Good Morning

Finally woke up at a decent hour and made a cup of coffee sufficient enough to read in bed and write a poem or two. I don’t really know how it happens and would probably make a terrible instructor for writing workshops. There is no formula or plan. Just write. The outlines aren’t even “proper” outlines; it’s just a ton of notes that become a first draft and then a second. The first draft is always hand written. I prefer that method because something about writing by hand makes you retain more memory, that I’ve heard of. But maybe there’s something about it that helps you think; kind of like your imagination holding your hand and guiding you through. What it is your actually walking through varies person to person. Sometimes the process can't be taught, only learned, 

This is being typed with confidence but later on I’ll probably read this and think, “This is just my mouth running a mile a minute because of coffee.” Either way the words are out there and it doesn't diminish how true they are. 

Well, This Went Great

So much for the whole Post-on-Friday thing. Don't let that sentence mislead you, I'm not beating myself up over it. Spent Thursday vomiting and everything spiraled from there. Luckily, I was able to return to work today. Currently, I'm at the edge of my seat; not in anticipation, the cat plopped his fat ass in my office chair and is refusing to budge. Just looking up with those sleepy yellow eyes as if to say, "What? I was here first."
Good old Fred.
Get a secret project together and for those of you wondering yes it does have to do with writing. This is the first of many amazing things to come. I've finally reached a point where I'm tired of saying "when" without actual progress being made. That's it for now, just letting you all know I haven't slipped on this commitment already.

There isn't a title for this because, frankly, I can't think of one; this is a reflection on the fast I partook of in January and what I took from it. First and the obvious: I had a lot of time on my hands without social media on them. instead of flicking through cat and food photos in the morning I decided to journal, whether it be a dream I had the previous night-usually of the travel or lucid variety- or a list of gratitude. The mornings when the cat comes to visit are especially nice!

Another thing is that it gave me so much time to write. Again, obvious, but nevertheless well worth mentioning. There are definitely social media platforms I can live without and can ween from others. I plan on doing another fast in the near future and,hopefully, will create worthwhile content in the meantime.

I compiled a list of projects to finish and dreams to accomplish. As for content on this blog I've worked out a schedule, Fridays are good, and there are going to be bool reviews here and there. That's it for now. Hope you're all doing well. 

In The Fast Lane

January is a clean slate for those of us who celebrate the New Year on January 1rst. Any portion of the year can be a New Year when ever you celebrate it, but for this lady it's January and tomorrow I'm starting the 21 Days of Fasting through my church and giving up social media, which includes this blog. So, for the next three weeks there will be no posts and I'm sure there are many of you who are like, "Well, there's hardly any posts on here anyway."

Touche.

This, however, is completely intentional and has a purpose. The hardest part is going to be Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. I fasted YouTube last year and realized how much time was left and how many uploads were just sitting there waiting to be consumed. 50 of them and in reality I would have watched half, BUT that fifty video accumulation could still happen because I watched repeats of things and there was no in watching something completely different. 

*insert Monty Python reference here*

*insert complete elation at someone getting alluded to reference*

In regards to what this fast is for that'll be kept to myself. So, here's to a prosperous fast!

My Top Books for 2018!

I can’t believe 2018 is over; now’s the time for me to reflect on my top favorite reads-or listens in the case of audiobooks-and gear myself up for next year’s literary adventures! In the first place, my reading goal was to read 65 books this year and the total was 62. That’s magnificent and by no means a failure! We got rid of cable and switched to an antennae and Roku which has cut down TV watching tremendously.TV just became an automatic, unnecessary time-suck that’s better off done with background asmr videos and audiobooks. By the way, I highly recommend the YouTube Channel asmr rooms; she mostly does Harry Potter background videos that range from the common rooms to Christmas at the Weasley’s. I started listening to them on my Kindle Fire during the night while reading; even got my sister hooked on them and she says they knock her out at night. My absolute favorites are The Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts Library, and The Three Broomsticks Inn. My sister’s are Shell Cottage, The Prefects Bathroom, and the Slytherin Common Room.  Now here are my top 10 books of 2018!

The Haunted Mansion graphic novel volume 1 by Marvel I’m a Disney fanatic and this is one of my favorite rides, so the fact that they based an original plot on the ride was amazing!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrow and Mary Ann Shaffer It’s about an author(WIN!)people ae brought together through reading and books(WIN!)it takes place right after the occupation(WIN!) and it’s told through letters(WIN!)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society audiobook The cast was fantastic and I absolutely adoredit! This book is now one of my favorites of all time!

Bone by Jeff Smith the series bind-up Imaginative, quirky, and hilarious!

The Book Jumper by Mechtild Glaser There’s a sequel to this as well but the first is my favorite. My 

whole life I’ve dreamed of just falling into a book.

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk This gave me To Kill a Mockingbird vibes. Very nice!

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco A beautiful gothic historical fiction. I bought the other to immediately! If you like mysteries, pick this up.

The Healers Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson This beautiful romance had me so enthralled that I reserved all her other books immediately.

Also just finished The Orphans Wish by Melanie Dickerson, which is a retelling of Aladdin and it was amazing.

Yes, there are only 9 but I, for real, can’t think of a tenth one and just throwing one in would be wrong.

Aside from reading, it’s been a pretty good year. I made a the decision to just be finished with school and stick with an Associate’s Degree.  Here’s to a fabulous 2019! I’ve already made my list of goals and will keep those to myself for now.