Hey friends! The Three Bee Honey Campaign has launched and is already at 82% (!!!!) as of this afternoon. We are blown away by the support and encouragement we’ve received. ^^Jon and me when I pressed the “Launch Campaign” button on Friday morning. Lot’s of nervous energy in the house that day lol. Here’s what’s inside the book: Our son even stepped in to help us edit the launch video. It was an all-hands-on-deck week, and we are so grateful for his editing skills! Here he is, concentrating on the project: We will be updating campaign donors with regular updates. And we have some awesome things in store. This week, we have a podcast interview scheduled, and we’re hosting a free Balancing Life vs. Art Workshop for the Kids Comics Unite Community. We'll also preview our sticker sets, prints, and spotlight the amazing guest artists who will be featured in the book. In addition to posting silly memes, we’ll share behind the scenes moments on our TikTok account, so stay tuned! Also, those who purchase a physical copy of the book will receive a FREE Three Bee Honey Print! This offer expires on Sunday (7/23) at 9am PST, so don’t miss out! Whew…what a whirlwind! That’s all for now, but I will get in touch again in August with some more updates. We truly appreciate your support! Feel free to share or forward this newsletter (or the campaign link) to anyone you think would enjoy it. :)
Take care, Desi
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Hey friends! Our Crowdfundr campaign launches in just ONE day, and Jon and I are working hard behind the scenes to get everything as ready as possible. We just posted this video to kick off the launch. To commemorate this event, I thought I’d try a different angle in summarizing our experience preparing for a Crowdfundr. We are so excited to get Three Bee Honey out into the world, but it’s definitely been a LOT of work. But we’re making progress, and that alone is worth celebrating. The ABCs of Crowdfunding Anticipation building as you countdown the days Believing in yourself when the doubts get loud Cross the Rubicon and announce your campaign Don’t forget to take a shower! Endless edits on the story and the website Fall, but then get back up Go get some sleep, kiddo Have to complete way too much math to figure out a budget Infinite to-do lists Just keep swimming, even when life gets in the way Know that you’ll be okay, regardless Learning how to make TikToks, Reels, and Stories Manifest your daily goals #bossbabes Noticing that one mistake after it’s posted-gah! Optimize your network and make the ask Parent the kids and be generous with screens Quality videos take time--learn how to edit Remember to draft a few newsletters along the way Scrambling the week before launch Take breaks and laugh or watch a show Update your fans--even if it’s just your best friend Visit other campaigns to learn and offer support Whenever you can, update your subscribers Xtra rewards are always a good idea for your big spenders You can do it ALL--sike! Just kidding! Zen feeling that hits after it’s all done. The campaign hasn’t even launched yet, but I’m stoked at the level of encouragement and support we’ve gotten. Here are some cool things we have in store for you:
In addition, we have:
Subscribe to our campaign for updates. Thank you so much for joining us on this journey! Pet Pics: It’s Thursday, so I thought I’d throw in a few throwback pictures of our four-legged friends. Aren’t they the cutest?? *Squeeee!* Sanity Corner: Since the kids are on summer break, we have a chance to spend more time together, which has its pluses and minuses, for sure. To break up the long summer days, we have family game nights. One of our favorite games is Catan. It is a game of strategy, and the object is to use your resources to build as many settlements and cities as possible. That’s all for today, but I will get in touch again soon when the campaign goes live. We truly appreciate your support through this process! :)
Take care, Desi Life calls on us to be brave. Often. That fact is as predictable as the anticipation you feel at the top of a rollercoaster when it reaches its first drop. Don’t get me wrong: I love a great ride. That inching upward. The gripping of the lap bar. The unhinged screaming as we go down. But it’s that drop I want to reflect on today. It really be like that sometimes. It always tickles that thrill seeking part of our brains, but it can inspire some anxiety as well. We know the drop is coming. We even stood in line for this ride. Voluntarily. Maybe even for hours. But when we inch closer, that realization of “Oh crap, here we go!” flashes through our minds. Life is like that sometimes. We anticipate a drop coming, and maybe we panic and wonder if we can go back. But like the wise Miley Cyrus once said, “We can’t stop, won’t stop.” And this applies to life changes and facing our call to action. Here are some moments I’ve recently experienced that required a little momentum and a whole bunch of courage:
We’ve been working on this story for YEARS. Pitching it. Fixing it. Pitching it again. All the while, keeping our faith in it alive. We could have let this go when no publisher made an offer. But we just can’t. So here we are, determined to bring this story out into the world. You can help make this happen by checking out our campaign and subscribing to it for updates. I’m developing some TikTok videos to show the behind-the-scenes fun stuff we do. We also have some awesome add-ons in the works, such as various rewards packages, featured guest artists, and freebies for the first contributors. Does this little book about bees require bravery? Sure thing. But we’re ready. Current Read: Wizard of Ads, by Roy H. Williams One of the teachers in my copywriting class suggested this book, The Wizard of Ads, by Roy H. Williams. I thought it would be a dry book about advertising, full of pedantic writing. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining and engaging this book is. In its essence, this book is about the way people think. I attached a picture to show a sample piece. I appreciated the short, thought-provoking essays, which would each end with a delightful and clever insight or punchline. This book isn’t just for advertising--it’s great for better understanding people and what motivates them. Pet Pic: Lilo so badly wishes she was accepted by the cool cats. <<-- maybe there’s a PB book idea here? Sanity Corner: I recently started working for RPA, an advertising and marketing agency. I had the pleasure of participating in their recent PRIDE Promo Video. It was my first time being a puppeteer, and it was so fun! I was surprised by how much of an arm workout it was, but I developed a deeper appreciation for this artform. My start as a professional puppeteer. Garden Updates: Our tomatoes are coming in, and we are excited to pick the first ripe ones for our salads and sandwiches. We also added more plants around the yard that pollinators would enjoy. Thank you so much for reading this newsletter! I’ll be sending you more updates for the next month as the campaign launches. This month’s question: how have YOU been brave lately? I’d love to hear about your journey doing something courageous--no action is too small. Feel free to comment on my blog or reach out and share. If you have any friends who’d like this newsletter, feel free to share this with them. :) Take care, Desi Last week, I did something I never, ever thought I would do. I resigned from teaching. It was my dream job. The one I was set to do for 30+ years until retirement. And I chose to walk away. Why? There are so many reasons--more than I can actually explain well in a single newsletter post. Maybe I’ll write a memoir about it someday, lol. Honestly, I'm still processing this transition, and I feel like I will be for some time. However, if I had to boil my rationale down to a single word it would be this: Changes. Changes in teaching--pretty much all aspects of the job. Changes in my priorities. Changes in me. This decision to leave did not come easily or impulsively. It was one I agonized over for years. It was scary. It was filled with unknowns compared to the relative predictability of teaching. It was uncomfortable. But last year, I decided to make an exit plan. I started freelancing as a copywriter for advertising and marketing, and I took classes to develop my portfolio. All while teaching English full-time. And being a baseball mom and a wife. Needless to say, it was the most grueling 18 months of my life. ^^me this past year. Forever thankful for Jon’s help and tireless support. Now, I’m working as a copywriter at an advertising agency. This world feels so different (in good ways) from the world I just left, and it sometimes feels a little…unreal. Like I’m going to wake up and be back to my old “normal”: sitting in my classroom, grading tests and essays, and hearing the bells ring every 55 minutes. This process reminds me of a David Bowie song--also called “Changes”--which has these lyrics that really resonated with me: Chorus: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (Turn and face the strange) Ch-ch-changes, don't want to be a richer man Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (Turn and face the strange) Ch-ch-changes, just gonna have to be a different man Time may change me But I can't trace time One of my students this year wrote an essay, and in their piece, they asserted the importance of being comfortable with discomfort. In that space, we can discover our potential and find the most growth. That idea really stuck with me, so much so that I read the essay to my own kids because I wanted them to understand that healthy discomfort shouldn’t be avoided. It is a stepping stone into a better, stronger, wiser version of ourselves. Packing up my classroom, saying tearful goodbyes to my beloved students and colleagues, and starting a brand new job in a brand new industry has definitely been uncomfortable. ^^me when the emotions hit. Reader, I was no match for the torrent of tears that flooded me on my last week. In fact, saying goodbye to this part of my life was one of the hardest things I’ve done in a long, long time. But I’m embracing the hard things. The discomfort. The unknown. All of it. Instead of dwelling on the “what was,” I’m going to allow myself to lean on the “what could be.” Here’s the David Bowie song if you’d like to listen: Pet Pics: ^^Our cats and pup are always on the lookout from their favorite spots around the house. Current Read: Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo I just started reading Raymie Nightingale, a middle grade book by Kate DiCamillo. It centers the story of a 10 year-old girl reeling from the sudden and unexpected abandonment from her father. Raymie constructs an elaborate plan to win him back, but it is clear from the start that the plan will not work. In the meantime, she develops an unlikely friendship with two other girls dealing with their own heartbreaks. DiCamillo puts a lot of heart and energy into this story without making it overly tragic. With short chapters and an engaging pace, DiCamillo is able to help us navigate through these characters’ genuine and sometimes messy emotions while keeping us hopeful that they will find some healing. Topics: Grief, Loss, Friendship, Coming of Age, Family Writing Update: Jon and I are hard at work in preparation for the launch of our Crowfundr Campaign later this summer. I will be announcing the official date soon. This story is one we have enjoyed developing, and we are so excited to bring it out into the world! Here is a new version of our book cover: I’m loving Jon’s character re-designs! Can you spot which cartoon and children’s book characters inspired this design? Hint: look at the faces and legs/feet. Sanity Corner: I’m a big fan of Lo-Fi music, especially when I’m working on anything having to do with writing, editing, or revising. I’ve recently discovered this station, which plays Lo-Fi versions of alternative/rock music from the 90s. I can’t work in silence, so instrument music is soothing and gets my creative juices flowing. What music do you like to listen to while working? I’d love to hear your recommendations! Also, Jon recently bought us coffee from a local Yemeni Coffee Shop, called Qamaria. It was delicious! I love that it’s a hot spot just a short walk away. Because of Qamaria, I realized that adding a small pinch of spices like the ones pictured below is a game changer for coffee. I strongly recommend trying this if you’re a coffee drinker.
That’s it for June. I will definitely be reaching out in July with more updates, so stay tuned! Thank you for reading! If you have any friends who’d like this newsletter, feel free to share this with them. :) Take care, Desi When in a stressful situation, I’ve always bristled when someone says “Think of your happy place.” I tried to imagine this ideal place, but it just didn’t feel real, causing this vision to slip between my fingers after mere moments. Plus, it was hard to find a quiet moment to meditate at all when I am constantly surrounded by kids at work and at home. However, I learned to create my happy place--one that I could go back to whenever I wanted even if I lacked peace and quiet. Because we know my life will NOT involve anything quiet. Allow me to go back in time a bit. When we visited Kauai last year, my husband told me that we should choose an album to play on repeat during our days there. That way, the memories of that trip and the emotions we felt would be embedded in that music. Full disclosure, Jon learned this trick from a longtime friend. The album we chose? Bloom, by Beach House. So after spending the day at the beach snorkeling and swimming with the fish and sea turtles, we played that album as we sat in the lanai behind the house. Bloom played in the background as we sipped our cold drinks and listened to the birds calling out from the tops of the palm trees behind our house. When the album finished, we played it again as the not-so-distant ocean waves crashed and the cool wind streamed through the balcony, making the ti leaves and hibiscus flowers dance on their branches. Bloom played as Jon drew on his iPad and I brainstormed ideas in my notebook. It played while the kids threw a baseball back and forth on the nearby grass. That was it: a core sensory memory locked. And a few days later, we arrived back home. Back to reality. Back to feeling spread thin and overwhelmed by our long list of to-dos, grading, appointments, etc. I immediately longed to return to that porch in Kauai. I faced grading deadlines and a huge pile of tasks. Getting caught up seemed impossible, but I slogged through the stress for a few weeks. Then, after a super taxing day at work, I slumped into the driver’s seat of my car, completely wiped out. Then I remembered a Thomas Fuller quote: “Memory is the treasure house of the mind wherein the monuments thereof are kept and preserved.” Our memories serve as monuments for us to revisit whenever we need to (and sometimes when we don’t want to, admittedly). We all have our painful monuments, but what about the joyful ones? The day we spent listening to Beach House came to mind, and I realized I hadn’t played that album since our vacation. I lumbered into the house with my shoulders knotted from the built up tension, and I played Bloom on our record player. Almost immediately, my tightly wound nerves came loose. My defensive posture dissolved from my shoulders. My mind ceased its racing. I just sat and took in that moment, devouring the calm it provided. I melted into the couch, letting my weight surrender to its cushions. For a few fleeting moments, I was back on that lanai. My mind had been transported to that magical island where the cool breezes made the palm trees dance. I found my happy place. Pet Pics: Speaking of happy places: my pets have no problem finding theirs. Here’s Lilo staying warm on cold and rainy days. Amelie and Finn always snuggle together (and usually prevent us from making our bed) Current Read: Atomic Habits by James Clear I just started reading James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, which several people (including my husband) recommended. So far, it has lived up to the hype. Already, I’ve learned about the importance of small, incremental changes. Like compound interest in banking, these minute changes add up over time to lead to significant transformations. Some of my newest habits: -staying in touch with more friends by checking in frequently (even if just through text) -networking more and introducing myself to people I don’t know -walk outside every day Some habits I want to get back into: -write creatively every single day -wake up earlier (4am) -meditating Writing Update: In order to gain some experience in copywriting, I’ve been busy side hustling as a freelancer. It’s been an interesting learning experience, for sure. I’ve created social media posts, email blasts, marketing campaigns, and other deliverables. You can check out my portfolio here. It’s pretty scrappy, but I’ll be adding to it as I create more portfolio pieces. I didn’t get a chance to re-work my GN memoir synopsis, but my husband and I are going to re-focus on THREE BEE HONEY, starting with a redesign (based on feedback we’ve received). I’ll keep you updated in the coming months! Garden Update:
All this rain has made our yard pop off with countless weeds, which I have been picking like crazy. But I have to say, pulling them out and seeing the garden cleaned out does feel empowering, cathartic even. Maybe pulling weeds is feeding my need for control and therefore a form of therapy? Hmmm…..maybe I’m onto a new business model there. That’s it for March. I look forward to updating you in April! If you have any friends who’d like this newsletter, feel free to share! :) Take care, Desi Getting to the final draft of any project--whether it is a book, a poem, a resume, or even a monthly newsletter (ha!)--can be a frustrating and maddening process. It’s no wonder why people avoid writing as much as possible. And it’s why resources like ChatGPT have exploded. People want proficiency from the get go. They expect their thoughts to flow like a stream coursing peacefully over smooth river stones, pushed along by the power of inspiration from the heavens. [This would be nice, BUUUUT it’s just not realistic.] Anything less than perfect is not worth struggling through. Right? I see this with my students as well--some almost feel paralyzed at the sight of a blank page. “I have to put pen to paper and do what?” they ask with a helpless look in their eyes, losing all trust in their abilities. Sure, we can opt to wait for inspiration. [Okay, inspiration….any day now] But what if it doesn’t come? It can be elusive and distant. And when it doesn’t hit us, that’s a scary moment, for sure. The blank page. The insidious cursor floating on the document, mocking you with each beat. Henri Matisse once said, “Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while working." And he’s right. We just need to start, embracing the messiness, and take it from there. Every finish needs a starting point. One way I get them past this hurdle is to follow Matisse’s advice: just write whatever comes to mind about that subject. Some call it freewriting. I set a timer for three or five minutes, and we “sprint” on paper. Grammar, spelling, punctuation--none of that matters (gasp!...I know). We just want to unlock the ideas and get as many of them on paper as possible. We see the masterful works by the creatives we admire, and wonder how we can ever be as good as them. But the truth is, they also struggle with this process. All creatives do. We just see the final, polished draft, yet they, too, experience a messy process to get there. Unbeknownst to us mortals, they also have to sift through the “junk” of their initial ideas--the good and the bad--and find what’s worth keeping and developing. We can’t edit a blank page. We just need to let the trash flow, give it time to air out, and then go through rounds of revisions and edits. We have to dispose of what’s not working, and hone in on what is working: that’s how we’ll discover the gem within. So embrace the messiness of the first draft: the key to getting to that polished piece. Now, excuse me as I roll up my sleeves, get back to my garbage drafts, and crank out some long-overdue revisions to create something worth treasuring. Pet Pics: Every once in a while, my phone chooses violence and reminds me of a “memory”--in the form of an old photo--from long ago. Rather than share current pet pictures, this is a throwback to our sweet border collie, Ross. He was five when we adopted him, and he was a wonderful dog. This is us at the Bodie State Historic Park (a real life ghost town). At the time this picture was taken, I was expecting our first son, but Ross was our first fur baby, and a wonderful companion and running buddy. He lived 16.5 years, and we miss him so much. I’m thankful for the wonderful years we had together. Current Read: Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson One of my friends gave me Black Cake, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t heard of this book before. It is a beautifully written story about betrayal and the secrets that tie us together. The novel spans multiple generations, starting with two estranged siblings coming together to learn about their deceased mother’s past. It switches POV, which threw me off at first. However, once you get into it, the various perspectives flow and play off each other seamlessly, revealing the rich depth of Wilkerson’s cast. Though I have been chipping away at it slowly due to my schedule, I find myself haunted by their relationships and conflicts, and I look forward to reading more as I progress through each chapter. Writing Update: The only writing I’ve been able to do is commenting on student essays (yikes, but also lol). With finals and so many other obligations, this past month was a DOOZY. I really hope to get back on the horse in the next few months and re-work a synopsis for a graphic memoir I started working on this past summer. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Garden Update: Our lime tree is popping off, so much so that we can’t keep up. So I’ve been giving away limes (and blood oranges) to neighbors who want them. I hate to see great fruit rotting on the ground; I’d prefer sharing the wealth than letting these fruits go to waste. That's it for January. Stay tuned for some updates next month! :)
Take care, Desi Game nights are underrated. And maybe….just maybe…they are the antidote to the distractions and disconnect we’ve been struggling with during these past few years. Plus, I love board games with family and friends. But it’s not for the reasons you may suspect. I couldn’t care less about which game we’re playing. In truth, it’s all about the experience we have as a group. We ditch the small talk and get into teams (or play for ourselves). It is a change in the predictable routines and long-established roles. We avoid safe topics and get real, really fast. Some of our favorite games lately have been Telestrations, Catan, and our newest one, Klask from Denmark (my husband and 12 year old son are tough to beat in this one). We also enjoy the classics: Uno, Poker, Spoons, and Scrabble. [me as soon as we sit around the table and open the game box] This holiday season, I had the chance to play multiple games with people, and I learned so much about them in such a short span of time. I learned who is extra competitive and well….extra. [It’s me, fam--I’m the problem] But I also learned who is pensive, who is quiet and sneaky, who is quick to make jokes, who likes to troll, who is earnest and honest. In the game, children and adults are equals. We lovingly roast each other, practice cooperation, and develop strategies. We laugh (a lot), we express our honest emotions, we encourage each other, and best of all, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We create memories and inside jokes and leave us smiling long after the games are put away. [My face when things start getting real around the table] Can it get a bit chaotic and a little dicey? Sure. But it’s real. It disrupts the tendency to stay comfortable. Plus, I think more authenticity is good in our world. So next time you are at a gathering or just home with your family, take a break from your devices and play together. The box you open will also come with great times and golden memories to feed your spirit. Inspirational Quote: “Every day is a new life to a wise man.”-Dale Carnegie We all have bad days. We stumble, we get hurt, we make mistakes, we get rejected, and we fail. But it’s never the end. I love this quote because it reminds me that each new day brings new possibilities, and new paths to meet our potential, as long as we don’t give up. Pet Pics: [Lilo celebrated her 1st Birthday on Christmas Eve; Finn and Amelie investigating a worm --yikes!] Recent Read: Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson This book is deceptively simple, using the allegory of mice looking for cheese to illustrate humanity’s aversion to change. It’s a quick read--I read it in one day. However, it applies to all aspects of our lives and resonated with me. It cautions against sticking with what is familiar due to fear of the unknown. We never have everything figured out. No matter how old we are, our “cheese” will be moved by forces outside of our control, and we must adapt. There is so much out there, so many possibilities for our lives. We just have to be willing to take risks to discover them. Even if we fail, we learn. So our efforts are never in vain. Writing Update: My husband (and creative partner) submitted our THREE BEE HONEY Graphic Novel project to Pitchfest, hosted by Kids Comics Unite. Some time had passed between our submission and the awards announcements (plus I’ve been super busy), so I kinda forgot about it. When I saw the runner-up winners, I was in awe of the talent behind all of the entries. To my shock, we won third place! It was definitely an exciting surprise. You can see our pitch here, if you're curious. We get so few wins as writers and creatives, so we have to celebrate them whenever we can. Garden Update: After years with no fruit or a few tiny offerings, our blood orange tree came through this year with TONS of fruits! I’ve been making fresh orange juice, and Jon made marmalade for our close family and friends. It is delicious. There’s nothing like fresh fruit from a tree! That's a wrap for 2022, but stay tuned for some updates in January. In the meantime, feel free to reach out and say “hello!” :)
Have a Happy New Year! Take care, Desi Well, friends. It landed on my front step. I thought I’d laid low long enough to avoid it. But it finally hit me this past month. The dreaded jury duty summons. I had just recovered from COVID (and missed nearly a week of work, which is tough for teachers). As much of a pain this was, I knew I’ve gotten lots of these jury duty summons before only to be quickly dismissed. So I expected the same outcome. I realize that I tempted the fates to mess with me that day. No doubt. When I reported to the courthouse, I brought papers to grade and a book to read--even a laptop to work on. Ha! Silly, naive me. Within 10 minutes of checking in, my name was called to move to jury room six. Confused, I packed all of my gear, and headed with the 40 or so others who were called. As I entered the small courtroom on the third floor, I remained confident that I’d be dismissed that same day. Then they assigned us all numbers and called on each of us to answer detailed questions about our lives. And I mean detailed. I learned a lot about strangers’ lives--fascinating stories about their families, jobs, brushes with the law, and health issues. As much as I had tons of work to catch up on, there was no way I was going to get any grading or reading done in that room. “Oh man…this is the best part of jury duty,” the big burly man sitting next to me said, giggling excitedly like this was an episode of a favorite show. The judge had enough that morning and called a lunch break, asking us to return promptly in one hour. It’s okay, I told myself as I ate my sandwich. I’ll probably get dismissed sometime this afternoon--no problem. Then we reported back to room six. Before I knew it, the bailiff said, “Juror #137.” Lugging my heavy teacher bag on my shoulder, I gingerly took my seat. I turned to the judge and attorneys, who were already scribbling notes on their notepads. The room grew quiet, and my face grew warm. I answered their questions, follow up questions, and more follow up questions. The judge asked, “Do you feel the legal system has treated you fairly in the past?” I paused. “Yes.” When he learned that I am an English teacher, he decided to have a little fun at my expense. “Who’s your favorite author?” he asked. “Toni Morrision,” I immediately replied. She always was an easy pick. He furrowed his heavy white brows. “I don’t know that name. Who else?” Crap. “David Sedaris . . . Maya Angelou . . .” He frowned. “Um... Robert Frost?” I tried. “It doesn’t ring a bell,” the judge said, shaking his head. Was he really going to make me list every author on the planet? Didn’t we have a trial to start? “Charles Dickens?” I offered in sheer desperation. He had to have known that name! “Is that because you think I’m old?” he said in mock offense. “Okay, now I can safely say the legal system hasn’t treated me fairly,” I cracked. The judge and everyone in the courtroom erupted in laughter. I grimaced, knowing that was when I clinched a spot on the jury. Sure enough, about an hour later, after they questioned more jurors, the bailiff announced: “Juror #137, please take the seat for juror number one.” My head was spinning. This couldn’t be! I was too busy. I already missed too much school! Desperate, my mind raced. Can’t someone else get picked? Is it too late to plead hardship? Can I raise my hand and speak up? No. No. And No. It was too late. They called the rest of the twelve jurors, asked us to raise our right hands, and swore us in. Boom. Done. My face was calm, but my my mind screaming like a petulant toddler: Then the trial commenced without even a five minute break. The attorneys dove headfirst into their opening arguments. The second day of this nearly three week (!!!) trial for a complicated medical malpractice case, us jurors had gotten to know each other just a little during our awkward small talk conversations when we waited to be called into the courtroom. Don’t worry--we obeyed the rules and never discussed the trial before deliberations. Juror #126 turned with a grin and asked, “You enjoying some time off?” “It’s nice to have a little break, right?” Juror #102 added. “Right.” I grumbled. They had no idea that my workload had DOUBLED. I was going into my classroom to prepare for the sub at 6am every morning. Then I’d go home after a long day to catch up on grading, emails, etc. I’d been going to bed much later just to keep up with sub plans and everything else on my plate. [Me each morning] But then, despite my resistance to this summons and desire to give up from sheer exhaustion, my overachiever and curious tendencies jumped into overdrive. Determined to learn and listen closely to each testimony, each cross-examination, each piece of evidence, I furiously wrote down every detail that I could. I cried after witnesses shared their hardships. I questioned contradictions. My finger joints screamed. My hand muscles burned. But I ignored the pain and remained resolute in my efforts to take this task seriously. I ended up writing 96 pages of notes. Front and back. That’s basically a novel, right? Once we finished deliberations--over two days of thoughtful and meticulous discussion, we finished deliberations and came to a verdict. I asked the bailiff if I could keep my notes. You know, as a souvenir? He shut that down faster than Ticketmaster shut down Taylor Swift concert ticket sales. So I completed my civic duty with care, thought, and attention. My only souvenir? My experience, the lessons I learned--and the loads of knowledge I gained about the spinal cord. Upon returning to work from being out for nearly three weeks, one of my students asked, “Would you do it again if asked?” I thought about it for a moment. “Yes,” I replied, surprising myself. “But only if the legal system allows a few years to pass before summoning me again.” Inspirational Quote: Alexander Pope once said, “A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again.” Don’t we all know someone who read one article, served on one jury (ahem), or heard one podcast and was suddenly a self-proclaimed expert on the topic? Yeah, it’s pretty annoying. Don’t feel bad--I’ve been that person at times. Let’s do each other a favor and resolve to avoid shallow knowledge when it comes to a topic. Learn deeply, read lots of books. Talk to experts. Then you can sound off of Twitter (or TikTok, or whatever social media is around at this time) without being insufferable. Recent Read: Hey, Kiddo by Jared Krosoczka; How to Be a Person and What Can I Say? by Catherine Newman Since I've been exploring the graphic Memoir genre of books, I decided to reread Hey Kiddo, a graphic memoir about Jared Krosoczka’s experiences growing up while his mom struggled with substance abuse, forcing his grandparents to step in and raise him. It was a difficult situation since his mom was not the only absentee parent: his dad is not part of his life either. However, Jared did have caring grandparents who did their best to make sure he had a good upbringing while supporting his artistic endeavors. His story resonated with me because it didn’t shy away from the pain, but it also had heartwarming moments and lighthearted moments. It was real. It was authentic. It was complex. From the opening pages, you’ll get pulled into Jared’s story, rooting for him through his ups and downs. I highly recommend it! I also wanted to highlight a couple books I bought for my sons, which also have a graphic novel format. How to Be a Person and What Can I Say? both deal with growing up, how to navigate awkward social situations, and how to do the essential tasks to feel more independent. The illustrations are super engaging, and the text is easy for upper elementary (9 and up) and middle schoolers to digest. If you have any older kids, these would be great nonfiction titles for them! Pet Pics: Lilo had some puppy training recently, so now she’s a more polite and proper pup! While there is still more room for improvement, the cats are happy about her newfound self-control. Writing Update: I’ve been so busy that I’ve just had time to revise last month’s short story, “Pork on the Pali” and develop concepts for other stories I’m working on. But even when I’m not sitting at my desk and typing, I’m always thinking of the stories, letting ideas marinate and swirl around in my mind. That counts, right? Garden Update: Our persimmons have come in for the fall, although they are smaller this year (maybe due to the heat). We’re excited to make some persimmon cookies once they ripen. We just have to make sure the squirrels don’t get to them first. That's all for November. In the meantime, feel free to reach out and say “hello!” I’ll catch you again next month. :)
Take care, Desi I've been working on this short story, and I finally felt ready to share it with you. :) But first, let's take a virtual visit to O'ahu. Here we go! Pork on the PaliA striking speckled piece of coral rolled over the sands of Castles Beach and into Chris’s hand. “Ooh, that’s a keeper,” he said. Satisfied, he dropped it into his mesh bag, heavy with shells, coral, and lava rocks from the Kailua shores. His cousin Lei washed up near him with her bodyboard, wiping saltwater from her face. Although she was his age, he always felt like a little keiki compared to her. Chris held up his prize. “Look at this one!” “You know you can’t take those back to California, right?” she warned him. “It’s bad luck.” “Really?” Chris frowned. “How dumb. Did the locals just make that up because they want tourists to pay waaay too much for those things at shops?” Lei let out a sigh of exasperation before tightening her wet ponytail. “Nah, it’s a real thing.” Chris rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I want to go back to Grandma’s.” Lei’s big brother, Kalani, was still surfing out on the water. “Let’s go!” Lei yelled, waving at him. His cousins could’ve easily stayed another hour, Chris knew, but their mom had told them to follow his lead: he was their guest, after all. After Kalani rolled in with the swell, they hiked back to get their sandals. “Why didn’t you come out with us, cuz?” Lei asked. “You scared of the fishes?” “No,” Chris muttered, slipping into his tennis shoes. But really, the ocean did scare him, especially when he couldn’t see the bottom. “You had fun out there playing on the sand, brah?” Kalani asked with a teasing chuckle as he carried his longboard. Chris sighed. Even though he was Hawaiian on his mom’s side, he never could get used to the beaches or the humidity. He relished the cool, crisp weather of the mountains, always preferring long sleeves and pants over shorts and sandals. “Whatcha gonna do with all those shells?” Lei asked. “Take them home to look at them under my microscope,” Chris admitted. “For real? You have one microscope?” Kalani’s eyes got wide. “You want to be a scientist, yeah?” “Our own little Jimmy Neutron over here!” Lei giggled. “He’s got the same hair,” Kalani said, knocking Chris’s hat off and tousling his hair. “Okay, I get it!” Chris scowled. He swore to get them back before returning to California. Nearby, one of many wild island roosters searched for food around the grasses on the side of the road. “Shooo!” Chris stomped his foot. The rooster didn’t budge, and his cousins laughed harder. A light drizzle began to fall, adding to Chris’ bad mood. As soon as they arrived home, though, Grandma Dottie fixed them each a plate of her fried rice with Portuguese sausage. Chris felt a little better with some warm food in his belly. “Oh, since I hafta drive us back home to Honolulu,” Kalani said between bites, “you need to know this important rule, little cuz—” “Another dumb superstition?” Chris rolled his eyes. “Oh Chris, you’re a smart cookie, but this legend’s true,” Grandma said as she washed dishes. “It’s the story of Pele and Kamapua’a, the demigod.” Chris snorted. “Just like the tooth fairy and Santa—totally real, right?” Grandma waited patiently to speak again. “He was a hog-man, a shapeshifter,” she explained. “He and Pele both had fiery tempers, and it was a chaotic relationship.” “And then they split,” Kalani added. “But then they also split the island, too.” “So remember: you’re not supposed to bring any pork from this side of the island to the other side, which belongs to Pele,” Grandma warned. “See. It’s real,” Lei said, her voice growing insistent. She shot an annoyed glance at Kalani. Chris grew quiet again, stewing in the memory of the teasing he’d endured earlier. Using his fork, he cut the last tiny slice of sausage on his plate. He held it, hesitating for a second. Then Chris turned around to reach for his backpack hanging on his chair. He snuck the piece of sausage into the front pocket. The late afternoon sky turned deep orange with purple streaks as they loaded the truck and said goodbye to Grandma Dottie, giving her long hugs and kisses on the cheek. They drove away, listening to the local Jawaiian music on the radio during the half-hour trip. The sky grew dark, illuminated by a full moon. His cousins sang along with the music, but Chris kept an eye out for the looming mountain pass. As the truck approached the tunnel, the air around Chris grew thick and heavy. His stomach sank with dread. Without warning, the truck’s engine sputtered and stopped, the brakes pressing down seemingly all by themselves. Chris’ arms were covered in chicken skin. “What the . . .” Kalani stepped on the gas pedal, but the truck didn’t move. “Brah, did you bring some pork with you?” he demanded. The trade winds picked up, howling through the nearby darkening trees. Kalani turned the key in the ignition, but the old truck engine squealed like an injured pig and shut down again. The sound made Chris grimace. “No.” He shook his head but couldn’t meet his cousin’s eyes. “Why are we stopped then?” Lei asked, her voice tight with worry. Chris paused. Was this a mistake? he wondered to himself. Another strong gust of wind rushed through the valley. “Man, you can’t mess with this!” Kalani stepped out and slammed the door. Chris couldn’t stand it any longer. “I was eating some fried rice earlier, and I—” “With the sausage?” Lei cut in. Chris grimaced. “Yeah, but . . .” “You musta dropped some of that somewhere.” Lei stepped out, and Chris followed. The wind grew stronger, almost blowing his baseball cap off. A faraway bird shrieked, as if warning them. The joke had gone too far, and the truth bubbled to Chris’ lips. “I think it might have fallen in my bag.” Kalani shook his head, fuming. “Ohana or not, I’m gonna kick your okole when we get home.” Chris searched his bag for the one tiny piece he’d deposited. The wind howled louder. It shook the leaves in the surrounding trees, as if the valley itself was angry. He brushed his fingers across the front pocket of his backpack. To his horror, it was empty. “Where did it go?” Chris unzipped the pocket right behind the first one. Nothing. “I swear, it—” “Gimme your bag!” Holding his flashlight, Kalani looked inside for the sausage. The light flickered, then died. Kalani tossed the bag on the ground outside the truck and turned it upside down, shaking the contents out. His books, his Nintendo switch, his pack of gum: all of it fell onto the damp road. Chris winced, but he didn’t dare complain. “Keep looking. I’ll check the truck!” Kalani threw the backpack at Chris. A bright green mist emerged from the trees near the highway. It spread in their direction, moving faster by the minute. There was nowhere to go. “Check your shorts!” Lei yelled. Chris slipped his bag back on and emptied his pockets. To his shock, a tiny piece of sausage jumped out of his left pocket and rolled onto the ground. “There it is!” Lei pointed at it. “But that wasn’t my piece . . . .” Chris sputtered. Lei sprinted to the passenger seat. “Get inside! Hurry!” Kalani shouted, slamming the door. Chris ran toward the truck, but a deep, eerie bark stopped him. Heart pounding, he turned around. Suddenly, a luminescent white dog approached, growling viciously at the three cousins. Kalani got out and grabbed an old stick from the truck bed. “He’s hungry. Give ‘em the rest of the pork!” Chris hesitated. “I don’t have any!” he shouted, reaching for the door handle. Before Chris could get inside, the dog lunged, his jaws clamping onto his backpack. Chris tried to wriggle out of it. But the dog’s strength overpowered him, pulling him back. “Help!” he screamed, losing his grip on the truck door. With a snarl, the dog yanked harder, causing Chris to fall back onto the road. *** “CHRIS!” Lei yelled. She and Kalani could only watch in horror as the dog dragged Chris away, his legs disappearing into the green mist. Terror, confusion, and regret filled his wide eyes. The beast dragged his body into the darkness. Chris’s desperate cries echoed through the valley. “Noooo!” Kalani cried. Startled birds shrieked into the night sky. The leaves shook. Then they settled back down on the thick curtain of trees. Afterward, everything fell silent. Trembling and whimpering, Lei crept out of the truck, the engine now idling again. In the eerie quiet, Lei and Kalani searched in a daze. The dog was nowhere to be seen, and Chris and the remnants of pork vanished with him. Kalani backed away, heading for the driver’s side door. Lei saw something sitting on the road, illuminated by the truck’s headlights. She hesitated. Then when she stepped toward the light, she came across her cousin’s found prizes: coral, shells, and lava rocks strewn around the concrete, where the road met the edge of the jungle. Her hand shaking, she reached out to touch them to make sure they were real. She remembered the warning she’d given Chris about the island’s treasures. He thought he knew better. He thought he’d take them back to California. But on this night, Hawaii would keep her treasures exactly where they belonged. That's all for October. I’ll go back to my regular newsletter next month. I hope you enjoyed this spooky tale! Take care, Desi When I was a kid, I always imagined the future would look a lot like the one portrayed in Back to the Future: clean technology in every town, hovering cars buzzing in the sky above, and lots of holograms. Welp. At least we got the holograms right. What I didn’t envision was a future with droughts, famine, mass extinctions, and rising sea levels. The petty political battles, which have crippled regulatory policies and allowed further desecration of our planet, have been beyond maddening. Mother Nature Be Like: To be honest, I was starting to lose hope, feeling despair about the future of our planet and of human life as we know it. I tried to push these anxieties out of my mind whenever those thoughts creep in, but at 2 in the morning, it's hard to distract yourself when the existential dread hits. What about the kids? I’d wonder. I was scared for what the future has in store for the next generations. It just feels so… unfair. Then lo and behold: Congress recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act. Among other investments, it contains measures to fight climate change, the most substantial measures ever in the history of our country. Now, it's not enough to offset all the damage. It's not perfect, but it's a damn good start and a long overdue one at that. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this bill will set off a chain of action in other nations and that we continue to build off of this momentum. Me discovering hope like the lost boys discovered Peter in Hook. I’m not a lobbyist or a political insider: I’m merely someone who has been desperate for progress. We are finally seeing it, and this movement gives me an optimism I haven't felt for a very long time. I’m hopeful that we can still have a healthy planet so that animals and plants can thrive. I’m hopeful that our kids and grandkids to have a good life with enough food and water. So yeah--even though 2022 doesn’t look much like my childhood fantasies, I’ll settle for this humble bit of progress that feeds my sense of hope for our planet: the only home we have. I’ll leave you with this important reminder by Chief Seattle: “The Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth.” And if you’re still struggling with existential dread, here is a video that I found very helpful. While we absolutely cannot sit back, wait, or become complacent, we have to remember that we are not alone and many smart and talented people are jumping into the fight to save our planet. Wherever you are on the political spectrum, I encourage you to pay attention and push for policies that will keep our planet viable for future generations. Pet Pics: Lilo is recovering from getting spayed. Thankfully, she’s cone free now! Amelie and Finn napping together (as usual)--I love their tight bond. Current Read: This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki I read This One Summer a few years ago, but I wanted to re-read it in my effort to research graphic novels for older audiences. It follows the journey of Rose, a tween only child, living in the summer vacation home her family has visited since she was little. But the trip feels different this year. This time, Rose is caught in the storm of her parent’s constant fighting, and she is witness to the heartbreaking drama unfolding in the lives of other young locals. I loved the quiet beauty of the artwork and the minute details that capture the ups and downs of an unforgettable summer: like a close up of seashells or a bike leaning against a fence, for instance. My oldest son, a middle schooler who is reluctant to sit down and read, read this book in two sittings. I think that is a pretty solid endorsement! Writing Update: I’ve been working on a few different projects, including some freelancing side gigs. I’m also doing some research on the graphic memoir genre and working on some ideas for that. I’m still brainstorming revision ideas for In the Middle of the Sea. There is so much on my plate that it’s hard to devote a ton of time to one project, so I find myself slowly carving away at each one. Garden Update: It’s apple season time! Our Gala apples are coming in, and they are crisp and sweet. The kids enjoy slices of these apples with their meals. We just have to make sure to nab these before the squirrels get to them first. So I’m curious: what gives you hope these days? Do you have any podcasts, books, speeches, poems, songs, or other media that inspires you and keeps you motivated?
That's all for this month. Until next time! :) Take care, Desi |
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