The Dream Journalist

Eventually, we all need to step forward and find our place in the world. This is mine.

[thedreamjournalist]

Summer Begins

The first weekend of June we managed to get almost the whole family together. All of us except for my eldest niece we to the nearby State Park for swimming. We followed that up with the town parade and carnival in a nearby town.

This month we also welcomed a new baby into the family. She is my third niece and I already feel like I haven’t gotten to see her enough even though she is only two weeks old.

I did, however get to spend plenty of time with the older girls. They came for their first sleepover at my house where we watched a movie and ate popcorn. They even tried to take the cat for a walk but we’re disappointed when he would refuse to move.

TV

Young and Hungry Season 1 Incomplete

Atlantis Season 1-2 Complete

Books

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu Page 72-345 Complete

[thedreamjournalist]

Back to Normal?

May has been possibly the most bland month I’ve had in a while. I’ve gotten my anxiety mostly under control so I haven’t been quite so frustrated and stressed out this month.

I’ve started playing Stardew Valley so I’ve been spending a lot more time on the computer for the past few weeks. It’s a very relaxing farming game but with more than just farming. There’s friendship, fishing, mining, and combat all in a cute little retro inspired game.

I also have planned my big solo vacation for the year. I’m headed to Milwaukee in September for the Hella Mega Tour with Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer. It just so happens that this concert kicks off the Summerfest music festival so I’ll be sticking around a few extra days to explore the city and visit a day or two of the festival.

And that’s about it. Summer is really heating up (literally) and my only plans going forward are to try to put aside some money for some much needed vacation in the future.

TV

Shadow and Bone Season 1 Ongoing

Lucifer Season 5B Ongoing

Books

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare Page 92-542 Complete

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu Page 1-71 Incomplete

[thedreamjournalist]

The Bones Binge

If this month hasn’t been another doozy then I don’t know what.

In the first week we had Easter, and I made the annual Easter Basket Hunt for my nieces. It was a success as usual. Two days later I get to go to the dentist and find out I have a cavity. Hooray!

Now here’s when I clock out of the real world for two solid weeks. I go on to Hulu to help decide what show I wanted to watch next. I’d decided I wanted to watch something completed and with 5 or more seasons. I come across Bones, which I’d heard good things about and knew there was a couple I would love rooting for. It had crime solving and the epic dynamic duo of Brennan and Booth. I watched obsessively for two full weeks. Considering there are 12 seasons consisting of approximately 22 hour-long episodes, this was quite the binge. I only stopped to sleep and go to work. Even then I found it hard to think of anything else (as I write this I’m thinking of favorite scenes to rewatch). Long story short, I laughed and sobbed and fell in love with far too many characters.

Beyond this, I spent the remaining week of April emotionally recovering from the series and am nearly ready to start fresh this May. I really need to focus more on reading this coming month.

TV

Bones Season 1-12 Complete

Books

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare Page 322-453 Complete

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare Page 1- 91 Incomplete

[thedreamjournalist]

Still in awe over my first car purchase. His name is Owen.

[thedreamjournalist]

A Hot Mess

March has been pretty much a disaster after the first week, but let’s look at the positives.

On March first my sister-in-law brought over their cat, because we were starting a trial run on him living with me. Casper is certainly a handful and much more annoying and difficult to take care of than my cat Rowan, but somehow we’ve made it work.

On March second my dad and I went car shopping. We tested two vehicles, a Ford Escape and a Kia Soul. I knew I was going to pick the Kia before I even drove it. Ever since I saw the car on a TV show 10 years ago I was obsessed. It’s a beautiful shiny green and had less than 25,000 miles on it. Buying this car was the highlight of my month.

In the next few weeks my upstairs bathroom has become functionally complete. Since the bathtub was put in during the last week of February, the bathroom has been painted and flooring has been put in. The toilet came next and while waiting for the sink to be installed I had been washing my hands and brushing my teeth with the bathtub. Finally the sink was added and now there are only a few fixtures and a door to be added before the room is completely finished.

A quick rundown of the negatives. I did my first day of training at the new job... and I was there for 12 hours. I decided over the following weekend to quit that job. My anxiety has been through the roof and I only just got started on new medication after my doctors appointment. It’s been a struggle to get through work and housework.

Not only have I not been reading much, but I also have hardly completed any TV series. I must be watching more YouTube because I can’t explain what I’m doing with my time otherwise.

TV

Marvel’s Runaways Season 1-3 Complete

Glitch Season 1-3 Complete

Books

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare Page 65-321 Incomplete

[thedreamjournalist]

Big Things Happening

Well, February has been a bit nuts. I’ve been feeling a bit out of it so I’ll keep this short. In the last week of February I got a new job, made plans to get a new car, and prepared to bring a new cat into the house.

I may have slightly obsessed over yet another TV show, Julie and the Phantoms. So far, there are only nine episodes so obviously I watched the whole thing in one evening. It’s marketed as a kids show, based around a young girl who meets three ghosts and they form a band together. When you see that description it definitely sounds like a kids show, but there are certainly some more mature moments. Hence my obsession and the many tears I shed over the darn show.

My reading goals are going quite well thus far, as can be seen in my monthly roundup below.

TV

The Shannara Chronicles Season 1-2 Complete

911 Season 1-3 Ongoing

911: Lone Star Season 1 Ongoing

Julie and the Phantoms Season 1 Ongoing (Waiting for S2 Renewal)

Books

Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell Page 200-440 Complete

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare Page 1-485 Complete (6 Days)

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare Page 1-64 Incomplete

So I found this sitting in my drafts and it’s almost a month late but... whatever.

[thedreamjournalist]

Hello 2021

It’s me, I’m back.

So I’m not one to make New Year’s Resolutions, but given that it’s currently February 2nd I guess I’ll make Groundhog Day Resolutions?

One of my main goals in life is to be more mindful. I want to practice meditation and generally just focus more on my mental health.

This leads to one of my more realistic goals. Since I struggle with meditating on a regular basis, I think it may be easier to start with something I used to really enjoy. Reading. When I was younger, basically from when I learned to read until I started high school, I would read all the time. I fell away from that hobby when I was 14 and we finally got Internet at my parent’s house. Needless to say, I got a bit over-invested in social media and YouTube and all of the other things teenagers do.

This year I’m trying to get away from some of that and focus back into reading. I haven’t been totally successful so far this year. Which brings me to my next topic.

TV Shows

I started off this year with a comedy, Schitt’s Creek. As with any show, the only thing I really remember are the relationships. David and Patrick are the couple I loved most from the show. The way the show portrays a gay relationship without all the drama that a lot of shows put into gay relationships. None of the characters care or even mention in. They are simply a normal couple much like every other couple on the show.

The next show I watched this year coincidentally also featured a gay relationship. Much like Schitt’s Creek, Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instrument also ended the series with a wedding. While it was David and Patrick in Schitt’s Creek, it was Magnus and Alec in Shadowhunters. Over only three seasons I managed to fall in love with not only Magnus and Alec’s relationship but also Clary/Jace and Simon/Izzy. The diversity of sexuality in this show absolutely amazed me. Certainly not what I had expected from a Supernatural Fantasy show. Not only did it portray gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters, but we also got to see an asexual character in Raphael Santiago. As an asexual person myself I was very happy to see that represented. Overall, I loved the show and craved more.

Two final shows I watched were Fate: The Winx Saga (based off a Nickelodeon cartoon about teenage fairies), and Wayne a dark action comedy. Both of these shows have only one season at the moment and I don’t have much to say on them.

Books

Back to my main goal. After watching Shadowhunters, I decided it was time to read the books. There are six books in The Mortal Instruments series alone, plus multiple other series and short stories set in the same universe. I haven’t yet decided if I will read all of the books in the Shadowhunter universe, but I’ve started off with ordering the box set of the six books and we shall see where that takes me.

Normally, I wouldn’t be afraid to assume that I would like the other books as well, but when I become so invested in certain characters (i.e. Magnus/Alec and Clary/Jace) I fear I won’t appreciate the books where they aren’t main characters or the books that they aren’t in at all. That being said, I also can’t help myself when it comes to books. I tend be a completionist and I will probably end up with all of the books eventually.

Other Goals

So I’ve covered my main goals, reading and meditation. I also want to get back into blogging more regularly. I want to keep track of what TV show I watch and what books I read each month and I think doing that here will be a nice goal for me. So perhaps each month I’ll go through my accomplishment at the end of an update post like this one.

PS. Should I try to do book or tv show reviews?

TV

Schitt’s Creek - Season 1-6 Complete

Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments - Season 1-3 Complete

Fate: The Winx Saga - Season 1 Ongoing

Wayne - Season 1 Complete

Books

Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell - Page 1-200 Incomplete

[thedreamjournalist]

Sayonara, Saint Cloud

It’s officially a week until I move away from St. Cloud permanently. I realize I haven’t updated here my future plans, but in just over 4 months I will be on my way to Portland, not to visit but to live!

The Original Plan

I had originally wanted to stay in St. Cloud until August and make my big move in September but plans changed. I was unable to stay in my current apartment since my lease ends at the end of February, so my dramatic exit from St. Cloud is coming sooner than expected.

The Current Plan

Since plans have changed, and I can’t stay in St. Cloud, and I can’t move immediately to Portland, I will be moving back in to my parents house for a short 4 months. I will continue working as a supervisor at Shopko after transferring back to my first store. After my cousin’s wedding at the end of June, the real journey begins.

The Road to Portland

The trip starts with the 2 hours from my parents house to the location of my cousin’s wedding in Iowa. The day after, we embark with the whole family to the Black Hills. This extended family vacation with my mom’s side of the family was planned long before my move was, so I will spend a few days with them before continuing on the road.

Overall, after the stop in South Dakota, it will take three days for myself, Rowan and Ford to drive to Portland. We’ll make stops in Montana and Washington to split up our days and reduce the monotony of driving and eventually arrive in Portland.

The Next Step

For now, I will be spending time with my family, especially my nieces who I’m sure will grow ten feet in the months between seeing them. I’ll save up as much money as possible and overall just enjoy my last months in Minnesota.

I’m excited to move on after 3 1/2 years of on and off living in St. Cloud. My dream of moving cross-country will finally be coming true.

Until my next update... the countdown starts here.

4 months 1 week

~TheSecretFandom

[coldphoenix]

Okay… I have tumblr to thank for this. I had no idea this place existed until I saw a tumblr post about it a couple months back. I can’t even remember whose blog I saw it on (if it was yours, let me know so I can thank you!) And I didn’t even know if this book shop still existed… but I looked it up, and it does! A book shop on the water, and they play really nice jazz music while you browse 😊 They have a fire and sofas, and a dog there and the guy who owns it is really nice… it was just a nice place, I’m so happy I went! And I wouldn’t have even known it existed if it wasn’t for this site. Thank you tumblr! Also there were pretty fountains and a food market nearby haha. We only got to the market when they were getting ready to pack up though lol.

[thedreamjournalist]

Looks like somewhere I need to go

[thedreamjournalist]

Two weeks from the day. Had an amazing time at an amazing concert with one of my best friends. I am my happiest when I’m listening to amazing live music. I need to do it more!

5SOS // The Armory // 9.9.18

[thedreamjournalist]

I don’t have many photos from our last day in Seattle, but we did manage to make it to the top of the Space Needle and find the Fremont Troll under the bridge. We also had a lovely view of Mount Rainier from the runway.

[thedreamjournalist]

Seattle Day Eight: Fly Into Tomorrow

Our final day in Seattle was certainly one to remember.

Onboard Parking

Obviously, since we have been taking the ferry for the past two days, we had to drive back to the ferry on Saturday. This time, we took the car with us. I will possibly never get over how interesting it is to drive a vehicle onto a boat. I was far too entertained be something like that.

Elevator to the Sky

Our first stop of the day was at the Space Needle, which is the most iconic landmark in the city. The line was short, I don’t think we waited more than 20 minutes for the elevator.

At the top, the view was a little blocked because they were doing construction, but we could still see a 300 degree view of the city.

I would like to go back sometime when the construction is done to see how nice it will look when finished.

Troll Bridge

We literally visited the troll under the bridge for our last sight to see in the city. In the Fremont neighborhood a giant sculpture of a troll was build under a bridge, named the Fremont Troll.

We spent just a little time to take some pictures here, but then proceeded on to the airports.

The Denny’s Tradition

It often seems that we eat at Denny’s when we go on vacation. At least, that’s the joke we were making during this trip every time we passed one. Finally, when we approached the airport, we stopped at a Denny’s for a final meal.

I was lucky enough that they had a special deal going on for the upcoming movie Solo: A Star Wars Story. Of course I ordered off the special menu with my “Co-reactor” pancakes.

Up and Away

Soon enough, however, we had to return our rental car at the airport, take a quick nap at the gate, and board the plane home where I watched about half of Kingsman: The Golden Circle (a recent favorite movie of mine).

It was about 10:45 at night when we landed in Minneapolis so we didn’t get home too late. I even got to be the first to say Happy Mother’s Day to my mom at exactly midnight while we were driving.

Here’s a big two thumbs up to the first vacation I planned. Next one should be much easier and I’ll be able to do it entirely on my own.

Until next time...

~The Dream Journalist

[thedreamjournalist]

Featuring my sugary drink and my cute outfit on my sick day

[thedreamjournalist]

Not much to take pictures of within the market, but of course I got some Instagram worthy pics of Starbucks

[thedreamjournalist]

Seattle Day Seven: Late Start

So yes, I am clearly writing this long after my vacation ended. Let me explain why.

Bathroom Floor

I became very sick during our first night in Seattle. I spent plenty of time in the bathroom and therefore we missed the first half of our day out. I almost wasn’t able to leave the house at all, but my mom got me some medicine and forced me to sleep. We ended up in Seattle around midday, but still were unable to see some of the things we’d planned.

Something Fishy

Our main stop for the day was at Pike Place Market. It is a huge 4 story marketplace selling everything from books, art, thrift store items, clothing, and fresh food. Most notably, the fresh fish being sold left the most horrible smell throughout the main level of the market.

I spent a good amount of money on T-shirts, two different vendors at the market itself and at other gift shops in the city as well. We also managed to find the real flagship Starbucks store. It had a very vintage feel and not as long of a line as one would think. It was very small and very busy for the space, but Dad and I both waited while the rest of the group went ahead.

Now that I’ve mentioned the rest of the group I should mention that along with my cousin Natalie and her son Donovan, my mom’s friend Amy and her husband also joined us.

We had to postpone going up the Space Needle since we had missed its open hours, and instead found our way to our dinner reservation at Vons 1000 spirits.

Skinny Bitch

This might be the weirdest title for a paragraph here, but it seemed to fit. The restaurant served some very interesting drinks, hence the name 1000 spirits. I ordered a “skinny bitch”, which is a combination of grapefruit and cranberry juice mixed with vodka poured over freshly spun cotton candy. It was far too strong for me and I ended up adding water as I drank it down. It was a good experience however, and the fish and chips were decent. I would expect nothing less than decent Alaskan Cod in the waterfront city of Seattle.

Early to Sleep

When we arrived back at Natalie’s house that night we all went to sleep fairly early. Donovan had a baseball game the next morning, and my parents and I were headed to the Space Needle first thing in the morning.

I can say that the morning started off horribly but I ended up having a very nice day afterward. As for this update, after being sick and the traveling the next day, moving into a new apartment the day after that.... it has been over a month now since that day. I finally feel settled in my new life and can catch up on things like this! I promise I will post our last day in Seattle soon!

~The Dream Journalist

[thedreamjournalist]

The end of our first day in Seattle led us to ferry, where we experienced driving onto a boat for the first time to lead us to my cousins house.

[thedreamjournalist]

Chihuly Garden and Glass was Mom’s favorite spot on our trip. With all of the bright colors and the garden attached, it makes sense it was her favorite stop.