November was a fabulous month of reading. I easily breezed through two lengthier tombs by two of my favorite well-established authors and was not let down. I interjected these weightier books for a short soliloquy on routine written by an up and coming Japanese author. We’ll start with that one: Convenience Store Woman is a very odd duck story. It skims the surface over a number of character quirks in Keiko, a 36 year old woman living in Tokyo. These have served to isolate her from her family or build any normal relationships; she comes off as borderline autistic. The monotony and routine and easily followed behavioral manual at the convenience store job harness her to the real world, and … Read More
Study Mode
There’s been a new drive ignited in me recently. I can blame this entirely on my longstanding interest into the Crusades. As I’ve mentioned, I have become fully invested in the History of the Crusades* podcast. It not only follows a linear timeline but interjects occasionally with episodes coinciding, such as the individual rulers, kings and queens, Egyptians, Mongols, Latin Christendom, The Knights Templar, etc… Through the search bar option in my podcast app, I’ve been able to track down other podcasts with overlapping themes (e.g. The History of Byzantium) or just download a specific episode (e.g. A Knight’s Tale via The History of England podcast) It is a prolific rabbit hole either way. I mention this because it’s exciting; … Read More
Good Sunday
Hello again. It’s finally cold and that means bringing in the plants and knocking out some baking. It felt like I hadn’t properly baked in ages; though I’ve been enjoying a couple freshly made biscuits with my breakfast every Saturday morning for the last five weeks, those didn’t really count to me. I decided to do a mashup of a sour cream coffee cake and a German apple cake Apfelkuchen. Will double the streusel topping next time. I just don’t crave sweets in any way anymore. It’s sliced up in servings, wrapped thoroughly, and hanging out in my freezer till the actual mood to eat on it strikes. In unrelated fashion news, I’ve been a huge fan of Victoria Beckham‘s … Read More
Full Moon Fever
We are one week out from Halloween. And there’s a full moon in Taurus this evening. Whatever this means for you… I’ve never been a fan of scary movies or scary reads. It causes me such anxiety and that’s an emotion no one needs more of. The last frightening movie I recall seeing was at one of my single digit birthday slumber parties. We watched Pet Cemetery written by the iconoclastic Stephen King. I had to keep covering my eyes. I couldn’t go into the restroom without three girlfriends crammed with me in the tiny downstairs powder room of my grandmother’s. I still can’t even stream the most basic of thrillers. Dear Readers, you know I’m a podcasts addict, so … Read More
Between Here & There
I’m either counting minutes or losing track of them. I look at time a lot differently than I did years ago; when I had no sense of it growing up. When you’re outside playing, it’s only time to come in after the light fades into dark or a guardian screams. When you’re immersed in a project or task, it’s time to break away when another pertinent matter rises or hunger screams in your belly. I don’t carry the sense of play around very much anymore. Most movements seem a to-do item; a chore; an obligation; a mission; a responsibility. And even when I’m engaged in relaxed reading, I’m looking to see how much time I have left to do it, … Read More
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