What I Did Last Month: Silent Hiatus Recap & Back to Blogging

Hello sweeties! 💚

I'm here. I'm live. Well...as live as one can be when writing a post in advance LOL. But I mean, this is a new post, not one I scheduled a month or two ago. When I planned my hiatus, on my return I hoped to be able to post the review that started it all - the one that I couldn't seem to write, and that made me realise I needed some blogging-free space. But I finally decided to let it sit for a while longer, so I'm writing this post instead. I hold a grudge to that review LOL. It's not a good idea to force myself to write it now. But while I still have a couple of pre-hiatus posts waiting to go live (May 24th -> Rehabilitating YA: 20 Trope-Free Standalones/Series to Read if You've Given Up on It (Pt.4); May 28th -> TMST: Who Are Some of Your Favourite Authors?), I wanted to do a small recap of what I did last month and give you some heads-up about my future...

HIATUS? WHAT HIATUS?

So...my invisible hiatus has finally come to an end. Except it was a funny hiatus, because after a few non-blogging days, I started to, erm, write the odd blog post again. I wrote and scheduled a couple of TMST posts, one for June, one for July. I even wrote the first post in a still secret new series, and scheduled it for June 2nd. Now, don't get me wrong - I enjoyed not to have commitments (and what's worse...self-imposed ones). I still wasn't in the headspace for reviews, while memes and new post ideas felt fun. But I can't say it was a REAL blogging hiatus, since I had enough posts scheduled to cover its whole length and more, and I was STILL plotting (if not writing) my comeback with a vengeance.

DETACHED MODE(M)

So. As I said, a few days into my hiatus I got restless and started planning/writing more posts. I took a leave of absence the week before Easter. I did a little housekeeping (far less than I should have) and went on a couple of errands out of town. I reread The Outs by E.S. Wesley, and I loved it as much as I did the first two times, two years and a half ago. I blog-hopped...until my modem broke at the end of April, and I had to rely on my station at work to do some net-surfing. Problem was, I had to wait EIGHT WHOLE DAYS for a modem replacement. Plus, on May 1st (Labour Day) and May 4th/5th (a weekend), I was completely isolated, internet-wise, because I only work Monday to Friday and never on the holidays, so I couldn't access the net from my workstation. Picture me internet-less for TWO WHOLE DAYS (plus one). I was losing my mind LOL. And it could have been worse - what if my modem had broken during my leave of absence? A whole week (plus Easter Monday) without a connection...I can't even think about it *shudders*. Well, anyway - while waiting for my new modem, I was able to say hi on Twitter, approve/reply to my own comments, and check on my email and Goodreads account from work, but nothing more...so I'm sorry I couldn't visit/return comments. I hoped to be able to catch up eventually, but I only managed to comment of a few blogs. Time is always a factor...Sorry again everyone 😟. Darnedest modem 😡.

DUTY CASE

At the beginning of May, while still modem-deprived, I started rereading I Crawl Through It by A.S. King. I had already written a mini for it a while ago, but I've finally concocted a "proper" review lately, which will go live on June 6th. (I have to admit I felt a little rusted, or burnt-out, when it came to writing a review...but I hope to get my mojo back). I also got a lovely present from my friend Fanni, but I'll tell you more about it later (just know that it's bookish stuff). And on May 3rd, I got summoned to poll duty (something I've done for a few years now) for the European/local election combo on May 26th. Which means a 3-day job: we do ballot-sheet paperwork on Saturday 25th afternoon, perform actual poll duty on Sunday (7 to 23, after which we count votes for our branch of the European election) and go back to the polling place on Monday at 14 to count the local election votes. Another three days with little to none internet access for me, the very days in which I actually do most of my blogging/visiting...but well, I get a little money from that. VERY little compared to the work involved, but you know - anything helps.

IN FULL SWING

Last but not least...I got my yearly perm on May 11th. Oh, the joy 🎉 🎊 🙌.
So, I guess that's it for now. I intend to revert to full reviewing mode, and I've already started planning lots of stuff - I only hope I'm not overburdening myself. But if it were the case...I could always take another hiatus haha.