As Yet Untitled

Is anyone else looking for something not-quite-horror to read this fall? Because I have a little something for you. Natasha Wittman's Wolves and Men delivers sufficient creepiness, action, and nature scenery (which for some reason I always associate with fall) to keep you feeling frisky and leave you with a satisfying read. One of my very favorite things about reading books is seeing characters that like books as much as I do. For me, it just adds a whole new level of intimacy with the main character and I have also discovered a lot of new reading material by seeking out books that my favorite protagonists had read. This might be why I ultimately enjoyed Natasha Wittman's work. In Wolves and Men , the protagonist is a brainy, highly troubled poetry major who not only uses the wilderness to sort out her problems, but frames her experiences amid the myriad books she has read and loved over the years. This is a novel that is rich in literary allusion, and no slouch when i...

Where I found the photo. Caveat: In this post I am discussing veganism, a topic that a lot of people have passionate opinions about. I am genuinely looking for informed advice and commentary, so please try to remain civilized and refrain from judgmental, self-righteous, or over-generalized statements. Instead of arguing, let's strive for genuine understanding. I'm looking for perspective here. Thank you in advance.  I find myself on the horns of a true dilemma. Earlier today I was reading a health-oriented blog I follow and a post popped up about how Anne Hathaway mentioned in an interview that she gave up being a vegan . The comments on that post threw me into complete turmoil. They were all very vehement, and very poorly spelled, and  I am positive that I would not want to be in conversation with any of these people in real life. But the most vitriolic of the comments did get me thinking. See, I have been on the fence for a while now, debating about whether I really...

Sunday was a very important day. It was the day of the Runtoberfest 5k and Beer Bash, and was also the graduation race from the Red Coyote Newbie Running Program, a couch to 5k program that I signed up for a few months ago. I had started this same program a few years ago, but ended up stopping about halfway through when I got pregnant. So this time I was happy to sign up and see it through to the end. And not just because I did not get pregnant this time. Hard earned beers after the race! This time, I had running buddies. Two of my best friends agreed to do this with me, (or rather, Blair and I agreed to do it with Sheridan) and this could have gone disastrously wrong. Trying to do sporting activities with your friends is like undertaking any big challenge with people you love. It can completely ruin the relationship and reveal horrible things about people you once thought you held in high esteem. It takes patience, fortitude, and several other key components to ensure that your ...