The spring semester is flying by and staying busy, but I did get a mini trip down to Florida during part of spring break which was nice!

Still managing to read, but recently got deep into my new 4th gen kpop group after almost 12-13 years out of the scene...damn, I forgot how much content there is to consume, with MVs, dance practice vids, behind the scenes, variety shows, and now lives and so much more... OnlyOneOf does make me happy though, from their music and choreo to their absolute dumbassery (and pro-LGBTQ+ representation and support). It really is strange to be so aware of the business aspect of the way they sell personalities and relationships in kpop though. Even when it's "behind the scenes" or live from their dorms, it's still very obvious when they're working. Anyway, it is mostly fun for now. I'll enjoy it while I can!

( Books, March 2025 )

Once I survive April, it'll slow down significantly in May! For some rest.

A busy mid January through mid February, but I have a breather now. I can catch up on doing the recap of my January reading.

( Books, January 2025 )

The snow doesn't stop! It's beautiful and cold and I am tired of cleaning snow off my car constantly. But winter persists...couple more months, probably.

Suddenly it's December! It's snowed in Rochester, light but beautiful; the roads were treated so they were easy to drive on. Will enjoy this snow before we get hit with the worse stuff. January and February get even colder.

Had a nice Thanksgiving and looking forward to Christmas/winter break. Planning a lot for spring semester events. Trying to stay healthy, cozy, connected.

( Books, November 2024 )

As we start getting to the end of the year, I'm also thinking about the new year and what I want to read. A few new things, sure, plus the books I own that are unread. But I also want to do more rereads! So many beloved books deserve revisiting.

A very busy September at work, plus traveling and a major festival, meant I didn't read that much. Did a couple in that last weekend when I was sick though! (Still fully recovering my energy reserves.)

( Books, September 2024 )

Life updates? Made Thanksgiving plans, adjusting to work and Rochester, hating F1...yeah, let's not get into that. Sports were a mistake (she says with a Buffalo Bills game on the background). Cool days are coming with fall, so going to try to enjoy the leaves, the cider, the cozy mornings where it's hard to get out of bed...

Started the new job! Reading will go down next month as I acclimate, I guess. Most of these were done before I started, but I'm trying to carve out evenings and weekends again -- balancing it with life errands/chores and also other social things. Making friends? Just being friendly with colleagues at this point, and also working on getting my office together. (I have an office!) It'll eventually feel more like me.

( Books, July 2024 )

Watching the Olympics during this F1 summer break. Sports!

This is late because I spent early June moving to New York. It was stressful but also fine! We are settled and unpacked, and I am continuing the job hunt -- applications and interviews abound.

Did a decent of reading May due to traveling twice: one weekend to NC for my brother's graduation, then the cruise to Alaska.

( Books, May 2024 )

I got my Rochester Public Library card yesterday and still have access to my Houston/Harris County library ebook system, so now that we've settled in and I am not yet working, I am tackling a lot of reading!

Happy April! We've set our moving date to June 4, so I've got about two months to focus on the Rochester job hunt, while wrapping up house cleaning, touch-ups, and sale as well as the logistics of a cross-country move. Also squeezing in a couple of fun trips and a visit back to NC for my brother's Ph.D. graduation. It was bittersweet to leave AST but also a relief, and a rare chance to rest while planning for the future.

And hopefully to read a lot! Here's a look back at March.

( Books, March 2024 )

F1 in Suzuka this weekend and the peak cherry blossom trees are gorgeous. Total eclipse on Monday too! And NHL playoffs begin this month.

It's 2024! Going to try to do book reviews by month again. I didn't end up catching up on One Piece again in January as I vaguely hoped to do, but I was dealing with some family and work things. And February will be a month of work insanity, so we'll see what I manage to get read. But I'm excited about my TBR list! Continuing to treat it as a "could read" list and adding and deleting things at will.

( Books, January 2024 )

Happy 2024! Thoughts on the books I read from the last three months of 2023.

( Books, Oct-Dec 2023 )


At some point soon I'll have my full 2023 books in review post.

The year is half over! Let's review books from the past three months. I have made decent inroads into my TBR list...and added a few more. I mostly wanted to make time to reread more stuff this year and I've been doing decently on that!

( Books, Apr-Jun 2023 )

I am currently looking at Jude Morgan's regencies. I know I've read at least one of his books before (I want to say "A Little Folly") but I have no recollection. I should try to read "Indiscretion".

In non-reading news, work is tough and bad for my mental health (though I do really love and appreciate my coworkers), there has been a lot of stressful car/house stuff, and bad health news for my FIL. Hockey is in offseason (or wedding season) and I am halfheartedly paying attention to baseball (well, really just Shohei Ohtani) and trying to escape reality through fic and books. As usual. This state sucks.