Only Revolutions of Ruin:

As far as the books go, all good stuff.  I knew that things would take a slow turn this summer as sun, the outdoors, work, and friends take precedence to sitting on my tail reading (And definitely not Mass Effect 3, not at all, nope, didn't spend any time at all on that bastard of a time-suck.), but I'll take the numbers I've got. 

Mostly, I'll take the impending trash-talking that I'm going to deliver to Kate, in person, tomorrow.  Lady can't hang. 

To be totally honest, I'm less interested in writing about reading this month than I have been.  (WARNING! WARNING! INTROSPECTION AHEAD!)  The move to Athens and the shift in job duties has been both hectic and deeply fulfilling - it is a blessing to be back among friends with whom I have history, who know the stories that get told over drinks late in the night, who smile at my flaws and laugh at my terrible jokes.  Life at work is full of energy and excitement from the new staff, and from me as I learn new things and take on new responsibilities.  It's been a while since I have felt both challenged on this level and able to deliver a high amount of energy and enthusiasm to side projects of my own; the shift reminds me of the reasons I love and believe in our program and seems to have fueled a growth spurt for my own development. 

Personally, my sudden life changes back at the beginning of the year have been judo-flung into embracing everything.  It works.  I keep wondering when the nasty grief and loss will hop out from behind a rock and kick me in the neck, but those feelings float somewhere between resignation and bewilderment.  That's fine.  Mostly I miss beautiful Boone - the wind and the bright blue skies, Stick Boy Bread, family dinners, the hardwood floors, St. Elizabeth's of the Hill Country and the wonderful people there, the guy at Gamestop who was nice, the evidence that everyone in Watauga County was deeply connected to the outdoors, the strange blend of 'good ole boy' and 'local/organic/green/yoga' folks.  It felt like home.

Alright then.  Enough of that.

On a side note - I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but I have officially decided that Summer 2012 is the Season of Really Good Music.  Not all of these albums have come out in the last few weeks, but they are new to me: Regina Spektor, Of Monsters and Men, Company of Thieves, Horse Feathers, Laura Marling, and Metric right around the corner.  It's raining awesomeness.

The Fifth Elephant, Terry Pratchett - 400p.
My Life With the Saints, Fr. James Martin - 432p.
Believing in Jesus, Leonard Foley - 324p.
By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, Paulo Coehlo - 208p.

SIX MONTH TOTAL: 15,603 PAGES!