A Decision

Well...I've joined Nanowrimo.  My plan is to (finally) write a proper book.  Heavens knows what a proper book is, but I am determined to at least finish something that can be called a novel.  I'm not even sure what I'm going to write about.

This should be fun.

The Road Goes Ever On and On

Has it really been a year since my last post?  I have neglected this poor blog for far too long, and it is now time to start up again as I turn the page and start a new chapter in my life.  This past year has been a magical, wonderful whirlwind of life changes.

In April last year, I started courting a wonderful man, to whom I am now married.  He is absolutely amazing and we are going to have so many exciting adventures together.  The first one will be moving across my home country to live near the university he will be attending for five years for a PhD program.

I decided that since I am almost finished my degree, I will have much more time on my hands and what better way to spend that time than chronicling our adventures?

So I will be more faithfully updating and writing.  I'm hoping to start writing properly again.  I have neglected writing for so long that I find I am sounding choppy and unpolished.  I know if I practice it will become better, but I'm really bad at making time.  Hopefully blogging again will be a step towards a book sometime.

As Tolkien has written in a very famous book; "The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began."

A Day of Flowers, Sunshine, and Spring

It's April!

I have officially started reading The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim for the month of April, in the hopes that some of the enchantment will slip into my hectic life. It's lovely, as usual. (I find it a little sad that 'lovely' is the only word I have to describe it, but it really is lovely!) I'm probably going to wrap up the month by watching the movie version, which was wonderfully done!

Life is hectic, but if I take a little time to step back and breathe, I find peace once in a while. The end is in sight! Soon my semester will be over and then summer will start! (I will be doing two summer courses, but I'm hoping the workload will be a lot lighter.)

I went to see The Hunger Games last week, and I really enjoyed it. It was violent, but I was expecting that. What I really liked about it was that the main character was a girl who didn't wear skimpy clothing in order to get noticed. She was strong and kind and wore baggy clothing. I preferred the book (but really, don't we usually?), but I have to say the movie was a very close second. If you have read and liked the book, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy the film.

Let's see...what else? Oh yes! I read The Twits by Roald Dahl, which was very adorable.  And I discovered a book by A. A. Milne, the author of Winnie the Pooh!  I was browsing my favourite used bookstore and saw it on display...so I brought it home.  It was so good!  And here was ignorant little me, not even knowing A. A. Milne ever really wrote anything besides Winnie the Pooh!  How embarrassing.

The book was called The Sunny Side: Short Stories and Poems for Proper Grown-Ups.  Now, I wasn't sure whether I really classify as a "Proper Grown-Up", but being 20 now, I decided that I technically did.   It was crammed with little poems and short stories that were simply delightful.  It was light and sweet, and is now patiently waiting on my shelf until I need to read it again.

I've also started to read The Lord of the Rings again...long story.

Long story for those of you who want to hear/read it:  My dad used to read them aloud to us, so I've known the story ever since I can remember.  Two summers ago, I decided I should probably read them for myself, so I proceeded to read most of The Fellowship of the Ring in one week.  Result: Tolkien overload.  It has taken me about two years to finally pick them up again.

I'm reading The Two Towers now, but I can't wait until Faramir makes his appearance.  He's wonderful.

Well, that's all for now, friends!  I'm off to read Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox in bed before I fall asleep.