This is my first monthly wrap-up! I’m going to try to update you on what-all I’ve been up to this month. Since this is a fairly newish blog, and I’m just trying out new things.
Life
Money was especially tight this month: we had our 2nd hurricane of the year (this one unseasonably late) which wrecked my already pitiful budget. To add to that, my grandparents have both been struggling with their health. My grandfather is doing very poorly, and is in an assisted living facility. My grandmother had a stroke the same day he was taken away, but is still doing fairly well at home. We’ve all been taking turns with her, driving her to appointments and visits with my grandfather. Because of Covid, though, we aren’t allowed to see him in person so much. We’re forced to visit him by standing outside of his room window (the window must remain closed) and compete with the loud traffic behind us. It’s not ideal, and he’s having a difficult time understanding that our hands are tied and this is out of our control.
A New Indie Bookstore!
A new indie bookstore opened up close to my office building – one of the only non-chain or second hand bookstores in the area. I haven’t been able to visit it just yet, because ☝ see above. But I hope to very soon – I have a painting I plan to gift the owner as a sort of “welcome to the neighborhood” gift.
What’s especially unique about this store, however, is that it’s also a French speaking bookstore. This is especially exciting for me, as I’ve been self-teaching myself French for the last four years, and always looking for resources and possibly even a French-Table to join at some point.
Comics
I read way more comics this month because I’ve been behind on my reading goal by about 20-30 books. Comics are quick, reliable reads that make reading sprints possible. When you’re behind on your reading goals, such as the way I found myself this month, they come in clutch.
However, I try not to rely on them too much as a reader. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with just reading comics or graphic novels exclusively – reading is reading, right? I find it takes a different kind of mental energy that’s appropriate in certain cases. For instance – it’s only in the past decade I’ve found that I get a little car sick when I read novels in the backseat of a moving vehicle, but not so when they’re comic books: so they’re perfect (in my opinion) for long road trips.
Another extra perk is that they happen to be good to read during extended power outages – like we experienced this hurricane season. They’re less of a strain on your eyes if you’re trying to read by candle light or flashlight. I don’t know how anyone managed to read novels in the olden days.
In order to dig myself out of the book-rut I’d found myself in, I started reading the My Hero Academia manga. I’ve only read the first three volumes of this very popular series thus-far, and I’m not sure I’m going to continue it past the 5th volume (because it’s what I’ve borrowed from the library) simply because… I don’t… enjoy it? I’m not really sure what the appeal of this series is. I’ve been reading manga since 2001, and I haven’t really been a big shonen fan since 2006 – I know what sort of tastes I have.
I think it moves too quickly and has far too many characters for my tastes. I’m also not interested in super-hero movies, which are also very popular and might owe themselves to the popularity of MHA.
I also started Demon Slayer and Heartstopper. I must say, I like Demon Slayer the best so far – I guess I’m just drawn to it’s more classic themes, both in Japanese history and folklore and the Shonen story formula.
Heartstopper is a really simple story, and in my opinion, not very original. The characters are cute and I’m rooting for them, but I don’t think I liked it enough to continue with the series on my own. I’ll probably finish it if I ever need another boost in my reading goals, simply because I’ve already started it, but other than that it’s not much to my interests. However, I am curious about Alice Oseman’s other novels.
Halloween-Hygge Care Packages
Halloween is my favorite holiday – but I don’t like to dress-up or go to parties. At least that’s something that Covid took care of for us this year.
I included things like Zapp’s Voodoo chips, flaming hot mac ‘n cheese, Halloween hair ties, some sensory toys, a spooky ghost book & a bookmark, socks, pumpkin spice coffee and a scented wax melts, a Halloween travel mug, a goodie bag filled to the gills with candy (obviously!!) and loads of other surprises. I also worked pretty hard on this playlist, which I included as a QR code in my letter.
I invested a lot into this, the way some people invest into Christmas – the reason being… I don’t enjoy Christmas nearly as much, personally. Why should I go for broke for people who aren’t excited to be treated during a holiday I don’t enjoy? Especially when I can make a holiday I do love more fun with people who are genuinely excited about it? After all, part of what makes Christmas what it is is just the general enthusiasm we’ve built up over it. There’s no rules saying I can’t do the same for Halloween. Especially for a seriously crappy year.
Goals for November
I definitely intend to save money, though that’s going to be very difficult leading up to Christmas, even if I just finished saying that I don’t intend to go wild for Christmas. I’ve never been successful at NaNoWriMo, so this year I’m definitely going to use this month on more pressing things like finishing my reading goal and focusing on my family. But I decided it was also important that I participate this month in the Consecration to St. Joseph – which my mother has already completed and enthused over for the better part of the year. I’m borrowing her copy of the book, so we’re leaving notes to each other in it as we go.
lala poopsie books 