summer > autumn
update
Woot, update! How is everyone? I find myself missing being around here. I still lurk all the journals, but it's not quite the same. Things have been tiring and stressful, and I tend to clam up when that happens. But on the other hand, I do find journaling somewhat therapeutic... I should try to do it more regularly. *nods* Do you guys find that it's somewhat quieter in LJ these days? It feels like 80% of my flist updates are from arama lately.
Work has been busy, busy, busy. Draining, to be more specific. But things are winding down quickly and I think I'll finally have a much needed staycation for a little while. x) I think I'll spend that time catching up on reading and picking up yoga again. I used to try to do at least 15 minutes of it everyday, but I've been too worn out for even that little! And then I end up feeling completely inflexible and out of shape for the yoga class I go to once a week..
Classes are so much better than going along with yoga videos, though. I don't have the discipline to do any programs longer than 20 minutes if I'm in the comfort of my living room, lol.
kogoro
Posting a pic of my Chihuahua Kogoro because I haven't, in a while. xD He does this adorable thing where he sits on his back legs when he wants something, and I was able to capture it on my camera phone. I recently took him to his annual cardiologist check-up, where he got his second echocardiogram. Good news! His heart isn't getting bigger, which means his murmur is under control. It was such a relief! Now he can go back to his usual business, barking at squirrels and gutting his plush squeaky toys of their stuffing. (He also recently discovered the deliciousness of flavored lip balm... I have to be careful not to leave those in his reach!)
books
I'm so behind on reading, but have finally picked up Heresy by S.J. Parris, "An Elizabethan Thriller." It's part of a series of mystery novels set in the middle ages. This is the first of the series, though I actually read the second one (Prophesy), first. It's still too soon to tell if it's good or not, but I had enjoyed the second book well enough, so I'm hoping this will be just as fun. x)
I've been listening to the "books" podcast for NPR, and added a bunch of books that sounded interesting, including a mystery set in Honolulu (Murder Casts a Shadow by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl), a book about animal diseases and what it tells us about human conditions (Zoobiquity by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz), and a book by former NY Times "Ethicist" (Be Good: How to Navigate the Ethics of Everything by Randy Cohen).
What's on your to-read shelf, dear flisters? ♥
manga etc
I recently breezed through a shojo manga called Reimei no Arcana, a pretty-ish fantasy. I like it! There's politics and intrigue, and of course, a little romance. I started out reading shojo as a child, so it's a pretty comfortable place for me to return to. xD And I realize that most of the fandoms in which I've been active are of a different flavor. You can read it here if you're interested. =)
Still reading Hi no Matoi, the Edo-period manga about samurais and fire fighters. The story is progressing a little slowly, but it's a bi-monthly serialization, so it just feels like it takes a long time..
And speaking of long time, Glass Mask is releasing volume 49 this month. This series has been going on since before I was born. Can she please end it already?? ...that being said, I'd like her to really write a nice and satisfying ending. I feel like the fans deserve one, after all these years of loyalty. xD;;
Still buying Are You Alice? but haven't read any volumes since like...vol 3. I understood the drama CDs, but the manga is so whack and confusing, I don't have the concentration to get through it. (o__o)
Poking my way slowly through Kami no Shizuku. I had 15 volumes a few years ago when I first started reading it. I blinked, a couple years passed, and now we're on VOLUME 34. Yeesh. I like this series, but I'm beginning to wonder if it's gonna drag on forever. I haven't purchased the last 14 books or so yet, but I hesitate to do so, if only because I don't have much space anymore on my bookshelves. I wish manga wasn't such a space-killing hobby!
saiyuki
Sharak continues to impress with her fabulosity and kickass skillz. I hope she'll be sticking around for a while, because she's one of the most interesting side characters we've had in a while. (And definitely the most intriguing female character). I love that Sanzo feels validation and comfort in her presence, and that Goku can see how much it means to him. ♥
Is that Kou & Doku on the hill? =DDD
Ridiculously excited about Ants of Heaven!! I was pretty shocked when I saw the advert in the Zero Sum for it. I had no idea she was planning on releasing it so soon! I thought she'd be working more on the other projects (WA, Ibun...) Gaiden has always been my favorite, so I can't wait to see what she comes up with here.
meme
And while I'm usually not too political here, I suppose this is only tangentially so. I couldn't resist adding to the Eastwooding meme. xD
