December 18, 2024

Finished reading: A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen πŸ“š

Viking fantasy romance/romantasy. Not exactly a cliffhanger but not NOT a cliffhanger, either. Highly recommend. πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

December 17, 2024

πŸ’¬πŸ“šπŸ“ “Writing is about communicating what’s going on. Now, if you ask me, what’s going on is that we’re all up to here in it, and probably the most important thing is that we not yell at one another.” Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Timeless.

πŸ’¬πŸ“šπŸ“ “…in order to be a writer, you have to be reverent.” Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

I am very resentful of my body’s need for sleep.

December 16, 2024

I’m planning to make 2025 a Year of Making, for reasons. (The reasons are that making stuff is good for my mental health.)

December 14, 2024

Finished reading: Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon πŸ“š

I really enjoyed this, mostly for the fantasy and emotional stuff. Love a nerdy heroine and a bull-headed hero (literally, in this case). The uniquely minotaurish monster romance bits were not the main source of its appeal for me. Definitely a very hot πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯. Not for the faint of heart.

December 13, 2024

πŸ”– Read The open social web is the future of the internet. Here’s why I’m excited. by Ben Werdmuller.

This is a great articulation of what’s good.

πŸ“š 2024 has been a good year for queer sommelier romances.

December 12, 2024

I am very behind on Lower Decks and I kinda need to just hide from the Internet until I catch up.

December 10, 2024

I’ve been writing in 750 Words for a few days. I’m feeling motivated to make notes on our travels from 2023. Eventually, maybe I’ll pull some pearls out of there and polish them up to continue my belated travel blog series.

πŸ’¬πŸ“šπŸ“ “The development of relationship creates plot.” Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

πŸ’¬πŸ“šπŸ“ “All you can give us is what life is about from your point of view. You are not going to be able to give us the plans to the submarine. Life is not a submarine. There are no plans.” Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

December 9, 2024

Finished reading: Swordcrossed by Freya Marske πŸ“š

Lovely! πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

December 6, 2024

Finished reading: A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane πŸ“š

I might love this even more than A Heart of Blood and Ashes. A mild πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯.

πŸ“ΊπŸ“šπŸ““ Read The Great Experiment: race and authorship in Shonda Rhimes’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story by Claudia Calhoun (Adaptation).

This is an eminently readable and beautifully argued journal article.

December 2, 2024

πŸ’¬πŸ“š “I’m a student, not a guru.” Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

πŸ’¬πŸ“š “When you make a business, you get to make a little universe where you control all the laws. This is your utopia.” Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

November 27, 2024

🍿 I’ve watched still more made-for-TV holiday movies:

  • Jingle Bell Run
  • Meet Me Next Christmas
  • Hot Frosty

Hot Frosty taught me that no matter how built a dude is, no matter how kind he is, if he’s a himbo, I will not find him attractive.

November 26, 2024

Finished reading: A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane πŸ“š

So, so good. I’m so happy to have found my fantasy romance sweet spot. πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

November 22, 2024

🍿 Watched Christmas on the Ranch.

I like this but he asks her to give up her life in New York and move to his ranch in Ohio before they even kiss. Bold.

November 21, 2024

I love my job and my family, and yet I find myself resenting that I have to do anything today besides sit around reading A Heart of Blood and Ashes. πŸ“š

Is this still a migraine or am I in the postdrome phase? The Kimberly Hirsh story

November 20, 2024

Finished reading: Killer Underwear Invasion! How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories by Elise Gravel πŸ“š

This is a great book, aimed at kids. I’m definitely going to order it for our library. I might try to write a full review later.

Finished reading: The Beast of Blackmoor by Milla Vane πŸ“š

Milla Vane asks, “What if grimdark, but romance?” and I answer, “Yes please!” So great. πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

November 18, 2024

Chronically ill stationery nerd life: you can’t find the pill sorter you thought was on your nightstand, but at least while you were searching for it, you found your date stamp.