Geek Out: Orange Is The New Black

Welcome to Geek Out! Let's talk about the Netflix Original Series, Orange Is The New Black. This series premiered on Netflix July 11th, 2013. Yesterday I saw the first episode out of late night curiosity. I went in with pretty high expectations, as the other Netflix Original Series I had watched was Hemlock Grove. Hemlock Grove was an eerie, slow burn, science-fiction tragedy that I enjoyed immensely. The episode was one hour long and I found myself completely content with my decision to watch this series from start to finish.

So, what is Orange Is The New Black about? According to IMDB: The story of Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling/Argo), a woman in her thirties who is sentenced to 15 months in prison after she is convicted of a decade old crime of transporting money for her drug dealing girlfriend (Laura Prepon/That 70's Show). Now, I'm only 1 episode in, but there are a lot of interesting characters, which are always referred to in prison by their last name or nickname. The big twist at the end of the first episode (It's a spoiler but come on it came out almost 2 months ago) is that the drug dealing girlfriend is in the same prison as Piper. Shocker!

Why is this Geek Out worthy? I have this thing, where if I'm not wholeheartedly into a series, book, movie, or game, then I'm simply not going to waste my time. So anything I do watch, read, listen to, or play is something I'm a huge fan of. I'm apart of its fandom. So if I'm telling you about this, it's geeky to me. Plus the cast reads a ton of books, so they must be geeky.

Well put. Good lesson for all of us. Have you watched Orange Is The New Black? Did you like it? Why or why not? Comments are always welcome!

Thanks A Million: Fanfiction Community

Welcome to Thanks A Million! Today we're gonna talk about what I'm grateful for this week, and that comes in the form of the fan fiction community. 

Yes, that is the dance I do.

You'll find this lovely bunch embedded within any given fandom. Let's break it down into little chunks for those who may not be as insane as myself. A fandom (think "fans" and "kingdom") is a fan base focused on a particular interest. This group is interested on a very detailed level and will invest tons of time into it. So take that and apply it to fan fiction  which is literally fiction written by fans of a book, TV Show, movie, game, etc that want to write a story that deviates from the source material. So, why am I grateful for the fan fiction community?

• Let's take a property like Harry Potter. There are no more books or movies, and yet I still have a need for more creative and wonderfully whimsical stories from that realm. With fan fiction I can get cool side stories, interesting new romances, and alternate reality scenarios. What's not to love?
• Let's take a property like Sherlock (BBC). You know secretly John is gay, and I need stories written about the steamy romance he should be having with Sherlock.
• Let's take a property like Thor or The Avengers. Do you have a favorite character you want to have a million stories to read about them? You can find as many Loki fan fiction stories as you could ever read, even gender swapped.
• The fan fiction community likes to write, share, and is pretty open minded. Have a super crazy couple you ship to the moon and back. They are on board.  Want to cross two unlikely properties together? They've done it at least once.
• Have an idea for a fan fiction. Write it and ask them what they think. They won't be as harsh on you as your college English professor was, I'm sure.
• They are just oodles of fun to geek out with. They like what you like for Kirk/Spock sake! ...Personally I want more Khan/Spock stories...

Oh yes you are, fan fiction community.

Are there good and bad people in the fan fiction community? Yes. Are there good and bad stories in the fan fiction community? You betcha. Is it worth getting into? Yes. Are you a fan fiction reader or writer? If not, why is that? Do you believe fan fiction helps or hurts the fandom? Comments are always welcome!

When Did I Become A Fangirl?

If you haven't figured out yet that I'm an incurable Sherlock (BBC), Hannibal (NBC), Harry Potter, Star Trek, or Avengers fangirl, don't worry, there is still time. I've been busy with my sister visiting from Mexico, but wanted to post a video with some thoughts.



This is a smart and funny video that illustrates an event that happens in fandom circles I don't understand and that peeves me.

I am a married almost 21 year old woman. I plan on having kids (not that soon). I don't get home some fans use those things as an excuse to leave the fandom. You can leave the fandom because your priorities changed: Your family is number one and you have no time for other things. For someone who is truly immersed in the fandom, being married and having children isn't a hindrance, but a chance to express your fangirl nature in other ways, for example:

1. Tardis PJ's for your toddler.
2. Harry Potter themed marriage.
3. Attending conventions as the Loki Family.
4. Having a movie/tv marathon with your kids (if it's appropriate for them).
5. Making meals based on your favorite source material.
6. Fanfiction can be written by anyone of any age, marital status, or amount of kids.

If you REALLY consider yourself a fangirl, it is a way of life. That will never change. If you abandon it after getting married and having children, then you were never really a fangirl to begin with.

CUMBERBITCH FOR LIFE!!!