Murmurations and such

My featured image today is a photograph (not mine, from Canva) of a murmuration of Starlings. I’ve been thinking about them since picking up that Starlings book by Amanda Linsmeier at my local indie bookstore, then checking out Alix E. Harrow’s Starling House from the library (which was a FANTASTIC read, by the way). I don’t have any pics to share of the cover art from Starling House, but as a refresher, here’s my snap of the cover of Starlings.

Still have to read Starlings, but I love that it was part of a mini thematic trend in my books lately. Flocks of starlings making unusual shapes in the sky seem like such a powerful and poetic image.

Not sure if I’ll read it next. I ALSO found a small shelf of books for sale at our local library branch the other day, and picked up something by Alice Hoffman. A YA novel.

AND I have a long digital and analog TBR stack waiting.

I did manage to polish off an e-book I started toward the beginning of the year and almost DNF’d. Really glad I gave it another go.

Still trying to catch up on my reading goal on Goodreads for this year, WHILE still also trying to catch up on my writing. And I may need to make more art soon… because…

Speaking of the library, your girl’s gonna be a featured artist at the downtown library this winter! I just have to find out how many pieces they need and if I need them framed or just wired to hang.

Also submitted a painting for a possible October gallery show! Notices for that are going out this month. Fingers crossed! It’s rather lighthearted and playful, but I did put a lot of time into it. Here it be.

Had a recent medical procedure/testing that kind of threw me off my game. Thus far, everything seems okay. No worries. However, I consequently fell behind on my self-care, physical therapy exercises, walking, and mindfulness. BUT today is a new day. I did walk yesterday, and took a selfie on the walking bridge by my parents’ house.

Still have more medical stuff to catch up on, that I let slide when I shouldn’t have. Another referral made around last fall/winter that I didn’t follow through on because I don’t like to drive more than absolutely necessary when there’s even a hint of the possibility of that four-letter weather word that starts with “s” (I refuse to say it this early into the year).

But I’m working on it.

Also still need to finish up watching the latest season of The Boys. Came across a spoiler for the season finale by mistake. Wanted to give myself some time to forget the details.

Still using Finch, even if I didn’t complete every single daily goal the 3 days around my medical stuff this week. It was arduous. But I seem okay. Will have further test results soon.

Afterward, I got some sympathy Olive Garden with my parents. I just wish I would’ve been brave enough to do the never-ending pasta bowl special and done some of that with salad. But my mom did soup, salad, and breadsticks, and I felt self-conscious about how much I might eat otherwise. They don’t eat much anymore.

Made up for it at Tucson’s the day after, where I got fajitas with a literally-sizzling platter, mucho toppings, and fluffy tortillas.

Anyway, I still want to walk, and do more mindfulness and DBT stuff before work today. It’s still a-ways off, but I like having lots and lots of time to prep mentally. But I wanted to pop in and give y’all an update, since I haven’t been on for a bit.

Wishing you all the whimsy of a flock of starlings swooping through the sky.