Restoration: Week 38.

Bruce took me to see A Simple Favor, which was a little funny and pretty complex. I love going to the movies because they give my mind more to chew on, and it enhances a bond (or my connection to myself).

I rad about 104 stories this summer. That has restored and revived my love of stories. I've been so pleased to see more collections in print. And some part of my mind (a part I feed with stories and movies and more) has been whispering to me of lives and concepts. It's as if something has rolled me a bright marble, and my job is to find the other marbles that belong to it. Honestly, I'm scared of doing product (poems, story, essay) writing again. I don't know why.

I'm really connecting to Boy on the Bridge. It's restoring my memories of reading, in a flow state (like staying up past 10 reading a Halloween book of The Babysitters Club). I want to gobble it up (haha if you know the book's premise) and seek out other books in that world.

Because of hurricanes and storms, my little family was together for more than a week. We only lost electricity for a day, if that. It all made me think more about the basics, such as how blessed we are to have easy and seemingly endless access to water. My gratitude is restored.

A Bold Reader: Week 38.

This past week, I finished Best Small Fictions 2015. Now, I only have BSF16. I hope '18 comes soon. I love flash fiction more and more.

This summer, I read 104 short (and short-short) stories. I feel I honored my short story summer focus.

Fall began: the focus is diaries and memoirs, which I may open up to creative non-fiction. I began reading Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham. I binge watched her series, Girls, which is inappropriate for all audiences. This is going to be quite a read!

I've continued reading Boy on the Bridge with Bruce.

I got to 48 books for the year last week. What will I read in the remaining months? Anything! Maybe fairy tales. Maybe more about ancient Egypt. Maybe horror.Maybe Brontes and Austen. Maybe books that have long been on my guilt list.

In any case, I will keep reading. Who knows how far I'll go?

Best Gifts: Experiences.

These are a few of my favorite experience gifts.

• I recently wrote about swimming at Lake Norman. That experience still makes me happy.
• I've been to high tea twice, once at the Biltmore hotel and the other at a tea room with my Nanna. I don't actually like tea, but I sipped it anyway and enjoyed the tiny sandwiches and treats. I'd like to do that again soon.
• Our parents gave Josh and me an enchanted honeymoon. Josh's parents sent us to Disney, and my parents sent us to Portofino Bay hotel. The thrill is still present.
• My grandparents took me to five countries in Europe when I was 13. It must have changed me.
• My parents took me to Irish dance competitions in NC, GA, and FL. They were so engaged. 
• Bruce often treats me to movies. He also took over driving, so I wouldn't have that stressor.
• My parents supported or at least tolerated my weird obsessions, like my Harriet the Spy phase.
• When I was a teenager, Melissa used to drive me all around NC and SC, so we could chatter and shop. I was happy.
• Josh gives me almost limitless back massages and tickets. This is a highly effective way to ease my spirit.

Best Gifts.

This is a list of some of the best gifts I've received. I'll try to stick to physical objects rather than experiences--they deserve their own list.

• My mom give me a drawing she'd made--antique frame, black hair, green eyes.
• My dad gave me a tiny iPod Shuffle some years ago. He loaded it with a ton of the music we like. I keep it in the car and listen to it whenever a drive (which is a lot).
• Mom and Shane gave me a beautiful white secretary desk. It was deep drawers to hold stationery, pens, notebooks, and ink. 
• Josh often buys me a Best Johnson necklaces for our anniversaries. One of my favorites has a mermaid pedant with wild gold-brown and a green and pink tail.
• Before I began teaching, Mom gave me some work essentials for Christmas: black heels and a black blazer.
• When I was pregnant, Mom gave me nice maternity clothes for my birthday.
• Bruce went to a museum in Raleigh and got me a strangely beautiful jellyfish journal. And it's Peter Pauper Press, possibly my favorite journal brand. 
• Mom gave me a lovely Cinderella Madame Alexander doll--something I thought I'd never have.
• Kay gave us a hanging candle holder of green beads for our wedding. 
• My dad took me to see Sunset Boulevard and then bought me all the souvenirs I wanted. I was shocked and thrilled.
• When I was 16, I showed Dad a beautiful purple Hard Candy eyeshadow palette, and he bought it for me!
• Shane bought us a new washer and dryer when ours gave out.
• Grandpa made sure I always had a Walkman and showtunes.
• Nanna and Grandpa made sure I had good movies and TV shows (Little House!) to watch.
• And of course, many family members and friends have donated money to help us with Oliver's treatment.

Best Purchases.

This is a list I'm making of some of my best purchases as they come to mind.

• Jeans that fit. This is one of my best purchases I can make. Comfortable jeans are so perfectly basic.
• Polka dot raincoat. I bought this from The Limited some years ago. I thought I needed a grown-up raincoat. It's reversible to solid black.
• My gray jacket with Ariel art and teal stitching. This is my favorite casual jacket.
• Ring bath bombs. These give me such joy. I've ordered from Fragrant Jewels and from Charmed Aroma. It appeals to my little self searching for treasures.
• Every journal I've filled. They inspired me and became my companions for weeks or months. 
• Hard Candy Eyeshadow Quartet in Pixie. HC only exists at Walmart now, but when I was 16, HC was at Sephora. HC was my introduction to fancy makeup and unlocked so much fun and joy for me.
• Collection of poetry. I have a variety of poetry books. Josh often shops our shelves to find poetry to read. Normally (and this is pretty new), I take books I've finished (unless they're special) to 2nd and Charles. But I keep the poetry. It's rare and glimmering.
• Disney Princess journals. They disappear so quickly, and they are often among my favorites.
• Pens collection: I have many pens in a variety of colors and finishes. I have some in almost every room, in a pretty mug or a pretty pouch, to remind me to write.
• Lady in the Water, Jane Eyre (with Ruth Wilson--my favorite Jane), and Passengers. I bought these movies, and I'm glad to have the DVDs in my house.  I've almost been able to share them.
• Most of the gifts I've given. I usually love finding and giving gifts. I always think carefully about the best gift. I don't always succeed, but I can feel good about the thought and effort.

Restoration: Week 37.

This past week was good for reading. I finished a book and started another with Bruce. I've not read a novel in a while. I feel good about my reading.

Hurricane Florence has kept us indoors mostly. We lost power power--only for a day, so we're lucky. I took a candle-lit bath. I have the boys at home, probably for the week.

I actually looked through an entire issue of Lucky. It was fun, and Oliver was excited to have another magazine to shred.

I found the movie On Chesil Beach for free on Amazon Prime. I read the book years ago. The movie was at least as awkward and uncomforatble as the book. I feel good after I've watched a movie, alone or with others.

We have much more water than we need. That restores my sense of security despite the storm and its aftermath.

A Bold Reader: Week 37.

This past week, Bruce and I finished The Midnight Disease. It was interesting, and I learned a little about neurobiology. Bruce and I have now read 13 books together!

We also started a new book together: The Boy on the Bridge. It has grabbed my attention. We'll probably read the book quickly. It's set in the same world as The Girl with All the Gifts, which I'll probably read eventually.

I'm still reading poems by Charles Simic and Kay. I've added Best New Poets 2008.

I have begun so many books. I have a lot of catching up to do. Every book I finish boosts my confidence as a reader.

I'm 94% done with my annual reading goal: 47 of 50 books! I'll be able to go beyond the goal and maybe make time for some challenging readers.

Story Snippet: Warm Water.

A couple of years ago, I was insane (maybe literally) about swimming. I sometimes went to the pool twice a day. So when Dad and Michelle got some kind of boat subscription and invited us to along, my first question was, "Can we swim?"

Oliver loved the wind. He called, "Full steam ahead!" He wore a little life vest.

Dad had said that the lake felt like bathwater. It did! We all swam. I treaded water for an hour. I remember Michelle wore an adorable swimsuit--a red one-piece with a flutter of skirt. Josh video taped Dad dropping Oliver from the boat into the lake. Oliver went under and then popped right up and swam to Michelle. Then, he swam back to the boat and climbed in with no help.

I loved all the space to move my limbs. I felt strong and free. My body and I were on the same team. Everything calmed down in my head and heart.

When I Buy a Journal.

When I first started keeping a journal in earnest, I bought journals one at a time as I finished them. I remember Flavia journals, which no longer seem to exist. They were my favorites. At the time, I had plans to get married and go to Lipscomb. I knew we'd be poor then, so I started stockpiling journals for when I'd no longer be able to buy them. I bought them indiscriminately.

Now, I only buy really remarkable journals (of course, I always love them as gifts). I often see them at Barnes. I usually check Amazon. A special journal will reach for me, and I'll keep going back to look at it. If the pages aren't embellished, I add stickers for fun. I assign a couple of colors to match the journal with ink. Inside the back cover, I write where, when, and with whom I bought the journal or who gave it to me when. I love looking back at that; I wish I always remembered to record it!

I keep blank journals in green boxes with white polka dots under my bed. I had a dream of being able to "shop" for a journal at home; now, I can do it! I can match a mood, a color attraction, or a particular need of sturdiness or size--whatever reflects my frame of mind and my expectations for the next month or two while I fill the journal.

Restoration: Week 36.

This past week, I finished a Billy Collins book. His poems are often simple yet profound in some way. I read a lot of other poetry too, including more of the last book of Kay's that I have. Poetry often scrubs me and hydrates me. When I finish a book of poetry, I often feel that hint of restoration.

Bruce took me to two movies this past week! We saw Searching (pretty interesting) and The Nun (pretty scary). Movies add new thoughts and images to my mind (not always good, of course), and I mull over them for a long time. Movies always seem to restore the part of my brain that want to analyze characters and empathize with them. And going to the  movies together probably restores my bond with Bruce. We've read 12 books together! I wonder how many movies we've gone to see...far more!

Josh and I got to spend some time together--always restorative. Sometimes, he's still a surprise.

A Bold Reader: Week 36.

Most of my reading this past week focused on poetry. I have three books of poetry by the tub, and I read at least one poem from each book while I'm taking a bath. I read extra poems this past week, and I read some aloud to Josh.

I'm still reading Kay's final book, Descent, and Charles Simic's Wedding in Hell (one of his other books is in my favorite books cabinet). I finished reading Billy Collin's Horoscope for the Dead. Collins is highly accessible and often soothing. If one is new to contemporary poetry, Collins is a good place to start.

I did not finish Midnight Disease. But Bruce didn't either. The week, however, we will triumph.

I've read 100 stories this summer! And I plan to add more before the summer ends. Maybe the churning of all those stories will turn into something eventually.

I'm also 92% of the way through my GoodReads annual challenge. My goal was to read 50 books this year. I've read 46! But I'll just keep pushing; I have my goal to reach a read total of 1,000 books by my 40th birthday!

Favorites at This Moment.

This is a list of some right-now favorites. The list won't necessarily reflect my official, long-held favorites, and my answers could be different tomorrow.

• Animal: Seahorse.
• Color: Green or purple.
• Show: The Phantom of the Opera.
• Show Other Than Phantom: hmm...Sunset Boulevard.
• Metal: Silver.
• Movie Passengers.
• Magazine: Bella Grace.
• Gemstone: Aquamarine. 
• Article of Clothing: A gray short-sleeved sweatshirt with pink and blue roses.
• Office Supply: Planner stickers.
• Piece of Jewelry: Gold bib necklace with pink rhinestones in locks and keys.
• Actor Taissa Farmiga or Hugh Jackman.
• Drink: Cherry Coke.
• Possession: Big hot pink robe.
• Pen: Pentel Sparkle Pop--new to me and fabulous!
• Food: Potato skins.
• Gift: Journals or writing utensils.
• Journal: My current one, purple and blue with a dragon. Peter Pauper Press, of course.
• Shoes: Jelly-style, sparkly black flats. I want them in all colors.
• Nap Spot: My armchair with my legs over the arm.
• Bath Accessory: a sparkly, colorful bath bomb with a ring inside.
• Song: "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman.

Become What Inspires You.

I saw these words on a mermaid journal and started to think about what inspires me and how (or if) I could become them.

• Pens. The sight of a good pen drives me to writer. I can't really become a pen, but I can write until my fingers are callous and inky. Ink can figuratively move through and from me. 
• Journals. Of course, I see a beautiful blank book, and I want to fill its pages. I guess I can be more black and open to new experiences and delights. I can tell myself the whole truth.
• Mermaids. Mermaids are such fascinating enchanted creatures. I can swim, enjoy water even more, make a point to sparkle every day, and write something from the perspective of a mermaid.
• Fairies. Tiny and glimmering, fairies have been one of my favorites since I was small. They are both delicate and feisty. I can wear light clothes, make sure to welcome my wings when they arrive to lift me out of pain. And again, I'll need as much sparkle as I can find.

Of course, my list could keep going: ballerinas, Mom's crafting and ribbon embroidery, certain movies, good mail, a certain old Victoria's Secret body splash, certain writers...but this is a start.

Restoration: Week 35.

I've read a lot this past week, and that helped to restore some of my confidence in myself as a reader.

Bruce and I caught up on Black Mirror. I love reviving my joy in science fiction and fantasy. We're planning to finish Battlestar next.

Josh and I had two afternoon and a morning together. We mostly napped, but it was restorative for our bond.

I found some restorative Disney-inspired art. Belle and Snow White are my favorites.  I love different interpretations and styles of Disney art. They makes me feel that I'm honoring both my childhood and my adult self. I think I need as much wonder in my life as possible.

I've loved stuffing myself with stories--tiny narrative gems and sparkling brief images. They're like tiny frozen treats (cream puffs and such) from Costco, waiting for me to thaw them.

A Bold Reader: Week 35.

This past week, I finished Kay's book Black Shawl. Reading her work has been a way to grieve--something I don't do very well. I began her final book, Descent. I may also read some of the anthologies that feature her work. I miss knowing she's in the world.

Bruce and I will (will!) finish The Midnight Disease this coming week. I hope I'm learning and retaining some of it.

One day this past week, I began Paris for One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes. It looked like a nice, light read. This first story is more like a novella, but I kept still and read 70 pages at once! I struggle with focus, so this was exciting.

I've read 90 short stories (many of them quite short I'll admit) this summer--almost one for every summer day. I'm going to push for 100!