books, travel, nursing, and all of life's in-betweens
Wow, February! What an exciting, whirlwind of a month you’ve been. From passing the NCLEX-RN to that COVID scare, this month gave me no breaks emotionally. And bookwise? It has been a rollercoaster. But let’s jump right into the monthly wrap-up!
Read more
2020, you son of a b!tch — you have been a wild and crazy ride. Worst ride I’ve been on, to be frank. It’s crazy to think that this time last year, I was packing for my trip to Tokyo and Manila. No doubt, I’m repeating what others have said in their reflections: I feel like I’ve aged a decade in this year alone.
I’m going to be honest — this post is hard to write. How can I put this entire year into a few short paragraphs? Would it even be possible to describe the fear, confusion, paranoia, anger, anxiety, bliss, and jubilation I felt this year? Whirlpool? Yes.
I had to write and rewrite this multiple times over because it was starting to turn into a rambling mess. Easier said, than done. Even so, being able to reflect is an important skill to possess. How else can we learn from our mistakes and not repeat them if we don’t take the time to look back? In the end, I saved those bits and pieces onto a Google doc that I can read in the future.
In the midst of all this good news that I will share, I want you to please take the time to read up on current events. We all want to be able to cut out a safe space for ourselves in the middle of the chaos. However, I believe that those of us with platforms should use our voices to uplift the voices of those calling out for help and to share legitimate, true facts with our readers/viewers.
Here are just a few things that I hope you would take the time to read up on:
I especially want to highlight those links about COVID-19. Please continue to take this pandemic SERIOUSLY in 2021. We are not out of the woods. Keep our communities and frontline workers safe.
Wear your mask over your nose and mouth.
Wash your hands with soap and water — or antibacterial hand sanitizers if you don’t have access to soap and water.
Social distance whenever and wherever possible.
No large gatherings — especially indoors.
Remember your actions impact everyone around you. Even if your family and friends are not directly impacted, your actions are impacting the community and making it harder and harder to reopen. Furthermore, your actions help spread the virus and thus lead to hospitals becoming overwhelmed. You may not
Quite frankly? If you’re unable to wear a mask due to “medical issues” (like that “asthma” you claim to have), you really shouldn’t be outside! Stay home! Why risk getting sick since your “asthma” makes it so unbearable? After all, you wouldn’t want to have a tube stuffed down your throat to help you breathe, right?
Now, to good news!
Read more
August went by ridiculously fast. It feels like yesterday I was setting up my Wikathon TBR. Now, we are 14 days away from my first day of Med-Surg 2! Oh lord, help. My hands are shaking just from sheer anxiety and excitement.
Ended up going to the beach one last time. Sort of spent the month trying to force myself back into my nursing student shelf so that was interesting. It felt nice, actually. It was especially helpful that I ordered an office chair for myself which means I can finally study in peace w/o my back hurting after sitting for 10 minutes.
Overall? Pretty good month personally.
As you may know, I took part in Wikathon. Here are the books I read for this month for Wikathon (along with a last minute edition):
I am glad I took part in Wikathon. It was an incredible experience. Not only did I get to read these awesome books by Filipino authors, I got to meet and talk to so many fantastic Filipino book bloggers. What a way to end my summer! Thank you so much to the hosts, to the Filipino bloggers I ended up talking to as a result of this readathon, and to the Filipino authors themselves for writing these books.
Am I upset I didn’t get to the other books on my Wikathon TBR? Not really because there’s always next time! Maybe I’ll get to them in the near future. All depends on what the reading cravings demand.
This semester is going to be a rough one. Medical Surgical Nursing II is my last class in the RN program and is worth 9 credits. I have class basically Monday – Thursday, but every day I will be studying for this class and prepping. My activity level on this blog (& bookstagram) will fall to bare minimum.
Aside from my review of The Ikessar Falcon for the blog tour (check out the tag on twitter and instagram btw #DethronetheDragonlord), I have nothing else review wise planned/queued at the time of writing this wrap up. I’m hoping that I can maybe write my full reviews for Wicked As You Wish and Patron Saints of Nothing, however I’m not sure as I do also want to try and read another book before school starts while I try to read and begin reviewing for med-surg.
In any case, I will see you guys around! Have a great Fall semester to all the students going back to school. Stay safe and healthy. Please wear your masks, perform hand hygiene, and remember that collective cooperation will help keep the curve flat.
— Veronica 🌙
I can’t believe it’s already August. It feels like July just started. I’m struggling to wrap my head around it because August meant crunch time. In between reading for Wikathon (which you should totally go and check out my TBR for), I was going to be reading for Med Surg 2 aka my last class of this nursing program.
Yay!
But also, holy shit it’s almost September. No — no I’m not going to focus on that because then I’ll start to go all over the place and that’s never good.
I went to the beach and currently have a very nice tan. I got to hang out with my best friends and just relax with them for a bit. Also, we got to play on the swings so that was even more fun. I discovered this taco truck near me and went 2x already because it’s that good. I also got my hair done and I’m super happy with how it’s turned out. Oh and my mom discovered this Filipino-owned small business that makes sylvanas! My summer class just ended and I’m just waiting for my grades.
Overall, it’s been a pretty good month personally.
Book wise? It’s been really good, as well.
So my school announced that we’re pretty much going to do online learning for Fall 2020. However, my department has yet to announce plans for our program specifically. When I know what’s going to happen, I’ll definitely make an update here because what happens in terms of classes, clinicals, and labs makes a difference.
Until my next post!
— Veronica 🌙
February was a blur and I still can’t believe it’s already March! The new semester has already started up for me which means this is probably one of the last posts you’ll see from me aside from my blog tour book review posts for Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian and for The Silence of Bones by June Hur.
I read 8 books in February — well, 9 if we count the Darth Vader comic I read. Doesn’t feel that way which is absolutely strange, but oh well. I’m just glad I got to read.
As I mentioned above, the new semester has started up for me. I have two courses, both of which have clinical days that require me to be at the hospital from 8am until 3pm until the end of the semester. I won’t be posting as often on my social media accounts because I won’t be reading as much. Furthermore, I am closing my review requests until summer.
Onto the recap!
Enjoy March everyone!
Wow! I can’t believe January is over already. I know for some people, this month felt like a long one, but for me?
It flew by too quickly and I’m sad that it did.
For those who don’t know, I was traveling this month. I went to Tokyo for a few days before moving onto Manila to spend time with my family in the homeland. I had so much fun in both cities and I’m glad I got this opportunity to visit both cities and spend much needed time with my family.
But aside from my much-needed vacation, I got to read a lot and to no one’s surprise, I ended up buying books while I was in Manila. Oops? Look! I couldn’t help it. Besides, the books I bought are books that aren’t available in paperback yet and I didn’t wanna wait until later this year to get them on my bookshelf.
There’s also the fact that I lost my copies of Sword of Destiny and Blood of Elves. Okay, not really lost LOST, but they may as well be lost because the box they were sent in never arrived in Manila sO yeah I’m probably going to have to reorder those books if they don’t arrive before my aunt comes back here, too. Plus, I don’t wanna ask her to bring them back because I know she’ll have a ton of stuff to bring home anyway.
Anyway! Onto the recap!
I’m proud of myself, honestly. I haven’t read this many books since — for a long, long, LONG time. The fact that I was able to get through 9 books (would have been 10+ had it not been for the fact that I either got bored of the books or just wanted to read them rather than listen to them) is a miracle.
NINE BOOKS !!
I’m super proud of myself.
But I also started a few books, but ended up dropping those like a hot potato for one reason or another.
My birthday month was such a good month for me. I’m kinda sad it’s over, but hey, keep moving forward, right?
Onwards to February!
— Veronica 🥥
Yo, November flew by real fast. It feels like October was yesterday. I’m sort of panicked that the year’s end is almost here, but at the same time, I’m so excited for the days after December 20th because that’s when grades are due.
But before I get into daydreaming about all the books I’m going to be able to hopefully read, let’s get to this wrap-up, right?
It’s almost the end of the semester for me, and I’m so excited. I just got to make it through the next 2 weeks.
How about you guys? How was your November?
October was an interesting month. It felt like forever, but also felt like it flew by too quickly. I can’t believe that it’s already November, you guys! I have less than 5 weeks left for my second semester of nursing school and I can’t even begin to express just how excited I am for this to be over with already.
Let’s recap what happened last month, shall we?
How about you guys? How was your October?
