My words for 2024 were JOY and EXPANSION, and I’m feeling all of it. I started the beginning of the year returning to a previous teaching job, and after adjusting to the big changes that had occurred, I feel like I’ve hit my stride.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m coasting, but I’m no longer treading water. I’m also looking forward to my month-long break during the Christmas holidays.
Gratitude challenge
And this year, like the past zillion years, I’m participating in another gratitude challenge, even though I’m not on IG. I decided FB and Substack’s Notes were good enough.
Almost a year on Substack
Speaking of, I continue to stay active on Substack and grow my readership. I also decided that I can turn on paid subscriptions, but without paywalling anything. If I’m honest, it’s less about making money than it is about seeing if I’m treated differently on the platform. It’s too soon to tell, but I’ll report back.
My most popular essay to date was the one I was most afraid of writing and publishing. Essentially, there were many observations and feelings I have had during this writing journey that I kept filed away. When I wrote it, I edited heavily, and sat with it for a long time. I wanted to strike the right note, and I was scared of sounding whingy, or of being misperceived.
Now, I’m proud of it. I finally said what I’ve been wanting to say for years. I also have new ideas that I’m excited to try out. In short, I’m glad I took a chance on something new.
Reading roundup
Currently, I’m reading Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor. I picked it up because it’s considered THE historical fiction novel. First published in 1944, it tells the story of penniless Amber during King Charles II’s rein, in the mid-1600s. The details of life in London during this period is exquisite and utterly remarkable. Naturally, it’s almost 1,000 pages, and in 1947 was turned into a film.
Prior to that, I read Damsel by Evelyn Skye in a few days. She adapted it from Dan Mazeau’s screenplay based on the classic tale of ‘princess gets sacrificed to dragon’. Apparently, it’s a Netflix film staring Bobbie Brown, but I haven’t watched it yet. the novel, however, is fun, light, and easy. Reminds me of a book you recommend to someone who doesn’t like reading, but enjoys fantasy.
I’m pretty much here for anything that Richard Osman writes. After reading all of The Thursday Murder Club series, I pounced on his latest crime solving characters in We Solve Murders. Thoroughly entertaining, and I’m looking forward to his next installment. Osman excels at humor, of course, but also crafting characters you care about.
I made it through two of the three Kingsbridge series (tomes, really) by Ken Follett. I went straight through, but stalled somewhere in the beginning of the third one. And I really gave it a chance, definitely more than 50 pages in, but this time, Follett introduced with too many folks in too many places that I needed to keep track of. Couldn’t do it, but maybe I’ll pick it up again.
WordPress changes
About this time every year, I get the notification to renew my Premium plan on WP. What started off as having my own domain name and getting ads off of my blog at an acceptable amount, has transformed throughout the years to something I have seriously wondered is it worth the cost?
I think WP knows they’ve ‘gotcha’, because who wants to go through the hassle of changing their plan? This year I decided it’s not worth the money, especially since I’ve moved over to Substack. When I tried to downgrade from Premium to Personal, I was told I needed to go through a representative.
Since they took away my autonomy to make the decision on my own, I decided I’d let the plan run out and if I felt like it renew again with Personal ($4/mo) at half the cost of Premium ($8/mo). And then lo and behold, after a song and dance from the rep via email, I was advised to do the exact thing I was thinking of.
So, you’ll see some changes to the site as a segue into a more budget friendly plan. I’ll have to change my theme. I might delete those old Wordless Wednesday posts (remember them?) as they feel as ancient as AOL or MySpace.
Happy Fall, my friends! What’s new with you?
Life, the Universe, and Lani 
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