In the Storm

100 Things About Me as a Reader

 Source

The other day when I visited Modern Mrs. Darcy's blog she had posted  100 Things About Me as a Reader. It was based on a project introduced by elementary school teachers who wanted their students to learn about the importance of knowing themselves as readers. The project originated 10 years ago with this blog post. 

I was tremendously intrigued by the project and decided to challenge myself to learn about myself as a reader by writing out (I actually typed it out) my reading proclivities and quirks and simply who I am as a reader. I did it in list form - because - lists. And, lists make me happy. I realized many things on my list have evolved over the years and what I once might have been able to include in my list no longer is true about myself. I can see the ebb and flow of my reading life. I could also envision how I might be a similar reader to some and yet, a far different reader than others.

This would make great book club conversation - and comparison. It would be interesting to hear about, talk about others' reading lives. Here is what I've come up with so far.

100 Things about Me as a Reader

1. I don’t like books in the highly suspense-filled genre (think, Stephen King).
2. I remember reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books growing up - and not much else.
3. When I was a teenager I read nothing but Harlequin Romances, and especially loved the ones from the 1970s by Essie Summers. I dislike Harlequin Romances now.
4. My favorite book series is by J.D. Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts), the In Death series. I began reading the series in 1997; own all 51 books in the series. I re-read the series regularly. This series is my guilty pleasure.
5. I have read very few Classic books, the majority of which I have read has been in the past few years, or in the years I homeschooled John and Jarrod and I read quite a few classics aloud.
6. I began recording what I have been reading in 2015.
7. My favorite genre are police procedure murder mysteries.
8. I usually have multiple books going at one time (at least two, sometimes 3 or 4).
9. I read a plethora of Christian Non-fiction.
10. I used to read (in my 30s and 40s) Christian fiction but haven’t picked up the genre in over 5 years - at least.
11. These days I will try almost any genre of books (except suspense-filled books).
12. I only read physical books. I tried digital books and let those go quickly. I miss so much if I listen to audio it just isn’t worth it.
13. I started a book club in July 2019 and I have been hosting book club in my home, once a month, ever since.
14. I read more if I am reading for a challenge such as Modern Mrs. Darcy’s yearly reading challenge, or my personal challenges.
15. I rely heavily on book reviews for what to read next.
16. I scour book blogs and articles with book lists for possible to-be-read books.
17. My to-be-read list is so long I will never be able to finish the list because I am always adding more books to the list.
18. I read more books I own than from the library.
19. I usually only read about half of the books I check out from the library (unless I check out only a book or two).
20. I almost always wait until the week before (sometimes, even, the weekend before) my book club meets to actually read my book club book, except the month we read Cutting for Stone which took the entire month to read.
21. Some of my favorite book club discussions have been books either I, or others, did not like.
22. I sometimes, although not often, read the last couple of chapters if I am having difficulty getting into the book and I don’t feel this spoils the book at all.
23. I have a lengthy list and multiples of favorites but I still have a hard time picking those favorites.
24. I keep a document on my computer of what I have read throughout the year, but over the past 6 years I have created scrapbooking pages (plus albums) of what I have been reading.
25. I find it easy to abandon books that I am not enjoying.
26. I mostly read for pleasure. But, sometimes the pleasure lies in checking off as read from my goals list.
27. Some of my most favorite reading memories were the years I homeschooled my twin boys and I read a-loud all of their required reading throughout their high school years.
28. Yes, I have read The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit.
29. Books where the characters have no redeeming qualities I will rarely like and often abandon.
30. I cannot read silent in a car but I have no problem reading aloud (to my husband) while riding in a car.
31. For years I have been skipping the parts of books during sexually explicit scenes.
32. I don’t particularly care for graphic novels.
33. I love books and memoirs that involve food and recipes.
34. I will read recipe books word for word, cover to cover and consider recipe books as a genre to be read.
35. The Monster at the End of the Book is still one of my most favorite children’s books, especially when Jeff reads it aloud in character.
36. When my kids were in elementary school I loved those Scholastic magazines the schools would send home. I always ordered books!
37. I don’t have enough shelves for all the books I own.
38. I’m a sucker for a good spy novel.
39. My husband doesn’t like any of the books I read but I enjoy all of the books (genre) he reads (military/counterintelligence/special forces fiction)
40. Because I work as a weather observer I am able to get much of my reading done while I am at work.
41. These days, and because I enjoy sleep more, it is rare that I will stay up past my bedtime to finish one more chapter.
42. I like a lot of balance in my reading life- old and new releases, light reads and heavy reads, modern day and historic settings, long and short lengths….
43. I write in books. Usually non-fiction Christian and only books I own.
44. I love book darts. I use them all the time, especially marking the place I left off in the spiritual formation book I am reading aloud to Jeff.
45. I don’t remember having required reading lists – ever - in grade school, middle school, or high school.
46. I joined the online community, The Classics Club, this year so I could challenge myself to read more classics.
47. I don’t always remember what I’ve read, although since participating in a book club I have learned to take notes. I hate that I can’t remember what I have read because it makes me feel dumb.
48. I don’t have a preference between male authors and female authors. I think I read a fairly even mix between the two.
49. I would like to say, studiously, that I won’t watch the movie before I read the book, but I have truly enjoyed many of books after watching the movie (ie. The Lord of the Rings, The Martian, The Princess Bride, etc.)
50. While I have read through most books of the Bible, and I have read all of the New Testament several times, I have never read through the entire Bible in, say, one year. Although, Jeff and I are reading through the Bible right now – but we won’t be able to finish in a year; it will probably take us about 14 months.
51. I am true near-sighted and have to remove my glasses to read close up. Although recently I have noticed a slight cloudiness and I’m wondering if I am going to have to buy some reading glasses.
52. The only ‘classic’ I remember reading in high school was Catch-22, which I read for a class paper.
53. I regularly pay library late fees.
54. Dinner and a bookstore is a worthy date night. If I can walk out of the bookstore with a stack of books, even better.
55. Although I believe there is a devil and demons because the Bible speaks of them and you cannot miss their presence in the world, as a new believer in Christ, it was the book, This Present Darkness, that made the devil and demons seem real.
56. I only keep books I’ve enjoyed even if I’m sure I will never read them again. Eventually I go through a purge and give, out of necessity.
57. My favorite way to display books on my shelves is in rainbow colors. But, I won’t do this if it is a series because I won’t break up the ‘set’.
58. I read to ‘take me away’.
59. I will rarely pick up a 600+ page book unless it is for a challenge or book club.
60. I re-read book series if I re-read anything; except Christian non-fiction I will re-read multiple times.
61. I adore well-done epistolary novels, such as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Dear Mr. Knightly, The Screwtape Letters, 84 Charing Cross Road, The Martian, or Flowers for Algernon.
62. I can’t read when the television is on, or music is playing as both are to distracting.
63. I love the power of words and highlight and re-write quotes from books that speak to me or make me ponder the words and ask questions.
64. Books are my favorite to give as gifts.
65. The Chronicles of Narnia were the first read a-loud books we read a-loud as a family and I still remember that time at the dinner table as some of our best time!
66. When life gets overwhelming I re-read my favorite books.
67. I don’t necessarily get excited to have my book autographed by the author, although I wouldn't pass up a signed copy as a gift.
68. I enjoy young adult (YA) books only if they’re plausible and without sex.
69. Books that have ‘triggers’ are difficult to read and I will often put them down because they ‘trigger’ so many memories and then I have to decide if I am going to pick them back up again.
70. I am not a fast reader.
71. I consider reading middle grade, chapter books, and YA books as a book count if I’m counting how many books I’ve read, but I don't count children’s books - usually.
72. I have been known to spend as much time reading about books as reading books.
73. I really like series books. Besides the In Death series which is my favorite easy-read series, I adore Louise Penny’s Inspector Armand Gamache series, Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series, all of W.E.B. Griffin’s series’, Brad Thor’s series, the Maisee Dobbs' series, and of course, Harry Potter.
74. While I love series’ I don’t particularly like when they end in a trilogy because 3 books is enough to become invested in the characters and I don't want their stories to end.
75. Since I began reading so much more in 2015 and broadening my genre scope I don’t think I have an all-time favorite book anymore, although I could break down my favorites to yearly or genre favorites.
76. I almost always will go over my book budget for a new book.
77. I’m a firm believer that not all books are the right time to be reading because I’ve picked up books in the past that I held little interest for, but later, sometimes years later, I enjoyed that same book immensely.
78. I have no problem disliking or liking a book someone else likes or dislikes. I don’t need to follow the crowd and it doesn’t offend me if someone thinks differently about a book.
79. Although it sort of pisses me off if someone infers I am stupid or ignorant or intolerant if I don’t like a book they think I should like, or read a book they think I should read.
80. Most often I can tell you if I love the book I read – or not, but I have a harder time describing why.
81. I prefer not to read heavily open door (explicit sex scenes) novels and won't intentionally pick them up.
82. I am often a mood reader. It is the #1 reason why I will bring at least 2, sometimes 3 or 4 books to work with me on easy weather days. Because I don’t know what reading mood I will be in.
83. I love reading books a-loud (but I was told once I don’t have the voice for reading a-loud).
84. It drives me crazy when the publisher of a book series switches the size and/or covers of books midway between the series.
85. I do not judge a book by its movie.
86. While I write exceptional directions, procedures, or how-to's, I cannot stand to read them.
87. I don't really like to share (as in lend) my favorite books, especially series', except to family. I would rather purchase them their own copy.
88. My dream room would be a library with shelves of books stacked to the ceiling with a sliding ladder and comfortable chairs to read in.
89. I love books with strong female characters, or with women that are becoming stronger or learning from their mistakes.
90. I dislike books where the characters have little or no redeeming qualities.

I realize it's not 100 but it's pretty darn close. It is an interesting exercise, and revealing. If I were to discuss a list like this with, say, my book club, I'll bet - for sure - that I could easily come up with 10 more things about me as a reader - and maybe, even more!

 

 

 

30 Pages in 30 Days | This is September | Page 27

I am a huge fan of recap pages, currently pages, and this is one of those pages. I used a plethora of Ali Edwards' Story kits, words plus photos to tell my story with one word prompts, another favorite of mine.

SEASON: Always, forever watching the sky and some days, when I’m at work I chose to capture the sky at the same time each hour near the top of the hour   - all the cloud formations. Especially on the days when I could visibly tell the changing of the seasons. The sky holds truths if one will but look up and see. Never tire of watching the sky! Whatever the season.

TREAT: We took Athena to her first vet appointment and because of some recommended vitamins we began giving her a treat (with the vitamins mixed in) of ‘wet’ food and she’s become addicted to it. She doesn’t want her dry food unless she’s super hungry. Hope we find a happy balance. Besides this, we are finding she is definitely a daddy’s girl, but sleeps on me, more, when we allow her free range of our room on weekends when we're not hitting the alarm at 4 am.

HABIT:  Monday’s I swim, Tuesday’s I prepare a meal for a woman undergoing cancer treatments and her family. Wednesday’s I swim after work. Thursday‘s Jeff and I swim in the evening, come home, and crash. Friday’s are either another meal deliverY or catching up on household chores - like - oh, washing clothes. Saturday’s Jeff and I swim in the morning, eat breakfast out, go grocery shopping for the week, and have a date night in the evening. Sunday’s we go to church, serve at church, eat lunch as a family, and host small group in our home. We repeat this week after week. It’s our habit.

LUXURY: Jeff had one stipulation only, otherwise he was all for buying new accent chairs for our living room. The stipulation: we wouldn’t buy anything unless we sat in the chairs first. Wise man that he is, I would have never picked this chair out online. It wasn’t on my eye candy radar, not even the color. But, when we saw it in person and sat in it, Perfect! Definitely a luxury item!

ON REPEAT: This month is Together by King & Country, for sure, along with a host of other current favorite worshipful songs, Still Rolling Stones, There Was Jesus (especially the version sung with Dolly Parton), The Blessing, Peace Be Still, Love God Love People, Into the Sea (It’s Gonna Be OK), Graves Into Gardens, Amadeo, Another in the Fire, Holy Water... 

JOY: It’s the little things these days that I have looked for to find my joy. Those rambling pink blooms against the crystal blue sky. The re-connections we have eased into this month, a few people gathering without masks - trusting. The delight receiving a text saying they loved the meal you’ve delivered. A new way to serve so I can serve, because I want to serve and thankful they are excited I can contribute in this way. Just in awe. Finding a few snarky t-shirts for my son (in-law) and super excited when he receives them for his birthday because they are so him and we get him. Jeff swimming with me 2x a week. Slow weekends - bring me such joy. Un- believably, I still find joy in the drive to the pool because - I am going to the pool!

READ: A couple of new releases I had been anticipating all year were released in September. The first by Louise Penny, All The Devils Are Here, and it’s a good thing I pre-ordered her book #16 in the Chief Inspector Gamache series, because the books were not available online immediately after release. As was also, J D Robb’s, Shadows in Death book 51 in the series, which I did not pre-order and which I had to wait to find it locally because it wasn’t available online. In Penny’s book I missed the usual supporting characters - yet, it was still a fantastic book and I think could easily be read stand alone, although I think it is the first one besides the first one that could be read stand alone. And, surprisingly, I was thrilled with Shadows in Death. It was fantastic! I gave both books 5 Stars, each in their own right.

PERSON: Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Supreme Court Justice passed away this month. She, more than any other justices in history held up women’s rights as equal protection under the law. Without Ginsberg and the little-known Struck vs. Department of Defense case, while serving in the military, I did not have to be discharged from the military when I became pregnant and had 4 children born while continuing to serve in the military (the policy in place prior to Struck vs. Department of Defense stipulated a woman who got pregnant while serving had to either be discharged or terminate the pregnancy). But, I was able to continue serving and was able to remain in the military. Known also as a reader, and as a reader myself, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, said, “Reading is the key that opnes doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams, and more, helped me make my dreams come true.”

LEARN: The ugly rhetoric in today’s news, who’s right and who’s wrong thinking, has me spinning my head. But, I am learning, because of something a preacher said several months ago had me relieved. He said, “Listen to the news, to political rhetoric, to protests, to racial conversations, and any other conversation for that matter through one lens - the lens of the Gospel, because the Gospel is the only foundational truth with which I can trust." 

30 Pages in 30 Days | 19

Last year, in September, I attended Story Camp, a scrapbooking event - my first-ever-to-attend - hosted by my scrapbooking hero, Ali Edwards' - of course. I flew to Eugene, Oregon and attended the 3-day story camp, all about telling our stories. It was in one word - life-changing - in so many ways.

I decided I needed a separate album just for the event. This is the cover pages of my album.

 

Over the course of the next few months I hope to complete the album and sharing just how attending this event changed me.

30 Pages in 30 Days | 15

This page will actually go into my JUST WRITE album where I am writing stories - true stories about me - using one word journal prompts. But, since I created it this month I am including it in my 30 Pages in 30 Days goal

30 Pages in 30 Days | 14

These days life is work, pool, eat, sleep - repeat. I juggle a few things in between - groceries, my weekly meal ministry, bills, book club, reading and scrapbooking - dates, but pretty much life is centered around getting pool slots and swimming. I had my first pain-free swim the other day. Glorious! There has been a couple of times the pain was bad enough for me to cancel my swim lane but I didn't - cancel. Those days end up being really good swims. 

Jeff is swimming twice a week with me, on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings before we go to breakfast together. It has been good for him and us.

30 Pages in 30 Days | 10

I have to take my lunch to work every day because I cannot leave the weather office unattended. For many months now I have been preparing salads-in-a-jar on the weekends to enjoy throughout the week. Jeff grills up either two marinated chicken breasts or two Ribeye steaks, blackened, so I have a hearty protein. He also peels the hard-boiled eggs for me because he says he does a better job at peeling eggs. Who am I to complain? Peel away, baby!

Each morning Jeff packs my lunch box while I am getting ready for work. He tucks in my salad-in-a-jar, the container of grilled meat (my favorite these days is the marinated grilled chicken. It’s divine!), a dressing (usually honey mustard, Bleu cheese, or Greek vinaigrette) and something for breakfast, along with a banana, for the potassium. Sometimes he’ll sneak in a couple mini- snickers bars from his hidden stash (he hides the candy because I have zero self-control and he can go without candy for days, weeks, and months without ever thinking about the candy).

On Monday, this week, I had leftover Chicken Parmesan from our Saturday date night at Bella’s Italian Cafe. So I took that for my lunch instead of one of my prepared salads-in-a-jar, figuring I would simply eat it on Friday when I got home early from work. Again, Jeff packed my lunch. While I was at work I began thinking about the salad I was going to eat for lunch - with that delicious marinated chicken. I couldn’t get it out of my mind and couldn’t wait for lunch time. When I opened my lunch box for my breakfast, my heart sank. No salad-in-a-jar. I experienced a surprisingly distinct disappointment. Bella’s Chicken Parmesan is probably one of the best Chicken Parmesan's I have ever eaten so it wasn’t as if I wasn’t going to eat well. But that morning, for some reason, I had my heart - and stomach - firmly set, my taste buds watering, on a salad - with marinated grilled chicken. I even shared my disappointment with Jeff, who thought it was really a good thing because that means I wouldn’t be getting tired any time soon of eating salads every day for lunch.

Come Tuesday I was so thankful for my salad! Our weekends over these past 7 months have been slow. Life has come to a screeching halt. I have had ‘time’ to prepare my salads for the week. Times are changing as we head back to church on Sunday (when I normally prepare the salads), serving on Sundays, and small group Sunday evening. My salads, for my health mostly, need to be a priority.        

30 Pages in 30 Days | 9

I am swimming 3-4 times a week now, for over a month now and I’m not sure if it is because I have            been moving my body if ways I haven’t in such a long time, and even though I am seeing amazing results from swimming; I can breathe easier, move easier, swim smoother and easier. I was steadily improving my time and swimming farther and for longer periods of time. The drive to the pool is a distant hindrance because getting in the pool, now, is such a joy.                    

About a year and a half ago I went through in tense physical therapy for my SI joint - more than 6 months of steady, excruciating therapy so I could walk without pain; so I could walk, period. I continued to exercise for awhile at home but then I let it go, little by little. I was walking good, moving good. I’d even begun walking and increasing my steps. I didn’t hesitate to do things because I could. But, I guess over time those same joints and muscles I had therapy for began to atrophy again. Swimming laps slowly began to reveal where my body stood. The excruciating, debilitating pain in my right SI joint is gone, but now my left SI joint is        under the same kind of crushing, agonizing pain.                

 I can still swim, thankfully. But, I swim with mild pain that makes swimming - well - not so enjoyable. And, walking is getting more and more difficult. I cried when I talked this over with Jeff and he reminded me how I’d let those exercises go and that swimming again is only aggravating all the muscles and tendons and joints. I realized this pain, returning... was my own fault. I cried, in agony. I felt defeated. Overwhelmed. In pain I went to the pool. And, then I began physical therapy.

30 Pages in 30 Days | 8

This page, actually 2- 8.5 x 11 pages side by side is another CZ Design template. If I am to complete 30 Pages in 30 Days it is a given - understood - that I would need to use templates in order to remove the guess work out of design. This template not only offered design but story idea as well. Besides Cathy's template I used One Little Bird design (not sure she is designing under that brand any longer, although the digital store is still open), and of course Ali Edwards' Little Things digital Story kit. 

At the same time I am creating these 30 pages, I am also attempting to use my digital supplies, especially older kits. This is definitely one of those pages as I have had all of the digital supplies that make of this page, for years.

Journaling: 100 Things That Bring Me Joy, Love, Peace, Convenience, Inspiration and Happiness.

pajamas • all the books on my TBR • date nights with Jeff • book club • swimming laps • Saturday morning breakfasts out • slow weekends • Athena, our new kitten • coffee, always coffee • hot, blistering showers • sleeping more than 8 hours • Bible studies • reading aloud with Jeff • church online with just the family • Southern Butter Pecan ice cream • Citrus Twists 4 x 8 albums • digital scrapbooking • Louise Penny’s book series - so good • homemade tacos • taco Tuesday • thunderstorms • rainbows • winter • fall, too • the mountains • dolphin spotting • pepper mills • waterfalls • laughter with family • rice krispy treats • listening to ‘70s music • Photoshop Elements • scrapbooking supplies • hoarding office supplies • cooking meals for others • aroma therapy bath products • Vick’s vapor rub • Tramadol • sweet ice tea • bagels with chive and onion cream cheese • road trips • Charleston historic district • scarves • Farmer’s markets • fresh bunches of flowers • starry nights • crisp, chilled air • wintergreen lifesavors • homemade pizza • podcasts • french manicures • meteorology • hanging with my girls • sarcasm • letters in the mail • salted caramel • Noonday jewelry • my church • serving • typography • clouds • buttered Parmesan popcorn • going to the movies • homegrown vegetables • farm fresh flowers • staying home • being pain-free • journals • writing • reading • sunrises • watercoloring • big hugs • cheese • salads in a jar • JD Robb In Death series • photo booths • Jeff in a beard • snow falling• board games • new haircuts • Snickers bars • The Breakfast Club on Tybee • Jeff making me laugh • sleeping in frigid air with piles of blankets • learning • teaching meteorology • bacon • worshiping the Lord • bird watching • jumping waves • ice cream cones • garlic fettuccine • peanut butter, banana, and brown sugar • Jeus • homemade salsa and chips • jalapenos • turquoise • Athena sleeping • sunsets • 

 

30 Pages in 30 Days | 5

Today I am sharing a 2- page 4 x 8 hybrid project about how my mind turns to gravy when I swim. I think about everything - and anything while trying to count laps and breaths. Sometimes what I think about interrupts itself so forcefully that I have totally lost track of how many laps I've swam. When I give myself a talking to mostly, or someone else...you know? Those talks. The ones when you tell someone off, or speak your mind but you know there is no way you're ever going to confront them. Or, in that conversation you had and the things you should have said. But, didn't. Then there are the lists, the grocery lists, the to-do lists that go in one water-filled ear and out the other, water-filled ear. What I need are those bluetooth waterproof earbuds. And, someone to teach me how to use Spotify and iTunes and any other music app, or program because I don't even know what you call them. For reals. Yep, stuff like that goes through my mind too.

Then there are the chastisements and belittlings. Of myself. I do not want to go there again. Then, I remember what Lap I'm on and I count my breaths and I plan out scrapbooking projects and wish I was more creative. Yep, all in one swim. As if 38 laps wasn't exhausting enough.

This is a hybrid project with the inclusion of the flip up journal card attached with a piece of washi tape. I used a 'tape measure' washi tape to mimic the 'ruler' along the side of the journal card and also, truthfully, because I measure my swims.

Under the journal card is simply more journaling. It 'explains' the mind-reel on the left hand side.

Bring On September

Stuff I'm Looking Forward to This Season:

ONE:  My number one priority for September is to stay in the pool. My goal is to swim 2 miles by the end of September, but more importantly I need to continue to be purposeful about scheduling pool time, even though swimming 3-4 days a week is time consuming.

TWO: Since COVID quarantine we haven’t hosted our life group in our home and that is changing in September. Sunday evenings will be for our small group gatherings, again!

THREE: For months now I have had an unintentional ministry pop up. Every week I have been delivering a meal to a family: someone in quarantine, a lady battling breast cancer, a foster family, a family who have lost a loved one...I am going to be intentional about continuing this niche ministry.

FOUR: I need to move more! Besides the pool, I have not been purposeful about getting in steps. I am going to document my steps in September and my goal is 6000 steps a day. Doable, but I also have to actually move purposefully to reach the goal, and if I walk more than 6000 all the better.

FIVE: I am looking forward to book club at the end of the month. We have been meeting in person and the discussion is fantastic. This month we are reading the best seller, The Time Traveler’s Wife!

SIX: There was a time I was usually reading 10-12 books a month but recently, since COVID, I have been reading far less. I am looking forward to reading more books. There are two new books coming out in September that are definitely going on my must-read list, plus book club, a couple classics, and I think I might be able to up my reading game. Mores the pleasure!

SEVEN: I’m going for 10 pounds loss this month. Nothing to drastic. I just want to see what I can lose without a dramatic change to my eating habits. Start small. Maybe, simply, don’t eat anything after dinner.

EIGHT: I am looking forward to gathering once again for church. We have a volunteers service the middle of September along with a training session on how we are going to do church in our respective areas of service. Although I am looking forward to attending church, I am, however, apprehensive.

NINE: This season I am looking forward to changing weather, hoping for cooler temperatures earlier this year; hoping for no hurricane evacuations, hoping for fall like weather to be thrust upon us.

TEN: In September I am going to create a mini-album with 30 Days of Photos. Except for July, which was a heavy photo month, I am a horrible picture taker and this needs to change. I may even do a Day in the Life this month. I want to finish my Korea mini-album this month, too.