Thunder Storms!

Yes, there were thunder storms in my area yesterday afternoon and early this morning. Not something to expect in the middle of June, and on the day after the summer solstice. 

The summer solstice day for my area was really hot, even well into the night. Yesterday, the following day, it was expected to be hot again and it was for a while. Around two o'clock yesterday I fell asleep while reading and when I woke up, it appeared dark and gloomy outside, Though it was starting to cool off, one good thing that came out of the storms. A few lightning strikes occurred during the day, and some rain came down, but I did not see the rain except for the drops it left on the windshield of my car.

The storms struck again around a quarter to one this morning, waking me up. I got out of bed to look outside to watch the storms from the front door. Not surprisingly, I had trouble getting back to sleep.

Now it's expected to be hot today. Such weird weather.

Mid-Year Reading Post

Well, the year is nearly half-over now. And today I will be posting my mid-year reading progress post.

I've already completed the following challenges, including five this month alone!:

Unabridged:

Alphabet Soup:

Color-Coded:

What's in a Name?

Bookbloggers

Elif

Blydyn

My book total so far is 120, with one currently in progress. Some challenges I have one or two book left to complete. Next month is time to begin Erin's 17.0. I already picked out the books for that one (so they can included in their albums on their Facebook page). Changes are allowed, though, if participants so choose. 

Decades Party at Work

Today we had a Decades Party at the mental health center. Those who chose to participate dressed as someone from a different decade. It was kind of short notice, so I pulled out the Renaissance costume I got last Halloween, since I didn't get to wear it much then (chose to stay home for Halloween since the virus was still looming then, and I'm already wondering how this Halloween will be). 

Two others dressed up, one as someone from the 20s and one as a 1990s Candy Raver, but both declined to be in the pictures.

I'm in the middle of this one.

Using a Novel Writing Kit

It has been a long time (I just don't know how long!) since I've written anything. I guess I just couldn't think of much! And I don't know why!

Years ago, when working at Home Goods, I came across the following: No Plot? No Problem! Novel-Writing Kit.  I bought it then, so I must have wanted to try something then, but never did. After moving in 2016, I was sure I'd left it buried in one of the storage boxes that got left out in the garage, but it was among stuff I had carried into my bedroom, placed in my plastic drawer chest. After uncovering the kit, I wanted to try using it but never got around it until now.

The book/kit is by Chris Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), an event held in November each year, with the hope of writing a 50,000-word novel in one month. I hear about this event every year, but have never gotten the urge to try. Who has done this event? The idea behind this writing kit is also to write 50,000 words in a month. 

I'm not sure I'm following the rules stated in the booklet and on the cards with prompts for each day, but I'm doing what I can. I guess just do what I can. So far what I have done each day don't seem to connect, but I guess when it's all over, I can look to find parts that can be revised and possibly connected. Also, it says to start on the first of the month, but I actually started on the fifth. I'm sure the rules are up to interpretation.

I have also been looking for similar writing kits on Amazon. Not sure yet about getting more.

June Bookish Bingo

 The card for June is here.

My Books:

1. The Summer of Jordi Perez--Amy Spalding (6 squares): Free Book, Shelf Love, Physical Book, Not in a Series, Fake Relationship, Soul Mates
2. The Girl Who Drank the Moon--Kelly Barnhill (4 squares): Monster, Book Club Read, Cure/Sickness, Ghost
3. Half a Yellow Sun--Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (4 squares): E-Book, Father, Travel/Journey, Bride
4. A Crack in the Sea--H.M. Bouwman (5 squares): Body of Water in the Title, Free Space, In a Series, Vengeance, Weather Good/Bad
5. Poor Unfortunate Soul--Serena Valentino (2 squares): Library Book, Jewelry on the Cover
6. Hiroshima--John Hersey (1 square): Cried
7. The Guncle--Steven Rowley (1 square): Character is Actor/Model
8. Vacation Under the Volcano--Mary Pope Osborne (1 square): Audiobook
9. Arsenic and Adobo--Mia P. Manansala (1 square): Detective/Private Eye

25 squares completed on June 30