Book Shelf Revisited : Are We Eating Meat?

Or something else? We all have heard rumors about places serving meats other than the kinds we're accustomed to, but what if someone was intentionally serving this and making sure you didn't know? What if that sweet meat was something, deviously acquired?

I'm guessing a lot of you have seen the movie "Sweeney Todd". So the idea about eating human flesh isn't unknown, or a rarity. But in this hard copy book, the author gives it a twist.

Ambrosial Flesh
Mary Ann Mitchell
391 pages

This book takes a rather gruesome look at a church practice that has been around for a long time, communion. And that's just when the book starts. We're let into the world of a young boy, his happiness, and fears and wonders. But when denied action that he's been trained to perform, he makes a decision that effects the rest of his life, as we find out as the book goes on.

He chooses to nibble at little pieces of his own skin. Eventually progressing to nibbling bits of other people that were consenting. The premise of the story is fairly believable, although eventually it takes a turn into the absurd that most horror does.

Not a book for those with weak stomachs, or that get queasy at the thought of blood. Aimed more towards mature audiences. I enjoyed it because it's very different from some of the books I've read in the way that we see it end. I'll just say, it is unexpected but definitely a good choice.

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Originally posted January 10, 2012 at http://thebookshelfgoblin.blogspot.com/

Guess Who's Back?

I know I haven't been posting very regularly in the... most recent past. But there is usually a rhyme and reason to all of that. One reason being it is harder to write a post using my phone than it is on my laptop. Another reason being, that in all honesty for a while there I didn't have anything positive to say.

To be truly fair, right now, as the world goes at least, there is not a lot of positive things happening. But for now I can be content knowing that for the near future, I have the opportunity and chance to pick this up again, and it was definitely something that I enjoy doing. So I look forward to writing and curating information or art for you here again.

Will it be a bit bumpy at first?

Of course.

But anything worth doing, is worth doing no matter how dull it may seem compared to expectations.

Right now though, I am lucky because I do not really have any expectations for the near future. Other than finding something to use as a creative outlet so I have something to do besides work.

In any case, thank you for sticking around.

Let me know if there is something you want my take on, or maybe you want some recommendations? Where should I pick up again?

Not As Under The Weather

But still not entirely great.

It has been a while since I wrote. I apologize for that, but there isn't really any way for me to reliably be on currently. Not that I think very many people are reading this of late... But I can hope, right?

So what have I been up to? I had a DNC and an ablation in the hopes of stopping the heavy bleeding that has been putting me out for the past 2 and a half years. I went to the emergency room twice, because I ended up extremely dehydrated. Currently, it has almost been a month since the procedures. I am feeling less bloated, and a lot more... alive? I don't feel as exhausted all the time.

I also have been working a lot, but if you've been around for a while or know me fairly well, you would know that I really enjoy working the seasonal job at Spirit. It may not be fancy or anything, but it leets me feel creative, and help people create their costume looks.

I have 2 new young family members. My one sister n law had a boy in September. While the other had a baby girl in October. Babies are ok I guess. But I like them better when they are able to verbalize and actually explain what is going wrong. Plus they can go to the bathroom on their own. Not a fan of diapers.

Now I am switching over to day shift at my normal job for a few weeks. It is going to take some getting used to, but it isn't awful. The worst part is lunch when the kids are super duper loud. Other than that everything is pretty much run of the mill. Nothing exotic or awe inspiring.

I do get to DM this weekend at a convention. So that is kind of fun. I enjoy it because it lets me play with new players, as well as hopefully inspire new players to want to continue to play.

Oh! And our Adventure League Group is getting to run an epic! This is fabulous because we are doing it as a toy drive, meaning that anyone can play, and there is all sorts of fun interesting things that could happen.

Other than that, my life is fairly boring. But that is ok. I would rather have a boring life than a miserable one.

Sick of feeling Sick

Otherwise known as life has been hard.

Let's go behind the curtain of the past few months, by looking at the current development.  I ended up in the emergency room, where they did blood tests and various exams yet were unable to figure out why I was losing so much blood, because there was nothing showing up as the culprit. But 3 bags of saline, and some sort of medicine later, with no identifiable cause for it, they let me go home. Which was fine, but they warned me to drink as much fluid as possible, because they said otherwise I would be unable to keep up with how much I was losing. (Which they said eould be a ridiculous amount so to just be careful not to do anything that might hurt me)

A few days later at a doctor office, they decided to do a biopsy. Which confirmed something mentioned LAST year when I had gone to the emergency room.  There is some sort of polyp hiding in a spot the internal/external xrays couldn't show.

So now, I have to see another doctor to discuss having it removed in a process that sounds highly uncomfortable.

But now they have an identified culprit. So now I can get some answers. But at this point I feel like I have lost so much time, and missed out on so much, that I am a bit angry about it. Yet, I am a bit relieved because ideally it shouldn't happen again . No guarantee that it won't,  but there is enough room to hope that it will not happen again .

So there is my check in. Not really a fun one, but at least it gives ya some information about where I have been. (go to work, come home, pass out)

Crafting, Creating, and Pain Management

I am honestly sorry that I haven't been writing here as often as I would like to. But part of that is caused by the fact that I don't have the internet at home currently. It does put a bit of a damper on things, as it makes it a bit more difficult for me to find a reliable set up t o come in and write. I was advised that maybe I could do it by phone. But there really isn't a reason that I want to do that. It only increases my spelling error rate.

And to be honest I don't really have much to talk about currently. I haven't had a lot of good things that would interest you to say. And honestly the bad things are more frustrating than interesting for me.

So I have been crafting still. I have been working on a couple craft swaps, the most recent one we finished was based on the 90's, and was a ton of fun for me. I just wish that the things I had ordered online to add to the package had turned up on time, to be included in the outgoing mailer so that it would be complete as I had envisioned it.

Creating a wide variety of unique things has been a goal as more topics are brought up. I am also participating in the dnd craft swap on Instagram, and I am kinda helping to run it even though I am admittedly a bit behind in making the check ins. q.q

I have also been working on completing some dice trays and a mini carry box for the new dungeons and dragons Adventure League group we are playing in at the local game shop on Fridays. My boyfriend is dming one of the groups, and while he is a bit nervous about it I also know that it is good for him. I like the idea that he is getting to be more social with people, and getting to be more comfortable in new circumstances. It is very good for him, me too in a way. Because I don't have to worry as much about him being alone.

Pain management is my major issue the past month or so. My head has been killing me, enough that I went to the doctor to see if there is something wrong. She had me go in for an MRI but they didn't find anything that would be the cause for the pain. We're on the second pain medication, but today... Today it is barely taking the edge off. I want to blame the weather and lack of sleep as the cause of the pain, but... I can't be completely sure.

So in truth I haven't been super active in general. I'm spending a lot of my time just wishing that my head would stop hurting. I am very tired of hurting. I would really like to be able to do the things I enjoy without aching. It is distracting and discouraging.

In any case, this is me checking in. Sorry for the silent air, I will work on it, but right now I honestly... can't. It hurts to look at the screen this long. Thanks for sticking around.