December: plans for reading all the Christmas-y books and then not feeling like it.  Plenty of Christmas spirit otherwise, though, and a magical Christmas season minus the pregnancy sickness!  If you missed it, we’ve got a little one coming in June : ).

In other news, this is my last of my monthly round-ups.  I’ve mostly enjoyed doing it, although it is quite time consuming.  One definite benefit is that it’s been fun looking back on the rest of the year to try to see what I was watching or reading or learning about at different times.  I’m not sure what I’ll be doing in the new year as far as these round-ups.  Suggestions certainly welcome!

Nope.  I don’t know why, but I was not feeling the Christmas spirit in my books.

I also did not watch as many Christmas movies as I was initially thinking I would, but we did get our fill of music and lots of wonderful traditions and happy Christmas-y moments.

In other news, this is my last of my monthly round-ups.  I’ve mostly enjoyed doing it, although it is quite time consuming.  One definite benefit is that it’s been fun looking back on the rest of the year to try to see what I was watching or reading or learning about at different times.  I’m not sure what I’ll be doing in the new year as far as these round-ups.  Suggestions certainly welcome!

I did, however, have a cozy reading month, perhaps in part as an antidote, and watched the cutest show I ever did see.

Unfortunately, though, I’ve noticed I often feel a lot of pressure with what to read during this month because there is such a wide variety of books that feel perfect for October. I initially found myself reading lots of books at once with wandering attention while trying to plan out how to hit each type of book I thought would make for the ultimate October reading list.  This has become an unfortunate October habit for me, so once I became aware of it, I chucked it to the side and just went back to reading what I felt like reading.  If only I could do that with all life’s baggage, amirite?

Below you’ll find a list of mostly excellent reads, some really good watches, some really annoying watches, and so forth.  Some of you are going to leave forever after you see what popular movie and TV show I’m hating on.  It was nice knowing you.

I have to admit, I give the short shrift to November.  October is my favorite month and Christmastime (yes, I’m annoyingly specific) is my favorite holiday, so the month that comes between and throw in crazy election stress…nah.

I did, however, have a cozy reading month, perhaps in part as an antidote, and watched the cutest show I ever did see.

Unfortunately, though, I’ve noticed I often feel a lot of pressure with what to read during this month because there is such a wide variety of books that feel perfect for October. I initially found myself reading lots of books at once with wandering attention while trying to plan out how to hit each type of book I thought would make for the ultimate October reading list.  This has become an unfortunate October habit for me, so once I became aware of it, I chucked it to the side and just went back to reading what I felt like reading.  If only I could do that with all life’s baggage, amirite?

Below you’ll find a list of mostly excellent reads, some really good watches, some really annoying watches, and so forth.  Some of you are going to leave forever after you see what popular movie and TV show I’m hating on.  It was nice knowing you.

October is the best month, right?  We’re finally in layers, the leaves demand your attention, and everything is starting to get extra cozy feeling.

Unfortunately, though, I’ve noticed I often feel a lot of pressure with what to read during this month because there is such a wide variety of books that feel perfect for October. I initially found myself reading lots of books at once with wandering attention while trying to plan out how to hit each type of book I thought would make for the ultimate October reading list.  This has become an unfortunate October habit for me, so once I became aware of it, I chucked it to the side and just went back to reading what I felt like reading.  If only I could do that with all life’s baggage, amirite?

Below you’ll find a list of mostly excellent reads, some really good watches, some really annoying watches, and so forth.  Some of you are going to leave forever after you see what popular movie and TV show I’m hating on.  It was nice knowing you.

Glimpses of fall weather, a sense of somewhat inexplicable busyness, heartbreak and fury over needing people to wake up, powerful reads and reads for escapism, and a now 2 year old who had the yellow birthday of the century ; ).

Glimpses of fall weather, a sense of somewhat inexplicable busyness, heartbreak and fury over needing people to wake up, powerful reads and reads for escapism, and a now 2 year old who had the yellow birthday of the century ; ).

I don’t even know what to say about this month, but I will say that I consumed some great media and that all the little joys are feeling especially victorious.

My reading brain is mostly only up for middle grade, young adult, and the like, as I’m trying to use it for other things.  June has been a month of sprinkler fun, lemonade, planting (metaphorically and literally), hiking, and then a stomach virus that got us good. I hope it’s been one of positive growth for you, my friends.

This is the first month I think I’ve ever read strictly from my shelves, since our library is still closed.  It was also a month full of beautiful spring weather that kept us happily in a routine of long walks and bike rides and dinners on the screened porch. It was a month bringing to head a lot of darkness, from disunity over the pandemic to the racism that runs deep in all of our lives.  Hoping you’ll find something here to bring you some joy or something you can avoid and therefore make time for another joy, though this is not meant to be a distraction.

I’m sure I’m not alone in finding it weird to proceed as normal and yet needing to proceed as normal when possible.  Asking myself things like:  Is it okay that I’m just posting my random lists of what I’ve read and blathering on about puzzles? Is that just more annoying than usual?  I know we’re all experiencing such varied emotions and in different waves, but hopefully you see something here that might serve as a happy little distraction…and hopefully not fuel for rage…unless you want to spiritedly debate the new Jessica Simpson book.