Two Years Later

Hey Everyone!

Well...it's been awhile. Two years to be exact. So you're probably asking: "Where have you been?" "Why haven't you written any new posts?" "What's been going on?" Well...I'm ready to answer all THREE questions and to give an update on where this blog is going 😊

Where Have You (I) Been?
I've been in the same place I've been when I was writing a couple years ago. I'm still working at Kohl's. I'm still competing in adaptive sports: field (shot put, discus, and javelin), table tennis, and archery. But, I am now a part of the Tri-State Wheelchair Athletic Association (TSWAA) board. And I'm still working on writing my book(s).

Why Haven't You (I) Written Any New Posts?
Honestly...I think it had to do with writer's block and procrastination. I had ideas of what to write on here but didn't know how to start or where to go with it so I would say "I'll write it next week," then it would be the next week and I'll say it again. Then, it ended up being a month later and then months went by and now two years went by. That's really all to why I haven't written anything.

What's Been Going On?
Ok so the answer to this question can be the same as the answer to the first question. BUT, I do have more to share and add. It has to do with my YouTube channel. I've always had a channel but now I'm actually using it and posting videos on it. Videos like 'My Top 10' where I share my top 10 favorite things of a top (for example: my top 10 favorite Disney Channel Original Movies [DCOMs]), Disability Awareness (for example: National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month), about myself, and other fun videos. Make sure you check out my channel and SUBSCRIBE & press the bell so that you're alerted every time I post a new video. And again, I'm still working on my book(s) and in the process of something that I will soon (hopefully) let you all in on 😉

NOW, I want to let you know that since I'm writing this post - it does mean I am planning on writing some more and officially return to my Wiki-Wheelz blog. YAY! I have a plan set up for how I'm going to do my blog and my YouTube channel. What is that plan? Well...press the play button below and watch as I explain what it is 🔻

So what do you think? Do you think I'm going to be able to keep up with both YouTube and my blog? Only time will tell and I hope I definitely will be able to keep up with it. That's my goal. I definitely won't let another two years go by before writing another post.

Make sure you enter your email into the top right corner (if you haven't already) so that you can be alerted every time I update the blog. AND don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you can watch all my new videos! Also, if you haven't yet - check out all my previous posts so you can see what kind of posts you can expect from me on here.

That's really all I have for now. But stay tuned for future posts & videos!

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

See You Again - First to THREE Billion Views?

Hey Everyone!

As many of you know, "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth has taken over the #1 spot on the "Most Watched YouTube Videos" list!  They are now ahead of "Gangnam Style" by Psy which has been #1 for about FIVE years.

Unfortunately, it won't be #1 as long as "Gangnam Style" as "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee (Justin Bieber is not in the music video) will be taking that over in no time as they are getting about 25 million views a day.

But it's still a great feat to be able to be #1 at all.

Remember to read my older posts about "See You Again" so you can remember why I'm in such a support for this song and music video:

Song of the Week - Week Three - See You Again
See You Again song Update
See You Again Hits TWO Billion Views

NOW, even though "See You Again" will be back to #2 soon. There is one thing that can still be done for this music video and records. It can be the FIRST music video to hit THREE Billion videos. At the moment, the video is about 52 million views away.

Doing the math, if the video continues to receive about four million views (it has picked up since taking the #1 spot) a day, then it could reach three billion in about 13 days. BUT, with how many views "Despacito" is getting, that can also reach three billion views in about 13 days.

I'm all good with "Despacito" taking the #1 spot because let's face it, it's going to happen no matter what. BUT, we need to try and get "See You Again" to three billion FIRST because again the song has more meaning than other songs that is Top 10 on YouTube.

Remember, any one can relate to the song as everyone has lost a loved one and thinks about seeing them again. So do you think we can get "See You Again" to three billion first???

Make sure you click HERE for the music video and watch the video as many times as you can in a day!! Let's try and get the video to reach at least five millions views a day.

Today is July 22nd. The video could reach three billion on August 4th.

I'll probably post another post when "See You Again" reaches three billion and that may be my last post about that music video.

LET'S DO IT! Go watch it now! 😄

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Happy New Year!

Hey Everyone!

Happy New Year! It's time for a new year ---> 2017. Hope you all had a great year in 2016 even with the unfortunate amount of deaths that came through the year.

I know I haven't written anything on here for a few months but I wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year and hope you all have a GREAT 2017. I also wanted to let you know that I will try and update more on the blog this year (new goal - write more on here than I did in 2016 = more than 38 posts).

So have no worries, I haven't given up on Wiki-Wheelz and won't stop writing on here. I have a good feeling 2017 is going to be a great year and I will give you more information on exactly why (and what I have planned for the year) I believe that when the time comes.

I am working on something and you will all know about it soon enough. But for now I hope you all had a great Holiday (Christmas, Hanukka, Kwanza, and other holidays) and have a Happy New Year!

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Old Navy Update #2

Hey Everyone!

Alright so if you have been following, you know that I have written about different experiences at one of the Old Navy (first post & second post) mostly being about the way their fitting rooms are set up.

Well I thought - why not do another update?? I have been asked to keep everyone in the loop by someone who commented about my last Old Navy update post so here I am.

This isn't going to be a huge ordeal type of update as there isn't really much to update. However, yesterday, I found that after going to multiple different Old Navy's over the last few months - that it's not just one Old Navy in particular that is a problem.

I have been to at least three different Old Navy's and each one had the same problem. Blocking the 2nd accessible fitting room with clothing racks and probably having it full of clothes. Lately, there has been one accessible fitting room open (which is better than what it once was when I first wrote about Old Navy).

And you're probably wondering - ok there is one open, what's the problem? Well the problem is that we need to have both accessible fitting rooms clear and open because what if there are two people in wheelchairs (or multiple people with disabilities) that need the room but there's only one? Because guess what - there can be more than one person with a disability shopping at the same place at the same time. (I mentioned this in the last post)

No only having the clearance of both rooms important but he usage of the fitting rooms. Again, I can not fit my chair by the mirror as there is a sitting bench in the way (see Old Navy update post for pictures and more on that). I'm sure that a little rearranging can be done to make things more accessible.

More accessibility = more customers.

So this update post is just to update that there is still one of the two accessible fitting rooms is still being blocked and not being able to be used. And that is NOT just at one Old Navy, it's at MOST of them (at least the ones I've been to) so I believe something needs to be brought up with the company leaders.

I think Old Navy should do an episode of Undercover Boss and the CEO (or whoever does it) takes a moment to focus on the fitting rooms and see if there's a "problem" during the filming of the episode.

I would definitely be willing to show or discuss with Old Navy's leaders ways on how they can make things better for all.

Again, thanks for reading and feel free to share and comment one what you think! (Also share the other two posts while you're at it.)

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Update

Hey Everyone!

So, it's been awhile since I have updated what has been going on in my life. Now, usually I would separate them in different sections (education, sports, writing) but instead, I'm just going to write.

The only big thing that has really happened is I have finished all my classes! 4 1/2 years have come and gone. I should be receiving my degree in the mail next month and then will be walking (wheeling) with the rest of Class 2016 in May.

I can't believe that it's over. It's crazy. Feels like I just graduated high school. But now that I have finished with school (not planning to go to graduate school), I am looking at different jobs to apply for (have applied at a few places but no reply yet) and I'm also working on a writing project (that I used for my senior writing project).

Another thing that I did this year was in January where I spoke to a group of high school students (you can see that video on the side bar to the right [under social media]). I spoke about high school and transitioning into college with a disability. Check it out!

I feel confident that 2016 is going to be a successful one and we'll see how that goes as the year continues.

Now is there anything else going on besides being done with classes and working on my writing project? Hmm not necessarily except the sports season will be starting soon which will be my first one as an adult athlete.

Again, I will be participating in field (shot put, discus, javelin), table tennis, and archery as an adult. I will not be doing track as I've decided that last year would be my last season on the track. It is going to be weird that I won't be on the track but it's a decision that I had made.

So basically what I'm doing with my life is this: looking for a job, writing (and blogging), and preparing for a new season of sports.

Make sure you keep on coming to Wiki-Wheelz as I'm continually writing on here (as you can see I've written more this year than I have in the recent years together).

If anything big happens this year, I will be sure to update you all again!

(By the way - how do you like the new layout and template??)

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Old Navy

Hey Everyone!

So about a month ago, while shopping for Christmas gifts - my mom and I had decided to stop at Old Navy to do get some gifts there and I also wanted to try on some clothes. Let's just say my experience with the Old Navy's fitting rooms wasn't so great. After my experience, I took it to Facebook and wrote a post about it using a picture that I saw hanging up in the fitting room. Want to read what I wrote?

Here it is:

IMPORTANT ------ So today while being at Old Navy in Livingston Mall, it took awhile to see the inside of the accessible...
Posted by Caitlin Goerlich on Saturday, December 12, 2015

As you see, there was a big problem here. They blocked the two accessible fitting rooms that someone who needs it wouldn't have been able to get in there which goes against ADA and many other situations. I have received feedback for this post: 13 comments (all supportive), 15 shares, and 31 likes. This was great feedback and one of the comments suggested that I post it on Old Navy's Facebook page and another suggested to share it on Twitter, both of which I did. 

On Twitter, Old Navy did respond which I think was a step in the right direction.

Old Navy's response on Twitter

But there still needs more to be done about these situations. Why are these situations still happening in this day and age? I'll never know. But I'm sure one of the main reasons why these things are happening frequently because they aren't being brought up in the media or shared as much as other situations are. Don't get me wrong, the other situations (shootings, terrorist, inequality with race, gender, and sexual orientation, etc.) that are brought up in the media and on the internet are important but YOU can't cover some of the types of discrimination and not all (especially leaving out one).

In one of my previous posts about adaptive sports programs needed in schools, I wrote about how 20% (49 million people) of the United States' population has some type of disability so why isn't there more spoken about things that happen in this group of people? I don't know. I can write another post about that which believe me I will. Look out for that one!

This post is about Old Navy. I love Old Navy. It's a great store, has great people who work there, and love the clothes that I buy but this situation needs to be fixed. I was told by one of my friends that this store in particular was the same way for about three months (could have been more) because she was there around Thanksgiving and spoke them about the fitting rooms, well as you can read from above, it wasn't fixed! 

Has it been fixed? I don't know. I haven't returned. But I will. If you have visited the Old Navy store in Livingston Mall and has seen a change or have not seen a change, let me know in the comments below. We need to seriously have these types of conversations. 

Now, I did go to another Old Navy at another mall and I have to say their fittings rooms was slightly better (they had one of the accessible rooms open but did have the other one blocked off). I'm not upset with theirs. At least they had one open but both need to be open especially if I had one of my friends with me or there was someone else with a disability in the store. 

Was this store like the one in Livingston Mall before I had my Facebook post? I'll probably never know. Had Livingston Mall changed? We'll have to see and don't worry, I will update you all after my return visit! 

Let me know what you think by writing a comment below.

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3 

Update!

Hey Everyone!

How is everyone doing? I hope you all made it through that rough winter that we had. Boy, wasn't that a rough one? Well it's in the past now and we are in the process of having some spring weather. Today was in the 70s and it felt great!

So anyways, I'm sure you all can tell that I haven't update my blog since January. It's been awhile. I have failed that whole weekly plan thing that I wanted to do. I had a feeling that I would. There is still a chance that I might bring it back up. We'll see. But back to this post, I thought I should update one what has been going on in the last few months.

Education: 
I am currently in spring semester. So far, this semester seems to be going well. There is only about a month away. The classes that I am taking this semester are advanced journalism, history of New Jersey, U.S. History 1877-Present, public speaking, and film history. I am happy to say that I have registered for my final semester (still waiting for one class) which will take place this Fall and I will be finished this December, as an Undergrad. It feels like I just graduated high school which was four years ago and now I'm thinking about my final semester in college. Crazy.

Writing:
I have finished my book that I was working on. I am currently in the process of sending query letters out to different agents and so far, nothing as come about from that BUT just because one thing doesn't go the way I plan doesn't mean that I am going to stop. I am always editing the book and query letter so if it's meant to happen, it will. I believe that. Remember you can follow me on my social media accounts (you will see them at the right of the screen).

Sports:
The new season is now in session! This marks my final season as junior athlete which is crazy. 16-17 years with the Lightning Wheels. I am planning to enjoy this year. I will continue to do sports as I enter the adult division. Also more news about the season this year - the National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC) will be held in NJ this summer. You can get more information here ---> NJDC2015NJ. It should be a fun one!

Well right now, I think that's everything. I am going to try and update this blog more often and as the spring semester comes to a close, I will have more time to do so (maybe). I hope you all enjoy the spring weather and have a great day, night (depending when you're reading this).

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

What's Been Going On?

Hey Everyone!

So it's been a month since I last posted about something. I thought that I would let you all know what I have been up to. It hasn't been much, really so this isn't going to be that long of a post.

Mostly, I have been doing is school, writing, and sports.

School: I am taking six classes this semester (I know what you're thinking - You're crazy!). Three are English classes (Business and Professional Writing, Poetry, Advance Composition) and three are electives (Script Writing, Worlds of History, Infant and Toddlers in Diverse Society). This is my fourth year in college and I am planning on my final semester to be next Fall (Fall of 2015), as I still need 10 classes (mostly electives) after this semester.

Writing: Starting back in August, I decided to bring one of my unfinished novels back around. I am really focusing on the possibility of getting this novel published. At first, I thought editing was all that was needed but I have noticed that there were missing pieces in it, so I have decided to add a few chapters which right now would make the novel to be 25 chapters long. I have finished one of my new chapters but I am still in the process of writing the other two new chapters.

If you would like to stay up to date with my writing career - you can go LIKE my new public Facebook page. I post quotes about writing, updates on how I'm doing with my writing, etc. Also, if you would like a preview of my writing - you can go read some of the stories that I wrote for Fanfiction. Letting you know, it's High School Musical fanfiction but if you know me - you know how much of a fan I was/am of the High School Musical franchise.

Sports: The sports season, currently, is over until February/March but we did have a month of practice for our last meet of the season. At the last meet, I won Outstanding Female in Table Tennis. It was a fun time as usual. I have been having archery practice, which might be coming to an end as the winter air is coming and the sun is setting earlier. We are starting up the gym program again, this coming Tuesday so that should be fun. Next season marks the final season of my Junior career, which is crazy because I have been doing this and been a part of the Lightning Wheels since I was five years old. I'm going to enjoy next season and will continue the sports as I enter the adult division, after next year.

Besides being busy with the sports that I compete in, I have also been busy supporting the professional sports. Hockey is back! Let's Go Devils! I have gone to the final preseason game when the beat the New York Rangers, and I am hoping to get to a regular season game for this season. For baseball - unfortunately the Yankees did not make the playoffs but it was one of those "it was meant to be" moments as Derek Jeter ended his career with a walk-off win at home and RBI-single at Fenway. (I may do a Derek Jeter post so I will not be going into great detail in this post). This Tuesday starts the World Series (San Francisco Giants vs. Kansas City Royals). I am not picking a favorite as I picked both teams to make the World Series, so I will be fine with whoever wins. Now for football, ehh, we can skip that right? The Jets aren't doing that great. Are we surprised? No? Yeah, me neither.

In football, my family take part in the Weekly Pick'Em on NFL.com where we pick the winners of each game, each week. I am currently in fifth place of the group and I am hoping to move up some more, but we'll see what happens. Yay football!

Well, I think that's everything that has been going on in the past couple months. If there are anymore updates, I will let you know and write another post. My next post might be about Derek Jeter, as I feel I should write one since I'm a huge fan of his and have a lot to say about him.

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3