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

Book Challenge by Erin 17.0

 

5 points: Freebie – Read a book that is at least 200 pages: Tell the Wolves I'm Home--Carol Rifka Brunt

BOUNS ROUND: Black Cake--Charmaine Wilkerson

10 points: In a time of war, disease, mass murders, and natural disasters, we'd like to promote a little positivity......Read a book that you predict will bring you joy and happiness (for example, can be a favorite author, a self-help book, one from the humor shelf, or one deemed inspirational): The Homewreckers--Mary Kay Andrews

BONUS ROUND: The Summer Deal--Jill Shalvis

10 points: Read a book that’s set in Canada (since it's Canada Day on the 1st of July): Anne of Avonlea--L.M. Montgomery

BONUS ROUND: How the Light Gets In--Louise Penny

15 points: Read a book by an author who is of a different race/religion than you: Breath, Eyes, Memory--Edwidge Danticat

BONUS ROUND: Queenie--Candice Carty-Williams

20 points: Read a book with a flower in the title or a picture of a flower on the cover: Summer on Blossom Street--Debbie Macomber

BONUS ROUND: Tokyo Ever After--Emiko Jean

20 points: (selected by Pam) – Read a book with book, books, bookstore, bookshop or library in the title: The Last Chance Library--Freya Sampson

BONUS ROUND: Book Lovers--Emily Henry

25 points: (selected by Jayme Sue) – Read a book published the year of a significant event in your life: Punk 57--Penelope Douglas (published in 2016, the year I began working at Mental Health as mentor)

BONUS ROUND: Somebody's Daughter--Ashley C. Ford (published in 2021, my five-year work anniversary)

30 points: (selected by Danielita) – Read a book that is recommended by the librarian or a book store employee or you discover on the "staff recommendations" shelf: The Coldest Case--Martin Walker

BONUS ROUND: The Anthropocene Reviewed--John Green

30 points: (selected by Carly) – Read a book that includes a trip or a vacation/holiday: People We Meet on Vacation--Emily Henry 

BONUS ROUND: We Came, We Saw, We Left--Charles Wheelan

35 points: (selected by Vinay) – Read a book a with one of these five words in the title: earth, air, fire, water or space: Into the Water--Paula Hawkins

BONUS ROUND: With the Fire on High--Elizabeth Acevedo

First round completed on July 20. Bonus round completed on August 25.

Summer Reading Challenge 2022 @ Messy Middle

 Doing this one again, getting as many books as possible during the time frame indicated.

It will start on June 1  and run through August 12, 2022. To enter, read seven books from 25 categories.

What’s different?

• I read Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen this spring and it is so fantastic that for the first time I’m choosing a book for us. (I’ll share more about it later.)
• A few new categories
• No COVID or Olympic focus this year 

What’s the same?

• Many categories will be similar because reading is reading. But you will notice a few new gems
• Counting a book of more than 700 pages as two books.
• Choosing a penalty book within the first week of the challenge. A penalty book or category is one you declare to yourself I will read or be penalized. The last four summers I’ve selected a penalty book and it worked! 
• Like previous years, if you do not read your “penalty” book, you will subtract two books from your total.

What’s in it for you?

• All who comment between August 11-15th with the names of the books they read will be entered to win one of ten $10 Amazon gift cards.

Drumroll . . . here are the categories!

1. Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood--Gary Paulsen 
2. A Biography or about history: Hiroshima--John Hersey
3. A book you already own: The Summer of Jordi Perez--Amy Spalding
4. A book you’ve been wanting to reread: Willow Weep for Me--Meri Nana-Ama Danquah
5. A book a friend recommended: A Crack in the Sea--H.M. Bouwman
6. A Young Adult book (YA): Listen to Your Heart--Kasie West
7. A book with a great cover: The Guncle--Steven Rowley
8. A book of poetry: Vanilla--Billy Merrell
9. A memoir or autobiography: Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama--Bob Odenkirk
10. A graphic novel: Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max--Noelle Stevenson & Grace Ellis
11. A book for professional development (loosely defined): Decluttering at the Speed of Life--Dana K. White
12. A book longer than 700 pages (counts as two books): Voyager--Diana Gabaldon
13. A book with a verb in the title: Would Like to Meet--Rachel Winters
14. A play: The Merchant of Venice--William Shakespeare
15. A book about a country or culture you have never visited: Half a Yellow Sun--Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
16. A book with the number 7 in the title or subtitle (in honor of this being the 7th anniversary): Punk 57--Penelope Douglas
17. A book that won an award: The Girl Who Drank the Moon--Kelly Barnhill
18. A book by someone with a different view point than you recommended you read: Poor Unfortunate Soul--Serena Valentino
19. A mystery: The Coldest Case--Martin Walker 
20. A classic: Anne of Avonlea--L.M. Montgomery
21. An audiobook: Vacation Under the Volcano--Mary Pope Osborne
22. A book with an animal: A Cat Story--Ursula Murray Husted
23. A book less than 100 pages: Retro Rhythms--Francesca Damkar
24. A book you want to discuss with others: The Homewreckers--Mary Kay Andrews
25. A book you read as a child: By the Shores of Silver Lake--Laura Ingalls Wilder

My Penalty Book: Tell the Wolves I'm Home--Carol Rifka Brunt

25 books (+ penalty book) read. Challenge completed on July 21