A mini book haul of sorts

When my mother-in-law sent me a gift card to Barnes and Noble for Christmas, it took me all of thirty minutes to spend the blessed little thing. I took one look at that envelope, and my bibliophile senses burned a hole right through the package.

Just kidding. I actually sat with the BN.com browser tab open or another day, just to make sure I knew what I wanted. Three of my four books came in the mail today, with the other not being released until February, and I am more than pleased with my choices.

As it turns out, reading while parenting three little people, working, all the while going to school full-time leaves a lot of reading time to be desired. Seriously.

With that in mind, I'm keeping my reading goals for 2016 on the humble side of the aisle, and will probably only commit to something like 30 books. For 2014, I committed to 50 books and read 73; 2015's reading challenge called for 60 books, and I've read something like 27. Yeah.

Ah well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Anyway, this year I'm calling for less books, but am putting my feelers out for collections of short stories, novellas, and the like. Manga and graphic novels, too. I'd also like to chip away at some Teddy Roosevelt material while I'm at it, so we'll see where that goes.

As for my little book haul, I'm excited to venture into something new with Breakfast at Tiffany's. I read In Cold Blood a few years ago, and Capote most certainly did not let down. I'm revisiting old favorites with Mexico City Blues (oh, Jack, your words move me so), and ToraDora! is sure to help me out when I need a smile.

Indeed, I am feeling giddy and pleased.

Heaven's Kaleidoscope

My small torrent of words dissipated into an elaborate sense of expanding and receding. It was my entrance into the radiance of imagination. This process was especially magnified within the fevers of influenza, measles, chicken pox, and mumps. I had them all and with each I was privileged with a new level of awareness. Lying deep within myself, the symmetry of a snowflake spinning above me, intensifying through my lids, I seized a most worthy souvenir, a shard of heaven's kaleidoscope.

--Patti Smith, Just Kids.

Giving Bloglovin A Shot

It was something like half a year ago that I happened across this one interesting blog. An acquaintance of an acquaintance, as it were, who judging from their content has very little in common with me.

Alas. I was drawn in. It mainly had to do with the personal, unapologetic tone of the blog; the way that this individual is clearly writing as a form of self-expression meant mainly for themselves.

I've been casually reading it for several months now, and have always kept it in mind when attempting to establish my own personal space on the internet. Not looking to make a name or a living, or some Next Great Venture, I'm simply trying to have the patience and the discipline to build something that speaks of me. You know. While having a little bit of cathartic fun along the way.

That isn't to say that I shun the notion of followers or readers. As much as I enjoy my alone time (oh, how there can never be enough of it...), human interaction is not only necessary, but so very welcome.

The aforementioned blog also uses Bloglovin, which is where I learned about the community, in the first place. So, yes. Here it is. Herein lies my foray into the world of Bloglovin! I'd be much obliged toward anyone who considers following me.

Just the two of us

Ah, efficiency.

While I'd like to say that Efficiency and I are real tight; best buddies dating back to yesteryear... That simply isn't the case.

The rapport between Efficiency and me runs a bit more like a well-established professional relationship. We know each other pretty well, and can do some amazing things when we're facing the odds, and remain up front with one another.

Are you likely to catch Efficiency and me grabbing a drink on our off time? Enjoying an impromptu ski trip on our extended weekends? Not likely.

I'd like to, though. Totally.

These days I'm striving for the kind of relationship where no offense will be taken by the sudden asking of a favor. No one's going to bat an eye at lost sleep over a teary-eyed 2 a.m. phone call. We'd be there for each other. Have one another's back.

Well, I'm proud to say that Efficiency and I are moving in the right direction. We're taking those baby steps toward solidifying this thing of ours, and I notice that tingly, feel-good sensation of impending friendship coming over us.

Who knows? Maybe by this time next year Efficiency and I will be trading promise rings.

All of this to say that a 4.0 GPA doesn't seem to be clearing out that clutter in my basement. Alas. Baby steps.

I don't wanna wait...

...for our lives to be over!  Queues up introspective 90s lady music.

There, I've established it. A blog. An online receptacle for whatever it is that suits my fancy; a standalone away from the waning influences of Tumblr and all that resides there.

The title comes from the fact that I do my best writing (or at least, get to the writing) when I don't bother with properly titling something, and just get on with it. A decent moniker usually shows up later.

I've been craving a writing site for quite some time, now; with the perfectionist in me insisting that I wait on the Right Name to come along.

Welp. I'm sick of waiting. It adds up to nothing more than time wasted, with both ideas and interest lost. And that's just sad.

So!

Words first. And here they are.

But for now?

Bed.