Classics Considered

Well, friends...this month's edition of "What I'm Reading" is going to be a bit of a ramble.  You might want to grab something to snack on or drink.  I usually try to abridge, but this time I just feel the need to stream-of-conscious it.... Personal For starters, a personal update. Though work and everything are going fine, I've been feeling very directionless lately and in need of a change.  The thing is, there's so many things I would like to do - from buying a house to changing jobs - but no one thing that especially stands out as "yeah, that makes sense." It feels like a big decision chart with lines going all over the place.   I've been through all the conventional wisdom - focus on others, not yourself; try to find what you're passionate about; make small goals; etc.  But after all of that, I'm still in a maze, with too many ideas and hopes and doubts pulling me in different directions.  And in spite of everything being fine...

After patiently saving vacation days, today I can at last disconnect from work emails and other stressors.  I really want to slow down even more over my almost two-week holiday, beginning with these last few days of Advent.

With all that's been going on in my life lately, I've been finding it necessary to take action to slow down. I know, that sounds like an oxymoron.  But as a recovering perfectionist and incorrigible planner, I tend to labor over any life changes, even if it's merely the quest to find a little peace and quiet.  I have learned a few things from this methodical approach, although in reality, just the awareness of trying to slow down has helped lead me into some more practical, if unexpected, steps. Turning off the "TV" Prior to all of this, I had (for other reasons) decided to take a YouTube fast for three weeks this past November.  For me, YouTube is the equivalent of cable TV, except that I get to choose the content through a very personalized subscription list.  Typically, I can spend hours just trying to keep up with each channel, and I actually avoid some channels in part because I can't keep up. Taking a break was really hard, but very good.  I...

Well, it's finally come - the end of a long, much needed, and memorable weekend. Today my family and I went for a walk at a local bird reserve.  We've been going here for over a decade; it's like visiting an old friend now.  Autumn is the best time to see it, though already a lot of the maples have lost their leaves. After a short detour through the woods, the trail opens up to the tidal flats, home to plenty of sea gulls, mallards, and Canadian geese.  I've always thought this looks like something out of Middle Earth. Though a cold day, it was a great way to unwind and mentally "reset" before the coming week. Speaking of which, work has been pretty exhausting, and I'm trying very hard to stay positive.  Rapid changes and new responsibilities are the challenges right now.  I hope things will get easier by January. To offset the stress, I've been alternating between several books: The Concept of Anxiety - Kierkegaard, afor...

Hi readers and listeners - just a quick life update... I mentioned recently my non-blogging life has been very busy in the last month or so.  What I didn't anticipate was taking on many new responsibilities at work, very suddenly and unexpectedly.  By November, depending on how things turn out, I may not have much free time; and whatever I have, I need to spend on NaNoWriMo , to finish my novel-in-progress.  So, in order to make this adjustment easier possible, I'll be taking another unplanned break from podcasting, starting next week, with no ETA on its return.  via GIPHY I plan to keep blogging, if sporadically.  I have at least one new review to share - Lord of the Flies - which should be coming here pretty soon.  Also, I don't plan to quit reading , so you can expect at least a monthly check-in with those reviews. (Reviews are much faster to publish, to say the least.) Really sorry to anyone who's been following along with Season 3. ...

How did I first get into classic literature, let alone podcast about it? This week's episode features a glimpse into my reading life and podcasting journey, as well as some tips and technology which have helped me along the way. Opening quote is from South by Sir Ernest Shackleton.  It has no bearing on today's topic; it's just a nice quote on a topic that's been on my brain.   Links: Classics Considered on Instagram - Follow to get sneak peeks of future episodes! Noonlight Reads - My all-purpose reading blog.  Links to my stories can be found here . RSS Owl - A free, open-source RSS / blog reader Lithium (app) - Useful for reading Project Gutenberg ebooks on an Android tablet OneNote Online

Today I take a nostalgia trip back to the time I first met Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective has impacted my life in many ways, from violin playing to overcoming social anxiety. I also share my thoughts on a number of adaptations, including the Jeremy Brett TV series and Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock . Links: Opening quote read by David Clarke (LibriVox) Opening music - "Ambush in Rattlesnake Gulch" by Brian Boyko (Public domain, FreePD.com)

Since starting my 9–5 desk job a few years ago, my already poor posture has deteriorated quite a bit, due to hunching in front of two monitors all day.  The 8 hours at the desk is not the only problem...when I get home, my first instinct is to switch to my personal laptop (for blogging, etc) or curl up in a chair to read.  Neither of these activities helps my posture, of course. I've had this problem for years but only recently became seriously concerned with the longterm effects.  While I've tried exercises/stretches in the past, I'm convinced that stretching in itself is not enough.  Breaking it down, the first problem, I feel, is simply how to give my back a rest. The last couple of days, I've been experimenting with " constructive rest ," part of the Alexander Technique (which I have not done, but probably could benefit from).  It's as simple as can be - you just lie down on a flat surface with your knees bent and your head slightly propped up. Me, I ...

If you're reading this, it's probably Saturday already.  Being on the West Coast, I have a couple of hours of Friday left, so... "Friday Thoughts" it is. There has been so much sad news lately.  The Puget Sound area lost a police officer last week , and this week was his memorial.  Through my job, I help and have met many emergency responders, so the loss feels personal.  There's also the fatalities of the flu season...I can't help but worry for the health of my family and friends.  Even the Hawaiian "missile alert" last Saturday was sobering (though joked about), because people believed it.  As usual, I'm very excited for the Winter Olympics - it's one of my favorite TV events - but I'm also uneasy; is something political going to happen, like last time ? To combat these morbid thoughts, I'm striving to appreciate what I have right now and not get hung up on trivialities. One thing I want very much to do is maintain the bridges in my...

It's been a while since I gave a personal update, and now it's summertime I feel things are slowing down enough to blog (yay!). Saying good-bye to the rhodies, hello to the foxgloves! This spring was very busy, both in work and in personal life.  A few things I did: Took a volunteer job for a four-day weekend outdoors.  Very stressful, but I learned a lot from the challenge. Went on an elimination diet for several weeks.  It didn't help my skin issues, but I lost some weight(!). Mentored (and continue to mentor) new employees at work. My (very basic) microphone setup. The best book I read in the last month or two is The Sea-Wolf by Jack London , which I reviewed (spoiler-free!) on my classic literature podcast .  There's nothing like reading a sea story, and I think it's my favorite genre for summer reading.  :) Other spring/early summer reads: Short stories by Shiga Naoya.   While I didn't enjoy the collection that much, it still mak...

On a recent post, " Dreams & Goals for 2017 ," I talked about wanting to find a daily schedule to help me reduce stress levels, as well as balance my time between work and personal pursuits.  A commenter, Mari, expressed interest in hearing about my schedule if I found one that works.  It's been two weeks, and I'm happy to report I've created a daily plan and stuck to it, and overall it's been a surprising success.  :) This is the approximate breakdown, with clarifying notes: 9:30 –10:00 PM - Lights Off I put this first because it is the most important .  I have always - and especially since college - been a night owl, easily staying up till 1:00 AM no problem and even past that sometimes.  I could hardly imagine going to bed early, let alone consistently.  On January 2, I made myself turn the lights off at 9:30, and that was the beginning of the success.  I did not fall asleep for an hour or two, but that was just the first night of the new sched...

Every year is another chance to look back, figure out what went well and what didn't, and think of ways to make the next year even better.  I call my list "dreams and goals," instead of "resolutions."  What I've discovered, especially this past year, is that you don't know what unexpected opportunities may pop up or how you will change as a person.  It's good to dream and plan, and it's also healthy to let yourself be flexible and spontaneous. A few dreams / goals I met in 2016: Read 25 books.   Some of them were short, and one or two of them were quite long ( I'm looking at you, Mack ).  It felt great to make a dent in that TBR list! Take photos.   I started learning about photography in earnest.  Will continue this one in 2017. Love my neighbors.   That is, I tried to love the people with whom I interacted in "real life" and online.  As we all have experienced, it's been a contentious year.  More than ever I realized the strug...

a safe & happy Thanksgiving! In so many ways, Thanksgiving feels like the end of a year.  Harvest foods are put on the table, a long summer leaves behind shivery nights and frosty mornings, and Advent, the Christian New Year, is right around the corner.  I know I'll be cozying up with the second half of Seven Pillars this weekend...I hope you all have a great one, too, with books, loved ones, and autumny goodness!  ^_^