Unlocking November
My Monthly Tuneup - Vol. #4
Ah, November. The beginning of the Christmas season (unless you’re like my family who began in October), Thanksgiving, mad holiday traffic, midterms, and National Novel Writing Month. So let’s get right into it!!
Life, In General
Recently, I’ve been squashed between school and what feels like a billion other things. I had a paper to write for Theology, which was really fun - my Dad had several books in his library which I used for my sources. I’ve also been doing a lot of online meetings, mostly for a project I’m currently working on. (Which, for now, will stay a secret - at least on Substack!)
Meanwhile, our little car engine kitten has been growing bigger and more mischievous every day.
He really enjoys nibbling my books and the edges of my phone. He’s discovered climbing and attaching himself to your leg when you least expect it. And whenever you pick him up, he gives you the most ridiculously cutest look you’ve ever seen.
Our dogs enjoy chasing him around, though our cat (Aravis) is less than pleased with his presence. They had an eloquent conversation the other day, which went something like:
Me: Say “hello” to the kitten.
Aravis: Mrowwwwwwww
Me: Be nice.
Aravis: Mrrrrrooooowwwwwwwwww
Saywer: Meep!
Aravis: *ponderous silence, then* Hissssss…..
Saywer: Hiss!!
Creative Tuneup
~ Writing! ~
National Novel Writing Month was supposed to happen for me, but I got very busy and didn’t do much writing on my current projects. However, I did start handwriting in a journal and I finished my theology paper (that counts!).
I also finally got to see my short story, Pendragon’s Potion, in print! I wrote this story just over a year ago - and it underwent a lot of editing. But I’m really happy with the final product, and finally getting to hold it in my hands was the coolest thing ever.
I also wrote an alliterative poem to celebrate the anthology’s release. The theme was “A Light in the Darkness.”
If you’d like to read it, I’ve linked it below:
Multi-Media Tuneup
~ Movies & TV Shows ~
Earlier this month I watched Over the Garden Wall for the first time. If you haven’t seen it, you should! It’s fun, quirky, sweet, and overall very bizarre and heartwarming.
The story follows two brothers, Wirt and Greg, as they travel through a Dark Forest and into a mysterious land on their journey back home. The show has multiple illusions to Dante’s Divine Comedy, from the setting (a Dark Wood, cf. the beginning of Purgatory) to a guiding bird named Beatrice. Parts of the show were a bit intense, but it was a lot of fun, really sweet, and I would definitely watch it again.
The second show I watched this month was Bad Guys 2. My family watched it together, and, having been plesantly surprised by the first one, we were looking forward to the sequel.
It was really good: a solid, action-packed, lighthearted adventure. The animation was fantastic. Overall, the movie had the feel of a Mission Impossible with extended disbelief. I enjoyed it a lot, and would probably watch it again.
~ Music ~
The Guild now has an unofficial official Firefly Tales playlist! All the tracks were complied by the authors and artists in the anthology. I’m planning to read through my copy of the book and listen to this in the background.
I’ve also been listening to The Gray Haven’s holiday album while I do my school! I love saving this for the holiday season, though it really could be listened to any time of the year.
Furthermore, it’s well into November, which means it’s officially time to go defrost Mariah Carey.
Verse of the Month
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
~ Jeremiah 31:33
I wrote quite a bit on the covenants in the Bible for my theology paper. It was really encouraging to see God’s everlasting faithfulness to His people, from the time of the Old Testament to today.
One Last Thing…
MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS!!!!
And Happy Thanksgiving.
It’s time to do that age-old tradition…what’s something you’re thankful for?
I’m thankful for Christmas!!!
And my family, my friends, and food. <3 Have a wonderful rest of your month!
I have a few more post planned: an interview, a short story, and a Christmas-themed newsletter, which I’m looking forward to before the New Year.
Judging by your cats’ interactions, it sounds like Sawyer should’ve been named Shasta after all
Thank you, once again, dear daughter, for your fantastic and fun and full thoughts of love for us all. I am thankful for our Savior's kindness to a needy and undeserving sinner like me. I am thankful for His unfailing and unchangeable love in Christ by His Spirit for His people. I'm thankful that "He who knew no sin became sin for us, so that in Him we might possess His perfect righteousness" (2 Cor. 5:21). I am thankful for Mama, you, and Esther, our church family, and our many friends. "Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised! ...Give thanks to the LORD for He is good, His steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 136). Looking forward to more fun and fantastic memories during Advent and Christmastide. Oh, and I'm grateful for Sawyer, the wee, sweet, little kitten.