A Katie's-Eye View

The World the Way I See It

Archive for category writing

Reading, writing, learning

Jun 23

Posted by Katie in Blog, books, fun, learning, writing | No Comments

As you may have noticed, the blog has started looking a little different, changing for the better–and will continue to do so for a little while. Here’s why: This summer is my last semester of college. I wanted to do something fun–for me, that is–since I will probably never take another English class again. I remembered back in the old days, when my parents took my brother and I to the library every summer, how we eagerly signed up for the summer reading program. Back then, reading was pretty much my only hobby, so I really got into the whole thing. This summer, in the absence of assigned literature, I decided to have my own summer reading program. However, there are no prizes in this program–no free books or pizzas or pool passes. No, this time around, I’m reading and reviewing books, and posting the reviews here, under the books tab. Why am I reviewing these books? Well, now I have at least two hobbies–reading and writing–and this little scheme allows me to indulge in both. Another reason is that maybe you’ll check out the books I’m reviewing, find one you like, and read it yourself. If that happens, we both get a little something out of the deal. Great, right?

Another addition is the causes tab. I’m a big believer in good causes, and I’m featuring those organizations that I believe in enough to send my own money to. Now, I’m not saying you have to go out and donate to these causes. If you don’t want to, that’s okay. I’m featuring them because I want you to know about some big issues I support–there are several of them–and I’m hoping that if you don’t know anything about these issues, you’ll learn about them. Knowledge of the problem, after all, is the first step to identifying the solution.

These are the newest changes to the site, but I’m sure they won’t be the only ones. Keep coming back to see what’s new!

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Twitter: good, weird and interesting.

May 12

Posted by Katie in Twitter, writing | 3 Comments

So I just got Twitter (twitter.com/bluejaykate), and I’m not quite sure how I feel about the whole thing. I mean, I like that it is cleaner (as in no crazy applications) than Facebook, and that you can connect with all sorts of people. Really, that part is pretty sweet. What gets me, though, is the fact that I’m not quite sure I want to know all of the information the people I follow throw at me. I mean, yeah, I am generally interested in your life, and I like to know when you think of something really cool, but I don’t really want a play by play of your trip to the supermarket. I guess what really bothers me is the fact that I might be the one putting out the mundane details that no one really cares to know, and not even know I’m doing so.Oh, and also the terminology is weird. I mean, “followers” remind me of a cult, and I don’t like to tell people to “follow me”. It makes perfect sense, but it is still a little creepy.

I do like the whole “140 characters” thing. It’s kind of a challenge to make everything you want to say fit that constraint, and I am always up for a challenge (especially when it involves words!). And I’ve seen people use Twitter to live blog, which is pretty cool, too. The whole secret code of @ and # and other things is still a little fuzzy to me, but I’m working on decoding it all (another challenge).

I guess the jury’s still out on whether or not I like this whole Twitter thing. I’m leaning for yes, but I’ll let you know in a tweet.

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Forward and Back.

Dec 31

Posted by Katie in Creativity, Mission Trip, Passion, Photography, awesome, college, dream, learning, life, list, writing | No Comments

Wow. 2009 is just a matter of mere hours away. How did this happen? How was it just the start of another semester, and now that same semester is long gone? Seriously, these past few months have been the quickest moving period of time I have ever experienced. And boy, were they full! I mean, looking back, there was so much crammed into them that we should really only be in October now.

Here are some major highlights, just so you know what I’m talking about. I went to IL, had a couple of friends get married, started the semester, gotten a new roommate, seen many friends get engaged, had more friends get married, gone to Korea, hung out with friends, written papers, done projects, worked, taken millions of tests and quizzes, gone to the symphony, celebrated holidays, spent time with family, written a letter to the editor, gotten addicted to two shows, seen friends that I hadn’t seen in forever, helped plan/ prepare to be in a wedding, worked out, etc.

You have to admit that that is quite the list, especially since it all took place in a matter of months! There are some things missing from that list, though. Things I should have done, but didn’t. There are people I wish I would have called, books I really wanted to read, days when I should have gone out to take pictures, adventures I didn’t go on, and more. But really, I will do my best to make 2009 a year where I do all the things need to do (well, not all. I would like to have a reason to go on living!).

Here are a few things just off of the top of my head that I really want to do in this new year:

1. Learn how to cook. Not just easy stuff, but medium to hard level stuff.
2. Read a LOT. For fun, not just school.
3. Finally pull off that 4.0 I’ve been wanting. I know, I’m a nerd.
4. Accomplish something in the save the world category. I’m working on this right now, actually. I will write all about it when I have something definite.
5. Write something really good. Something memorable.
6. Go somewhere I’ve never been before.
7. Blog more often.
8. Go to Austin
9. Take more pictures
10. To be determined at a later date!

I guess that’s all for now, I’ve got a few things already on the agenda for 2009…my cousin is getting married, one of my friends is going to Denmark, and I’ve got my first 4000 level class coming up. It should be a good year. :)

A Kiley’s-Eye View

Nov 25

Posted by Katie in Blog, Kiley, writing | 1 Comment

For my fiftieth post, I would like to direct your attention to a different blog. This blog is written by the lovely Kiley Adams, the youngest sister of Mark Adams, the wonderful boyfriend of me. :)

Kiley has an amazing talent for putting into words some really deep emotions. She is truely gifted in a way that may make me a little jealous from time to time. She hasn’t posted much, but what is there is real and honest and wonderful. I get the feeling that, like Kiley herself, her blog will always be interesting and fresh. I love Kiley because she is always honest. If you ask her a question, she’ll be honest, like it or not. Maybe I like that so much because it is a personal trait of mine, but it works out great for her as well. ;)

Another thing about Kiley is her amazing photography. She is great at taking sweet pictures, so you should ask her to post a few. Especially her collection of Ralphie photos.

I highly recommend visiting her blog. It will be worth your time. Promise.

P.S. Kiley, I hope you don’t mind the commercial. I just think everyone should know about you. :)

Inspiration

Nov 12

Posted by Katie in Creativity, honesty, poems, poetry, writing | 1 Comment

So lately everyone has been writing amazing notes on Facebook, posts on Blogger and anywhere else they can think of. I have to admit, when I see other people writing, it makes me want to write, too. I see songs and poems and short essays popping up all over the place, and I think, “hey, I should write again.” However, there is a problem, and it makes me sort of mad.

I am not really a good creative writer. I so wish I was, but I’m just better at writing down real things in a real way, with a little opinion dashed in here and there. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing a good editorial, and telling it like it is suits me. But there is a part of me that wants to be creative, to write novels that leave people changed, to be able to put my feeling down on paper (or a screen).

In light of this desire, I think I will try to do so. Please bear with me here…I am kind of afraid to put this out there, and it is a big step for me.

Here is a poem.

Old.
I forget the good times;
Were there any, after all?
I remember how it was before,
when we talked about everything
and there was never any pressure.
Those were good times.

Then our relationship changed.
Suddenly it was all pressure.
Was I good enough?
Were you happy?
I tried, but couldn’t tell.

When the end came, my life
changed.
Hurt like that is something
I can’t explain.

Slowly it got better,
I was happy just to say
hello
every now and then.
Peace.

Sometimes I wonder
the truth behind it all.
Not often, though.
I hope you are doing well.

Here is another one.

New.
Thinking of you
brings joy to me.
I’ve never before felt
this way.

We fight, sure.
It makes us stronger, though.
No pressure,
just expression.
Love always wins.

It’s deep, this love.
A connection that makes us
a perfect team.

Honesty is the rule you follow.
I can see it in your eyes.
I treasure that.

I am content.
You bring calm to
all of my storms.

Okay, I think that I got that out of my system. :)

Hopefully I can now move on and write that report that I need to do. I hope my attempt at poetry wasn’t too awful. I’ve never been a good judge of poems. :)

Nope…not happening.

Mar 5

Posted by Katie in writing | 1 Comment

It is definitely time to write a new post. There is however, a slight problem.

I have no idea what to write about. A million thoughts crossed my mind as I pondered this dilemma, however, none were good enough to make the cut. I will now take suggestions.

Here Goes Nothing

Jan 14

Posted by Katie in Blog, writing | 1 Comment

Well, even though nobody reads this yet, I figured I might as well post something.

I’m not really sure what I will write about here, but I figured I might as well give this whole blogging thing a shot. After all, everyone and their dogs have blogs these days.

That’s something that makes me laugh… a dog with a blog. I hate to break it to blogging dogs, but reading page after page of the musings of a dog isn’t really all that interesting. Some would say that reading page after page of the musings of many people isn’t interesting, either. In response to this, I have to say that at least most human bloggers don’t have to communicate through the interpretations of another person.

Sure, there is the possibility that some dogs have very worthwhile blogs, and to be honest, I’ve never read the blog of a dog, but the whole idea is really kind of crazy. It is probably one of the oddest things about the information age.

That’s how I see it, anyway.