After months of just thinking about writing a post to link up with Leigh Kramer‘s What I’m Into series, it’s finally September and I think I’m finally going to manage it on time. While I’m still dealing with my kidney problems, life finally feels like it’s settling into a normal rhythm. Thank you September, for calming down a little.
Spanish School Friends
One of the greatest parts of Spanish School was making new friends: Mexican, American, and Canadian. I miss most of these friends as they’re flung out all over the world, but fortunately two of these friends only live a few hours away! They made the trip to Tulsa in the beginning of September to visit Emily and me before Emily returned to Mexico for the fall. Natasha and Levi’s visit was one of the best parts of September: there’s nothing quite like being able to spend time with friends who have shared a very important and specific life experience like attending language school in a foreign country.
Knitting
Did you know I knit? I took a bit of a hiatus from knitting in the past couple years, and in September I pulled out my yarn and needles again. I had some half-finished projects that took some time to figure out where I had left off, and I also started some new projects. Necks will be warmed this fall and winter! If it ever gets cold. Note: knitting is fun, but it’s time-consuming and not cheap if you like nice yarn and needles. If you receive something handknitted, know that person loves you an awful lot. Second note: I don’t give many knitted items. My mom is still waiting on a cowl I started two years ago (maybe it will be done this Christmas…..)
Books
As of the end of September, I have finished 66 books this year. I’m still hopeful to meet my goal of 100 read by December 31, but I’m pleased with my progress so far. These favorites from this month were all very good, especially My Salinger Year and Dear Committee Members–I basically devoured both of them and would recommend them highly.
My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff (memoir)
The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance–What Women Should Know by Kay Katty and Claire Shipman (nonfiction, self-help)
Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher (epistolary fiction, hilarious)
Speak: How Your Story Can Change the World by Nish Weiseth (Christian storytelling)
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman (memoir)
Inspired by this post on Book Riot, I’ve started a spreadsheet to even further analyze what I’m reading (I KNOW and I don’t care. I’m a nerd). Goodreads is awesome for overall tracking of books, but I’m interested in information that Goodreads doesn’t really track, like gender or country of origin of the author. I’m working towards expanding and diversifying my reading habits, and I want to quantify what I’m lacking. I also just want to make a spreadsheet of my books.
TV
Ah, fall, the time of new television. Some of my favorite shows have started their new seasons in September, including Bones, Once Upon a Time, Big Bang Theory, and Castle. All of these shows (ok, except for BBT), started off their seasons with a lot of drama and excitement, and I’m looking forward to how these shows will play out their current storylines. The new season of Doctor Who has also started, but they’re stacking up on the DVR, as yet unwatched because I’m just not that into the new doctor yet.
Another show I’ve been enjoying the last couple months has been Project Runway. I loved the first few seasons, then fell away as a viewer when they switched to Lifetime. I came back this season because of how much I love Tim Gunn, and I have not been disappointed. It’s been an interesting show, especially the episode featuring American Girl dolls (which led me to searching eBay for American Girl doll accessories, so if you’re looking for the spinster nerd club, it’s meeting over here at my house).
Another September TV highlight was the Roosevelts on PBS. I love history, I love the Roosevelts, I love PBS. My dad and I have finished 8 of the 14 hours so far and will be finishing the remaining 6 hours soon. It’s an amazing documentary, and if you can set aside 14 hours of your life to watch it, you should. It will make you smarter.
Art
At the end of September, I spent the weekend in Arkansas–even though it’s not that far from Tulsa, going somewhere different just for a couple days is so refreshing. My college roommate and I made a point of visiting Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, an art museum built and sponsored by Wal-Mart, to see their current special exhibition called State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now. It is an excellent exhibit with many different creative pieces and you should go see it. Also, it’s free, which is even more reason to go see it. Go get cultured!
#31daysofreading
Around the internet, I found this challenge called #31daysofwriting for the month of October. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be doing #31daysofreading for my #31daysofwriting. In theory, I will be writing reviews and thoughts on all these books I’ve been reading this year. In practice, I’m not entirely sure what I will be writing. Stay tuned.
Lakesidegirl 