Author Archives: Thistle

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About Thistle

Queer, neurospicy, chronically longwinded oversharer. 40s; they/them. ✍️📷🐈📚🥾🇩🇪🏳️‍🌈😇💖🐍

Anniversary Advent

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Thistle

This year, Jason and I celebrate our 22nd anniversary today! Because it was our 22nd anniversary and December 22nd, we did something different this year, and made an Anniversary Advent game! Like a traditional advent calendar, we each opened a … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | 3 Comments

Cytonic, by Brandon Sanderson (audio)

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Thistle

In this third volume of the Skyward series, Spensa and M-Bot are stuck in the Nowhere, off on an adventure to learn more about 1) the creatures that want to destroy them, and 2) the nature of their selves. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in 2021, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Sunday Coffee – YWA Move

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Thistle

Last year, when I signed up for Yoga With Adriene’s January challenge – Breath – I had every intention on becoming more consistent with yoga in 2021. That didn’t work out. I never did Breath in order, and I only … Continue reading →

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Abandoned Books of 2021

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Thistle

I don’t read books that aren’t working for me. Most of the time, if I start a book that’s not going to work, I can tell within a few chapters, if not a few pages or even paragraphs. I cull … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Wellness Wednesday – Better Than Serotonin…

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Thistle

Ten days ago, I thought I was going to end up in the hospital again. My generalized unspecific inflammation had skyrocketed with the introduction of a new medicine the day after Thanksgiving, and a week later, I had to stop … Continue reading →

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The Alchemist of Fire and Fortune, by Gigi Pandian (audio)

Posted on December 13, 2021 by Thistle

Blackmail. Treasure maps. Fool’s gold. Missing persons. Fire. Family. Alchemy. This is the fifth installment of the Accidental Alchemist series about a 300+ year old alchemist living in Portland with her 150-year-old living gargoyle best friend. And as I’ve raved … Continue reading →

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Sunday Coffee – 100 Happy Days, Fini

Posted on December 12, 2021 by Thistle

My attempt to find the happy for 100 days in a row is now over, as of 12/9. This has been a very trying time for me, and I admit that the project helped provide a little distraction. For that, … Continue reading →

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The Lost Gargoyle of Paris, by Gigi Pandian (audio)

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Thistle

After the Notre Dame fire, a document supposedly drawn by Victor Hugo is discovered inside some of the wrecked walls of the cathedral. Fearing that this document might be stolen and used by backward alchemists, Zoe Faust and Dorian travel … Continue reading →

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Wellness Wednesday – Dreamscape

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Thistle

In January 1999, I woke up from a dream that wasn’t typical for me. I’m not going to recount the entire dream, but at the end, I lifted my gaze from my empty hand to what had been a tree-lined … Continue reading →

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Understanding Exposure, by Bryan Peterson

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Thistle

Subtitled: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera The subtitle says it all. This isn’t so much a how-to for working a camera in manual mode, but to help photographers understand more the ins and outs of doing so … Continue reading →

Posted in 2021, Adult, Prose, Visual | Tagged , | 1 Comment