Author Archives: Thistle

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About Thistle

Queer, neurospicy, chronically longwinded oversharer. 40s; they/them. βœοΈπŸ“·πŸˆπŸ“šπŸ₯ΎπŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺπŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆπŸ˜‡πŸ’–πŸ

Writer vs Author

This week, I quit the paralegal course I’ve been taking this year. I had no desire to continue in this field, and while the decision was difficult, I feel much lighter now that I’ve let it go. Of course, I … Continue reading

Posted in Writing | Tagged | 13 Comments

Wellness Wednesday #1: Curve-ball

Really, you’d think after a single week on this wellness journey, I’d be doing well. At the very least, I’d expect any not-well to be my own doing, an attack of insecurity or depression leading to binging or something. But … Continue reading

Posted in Wellness | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

RIP X

TurningΒ leaves, shifting winds, airing out sweaters, and pumpkin-everything – wishful dreaming for this part of the world. With the temps sticking in the swelteringly hot upper 90s (if not higher), the start of RIP-season is a welcome occurrence. Soon, soon, … Continue reading

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged | 11 Comments

Pretending to be Erica, by Michelle Painchaud

Kidnapped thirteen years ago, at the age of four, Erica Silverman is the holy grail of cons. Her parents are filthy rich, and built somewhere into their library is a safe containing a painting worth millions. More than one “Erica” … Continue reading

Posted in 2015, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sunday Coffee – Goal Check-In

For my 36th birthday back on March 1st, I made a list of 36 goals to complete: a 36 in 36 project. Now that the year is half up, I wanted to take a moment to check in with how … Continue reading

Posted in Personal | Tagged , | 8 Comments

The Underground Girls of Kabul, by Jenny Nordberg (audio)

Subtitled: In Search of Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan [some versions are subtitled: The Hidden Lives of Afghan Girls Disguised as Boys] When Jenny Nordberg was reporting in Afghanistan, she came across a phenomenon she hadn’t heard of before: bacha posh, … Continue reading

Posted in 2015, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Nekropolis, by Maureen McHugh

Hariba has voluntarily entered a life of forced servitude to escape the death-homes of Nekropolis, the section of a large Moroccan city where she was raised. She’s working for a rich couple who buy the contract of many such forced-servants, … Continue reading

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Lies My Girlfriend Told Me, by Julie Anne Peters

When Alix’s girlfriend suddenly dies, her world shatters. As she’s picking up the pieces, she discovers that Swanee didn’t just leave her behind – she left her in ignorance. Because Swanee wasn’t just dating Alix. She had another girlfriend, another … Continue reading

Posted in 2015, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , | 4 Comments

A Brand New Journey

Most of you know my health backstory already: After eleven years of illness that caused a myriad of symptoms, including gigantic weight fluctuations, I was finally healed and ready to embark on a weight loss journey to lose 100+ lbs. … Continue reading

Posted in Wellness | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Sunday Coffee – Readathon FAIL – Again

Um. Remember how I signed up for Bout of Books? Well, just like the last half-dozen readathons I’ve signed up for, it didn’t work out. Yeah… Here’s the thing. It used to be that when I signed up for a … Continue reading

Posted in Book Talk, Wellness | Tagged , | 7 Comments