Mystic Monk Snickering Monk Candy Bar Review

Today, I celebrated 9 months without any seizures. One of the tricks I like to use, to keep me going, is using a reward for each month, called a squeaky pig, which has consisted of a copy of Winnie the Pooh's adventures in Latin- AKA Winnie Ille Pu (complete with original illustrations, which is lovely for learning verb tenses... "he climbed and he climbed, and he climbed...") Sometimes, it's helpful to ask for help. Sometimes, you need to kick your own butt. And sometimes, you need to give yourself encouragement.

My treatment plan since January has consisted of medication and the keto diet. This has been tough, because I've always had a sweet tooth. (I have tried a sip of soda here and there-and 7 Up, after a small procedure to correct issues with my jaw- injuries during seizures had left it off kilter, and grinding my teeth had left me a few broken ones. I spent about a week after on soft foods. It is a weird experience-at first, and yet, I find that I'm not as tempted to cheat, because I feel better- and sodas and sugary things can taste ODD when you're not used to them. But, I've been craving a candy bar for a while.Luckily, I came across Mystic Monk Snickering Monk Candy Bar.
I received my bag of coffee beans just yesterday, and had to restrain myself so I could taste test to celebrate being nine months entirely seizure free, (75% of my goal to be one year seizure free... DONE!)
It is not overly sweet, but is absolutely reminiscent of a Snickers bar. It is absolutely marvelous, and I am over the moon and doing my best to save the beans for celebratory reasons. My usual coffee has become Marley Coffee's One Love blend, which is also marvelous. I highly recommend the beautiful blends from Mystic Monk. If you'd like some lovely, smooth coffee with that hint of chocolate, caramel, and peanuts, act now, because it will be gone at the end of the end of October- to be back next year. They've definitely made a returning customer. Warning: Does contain essences of peanuts. Five stars! *****

Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness

Note: I received my copy of Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness from the writer, Bruce Brown. I am honored and grateful and consider both Bruce and "The Kingdom of Madness"  to be precious gifts. 

The capable Thomas  Boatwright  endears and terrifies with his beautiful, glossy illustrations.

"The Kingdom of Madness" opens with our hero, Howard, and the childlike adults who make little Howard seem like the only grown up and voice of reason. 

It opens with an apt, disturbing quote from Edgar Allen Poe:

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dreamed before".-Original Source: "The Raven".

And we see a scaly arm, an annoyed, well- dressed little boy. 

Then, we see a vintage plane (To US, anyway), carrying Howard, his sickly, insane father, apparently on their way to meet a doctor. Spot-aka- Cthulhu, aka- Hu Hu Hmong, acts every inch the excited, tentaclly puppy, while the child of the group expresses doubt. This is normal for Howard and Spot, up to and including Howard's capable act as a loving, but strict father figure who has to occasionally lay down the law.

Having read HP Lovecraft's "Complete Works", I find what amounts to a prequel to Lovecraft-the Grown-Up, Not-Fictional-Character's  disturbed and disturbing, wonderful but not for children'- 's works extremely beautiful. It's a cuddlier side of everyone, including Lovecraft, whose views of race make the "enlightened" of the 21st Century choke. It's beautiful. I watch every Howard Lovecraft book for an image of Little Howard and Cthulhu hugging. 

I also look for shoutouts- a very obvious one that I adored was a shout out to Charles Addams, a capable illustrator who lent his name to the 1960's portrayal of his artwork, called *Snap snap* The Addams Fam-i- Ly *Snap snap*. 

I was charmed and delighted, and give Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness two tentacles- er, thumbs, WAY UP!

I also send my thank you's to the wonderful Bruce Brown. 

Words can't describe how much I love this warning label. 

Thanks again! I was touched, disturbed, and I couldn't be more grateful!