Update 2.25.18– I’ve updated the list! And I apologize if anyone was having trouble commenting earlier 😦 I think I’ve fixed the problem, but if you still have issues, you can drop me a message on my Facebook page with your info and I will get you added as quickly as possible!
Credit to Adan Ramie for this great graphic!
International Women’s Day is March 8th, 2018, and I have something very special in the works. For the week of March 4th- March 10th, I thought it would be cool to celebrate all the amazing women authors out there in the world!
…has it seriously been over a month since I blogged???
Sorry guys. I know that my life sort of fell apart, but that in itself is not incredibly unusual (as long-time readers are probably aware).
Anyway, we’re just gonna jump right in and pretend that’s normal. Okay? Okay.
What I’ve Accomplished This Month
WordKeeperAlpha total- 35,086 words
So, I know the graph looks bad, but look! I made my goal!
Weekend binging is apparently the method of the moment for the second month in a row. Blessings on Imaginary Boyfriend for putting up with me (again). However, the individual goals didn’t work out quite the way I expected. Let’s break it down! Continue reading “Once More Unto The (Writing) Breach- March 2018”→
As you can probably see, I did a lot of my work on the weekends this month. A million blessings from whatever deity happens to be listening on poor Imaginary Boyfriend for putting up with me. Seriously. My weekdays have been taken up by so many things lately, it’s made it so difficult to get anything done. Alright, let’s break it down. Continue reading “Once More Unto The (Writing) Breach- February 2018”→
Miles Walked This Month (Jan 29th-Feb 25th): 52.8 miles
Total Miles Walked: 1,477.8 miles
Milestones Reached: Rivendell
“It was on May the First that the two came back at last to the brink of the valley of Rivendell, where stood the Last (or the First) Homely House.”
~The Hobbit, Chapter 19: The Last Stage
We made it back to Rivendell!
We’re so close to being home, you guys! So close! I’m pretty excited 🙂
Anyway, we all know that’s not why you’re reading this blog…so!
Fog’s Cute Animal Of The Month
The cute animal of the month is…
The blue dragon nudibranch! Species name Glaucus atlanticus, aliases include the sea swallow, blue angel, blue glaucus, blue dragon, blue sea slug and blue ocean slug. They’re only about three centimeters long and they have the coolest camouflage! They float on the surface of the water (upside down, hardcore parkour! ;P) so one side is blue to match the color of the ocean from above, and the other side is silver to blend in from underneath!
I gotta be honest though, these little suckers are dangerousaf, while also being cute.
DO NOT LET THAT CUTE FACE FOOL YOU, THEY WILL LIGHT YOU UP…
Their natural food source is the Portuguese man o’ war, okay? These suckers do not play around!And the reason they’re so dangerous (and you do NOT want to pick one up, okay, just don’t) is that as they are eating the man o’ war, they store the venomous bits in their tendrils, and then concentrate that shit, so it’s even worse! Seriously, these guys are so bad ass, I actually can’t even…
So, here’s the dealio. I didn’t read anything this past month. I’ve been doing a lot of podcasts and TV, but just…books are giving me a hard time right now. So in lieu of me pretending like I did something when I didn’t, I’m gonna tell you about this cool thing I’ve started:
“We need more books that feature strong, loving, nurturing female protagonists…”
I consider myself a feminist. It took me a while to come to that conclusion, because I have a different viewpoint on feminism than most “traditional” feminists, in that I believe feminism not only means the right to choose to buck traditional gender roles, but also the freedom to choose to embrace those gender roles. My mother is a stay-at-home mom who raised two kids on a farm (one of them home-schooled), and she is one of the most kick-a$$ women I know, despite never having actually kicked anyone’s a$$. She has lived the life that made her happiest, despite the world and “feminists” constantly berating people and labeling her life as the “weak” choice. I can tell you, for a fact, that I don’t have the courage and strength to do what she has done.
We (and by “we” I mostly mean women, though this can apply to anyone that feels forced into a box) are constantly bombarded with the expectation that we must do everything a man does, and if we don’t then we have failed as feminists. I don’t think this is true. I believe we have a duty to live the life that is going to make us happiest. If what makes you happy is kicking the bad guy’s butt and being physically stronger than the average bear, than go for it! You deserve that life! But if your idea of happiness more closely resembles a Jane Austen novel, complete with a handsome man to sweep you off your feet and a beautiful home with tons of little ones running around, then that has just as much value, and it certainly doesn’t make you a bad feminist.
I completely agree that we need more books that don’t portray feminity as the kryptonite of feminism, and I, personally, am looking forward to this series. There is so much more to strength than physical power. Just ask my mom.
Thanks to my friend, Elissa, for standing by her convictions and beliefs! You go, girl! I’m always rooting for you 🙂
I know this is quite late, but I should be getting back on schedule again this month. Thank you guys for your patience with me! 🙂
A Hobbit’s Walking Tale by fogisbeautiful
Miles Walked This Month (Dec 27th-Jan 28th): 61.2 miles
Total Miles Walked: 1,425 miles
Milestones Reached: Making our way to Rivendell…
“It was spring, and a fair one with mild weathers and a bright sun, before Bilbo and Gandalf took their leave of Beorn, and though he longed for home Bilbo left with regret, for the flowers of the gardens of Beorn were in springtime no les marvellous than in high summer.”
~The Hobbit, Chapter 18: The Return Journey
Well, while Bilbo and Gandalf might have had the luxury of a long stay at Beorn’s, we’re just gonna dive right in and get started on the last leg of this journey in 2018!
Besides, I don’t care to deal with bees as big as my thumb, thanks very much…
And of course, let us not forget the real reason you all read this blog!
Fog’s Cute Animal Of The Month
The cute animal of the month is…
Highland cattle. Mostly because, lately, I’ve been feeling this emo-vibe on a deep, spiritual level. Seriously.
But the calves are really adorable. Just look at these fluffy little babies of goodness and light:
And sometimes the adults toss the emo-vibe and let the goofiness loose:
And if that doesn’t make you feel better about your life, I honestly don’t know what will 🙂 See you guys next time!
Check out this spotlight on “Doubt the STars”, featuring a peek at the first chapter, as well as the playlist on Spotify! Thanks so much for the shoutout, Hilary!
But returning home from her studies abroad, the crown princess of the planet D’marc discovers that his absence isn’t the only thing in her life that’s been turned upside down: her mother has already remarried, passing the throne to her new husband, the uncle Henley once adored. And there’s the ghost: a bold but enigmatic apparition, wandering the cold, metal corridors of Elsinore Station, seeking justice for the unjustifiable.
Betrayed by her own family and unwilling to involve the woman she loves, Henley is left with only the trust of her best friend and a fierce determination to expose the truth of her father’s death: for her home, for herself, for the people she cares about. Even if that truth calls into question everything she has ever believed in—even if it stretches the very limits of her mind.
I guess I’ll start by letting you all know how 2017 went for me.
Pretty well! I managed to just scrape by and make my goal for the year! Let’s take a look at what’s happened recently, then we’ll look at the year and see what’s coming up in 2018.
Here’s the link to my star rating breakdown if anyone needs a refresher. It’s also up in the header under the Blog tab 🙂
What I’m currently reading (in order of Date Started)
Odd Apocalypse (Odd Thomas, #5) by Dean Koontz- Still plugging away on this one. I haven’t done a lot of reading lately, but this is still on the list of things to finish this month.
