Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Where Have I Been?

Hey Everyone!

How is everyone doing? It's been awhile hasn't it? Seven months. I don't know if you're interested in wondering where have I been or what I have been up to but as you are my readers, I'm going to say that you are and I will let you all know. Now let's see what should be first? I'm going to set up the post like I usually do and break it up in sections (below). 

But before I do so, I would like to say that I am definitely considering to bringing back the song, movie, and TV show of the week back. I know I only did one week of it (two for song but the same song) but at the time, I don't think I could keep up with it. Now I do. At least I might in about three to four weeks (you'll understand after reading Education section). I'm not going to be 100% on board with it until I do about three weeks (which will show that I can keep up with it). I might not start those posts until after four weeks from now. 

Anyways, here we go. 

Education: 
I am currently in my final semester in college. It will be 4 1/2 years in school. My final class will be in a few weeks (the week of December 16th) and I will be walking (wheeling) in graduation in May of 2016. I am looking forward in doing so. I have worked on my graduation papers this semester and felt a relief when I completed the papers needed for graduation. Now what am I learning this semester? A lot!, I know that. The following are classes that I am taking: Accounting, Social Media, Interpersonal Communication (a class I believe everyone should take), Sports Writing, and Senior Writing Seminar. In each class, I have learned so much more that I thought I would and will be looking to take what I have learned in these classes and previous classes with me as I move into the real world. Three weeks. That's all that's left and there is so much left to do - papers, tests, group projects, etc. So this is why I said, above, when I might update my blog next. But after that, expect reading many posts from me. 

Writing:
So as you know, from the previous post, I have finished one of my books and was looking into querying agents with the book but I have taken a break from that. But have no fear, I am still writing. I am not focusing on my senior project which I hope will turn into the book that I am going to definitely work on. I have not given up on the other book but I feel my senior project is something that I will be able to focus on more and have more of a chance with. I actually have a better feeling with this project but I'll always go back to the other one, possibly revising it once again. You (I) can never be finished with revisions!

Sports:
Well the 2015 sports season is coming to a close which also means that my career as a junior athlete is coming to a close. 17 years. 17 years with the Children's Lightning Wheels and I will never forget any of the time that I had with sports, teammates, coaches, parents, officials, competitions, etc. This year, we hosted the 2015 National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC) and it was a blast. We won 2nd place for the Large Team division and it was great getting to compete in front of friends and family. Thank you to those who came out and supported all the athletes. It was a great turnout and I hope that the future NJDC continue growing. It was also a bittersweet week as it was my final junior nationals and the final time in a racer (track). Thank you to all my coaches, teammates, parents, competitors, officials and anyone who I have met over the years for giving me a great ride and I will gladly take everything that I have learned from you with me as I move forward with my athletic career. I am looking forward to moving on to the adult word of sports, as well as helping coach archery with my junior team. Bring on Season 2016.


Well, I believe that is everything that I have done since my last post. I could be missing something and if I am, you will be the first to know! So like I said, I will be more involved with my blog starting in the next few weeks and I am looking forward to being more conversational with you all!

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Sunday, April 12, 2015

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

Thursday, January 8, 2015

New Books For Me to Read

"The more you read, the more you things you know. 
The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
- Dr. Seuss

Hey Everyone!

Recently, I have received new books in the past year. Most of them, as you see above, are Yankees books (Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera) and still have to read them. Also, as most of you know - I'm a major Yankees fan especially when it comes to the Core Four, particularly Derek Jeter (I'm surprised I haven't written a post about Derek Jeter yet..lol..there's still time though so who knows). Four of the books above, I received as 2014 Christmas presents, one of them I bought myself and the other was either a birthday present or a 2013 Christmas present.

Even though, I have not read these books yet, I am looking forward learning more of the ins and outs of being Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera directly from the sources of themselves. Two of Derek Jeter's new books (Jeter Unfiltered and The Contract) are his two first books under his own publishing company: Jeter Publishing and they already have made it to The New York Times Bestseller's List.

As a writer, that is one of my goals is to be on the The New York Times Bestseller's list but it is not a must as I'm more of enjoyment of writing. It would be awesome and I wonder how Jeter felt when he found out that he made it on the list not once but twice. I'm not really surprised he made it has everything Jeter is going to touch will turn to gold, his career already turned to gold, as well as The Player's Tribune, a website he created for athletes to share their thoughts and words without getting their words misinterpreted which to me is a great idea because it doesn't make the athletes hold back and lets them be true without having another name on the article or have to be restricted to 140 characters (twitter). I am looking forward to seeing more books come from Jeter's publishing company as I'm sure most or even all of those books will reach the list.

I am not normally into biographies or autobiographies unless you know they are the books of people I really care about and am a fan of like the guys in this post. Usually, I read romance fiction - one author in particular is Nicholas Sparks. I have read most of his books, not all but I know the ones I haven't read are just as good as the others. In 2014, I have bought two of his new books - Best of Me and The Longest Ride - I've read The Longest Ride and found it very good. It was interesting to see Sparks incorporate two love stories into one book. I highly recommend reading the book. I also recently saw the movie's trailer and yes, even though they have made changes, I am looking forward to seeing the movie. I have not read the other book that I have purchased, Best of Me, yet but I know that I will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed all of the other Nicholas Sparks' books.

Nicholas Sparks have inspired me to write the book that I am currently working on now (one chapter left to be written). Writing is something that I have done for as long as I could remember and I have done much of it. I started out writing some mystery type things but as I got older, I decided to turn my genre to romance drama, family drama, and dramas in general. Not only did I make a change of genres but I also made a change of the type of writings I do. I used to just fully do books but I have also made the transition to screenplays (both movies and television).

Writing will forever be a part of my life so will reading. Reading and writing usually come into play with one another and I believe with doing so much reading that I have done in school and for fun, it has helped me with my writing. Also doing different types of writing also has strengthen my writing as well as the help of my writing classes in school. I have already seen a change in my writing for the better and I am looking forward to the day that you will too see that writing.

Well for this post, I think that's all for now. If you would like the summaries/descriptions of the books in the above picture, you can continue you on as I have written the summaries below this. The summaries are not in my own words but are the actual summaries that are in and on the book covers.

I, once again hope you all have a great day.

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

______________________________________________________________________


Here are the descriptions of those books in the above picture:


The Closer by Mariano River with Wayne Coffey: "The greatest relief pitcher of all time shares his extraordinary story of survival, love and baseball - Mariano Rivera, the man who intimidated thousands of batters merely by opening a bullpen door, began his incredible journey as the so of a poor Panamanian fisherman. When first scouted by the Yankees, he didn't even own his own glove. He thought he might make a good mechanic. When discovered, he had never flown in an airplane, had never heard of Babe Ruth, spoke no English, and couldn't imagine Tampa, the city where he was headed to begin a career that would become one of baseball's iconic. What he did know: that he loved his family and his then girlfriend, Clara, that he could trust in the Lord to guide him, and that he could throw a baseball exactly where he wanted to, every time.
                With astonishing candor, Rivera tells the story of the championships, the bosses (including The Boss), the rivalries, and the struggles of being a Latino baseball player in the United States and of maintaining Christian values in professional athletics. The thirteen-time All-Star discusses his drive to win; the streets behind his legendary composure; the story of how he discovered his cut fastball; the untold, pitch-by-pitch account of the ninth inning of Game 7 in the 2001 World Series; and why the lowest moment of his career became one of his greatest blessings.
                 In The Closer, Rivera takes readers into the Yankees clubhouse, where his teammates are his brothers. But he also takes us on that jog from the bullpen to the mound, where the game - or the season - rests squarely on his shoulders. We come to understand the laserlike focus that is his hallmark, and how his faith and his family kept his feet firmly on the pitching rubber. Many of the tools he used so consistently and gracefully came from what was inside for a very long time - his deep passion for his life; his enduring commitment to Clara, whom he met in kindergarten; and his innate sense for getting out of a jam.
                 When Rivera retired, the whole world watched - and cheered. In The Closer, we come to an even greater appreciation of a legend built from the ground up."



The Contract by Derek Jeter: "As a young boy, Derek Jeter dreams of being the shortstop for the New York Yankees. He even imagines himself in the World Series. But on the day of Little League assignments, Derek starts at second base instead of shortstop and is given jersey number 2, not the number 13 he has always had and that his father wore.
             He tries to make the most of the situation while wishing and dreaming for that shortstop spot, but then he realizes there is one way to get there - always play his best. And to make sure he stays focused on school, too, his parents make him sign a contract - with keeping his grades up a requirement for getting to play baseball. As the season progresses and his team experiences ups and downs, Derek learns the importance of being a great teammate and friend...and comes to realize that there are specific steps he can take to make his dream come true!
             Inspired by Derek Jeter's childhood, The Contract launches Derek Jeter's middle-grade baseball series, an important part of the Jeter Publishing program which will encompass adult nonfiction titles, children's picture books, middle-grade fiction, ready-to-read children's books, and children's nonfiction."


The Captain: The Journey of Derek Jeter by Ian O'Connor: "Every Spring, Little Leaguers across the country mimic his stance and squabble over the right to wear his number, 2, the next number to be retired by the world's most famous ball team. Derek Jeter is their hero. He walks in the footsteps of Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Mantle, and someday his shadow will loom just as large. Yet he has never been the best player in baseball. In fact, he hasn't always been the best player on his team. But his intangible grace and Jordan-esque ability to play big in the biggest of postseason moments make him the face of the modern Yankee dynasty and of America's game.
          In The Captain, best-selling author Ian O'Connor draws and extensive reporting and unique access to Jeter that has spanned some fifteen years to reveal how a biracial kid from Michigan became New York's most beloved sports figure and enduring symbol of he steroid-free athlete. O'Connor takes us behind the scenes of a legendary baseball life and career, from Jeter's early struggles in minor leagues, when homesickness and errors in the field threatened a stillborn career , to his heady days as a Yankees superstar and prince of the city who squired some of the world's most beautiful women, to his tense battles with former best friend A-Rod. We also witness Jeter struggling to come to terms with his declining skills and the declining favor of the only organization he ever wanted to play for, leading to a contentious contract negotiation with the Yankees that left people wondering if Jeter might end his career in a uniform without pinstripes.
           Derek Jeter's march toward the Hall of Fame has been dignified and certain, but behind that leadership and hero's grace there are hidden struggles and complexities that have never been explored, until now. As Jeter closes in on 3,000 hits, a number no Yankee has ever touched, The Captain offers an incisive, exhilarating, and revealing new look at one of the game's greatest players in the gloaming of his career."


Jeter Unfiltered by Derek Jeter with Illustrations by Christopher Anderson: "The Legend. The Leader. The athlete. The man. - Derek Jeter's twentieth and final season in Major League Baseball truly marks the end of a sports era The New York Yankees' shortstop - a five-time World Series victor, team captain since 2003, and one of the greatest ballplayers off all time - is a beloved and inspiring role model who displays the indefinable qualities of a champion, on and off the field.
          Jeter Unfiltered is a powerful collection of never-before-published images taken over the course of Derek's final season. For the first time ever, fans will have unprecedented access to "The Captain," as Derek takes us behind the scenes - inside his home, at the stadium, working out, at his Turn 2 Foundation events, and more - as he looks back with candor and gratitude on his baseball career. The result is an intimate portrait bursting with personality, professionalism, and pride.
          Also featuring more than 100 thrilling archival shots, Jeter Unfiltered is the definitive and only book looking back on his career authorized by the Yankees shortstop. This is Jeter as you have never seen him before - unguarded, unapologetic...unfiltered."


Derek Jeter: Born to Be a Yankee - The New York Post's Commemorative Book By the Writers and Photographers of The New York Post: There isn't a summary/description on the back cover or inside cover but by the name - you can see that this is a book filled with previous written articles about Derek Jeter in the New York Post, over the years. It starts with an introduction written by former Yankees captain, Don Mattingly and ends with an article written in 2014 by Mike Vaccaro.


Derek Jeter: Excellence and Elegance - The New York Times' Collection Compiled and Edited by Tyler Kepner: Again with this one, there isn't a summary/description on the back cover or inside cover but by this name - this is a book filled with previous written articles about Derek Jeter in The New York Times, over the years. This book opens with a foreword written by former Yankees manager, Joe Torre (Mr. T as Jeter calls him) and ends with an article written by Tyler Kepler about Jeter's final home game. 



Monday, December 29, 2014

Updates!

Hey Everyone!

As you can see, I have only posted three posts for my weekly plan so it hasn't worked out as I planned. BUT if you have been following me on my public Facebook page, you will notice that I have decided to come up with another plan that might work. That plan is doing song of the week every week (might not be the same day each week) and also I will try to do a TV show/movie a week but alternate each week. Not sure how that will work out as, for me, doing a TV show and movie seems to be harder for me to write about but we'll see how things work out.

Now for this post, I wanted to update you on what has been going on. The first part was to update you on my original weekly plan which the previous paragraph is about. Other updates include my education and writing careers.

Education:
I am currently on winter break. For the fall semester, I took six classes (Writing about Writing; Script Writing; Business & Professional Writing; Poetry; Worlds of History; and Infant and Toddlers in Diverse Settings). So far, I have received three grades (A in script writing, B in worlds of history, B- in Poetry) which I'm proud of as this was one of my toughest semesters. As of now, I will only have two semesters left which will leave me to be finished with my Undergraduate studies in the fall!

Writing:
Currently, I am working on my first novel. I am 1 1/2 chapters away from completely finishing it. I have previously thought I finished it but throughout editing it, I decided to add two more chapters to bring more out of the novel. My goal is to finish the novel completely by this upcoming weekend then work on a query letter to send out to agents. We'll see how things go from there.

Well for now that is all I have to update for you. I mean, there is some more that I can update with you all but I'll let you know about more, later on. My next post on here would be possibly be a song of the week song but I won't know until I figure it out. Remember if you want to follow my writing career or anything of the sorts, you can follow me on any of the social networks on the right.

I hope you all had a great holiday and have a great New Year's!!

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Monday, November 24, 2014

Movie of the Week? Song of the Week?

Hey everyone!

So, if you follow me on Twitter or LIKE my public Facebook page - you will know that I have postponed the first movie of the week post. I will explain more in depth at why I decided that. I was ready to have a movie of the week post done but the movie(s) that I was planning to do it on was going to lead to a very long post and for some reason nothing was coming to my mind at how to start the post. I posted on Friday on my twitter and public Facebook page that I was going to do it on Saturday but some where along the way, Saturday came and gone, and I still wasn't happy with the post that I was writing. So I decided that I would not post it for week one. I am planning on using the same movie(s) for this week so I am going to try my hardest to have a movie of the week done for this week, it's either going to be Friday or Saturday (most like Saturday as Friday is usually part two of my family's Thanksgiving festivities). I hope you all understand. I explained to you when I first came up with this idea that there would be a couple times where there won't be a post that day.

So now we are onto week two. As you see in the title of this post, there is a question mark after song of the week meaning I do not think there will be a new song of the week for this week because well I'm having a hard time to pick one..lol..I have over 1,000 songs on my iPod. But that's not the only reason - another reason is because I want to continue from last week which was "The Heart Wants What It Wants" by Selena Gomez.

I'm not really going to discuss too much more about the song (see song of the week post for more) but I want to talk about Selena's performance at the AMAs last night (November 21, 2014). Have you seen it? If not, here is the video from her Vevo page:


I was looking forward to this performance ever since I first heard the song because I knew it would be an emotional one. There were critics that said she can't sing live, she will ruin the song, etc. But, I have to say yes she's not the best singer but she holds her own and I enjoyed this performance. It was very real. You could feel the emotion coming through the television/computer screen. The background was perfect. It went right with the song. The whole performance was simple but emotional. She also at one point near the end of the song whispered to herself "Thank you Jesus." Yes, beliebers, it was "Thank you Jesus," not "thank you Justin," or "I love you Justin." Please....be real here.

I have read some of the comments under performance video and there were many supporters and of course many critics. I was disappointed at some of those critics. Some were saying that Selena should just get over him. "Stop singing about him." "We're tired of it." Well excuse me, how come it was ok for Justin to write a whole album about Selena but it's not ok for her to sing one? Do you know what she went through? Do you know what they went through? No. None of us truly do. But her. But him. But their friends and family. Stop judging someone who you personally don't know. She is using this song to bring peace back into her life as she has said that sharing this song has already slowly but surely is helping her.

It has been said that it is important to let things out, rather than keeping it hidden away. Like I have said, in the first post about this song, she kept this to herself for a year. It was probably not helping her to keep it just to herself so she decided to share it. Why can't you let her have this one thing? Let her use music to help her move on, help her heal, help her bring peace to her life. She is just like the rest of us. She is human. Let her be.

I am proud of Selena for being brave and sharing with us, the rest of the world, this song that is so personal to her. I am also happy that she has friends like Taylor Swift who can be there for her before and after her performance; and through what caused the pain.

I will always support her, no matter what happens and I'm glad that she has other fans/supporters that do the same.

Also before I end this: as of right now - the single is now #2 on the iTunes chart and the music video for the song is #1.

Well, I think that's it for now. I will leave you with one more thought. We all go through things. We all have our own different ways to move pass those things. Do not judge someone's different way if they aren't the way you believe is right.

Thank you and that is all for tonight.

Until Next Time!

CGoerlich <3