Where the heck did this month go? Jeepers! It felt like it flew by and now looking back at it, seems like I didn’t get all that much accomplished.
I blame the sugar withdrawal 😉

So yeah, my sister and I decided to do Whole 30 together, and after the pissiness and tiredness of the first week I’ve begun feeling better than I have in a long time. I have so much energy!
I spent much of this month learning how to eat properly. This meant researching and educating myself on how to do that and exploring new recipes. Seriously, I have been eating amazing friggen’ delish food.
I’m also teaching myself how to do this long-term, which includes finding recipes that can be made quickly and foods that I should keep on hand to eat when time is short. That’s working pretty well. I’ve also discovered when you’re eating well, nourishing your body with real, whole foods, and getting plenty of healthy fats in your diet, hunger is a non-existent thing. It’s pretty neat.

Writing:
I finished my story for Quarter 4 of the WotF contest and submitted it yesterday, just in the nick of time. Looks like they are having issues again with their system shutting down a day early. Personally I think the problem with their system is that someone set the deadline for Midnight on Sept. 30th and not Midnight Oct. 1st making it shut down a day early.
As someone on the forum mentioned, they’ve become superstitious about submitting on the last day. I have as well, so I’ve begun setting my deadline for the day before. It’s just safer that way, lol.

Also, someone posted today about an anthology open for submissions. I like to think of this as a sign from the Universe, especially because as I was perusing the three topics they are accepting stories for, one of them happens to fit perfectly for a story I currently have in development.
What the hell, I’ve decided I’m going to write it down and submit it. Worst thing that can happen is they don’t accept the story, in which case I’ll have an extra story for the next quarter of WotF, ha! 🙂

Reading:
I most def have been tapering off my reading these past few months. Not on purpose of course. It’s just one of those things. Part of it is all my books are still packed in boxes from my move, and another is I haven’t had much time to find another selection to get from the library. But I’ve got some lined up for next month, and we should expect to see an improvement over my Summer reading numbers.
Anyway, here is what I did get read this month. Enjoy!

Book One:
If This Isn’t Nice, What Is? by Kurt Vonnegut

Just a book of essays and graduation speeches by one of my favorite American authors, Mr. Kurt Vonnegut himself. I love sort of ‘hearing’ him talk, and this is exactly what this book is. He is a bit of a radical, even for the era we currently live in, and I adore that about him. You go Mr. Vonnegut. How sad that I won’t have the chance this lifetime to meet you and be able to sit and chat about ‘how nice’ life really can be.
Oh, and if you don’t know or already love Vonnegut. I suggest you take a good hard look in the mirror. Look at your life, look at your choices.

Book Two:
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Yay for another installation of HP! I really needed a month off after Order of the Phoenix, but I’m back now baby!
Gosh how I adore these books. Like, really, really a lot.  I pour over her writing. Just how she words things, and the immersive quality of the world she’s created (this is my favorite part of these books).
She is for sure a super creative lady, and I have an immense about of admiration for her. ❤
As for the story line of this book, though I can’t imagine you haven’t read them yourself by now, is def lighter toned than book 5 (hearing the name Deloris Umbridge still gives me chills). Well the first 2/3’s is anyway. This volume is full of answers and adventure. I enjoyed learning more about LV and his backstory. All the while everything is leading you along in preparation for beginning the adventure of the next (and last ::sniffle::) book. But also, if for some bizarre reason you haven’t read these books, be prepared for serious cries. Uggh, I had to get through it by listening to end in my car while parked. For real, don’t drive and listen to the end of this book, Lol. All I kept thinking was at least Tolkien brought Gandalf back!!
I remember the first time I read LotR, my Pops had passed his copies along to me because I was finally “old enough to appreciate them”. When I got to the Balrog part, I literally went huffing back to my Dad highly upset that he had set me along this journey to heartache, my Pop’s words, “Just wait, keep reading.” I did, and Tolkien set the world right again. Ms. Rowling on the other hand, I think was a bit heavy-handed in her killing. But hey, that’s just my 2¢.
I think when I’m done listening to these on audiobook, I’m going to have to pull out my books (I believe this is the only series I own in hardcover and paperback, Lol) and pour over them in black and white. A lot for learning purposes, her writing style, etc.
Revisiting them again, with where I am in my life now, these books have moved to the top of my favorites list, and how!! So while you know how to break my heart Ms. R, thank you for sharing this world with us and the inspiration it provides me as a writer.

Alright, that’s it for this month folks. I’d love to know what you’re reading now, or favorite books you’ve put on your list. Really, I just love talking about books 🙂

~xo