Hey everybody. In gentle of the Coronavirus pandemic, it nearly feels foolish to replace you with what’s occurring in my life. I’ll attempt to maintain this gentle. I hope you might be staying protected, wholesome, and sane in these tough instances.
Sorry I haven’t written a recap since, oh, December. Grad college has been intense — I’m taking 15 credit proper now, so it’s been robust to give attention to something however college. The excellent news? I’m accomplished in June!
This winter, I’ve principally stayed put in Ann Arbor. That being mentioned, I did take two journeys out west — Park Metropolis, Utah, to ski, and Calfornia to see mates.
The place I’ve been:
- Park Metropolis, Utah (7 days)
- Traverse Metropolis, Michigan (3 days)
- San Francisco, CA (6 days)
- LA (3 days)
- Ann Arbor, Michigan (the remainder of the time)
Highs:
Snowboarding in Park Metropolis. Over the vacations, my household and I spent per week snowboarding in Park Metropolis, Utah. It was pleasant. I felt very lucky to have the ability to ski and to take a much-needed break from grad college.
Writing a historic fiction novel. After many false begins writing books (by which I imply I began and give up writing no less than ten), I feel I’ve discovered my style — historic fiction! I’m 80 pages into my novel and it’s been a lot enjoyable to analysis and write. One factor that helped immensely was The Artist’s Approach, a guide that leads you thru a 12-step inventive restoration course. I like to recommend it to everybody, unconditionally.
Spending spring break in California. As I’ve talked about on this weblog many, many instances, San Francisco is my favourite metropolis. So it was great to spend 5 days there catching up with mates and scoping out potential neighborhoods (P.S. I’m very into Richmond and the Sundown). Although town has modified rather a lot previously 10 years, it’s nonetheless the place I see myself after commencement. (And if you realize anybody hiring for UX design, I’d be so grateful for an intro.)
Lows:
Coronavirus. This pandemic feels so surreal and is tough for thus many causes. I’m making an attempt to do the socially accountable factor by staying residence and washing my arms ceaselessly. I’m making an attempt to remain constructive and never panic. I’m utilizing this chance to complete my novel, learn a ton, and re-learn piano. That being mentioned, I’m very apprehensive about individuals in my life who’re in danger, in addition to the final state of the world proper now.
Michigan winter. Actually, it sucks to reside in a spot the place it hurts to stroll exterior six months out of the yr. It’s simply too rattling chilly right here. Fortunately, spring appears to be proper across the nook.
Saying goodbye to Cape City. I by no means introduced this, however final month I bought a two-month internship in Cape City, South Africa in Could and June. I used to be SO enthusiastic about it. However yesterday, I bought the information that the internship was canceled. It’s an enormous bummer however pales compared to what different persons are going via — so I’m making an attempt to not really feel sorry for myself.
Running a blog Stuff
Fashionable posts
Hottest publish: Why Ditching My Dream Digicam Made Me Love Images Once more – I used to be shocked this publish did so nicely. It appears many individuals felt the identical means about mirrorless cameras!
Different posts revealed since November:
Running a blog site visitors & revenue (February 2020):
My weblog site visitors took an enormous hit in November on account of a Google replace. Site visitors is now taking an excellent greater hit as a result of coronavirus. Dips in my revenue like this make me grateful running a blog is simply a side-gig — I’m actually feeling for all bloggers and individuals who work within the journey trade proper now.
February site visitors: 47,375 web page views
September running a blog revenue – $812.25
- Promoting – $693.36
- Affiliate revenue (Amazon) – $61.78
- Affiliate revenue (not Amazon): $57.11
- E-book gross sales: $0.00
Observe that that is my running a blog revenue earlier than deductions or bills.
Favourite learn
The Forgotten Soldier by Man Sajer – This guide received’t be for everybody, however I actually loved it. This memoir follows the journey of Man, a 16-year previous French boy who’s drafted into the German military in WWII. Although the guide has a variety of violence, I actually loved Sajer’s introspection on turning into a soldier and what it’s like dwelling in wartime. He is a wonderful author, and writes very poetically about many topics: “Peace has introduced me many pleasures, however nothing as highly effective as that keenness for survival in wartime, that religion in love, and that sense of absolutes. It usually strikes me with horror that peace is absolutely extraordinarily monotonous. Throughout the horrible moments of conflict one longs for peace with a ardour that’s painful to bear. However in peacetime one ought to by no means, even for an instantaneous, lengthy for conflict!”
Up subsequent:
Nothing, I assume? I used to be speculated to go to my buddy’s thirtieth birthday celebration in Baja, Mexico, in April, however it appears to be like like that received’t be taking place. Commencement can also be canceled.
How is your winter going? How are you dealing with/embracing this loopy time? Ebook suggestions EXTREMELY welcome.
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