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!