we're on that subject...I think I'm actually ok with being single the rest of my life. I really don't think I'd mind that much. Do I make jokes about being single? Yes. Do I sometimes wish that I had someone to cuddle with and hold hands with? Someone to play with my hair? You bet. But really, what more do you need in life than Jesus and good friends? I've got both. Right now, a guy would just be an added bonus.

Note: this doesn't mean that I hate kids. Kids are great. Raising them is just not my cup of tea. I have friends that have super cute kids and I have even more friends that will one day get married and have their own super cute kids. And I wish them all the best of luck. I don't see myself joining that club. Like, ever. I'm cool with remaining a single pringle with a cat.

End of thought.

Thoughts on Thoughts...

Hello folks,

Here's the thing. I like this blog. It's a great outlet for my randomness. However, I don't want to just write about whatever comes into my head, because I feel like it doesn't always make sense/appeal to you guys. So I'm here to ask for a favor. In the comments (of this blog or whatever form of social media you find the link on) let me know what you want me to write about.

Note: Just because you comment a topic doesn't guarantee that I will write about it. You could ask me to write about your great-aunt Bertha's possum pastries. I can't write about that because A.) I don't know your great-aunt Bertha and B.) Who the crap would make possum pastries in the first place?? So comment wisely. It can be goofy subjects, serious subjects, whatever. Just please comment.

I guess that's all I really have. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and survived Black Friday. Remember to comment. Thanks guys!

Thoughts on Theatre...

  Theatre. I love it. It's one of mankind's greatest ideas. And right now it is under attack from certain parties because it's hard for some people to understand that theatre isn't just for entertainment.

  Does theatre entertain? Yes. Broadway shows wouldn't run as long if they weren't entertaining. However, they offer up social commentary. Whether you actually notice it or not, the commentary is there. It's always been there. This isn't some new concept that we "cry baby, hippie, liberals" came up with in the last week. [Side rant: If being concerned about the environment makes me a hippie, I'm good with that. If being concerned about the future of our country makes me a cry baby, we need to have words.]

   I hope you're all familiar with Hamlet. If you ever took an English class, you should be. If not, Google it. Remember Hamlet's "to be or not to be" soliloquy? Guys, that's basically several minutes of Hamlet thinking suicide is a great idea and that maybe our existence means nothing. If that thought makes you uneasy in the year 2016, think of how the Church in Shakespeare's time felt. Theatre challenges the system.

   Theatre today does the same thing. A theme in 'Wicked' is fighting against discrimination. That's actually a theme in a lot of shows, including 'Hamilton'. If theatre makes you uncomfortable or if you leave a show thinking about your world in a new way, good. Theatre is doing it's job.

   If you feel that theatre is just for entertainment, you're entitled to that opinion. And I'm entitled to think that you don't know how to open your mind to new concepts. We can agree to disagree on that. But don't sit there and give me this crap about how performers should "just entertain" and that "outside opinions shouldn't be brought to the stage." And don't you dare demand that the cast of Hamilton apologize. Theatre is challenging the system.

  Also, historically, when a new regime comes in, one of the first things its leaders try to get rid of is art. Because it challenges the system. Art always comes back. Judging by our president-elect's reaction to Hamilton, I get the feeling that he might not be a friend of the arts. But I also get the feeling that theatre and all other forms of art won't be backing down anytime soon. This is your final reminder: theatre (and art in general) challenges the system.

   End of thought.

Photo courtesy of: theroosevelthotel.com
 

Thoughts on Why I Should've Moved Out...

I go to community college. I commute five days a week from my parents' house to school. It's exhausting - physically, mentally, and wallet-ly. But it makes sense. Better to pay $27 for a full tank of gas every so often than $400+ in rent every month. That makes sense, right? Please tell me that makes sense.

Don't get me wrong, I still think that it makes sense. But I'm starting think that maybe my sanity wouldn't be in jeopardy if I had moved out...

Here's the thing. I love my parents. My mom is the best. But...this house that I live in? It's about as right-wing as you can get. I, on the other hand, lean a bit more left than my family would prefer. I also don't identify with a specific political party. I vote for whoever I feel will do a good job. And knowing that, I've come realize some things over the last few months.

1. People like to be inclusive...in a bad way. They hear about some millennials discussing "entitlement" and immediately like to say things along the lines of "Millennials are a bunch of whiny babies that think they're entitled to everything." To me, that implies my entire generation. That's a crap ton of people. And I have yet to meet a millennial that thinks they're entitled to anything. And I really don't think it has anything to do with me being from a small town. Stop lumping us together.

2. People like to complain about Chicago. Even people who have never been to Chicago like to complain about it. I LOVE CHICAGO! I almost went to college there! Every time I'm there, I fall in love with the city in a new way. I was not born to live among cornfields and cattle. Give me city lights and the diversity of the streets. It is there I find peace. But for those who complain about Chicago...either it's election season, you've never been there, or you don't know how to experience the city. At least that's what I've seen.

3. A lot of people (more than I ever thought) care more about the Second Amendment than the First Amendment. There's a reason the Second Amendment comes second. Just sayin'. It breaks my heart to hear people threaten those who exercise their First Amendment rights. Flag burning and kneeling during the national anthem are peaceful forms of protest. Does it make people uncomfortable? Yes. Do you have to agree with it? No. Should those who kneeled/burned a flag be imprisoned or worse? Absolutely not. If you want your precious Second Amendment protected, you have to protect the one that comes before it. If guns mean so dang much to you and free speech doesn't, write your congressman and tell them that you want the First Amendment repealed. You can do that, because it's freedom of speech. Might want to think about that before you compose that email.

4. Being the only liberal in a conservative family is so stinking hard. You hear things. You hear horrible, gut-wrenching statements directed at the people/ideas that you believe in. You cry a lot and almost throw up every time someone directly quotes Fox News, because they're totally not biased (that's sarcasm, if you can't tell). And you can't say a word in your defense, because you'll be cut off mid-sentence and called a communist.

Long story short, I really think I should've moved out. I'd be broke, but I'd be happy. I guess that's about it. Take care of yourselves. Take care of each other. End of thought.

Distractions

The internet. Television. A text message. Walls (I spend a lot of time starring aimlessly at these). The unicorn that just ran past your face because it's 3 A.M. and you're still studying for [insert class here] and you're exhausted.

There are so many distractions that we deal with on a daily basis. Even writing this post is a distraction from my composition paper. So's the new tab I just opened on my web browser so I can look for new boots.

Funny thing about distractions. Some of them are actually good. Sometimes it's good to step away from whatever you're doing and just do whatever. I'll take breaks from homework to text my friends. Otherwise I'd probably have a nervous breakdown. Distractions keep you loose (mentally) and can be relaxing.

And then sometimes you seriously have to get something done and by being distracted you just draw out your impending doom (in my case, failing whatever assignment that I really need to finish). We try to fight those bad distractions. Sometimes we succeed. We slay the metaphorical dragon. And sometimes that dragon eats us alive. Frankly, it's a vicious cycle.

But we keep going. We keep doing the things. We keep getting distracted. We bear hug the good ones and get into fist fights with the bad ones. Repeat. And that's life.

End of thought. Now here's a unicorn to distract you. Have fun.


Photo courtesy of http://theunicornhunt.tumblr.com/