Allycia Laura
Bio
Too arrogant to work for Buzzfeed but not arrogant enough to be a professional writer
3 cryptids in a trenchcoat
always slightly behind on trends
Stories (8/0)
Necessary Gifts
As a society, we have become too enraptured with the idea of constant productivity and efficiency. Even as I wrote this out in a notebook, before I even considered it a rough draft of an article, I was thinking of how much faster it would be to just type it out on my computer, or do a voice-to-text note in my phone. Those would be the more efficient ways, yes, but this efficiency defeats the purpose of the time I have given myself. I think of my writing sessions as necessary gifts; It is time set aside to be present in what I am writing—to enjoy filling up the journal I bought, to enjoy the way the pen flows, to enjoy how my handwriting improves the longer/more frequently I write. It is a time to do something that many people see as frivolous or unnecessary—it is a time to just BE.
By Allycia Laura2 years ago in Motivation
Quarantine Boredom Busters
Quarantine has been going on for what seems like eternity now, and while there was plenty to do at the beginning, some of us (hi, greetings from Michigan) will be under state mandated quarantine until May 15th. Binging TV shows, catching up on hobbies and projects, even learning new skills and getting really into deep cleaning and organization are losing their appeal; we are all starting to get antsy and are running out of things to do in the comfort of our own homes. For those that have children, the struggle to keep them occupied is even tougher; you can only find so many different DIY crafts on Pinterest before the well dries up and you run out of socks, popsicle sticks, or glitter glue, and the kids riot. For those that are at the ends of their ropes and have run out of activities, supplies, or sanity and social skills, here are 3 things to keep you busy during quarantine. I hope these activities can help give you respite from the difficult times we are living in, and if you try any of these, share your photos and the link so your friends can try them too!
By Allycia Laura2 years ago in Families
Downriver Diner Royalty
Some people start off their restaurant/diner reviews with some charming anecdote, some background information about the surrounding area, how it’s a spot they’ve visited from childhood, or some other inane information that speaks to to how you just HAVE to go check this place out.
By Allycia Laura3 years ago in Feast
The Death of Starbucks
When you think big coffee chain, its pretty likely the first one that comes to mind is Starbucks—but is it the best? Overpriced drinks, sub par coffees, and baristas that look and act like the customers are a nuisance make going to Starbucks more of a chore than a treat. This isn’t news of course—people have been bashing on Starbucks for as long as the chain has been rolling out their frapps—but don’t we as consumers deserve another option for good coffee? Luckily, the Midwest has an alternative that has been growing across the region since 1995: Biggby! While the two companies do have some pretty big differences, Biggby is superior in terms of their atmosphere, menu, and customer service.
By Allycia Laura3 years ago in Feast
The Paradox of Tragedy Through Horror
With the constant rollout of them, you would think horror movies are in high demand because people enjoy watching them. As anyone who has had the misfortune of watching The Hills Have Eyes, Tusk, or The Human Centipede can tell you, this could not be any further from the truth. Why then, do we have such a fascination and, in some cases even, eagerness to watch these types of uncomfortable, tragic movies? The paradox of tragedy I would like to examine today states that, while experiencing painful or uncomfortable emotions is unpleasant, and experiencing painful art brings out painful emotions in us, somehow experiencing painful art is pleasant. The portion of this paradox I would like to refute is this third clause. I would argue that experiencing painful art is not pleasant, but instead is a necessary product of building emotional literacy, as well as (to a lesser extent) providing a form of catharsis in some situations.
By Allycia Laura3 years ago in Horror
