August // School + Secret Sisters

August seemed like the longest month ever. Which was good, because it was summery and nice.

~Summer school ended in August, and I got A's in both my classes so YAY! It was a successful session.

~Then I had two weeks of break, during which I did SO MANY THINGS. I went to the Renaissance Faire for the first time which was stupendous and beyond anything I ever could have imagined. I hung out with friends, and went to an end of summer barbecue on the beach. My aunt came over from London and we all visited her at my grandma's house and I read on a raft on a lake. We had friends over for a revival of our writers' group (it had gone defunct after we went to college). I wrote two short stories and plotted out half of the VeniceNovel. I also blogged a lot. It was a really excellent two weeks.

My #OTSPSecretSister package goodies

~I also got a lovely package from my #OTSPSecretSister! This is the first month of the new session (my first time doing it!). Basically it's like Secret Santa cheer-spreading loveliness except once a month! It's splendid.

~School started on the 25th, and the first week was a breeze. I had no labs for the first week, so I just hung out with friends each day. College without actual college is a splendid thing. (Now I'm actually getting into work but I'm glad I took advantage of my free time that first week.) This year I'm taking an English course that will allow me to tutor in the Writing Center, which is fun!

~There was a clear point where my internet presence disappeared, that coincided nicely with the first week of school. This is not because I was so busy with school, because, as I said, the first week was easy. It was because I was catching up with real-life friends. I like friends WOO

~Exactly at that point, I thought it would be a smart idea to get a tumblr. Yes. Go me.
Anyway, my tumblr is going to be full of less sophisticated stuff than this blog (like what I do here is so sophisticated, yeah), and possibly even have some of my flash fiction / short stories / WIP excerpts on it. So go follow me! (Also, I need to follow more people on there, so if you have a tumblr, let me know!)

~Overall the whole month was a month of gorgeous skies and minimal rain. Awesome for me, not so awesome for our garden in the backyard. But hey, I had nice walks between the train station and my university! (And lots of nice barbecue weather.)

It was a small haul, but nice:

Cleopatra's Shadow by Emily Holleman - thanks to Hachette for the ARC!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson - found at my lovely train station free-book shelf.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - from my August #OTSPSecret Sister box! Thank you sister!
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson - also from the train station. I heard it's good and mystical and creepy.

The photos link to their Instagram versions

 

 

I was not very active on the blogging world (sorry) but I promise I'll be better commenting now! So this month I'm sharing some not necessarily blogging things - just internet fun.

Annie Hawthorne joined the blogging world! Go welcome her at Curious Wren!

This baby reacts the way we all do when our favorite book ends. 

Props to this guy! He's a genius and an innovator and deserves way more in life. Someone get him a job at a library! 

Renaissance Faire Frolickings

{I inundate you with photos from the faire - THERE ARE FAIRIES}

Top Ten Tuesday: Auto Buy Books

{If I were rich... I'd buy every single book buy these authors}

The Unpopular Opinions Tag (Don't Hate Me)

{Thanks to Cait for the tag!}

How was your August? Was it as hot and sunny as mine? Is school-starting a thing that happened in your life this month? Tell me in the comments!