May 2024 Monthly Wrap-Up

The first couple of weeks of the month, I spent getting back into a routine with work after my sabbatical. The second half of May, that routine went completely out the window as I unexpectedly dealt with major chronic illness issues that sent me first to bed and then to the hospital. It was all extremely difficult on both body and mind. A few highlights of this month were the perfect Saturday pictured below, and what a good reading month it was (how many 5+ star books in a row can I have?!). 

This month I’m…

Reading: The Princess Protection Program, Alex London. Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Richard and Florence Atwater (reread). My Name Is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok. The Silent Unseen, Amanda McCrina. The Girl With The Red Balloon, Katherine Locke. Stateless, Elizabeth Wein. Instructions For Traveling West, Joy Sullivan. The Fun Habit, Mike Rucker. A Wish in the Dark, Christina Soontornvat. The Many Lives of Mama Love, Lara Love Hardin. Revelle, Lyssa Mia Smith. The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, Samuel Burr. Artifice, Sharon Cameron. The Moon That Turns You Back, Hala Alyan. The Sun Does Shine, Anthony Ray Hinton. (15 total)

Listening to: My spring 2024 playlist. A Perfect Little Death album by Eleri Ward (mostly Send in the Clowns and Take Me to the World… utter, utter perfection).

Watching: YouTube–Glory’s Stories and Shelby Church. Movies–Clueless.

Writing: I didn’t do as much volunteer work this month since I was getting back into work. But I made more progress with songwriting than I have in a while. I also added about 8,000 words to my book and did some more brainstorming, researching, and outlining.

Grateful for: Catching up with my friend’s family. Trying something new. A friend’s enthusiasm about my book. Intergenerational friendships. Fairy villages. Where I live. A new migraine med. The ability to rest. My mom running errands for me. Opening my windows during a summer storm. Girl talk. Great nurses. Fast hospital WiFi.

What did you do in May??