The Golden Standard

Dear Bentley, I’ll never forget the day you came home for the first time. You were in a kennel; Bogan warily circled around the boxy object in the middle of our tiny kitchen. When you were let out, Boggie and you wagged tails and each got a sniff of each other. I was in highContinue reading “The Golden Standard”

9/11

I was only 10 years old when 9/11 happened. It started just like any other day: I got up, ate breakfast, and went to my elementary school. But when I got to my classroom, something was noticeably different: the TV was on. Something terrible was happening, something I didn’t quite fully grasp, but knew itContinue reading “9/11”

Les Miserables

“Another Story Must Begin” This is one of my favorite plays. I’ve memorized all the songs, and know the story quite well. But one thing was missing: I hadn’t read the famous book yet. A year ago now, I embarked on what was to be an epic journey: reading the translated English version of LesContinue reading “Les Miserables”

Stickers, Stencils, & Washi-Tape, Oh My!

I’ve finally figured out how people have such lovely habit trackers in their bullet journals: they use stencils or stickers. I’m still somewhat new to everything bullet journal, since I’m getting better only recently in my bullet journaling.

Real Life

Wallace is a Black, queer student attending a Midwestern university. He’s “at odds” with everything in his life: his (vastly) White peers, and his friends. Wallace hasn’t escaped the trauma of his youth; he’s gone straight from Alabama to college. Here, he’s singled out because he’s Black, because he’s not straight, and because he’s madeContinue reading “Real Life”

20 Things I did in my 20s

Birthday Girl Backstory March 1 is my birthday. I can’t believe I’m turning 30! (Squeals.) The big 3-0 isn’t just another number to me, it’s a testament to surviving a very premature birth. I was lucky because I had only a few things go wrong because I was born so early. I was supposed toContinue reading “20 Things I did in my 20s”

I’m a Pear Shape Now, But a Happy Pear

I’ve always been a skinny girl. I say girl because lately as a woman, I’ve started gaining weight. One of my medications, which does cause weight gain, has done just that: caused me to put on some pounds. When I say some, I mean a steady rapid increase of 50 pounds.