Bouquet 💐 making

Of course I was paparazzi for the event. But I couldn't resist the chance to create my own bouquet. 

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Bouquet making

These students were quite pleased with their creations. 

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Bouquet 💐 event

Friday SWell held a bouquet making event. It was quite with winter weary people eager to craft pieces of spring promise. Here's my friend, Bailey, ready to help them. 

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Mother Emanuel (adult nonfiction)

     "Dylann Roof extended his right arm, just as he had practiced in the backyard of his mother's boyfriend's house in Eastover, near Columbia. He watched the red sighting laser dance across Clementa Pinckney's suitcoat and fired. As the pastor reeled, Roof fired again and again and again and again, the barrel recoiling with each touch of the trigger."

     When Roof, a virulent white supremacist, seeking to start a race war, stopped shooting the beloved pastor of Mother Emanuel (Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church) and eight faithful church members lay dead and dying. They had been participating in a Bible study and had welcomed the stranger among them.

     When the news reached central Maine I was horrified. I imagine those of you old enough to remember it were too. I didn't, however, comprehend the extent of the tragedy until I read Kevin Sack's Mother Emanuel, a thoroughly researched masterpiece that took a decade to complete. 

     Sack provides readers with centuries of history going back to the arrival of captured Africans in what would become South Carolina and their cruel enslavement by whites. He tells how the Bible was perverted by white clergymen preaching very selectively to keep enslaved people from getting any ideas about running or rebellion and at the same time was used by the enslaved people as inspiration for self liberation. He discusses the complex role of the  church in the lives of emancipated but still oppressed Blacks after the Civil War. He illuminates the founding of Mother Emanuel and her evolution into the Twenty-first century. 

     He also explores the aftermath of the tragedy--how the church became the focus of international attention and curiosity even as they needed space to grieve and try to heal.

     I have never seen a tragedy so masterfully contextualized. I recommend Mother Emanuel to anyone who wants a deeper understanding than you'll find in today's news media. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday was a whirlwind for me. When I wasn't being paparazzi for the hugely popular SWell bouquet making event I was running around doing last minute publicity for the drag show. It was warm enough that I could advertise outside on the mall. So many people were flashing signs, telling me they'll be there. I believe we'll have a sizeable and enthusiastic audience. I'm charging my laptop to get in some last minute practice. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who will attend and participate in the magical Grand Finale of UMaine's Pride Week: the Drag Show. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Succulents

This was the one that I potted for myself.  (I also potted ones for two of my friends.) I'm so excited to watch it grow. 

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Succulents

Yesterday SWell had a succulent planting event--tiny adorable succulents in tiny pots. SO CUTE!!! SO MUCH FUN!!!

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Tobago

I finally was able to get a picture of precious Tobago nurturing a stuffed animal. She snuggles them and grooms the way she would a kitten. When I get a job and can afford it I'll get her a real kitten to care for.

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Hard Times: A Novel (adult fiction)

     If you're seeking a narrative that looks ripped out of today's headlines have I got a book for you! Jeff Boyd's Hard Times has all the ingredients for a hard hitting best seller--a cop shooting an unarmed teen, a very corrupt police department, a decades old unsolved mystery, a falling apart school system, racism, classism, in-law drama‐-all set in the gritty big city of Chicago. From the first chapter on to the end it's a page turner par excellence.

     But it's so much more. You really get to know the characters in depth: their personalities, their relations to each other, their hopes and fears, and the seemingly impossible decisions that they must make within the context of the narrative. 

     There's Buddy, a teacher working in a run down school that has nothing really to brag about except the football team. It's quite a contrast to the elite private school he formerly taught at. He finds himself increasingly discouraged and unmotivated. There are, though, a few students he really cares about. Meanwhile his wife, Chrissy, is on a fast track at her law firm and wanting children. 

     Curtis, Buddy's brother-in-law, is a piece of work by just about anybody's standards. He's a dirty cop, on the take. He and his partner don't play by the rules and are good at keeping their lies plausible. Despite that he's incredibly self righteous. And he has issues with anger management and alcohol consumption. He shoots Truth, an unarmed teen who is one of the students Buddy cares about. 

      Zeke, Truth's cousin, is the high school's great hope, the one who is going to take the football team all the way. He has far from an ideal home life. His mom is a drug addict, not capable of meeting his needs. Now she's disappeared, possibly kidnapped by a gangster.

     A lot of people are trying to get their hands on a bloody knife and a police badge that contain possible clues to a long ago cold case.

     That's by far not all the intrigue and drama going on. I hope I've whetted your appetite for a complex and engaging human drama masterpiece. 

On a purrrsonal note, this week is just flying by. The blood drive went really well. I don't have the numbers yet. But it was quite lively. Today and tomorrow I have events to be paparazzi for. And Saturday is the drag show. 

We're seeing signs of spring in central Maine. Grass is coming up. Tobago has migrating birds 🐦 🐦‍⬛ to keep track of. There are even signs of flowers. The campus will be gorgeous just in time for graduation. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in the blood drive. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Drag show

An undergrad friend bought this picture for me. She said it was totally me. I feel deeply honored. 

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Cosplay

This outfit is my today's one. I'm on my second day running canteen for the last UMaine Red Cross Blood Drive of the school year. Peeps are loving on my gorgeous outfit. 

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Cosplay

This was my Monday outfit for my week of cosplay to promote the drag show. People loved it. I love cosplay. I want the Collins Center to be packed Saturday night. 

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Stitch It, Don't Ditch It (adult nonfiction)

     This Easter I wore a very special dress to church. It's a classic princess cut: the color of coffee with lots of milk with red roses with green leaves. What makes it special, though, is that my younger daughter, Katie, and I shared it. Actually we shared a lot of clothes until she moved out...

     ...in 2014. Actually I have a lot of older garments: an unusual purple jumper printed with lighter purple wasps--a thrift shop find from 2012, sun dresses Amber bought me when she was still in high school...

     It has to do with my environmental concerns. I'm aware of the terrible toll fast fashion and fad following take on our one and only Earth. With the right care that sometimes involves mending a garment can have quite a long life. And decorating can take it to the next level--like my bedazzled denim jacket. 

     If you have favorite garments you don't want to throw out and/or a desire to be a better environmental steward have I got a book for you!

     Mary V. Morton and Jenna Wigger's Stitch It, Don't Ditch It is a comprehensive collection of mending methods. It starts with the absolute basics like threading a needle, unpicking, and pinning and tacking. It gives in depth information about fabrics and tools. It offers a decision template for strategies. It goes on to instructions for more complicated mends. It covers just about any kinds of damage you garments can incur. The plentiful illustrations are clear and easy to follow. 

     If you become good at mending and really enjoy it perhaps it could provide you with a way to earn a little cash, combining an income stream with environmental/sustainability values. 

On a purrrsonal note, it's the first day of the last blood drive of the school year. Of course I'm running canteen today and tomorrow. I have a fabulous cosplay outfit channeling disco era John Travolta.

A great big shout out goes out to all who will participate in the blood drive. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Bedazzled

...and one denim jacket. I bought it at Goodwill for $5 for just such an occasion and bedazzled it. I put it on and walked around the Union. People were like "OMG!!! Jules, WHERE did you get that?" Honestly it looks as good as the stuff they sell on Etsy. I am very proud of my creation!!!

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Bedazzled

...rubber duckies 🐤 ...

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Bedazzled

Friday SWell had a bedazzling event. People got very creative with they what they decorated: boxes, compacts, picture frames...

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The Underground Girls of Kabul (adult nonfiction)

     "If a daughter is born, it is not uncommon for a new mother to leave the delivery room in tears. She will return to the village, her head bowed in shame, where she may be derided by relatives and neighbors. She could be denied food for several days. She could be beaten and relegated to the outhouse to sleep with the animals as punishment for bringing the family another burden".

     Unbelievable, right? Yes, we're talking twenty-first century. No wonder the United Nations has designated Afghanistan the worst country to be born in and the most dangerous place in which to be a woman. In The Underground Girls of Kabul Jenny Nordberg introduces readers to a society in which the birth of even a healthy baby is considered a tragedy and a failure on the part of the mother. 

     It is a very patriarchal society in which men hold all the power and agency, one in which women's sole reason for being is to give birth to sons. A man may marry up to four wives to increase his chances in the genetic lottery. If a woman gives birth to only daughter not only she, but her extended family are considered cursed and lose status and opportunities. 

     But there are more serious consequences than loss of status. In a society in which a woman is not allowed to leave her house unaccompanied a son could chaperone his mother to shops and medical appointments. In a society where a woman is not allowed to work many jobs a son can be the provider for his family from a very early age.

     There is a way of getting around this. A family may declare at least one of their daughters to be a son, dressing her as a boy. For the child it can be a blessing or a curse. For some it can be a chance to experience the many opportunities and privileges not available to sisters. For others it can mean years of drudgery from which sisters are protected. 

     Nordberg, the reporter who broke the story of the bacha pash for the New York Times, takes readers into their complex roles in an ultra patriarchal society. I consider The Underground Girls of Kabul to be an important read for feminists and human rights advocates. 

On a purrrsonal note, my weekend has been mostly about my big goal: getting my summer clothes out of my shed and put up and collecting and stashing my winter clothes. I'm almost there. This morning I went to church for the first time since last Easter. It's hard to get there because I don't drive and there are no weekend busses. I'll be making Eugene a ham dinner. I hope it lasts him awhile because I have a really busy week coming up. 

A great big shout out goes out to my church family at Church of Universal Fellowship. 

Jules Hathaway 

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My Keychain

It has 10 exquisite tiny charms on it. Everyone agrees that it's beautiful. I'm proud of it because it was a real fine motor skills challenge. (Just wish my penmanship was showing as much improvement as my fiber arts and crafting are.) The whole event was the 🐈's pajamas, a sentiment with which the other attendees whole heartedly agreed.

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My first boba

This was a real milestone for me. For years I read about boba. The characters in YA books were always drinking it and loving the stuff. I could only imagine the experience and long to try it for real for real. Finally the day came. It was well worth the wait. To celebrate my next tattoo, which I'll get really soon, will be a boba drinking cat I saw on an event flyer Catherine put together. She picked that picture because she knew I'd adore it. Talk about purrrfect!!!

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Serving up boba

There's my friend Catherine mixing and serving at the boba and Keychain making event Thursday. If she doesn't get a job in her field right off she could get something temporary being a barrister at a fancy coffee place. I'd give her a recommendation. Anyway she and her crew did an awesome job planning, publicizing, and running the event. Lots of people showed up, had a really fun time, and crafted themselves unique, special, and useful souvenirs. 

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The Housemaid (adult chiller)

     Sometimes the most terrifying cruelty can take place under the most ordinary and intimate of circumstances. Freida McFadden's The Housemaid is proof positive of that.

     "I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband, Andrew, seems more broken every day."

     Every day it seems that there is more and more for Millie, the new live in maid for the wealthy Winchester family, to ignore. There's her tiny room on the third floor that has scratch marks on the door, as if someone had been trapped inside, struggling to escape, and a painted shut window and only locks from the outside. There's entitled only child Cecelia who makes life miserable for Millie by being disobedient, whiny, and demanding. There's her mother, Nina, who in addition to making messes tells dangerous lies and treats Millie with open hostility. Enzo, the handyman, has told Millie she's in danger. 

     But as enticing as the prospect of leaving is, it isn't an option for Millie. Convicted felons can't be choosy when it comes to work. And loosing her job could send her back to prison where she's spent a decade behind bars.

     The peril Millie is in is very real and as obnoxious as Nina is, there is somebody Millie doesn't suspect who is the true evil one.

     If you prefer your chillers to be focused on the evils that can lie in the human heart you can't do better than The Housemaid. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday and today have been purrrfect for me. There were the greatest events. Yesterday there was a boba tea and Keychain making event. I had finally had boba for the first time EVER! I'd read it in YA novels for years. It was every bit as good as I hoped. I also made a beautiful Keychain with little metal charms. (Pictures tomorrow). I found the picture for my next tattoo: a cat drinking boba. Eugene surprised me with a new Squishmallow. I got so many compliments on my outfit and 2 ILL books. Who could ask for more.

A great big shout out goes out to Catherine and her student workers for putting on such a wonderful event and Eugene for becoming an accomplished Squishmallow hunter.

Jules Hathaway 

     

     

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Grilled cheese

Which were really relished by all who showed up for the ultimate comfort food. There was also a raffle for really cool prizes donated by local merchants. 

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Grilled cheese

Yesterday in the commuter lounge Catherine and her crew were serving up gooey, buttery grilled cheese sandwiches...

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Margo's Got Money Troubles (adult fiction)

     Early in February on campus there was a blind date with a book event. I can resist a free book about as well as precious Tobago can resist a Fancy Feast entree. Rufi Thorpe's Margo's Got Money Troubles was an ideal blind book date for me, combining a truly engaging plot with a look at issues too many choose to ignore. 

     Margo was a very vulnerable first generation student trying to work her way through community college with nothing in the way of support from her separated parents. She was preyed on by a very married much older professor who kept her his dirty little secret. When he got her pregnant and she refused to have an abortion he shut her out.

     Now Bodhi is born and he and Margo are back at the apartment she calls home and in a world of trouble that goes way beyond the challenges of new parenting. She loses her job for lack of a reliable babysitter. Day care is out of the question for a night shift waitress. 

     "How was she supposed to make a living? She was willing to work hard, she was willing to never sleep, to wear an ugly uniform, to be mildly degraded day in and day out. She was willing to do whatever was required. But she needed to believe it was possible."

     Two of her roommates move out, raising her share of the rent. Unemployment won't come anywhere near to covering her living expenses. Her mother, married to a controlling fundamentalist minister, won't help her.

     In her darkest hour she learns about OnlyFans, a site dedicated to all shades and forms of pornography. Through trial and error she learns how to maintain an adequate cash flow while caring for her beloved son.

     Then the shit starts to hit the fan. The married with children professor who had previously wanted nothing to do with Bodhi, even going to the extent of requiring a non disclosure agreement, suddenly is determined to have full physical and legal custody. And he can afford the best legal talent money can buy. Additionally Margo finds herself being investigated by Department of Human Services because of allegations of being an unfit parent. 

     Margo desperately wants to keep Bodhi. But the odds are really stacked against her. It's hard not to root for her. She's far from perfect. But aren't we all?

     In addition to a truly engaging plot and relatable characters, Margo's Got Money Troubles touches on a trinity of social justice issues that should concern us.

First there's the precarious lives all too many single parents and their children live. We can thank Mr. William Jefferson Clinton for that. In the 90s when he was trying to out conservative the Republicans and be TOUGH on everything he transformed welfare from a life saving entitlement into a time limited hand out, tossing countless families to the wolves to be ruthlessly exploited by less than ethical companies with poor pay and minimal (if any) benefits.

Secondly, there's a child "welfare" system focused on removing children rather than providing material support that could keep families together and too often misreading poverty as neglect. There is often an unbridgrable gap between the privileged bourgeois social workers and their oppressed clients. And there are lots of rigid rules with little or no relationship to real child welfare. 

Thirdly there is the way we treat sex workers in America as somehow beyond contempt, as not fully human. Capitalism 100: the rule of supply and demand. But we prosecute workers and let their clients off scot free. What sex workers deserve is adequate pay, and benefits, safe working conditions, protection from abusive and dangerous clients, good health care, and human respect from the rest of us. 

On a purrrsonal note, now that I have enough stamina to work full time I've embarked on my official job hunt. I know it will take awhile. Unlike most of my classmates, I can't move to Illinois or New Jersey or any of the states that aren't Maine. I'm married. And the three higher educational institutions in Bangor are inaccessible because of the limited bus hours. But I've written a first draft of my resume. Career Center will help me fine tune it. Meanwhile I'm working on fine tuning how I'll get everything done when I have a job. I have exercise covered. Thanks to the exercise bike Adam gave me I can get in a half hour aerobic exercise first thing in the morning. I haven't missed a day in 25 weeks (175 days). So I guess that's set. Now I'm working on streamlining my morning and evening routines. Yesterday I was able to create a menu for a whole week. I was so proud!

Jules Hathaway 

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Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes (juvenile fiction)

     As Berry, protagonist of Tanita Davis's Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes, enters seventh grade other people's crushes are the bane of her existence. Feeling personally immune to them, she can't understand the powerful effects they have on her nearest and dearest. 

     To start with there's her long time bestie. After attending a late summer camp, Lia comes back all starry eyed over Miguel. When she changes from Latin to French to be with him she and Berry have no classes together. And otherwise she seems to have little time for or interest in her life.

     Then there's her solid, reliable primary custodian father. All of a sudden he's becoming a bit too interested in a new middle school gym teacher. 

     Perhaps most heartbreaking is her mother. Although she is away most of the year Berry lives for the August Invasion when Ivy comes to spend a month with her. This year she makes an additional trip to sort through the belongings she still has stored in the garage. She is accompanied by her boyfriend who plans on marriage and moving across the pond to England. 

     This engaging and insightful narrative should be very appealing to preteens, especially those who are experiencing confusing and unsettling changes in their own lives. 

On a purrrsonal note, as you know, I participated in the No Kings Bangor rally. It was inspiring and exciting to see so many people and dogs braving the cold to stand in solidarity. I'll be sharing more pictures. And it was thrilling to see pictures of rallies around the nation and the world. I guess the two big questions are How do we keep building the movement? and What can we do with our individual talents in our daily lives to make a difference?

A great big shout out goes out to all who are fighting for peace and justice through rallies and through utilizing their talents and passions in everyday life.

Jules Hathaway 

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A new Squishmallow

Sunday was a little warmer but quite windy. Eugene and I went for a road trip for the first time in quite awhile. We stopped at a couple of antique shops. Eugene likes looking at antiques. Me not so much. But I had some great conversations with people. And Eugene bought me this Halloween Squishmallow. 

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My friend Margo

I took this picture of her leading a SWell (Student Wellness) event. As you can see, she's totally invested, enthusiastic, and committed to the experience being positive and thought provoking for the attendees. 

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Mattering (adult nonfiction)

    Margo is one of my undergraduate friends. She's fully invested in her work in SWell. She plans events creatively and conscientiously and leads them mindful of the needs of participants. In conversation she pays total, empathic, and enthusiastic attention. She's exactly who you would want as an RA for a first year student dorm. When she texted me the exciting news that she'd earned an RA job for the coming school year I wanted to give her a gift to celebrate her achievement. I chose a journal (she loves journals) and pen to help save memories of her upcoming adventure. 

     Margo loved the gift. She said it meant so much to her.

     I chose to begin my review of Jennifer Breheny Wallace's Mattering with this story because it exemplifies mattering. Her accomplishments matter to me and my support matters to her. Our lives are both richer for that.

     Wallace beautifully and eloquently describes the concept. "On the surface, mattering may seem simple. But dig a little deeper, and it speaks to the most profound complexities of the human experience. Mattering is the story we tell ourselves about our place in the world, as in, Do people value and appreciate me-- or do I go unnoticed? Do I truly belong, or am I moving through the world alone? Does my life make a difference to others, or would it not matter if I weren't here?"

     Wallace considers mattering to be a meta need, second in importance only to the most basic survival needs, because it encompasses concepts such as purpose, belonging, and connection. It motivates much of our behavior. It was evolutionarily hard wired into our species way back when you needed a tribe to survive threats like those apex predators, just like Ben Rein PhD explained in Why Brains Need Friends. 

       Just as Rein is deeply concerned that people are less able to make and sustain the meaningful social connections our brains need, Wallace worries that fewer people have a sense of mattering. In the six years she spent conducting research for Mattering, asking hundreds of people "Do you feel like you matter? frequently the answer was "no" or "not anymore". She feels this loss is behind the rise  in loneliness, burnout, and depression that is endemic today.

     "Mattering is like gravity: unseen but essential. It holds us in place. It steadies us. When it's missing, we begin to drift. We lose our footing and our sense of where we fit. The world feels colder, unwelcoming. The human brain wasn't built for this kind of world."

     Like Rein, Wallace doesn't just lay down the bad news. She goes in depth into the five facets of what she calls the mattering core and ways to cultivate them. I highly recommend Mattering for the human race. 

     You may have noticed I alluded often to Why Brains Need Friends in my review of Mattering. In a case of inter library loan serendipity, although I requested them over a month apart they arrived at Orono Public Library the exact same day. Each gave me insights into the other in a way that was multipliplicative rather than just additive. They go together like peanut butter and chocolate. If you get the chance read them both.

     And for Margo and the other wonderful college students going into residential life positions, these would be highly relevant additions to the summer reading list.

On a personal note, a strong sense of mattering in every sense of the word contributed strongly to my stroke recovery, to my having come as far as I have with optimism for further progress. 

A great big shout out goes out to friends and family members who believe in me, are there for me, and would consider our corner of the world diminished without my presence. 

Jules Hathaway 

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No Kings rally

Lots of people and dogs showed up eager to protest all that's going wrong in America today. This is me holding a sign. So many people driving by honked horns, waved, and shouted encouragement! I really hope that the other rallies went as well.

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No Kings rally

Today was the day of the long awaited No Kings rallies. It was estimated that across America and the worl over nine million people would show up. Bailey and I went to the one in Bangor. This is a selfie of us.

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Why Brains Need Friends (adult nonfiction)

     The summer of '22 I was doing my first (of 3) graduate school internship. It was with the UMaine Upward Bound summer residential program for rising high school students. That summer was the first time the program was in person since the pandemic. When, teaching the students how to conduct research, we got a personality test result we didn't expect. The extrovert/introvert percentage had totally flipped with introverts vastly outnumbering extroverts. 

     Ben Rein, PhD, author of Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection, wouldn't have been surprised. Rein, a neuroscientist who doesn't like using big words when little ones will suffice, has been tracking how converging trends like lingering pandemic effects, rising popularity of distance work, and people communicating on line rather than in person are effecting people's well-being. He's seeing more red flags than you'd find at an ice fishing derby.

     Rein contends that people are wired for togetherness. Way back in the day our ancestors faced considerable perils without the resources we have now. It would take a village to deal with let's say an apex predator red in tooth and claw. Being excluded from the tribe would have been a death sentence. 

     Of course things are a lot different today. We don't have to grab our spears to fight off a saber tooth tiger. But isolation and loneliness are still very dangerous. In fact, when quantified as factors leading to disease, disability, and early death, they outweigh even biggies like smoking. 

     Rein gives us the whys. He takes readers on a tour of the most fascinating organ in the human body, the beautiful brain, to show the science behind brains really needing friends. He uses accessible language, not a whole lot of jargon. He gives plenty of suggestions for ways to get more social connections. 

     If you have a feline friend or a canine companion you'll be glad to know that our fur babies count.

    Basically I'd recommend Why Brains Need Friends to everyone with a human brain. 

On a personal note, on the quiz Rein provides I get the highest possible score for extroversion. I have a huge social support system ranging from my wonderful family and friends to a large portion of the UMaine community. This was really working in my favor when I was hospitalized with a stroke in '23. Rein tells us that stroke survivors who receive the strongest social support show the greatest recovery. I'd say being back in grad school less than 4 months later, performing in a drag show 6 months later, and graduating 🎓 with my masters degree the next year is a damn great recovery. 

A great big shout out goes out to everyone in my beautiful, loving social support network. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Studio view 3

This is the 3rd view of my studio. Note the book rack converted into a Beanie Baby habitat and my little year round Christmas tree. It's to keep Christmas joy in my heart ❤️ 💙 💜 💖 💗 💘 all year round. 

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#2 the studio

This view of the studio focuses on 2 bureaus. Amber crafted the butterflies. Eugene gave me the little music box (lower left) on our second date in May 1987). I've been collecting the Dreamsicles for almost 30 years from yard sales and thrift shops. 

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Everything Else in The Universe (juvenile historical fiction)

     Tracy Holczer's Everywhere in The Universe is a slightly older (2018) book that definitely deserves shelf space in today's libraries and book stores. Although historical fiction (set in the Vietnam war era), it also holds a timely warning for the direction America is going in today.

     Lucy (12) is reserved, stoic, polite--definitely taking after her mother's English line ("They were Chin-Up women. They were Stiff-Upper-Lip women. They knew how to handle themselves.") than her father's boisterous Italian clan.

     Lucy's life has changed drastically since her surgeon father was drafted to the war in Vietnam. She's not only had to live with the very real possibility that he could be seriously injured or even die, but move at a very developmentally challenging time--seventh grade. She's lived through a very lonely school year, missing her friends and failing to bond with her new classmates. 

     Lucy's father loses an arm and returns damaged in unseen as well as noticeable ways and facing the daunting task of discovering a new vocation while mourning his losses. He rebuffs her attempts to help him with the activities of daily living. She can't understand why he seems so distant and rejecting. 

     Lucy makes a new friend, Milo, who is staying staying with his grandmother for the summer. They discover a buried soldier's helmet, purple heart, and family pictures. Trying to return it to its owner, they learn startling truths about people's perceptions of the war and those fighting it.

     Now for the timely warning part. Vietnam was a war of aggression, one we had no justification for embarking on. It took a terrible here and abroad. Our military committed atrocities on civilians. Military families suffered from fear for

 their loved ones, many just out of high school, seeing just how much peril they were in with the newish media of television bringing the war into suburban living rooms. Many combatants came back in body bags or seriously damaged physically and/or psychologically. And can you imagine what it was like for 18-year-olds drawing low draft numbers to realize that the only to avoid being plunged into a hell on Earth was to leave family, friends, and country, not knowing if they could ever return?

     Now President Trump is plunging us into a war of aggression in Iran without Congressional approval. A war in violation of international laws. We bombed a school for seven to Twelve-year-old girls which is morally indefensible. He is calling for troops on the ground and talking about reinstating the draft.

     Saturday, March 28, there will be No Kings rallies in thousands of locations across America. Hopefully if enough of us attend Congress will pay attention and do something to change the terrible path our nation is on. 

On a purrrsonal note, I've been protesting since the war was in Vietnam. I'll be out there Saturday. As long as I'm drawing breath I'll be taking it to the streets. Being old guard for social justice. 

A great big shout out goes out to the organizers of the rallies and all who will show up and speak up.

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Studio

This is the first picture of my spring cleaned studio. The ❄️ flake makes multicolored light patterns. The 🐈 😻 in the painting is precious Joey, my beloved companion of 16 years.

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A leaf

This is a picture I took this morning on campus. I managed to photograph it without shadows. I think it's really striking. 

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Hallowed Deadly Seeds (adult chiller)

     "How was she supposed to stop stressing? She was under house arrest in a murderous cult town with guards monitoring her residence around the clock. Leaving would have been challenging enough before the whipping, but now it seemed impossible. On top of that, the townsfolk had dragged Andy off to torture him, and who knew how badly he was injured?"

     Are you a true chiller affecianado? Can you deal with the hard core stuff like a murderous cult town? If you are and haven't yet read Amber Hathaway's Little White Flowers, this is a perfect time to do so. You see, the second book in the Little White Flowers trilogy, Hallowed Deadly Seeds, is about to drop in June. 

     Yes, Amber is inviting you back through the dark, tangled Maine forest whose nocturnal predatory beasts should be the least of your worries. Back to the town that sanity has forgotten where generations have lived (and died) by a cruel false theology that makes Cotton Mathers' Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God look tame in comparison, where every summer innocent children are slaughtered in a ceremony to appease their deity, where when misfortunes occur people attribute them to witchcraft, and where lovely flowers carry horrific messages. 

     In Little White Flowers siblings Alice and Andy, University of Maine undergraduates, have been sent by their parents to Evanston after their grandmother's death to prep an ancestral home for sale. Their concerns were physical labor, boredom, and spotty wifi--nothing major. 

     They quickly learned that they weren't in Penobscot County anymore. Forget wifi--the denizens didn't have land lines!

     With the exception of Riley, a young man who became quite smitten with Alice, the townsfolk didn't really take to the siblings. They saw too many red flags. Alice and Andy were strangers, didn't dress like Victorians, and were not fans of patriarchy. When they learned too many of the town's secrets Alice barely escaped death by claiming (falsely) to be pregnant with Riley's baby. 

     As Hallowed Deadly Seeds begins Alice and Andy are alive but far from out of the woods. To legitimize the pregnancy it has been decreed that Riley and Alice marry. The townsfolk are taking no chances. Armed guards stationed around their house to thwart any escape attempts. Talk about a shotgun wedding!

     There's a problem. Andy is running out of Suboxone, a medicine that the town doctor certainly won't have. 

     And when the wife of a prominent citizen becomes unexplainably deathly ill the wedding is put off another week with the guard duty extended. 

     In addition to illnesses the town is undergoing mysterious tribulations. Fires destroy two of the town's most important buildings. There are two theories. Either God is punishing the townsfolk for their sins or witches are working their evil. Some men have decided to take matters into their own alcohol fueled hands. To escape Alice, Andy, and Riley will have to avoid not only the official law enforcers, but the self appointed witch hunters...

     ...if it's at all possible. 

     Hallowed Deadly Seeds builds seamlessly on the foundation laid in Little White Flowers. The characters and settings become so familiar that you'll feel like you are with Alice, Andy, and Riley in their house with armed sentries stationed outside, in the church at the bizarre wedding rehearsal, and by their side in their frantic dash for freedom. 

     An insight I was struck with while writing this review was how believably Amber describes a cult mentality. I was never in a cult. But my sister was in and out of them. After surviving spinal meningitis Harriet was visibly different. Neurotypical people (adults as well as kids, were very cruel. The Fundamentalist/cultist congregations were the only ones that not only accepted but cherished and valued her, where she felt that she belonged and mattered. 

     In some getting slain in the spirit was so common nurses were at all services and speaking in tongues considered essential for salvation. Some were Rapture centered, focused on preparing to be worthy of being swooped up to heaven rather being left on a doomed Earth. 

     When Mom, her great aunt Bland, and Harriet moved to rural North Carolina I spent the summer there with them helping them settle in. In her new church women wore long sleeved floor length dresses in the summer heat, gender roles were ultra conservative, and parents were ultra vigilant in shielding their children from "herecies" like evolution. I'm pretty sure that they home schooled. 

     Just one more disturbing cult story. A woman was pregnant with a long awaited child when her fetus was diagnosed with a tragic genetic defect. It would die by eighteen months and in its time on earth never know a moment of consciousness. If she terminated the pregnancy the church (her family) would kick her out.

     And those were cults embedded in the larger world. Can you imagine those isolated from society for generations? Actually you don't have to. Let Amber take you there.

On a purrrsonal note, the view from my windows is dismal. After melting away the snow ❄️ has returned. Everything is coated in white. Eugene is out there plowing. 

A great big shout out goes out to my favorite chiller author (Amber of course), the libraries and book stores that carry her work, and her quickly growing reader community. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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The adorable Squishmallow elephant

Eugene bought me yesterday when he went grocery shopping 🛍. 

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My Friday Goodwill haul

Cat Halloween shirt, Squishmallow hoodie, sequined leggings, and Squishmallow 🦁. 

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The Civil War of Amos Abernathy (juvenile fiction)

     Amos, protagonist of Michael Leali's The Civil War of Amos Abernathy, has for much of his young life has been a volunteer historical reenactor at the Chickaree County Living History Park. As you can probably guess, he's a real history buff. 

     Amos has a most unusual penpal. Much of his narrative is written in the form of letters to Albert D. J. Cashier, a Civil War Union soldier who probably in this century would have identified as trans. Amos is gay. He's beginning to think the park is telling only part of the story. There must have been LGBTQ+ people in the 19th century. He's seriously researching to learn more about them and gain representational inclusion in a space that's become very important to him. 

     Unfortunately there are people who don't want this to happen, including a wealthy, influential person who is threatening to cut off funding for the park if this "inappropriate" content is included. Amos's mom, as director of the park, is caught between her need to keep it solvent and her loyalty to her son.

     As if that's not confusing enough Amos has a crush on a boy, Ben, who is giving confusing and contradicting vibes. 

     Leali was nearly thirty when he finally took his mother's advice: write what you know. He's had the experiences of being afraid to come out (Ben) and being openly gay and proud (Amos). For years he was a young nineteenth century historical reenactor. 

     But to fill out the story he had to do massive amounts of research which also enabled to make up a list of resources for readers who want to learn more.

     Although Amos and the other twentieth century characters are fictional, Albert D. J. Cashier was very real.

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday was the first day of calendar spring. It was warm enough out for me to take a 4 bus Goodwill/Hannaford run. At Goodwill I was so excited to see the stuffed animals on shelves instead of in deep bins. I got a 🦁 Squishmallow, a Halloween 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ 😺 🐱 😸 shirt, a Squishmallow hoodie, and sequin covered leggings that will be purrrfect for drag or cosplay. At Hannaford I got fruit and veggies. Last night we got a sprinkling of ❄️. It had melted by 10 this morning, but more is on the way. But I'm glad I'm in Maine, not Texas. According to the meteorologists they're having dangerously hot temps in March!?!

A great big shout out goes out to all the Goodwill and Hannaford workers who make shopping there such a good experience. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Veggie Cheerios

This is the box Eugene brought home. When I start eating it I'll give you my opinion. 

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What I'm reading

This is the cover of Hallowed Deadly Seeds, the second book in the Little White Flowers trilogy. It's scheduled to drop in June. Isn't the cover art chilling? Amber and I agree that it really captures the spirit of the narrative. If you're a chiller affecianado you won't want to miss out. If you haven't read the first book, Little White Flowers, read it first. It will really get you familiar with the characterd and their relationships. 

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All the Way Around the Sun (YA fiction)

     Xixi Tian's All the Way Around the Sun is a poignant and engaging narrative about a girl, Stella, grieving the loss of her only brother and feeling alone in her grief. The pressures to keep up her grades and finish her college applications seem both meaningless and overwhelming. 

     Stella and her older brother, Sam, had lived in their native China, being raised by their grandmother, for the first eight years of her life while their parents established themselves in America. When they arrive in America their parents are strangers to them. Sam is the one who can best live up to their great expectations, especially when he is accepted to Harvard...

    ...Where he dies in his dorm his first year...

     ...Nobody is there to help Stella cope with her loss. Her parents don't talk about the family tragedy. They haven't told her grandmother about Sam's death. And just before her second semester of senior year the family moves across the country to California where she doesn't know anyone...

     ...except Alan who was her best friend back in the Midwest until he seemingly ditched her...

     ...Now Stella's parents are pushing her to get her college applications in on time. Unable to take her on a California colleges tour, guess who they enlist to be her escort.

     The truth is Stella is afraid to go to college. Sam did and look what happened. 

On a purrrsonal note, March break is drawing to an end. It's featured marginally to truly crappy weather. Of the excursions I've planned for the week, I should be able to pull off one tomorrow--a field trip to Hannaford with a side trip to Goodwill. I've mostly stayed to home with precious Tobago. I've made two trips to Orono Public Library and visited Amber to pick up my advance readers copy of the second book in her Little White Flowers trilogy which is scheduled to drop this June. Of course I'll review it way before. 

Amusing story: Eugene picked up some groceries after work yesterday. He had these veggie Cheerios. WTF? I expect cereal to be sweet or neutral, not tasting like beets or broccoli. It says it's fruit flavored, just contains veggie powder. I'm willing to try it. I'll let you know what it's like.

Yesterday was drivers' appreciation day on the community connector bus system. For me every day I get on a bus 🚌 is drivers' appreciation 💗 day and I show it with candy.

A great big shout out goes out to all our fabulous, hardworking bus drivers. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Zen gardens

I've always been a fan of miniatures, maybe because when it comes to size I'm way out on the minus tail on the bell shaped curve. I love anything tiny and beautiful--doll house furnishings and food, insects and spiders, advent calendar Squishmallows... So when I discovered zen gardens in '24 I was all in. I've made three so far. I made the first in '24 not that long after the stroke. I made the middle one last semester and added a ceramic duck some tabling sorority women gave me. The third I just now created with miniature shells. I'd acquired little bags full at a yard sale during the pandemic. I have them on my desk. They make me happy. 

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Joy journal

Here are a couple more pages.

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So Many Years (picture book)

     Almost one third of Texans were enslaved until June 19, 1865 when Union Major General Gordon Granger announced the freedom of formerly enslaved people. That day became a day of celebration in Texas. In 2021 Juneteenth finely became a national holiday. 

     Anne Wynter helps children understand how momentous the change was in a series of llustrated contrasts. "How would you eat after so many years of making your meals from scraps? How would you dance after so many years of working through waves of pain?"

     If parents discuss the pictures that accompany the text with their kids it can be quite a learning experience. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday when I was running errands it was 🌧. Everywhere I went people were saying, "Thank goodness it isn't ❄️ a sentiment with which I highly concur. Don't get me wrong. We aren't out of the woods yet. We always seem to get more of the white stuff in April. But for now the lawns on my street are snow free with some grass coming up. And the spring equinox is right around the corner. 

A great big shout out goes out to you, my readers with best wishes for a happy St. Patrick's Day.

Jules Hathaway 

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Joy journal

Here's another couple of pages.

I'm about to head out to the library for a necessary errand. I'm hoping to get there and back before the predicted rain. At least it isn't predicted snow. I'm so over winter!!!

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Neighborhood Watch

Precious Tobago keeping an eye on a suspicious looking truck. Between her and Romeo (a handsome tuxedo outdoor feline 🐈) they keep our street pretty safe.

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Twilight of American Sanity (adult nonfiction)

     Allen Francis, MD begins his prologue to Twilight of American Sanity: A Psychiatrist Analyzes The Age of Trump with a quite fitting quote from Nietzsche: "Insanity in individuals is somewhat rare. But in groups, parties, nations, and epochs, it is the rule." His premise is simple but profound: we have to shift our thinking from what's wrong with our current president to what compelled us to elect him and how to change before it's too late.

     He starts a chapter he calls Confronting the Facts of Life with the following challenge: "Ignorance is not bliss. What you don't know most certainly can hurt you, often in the least expected and most devastating of ways. Compelling evidence indicates that our world is marching blindly into a perfect storm of irreversible catastrophes. Absent urgent corrective action, it will soon be game over for our civilization, with no do-overs allowed."

     And what are these Catastrophes? How about:

*environmental degradation;

*rampant population growth;

*depletion of the world's resources;

*gross inequality;

*unequally distributed medical care;

*too much military aggression;

*racist isolationism;

And *a whole lot more, none of which will be addressed with Trump and his cronies in power.

     The bulk of the book provides an in depth discussions of all the elements that could have played a role in our nation's poor election decision making: biological, evolutionary, psychological, and social and the myths (i.e. American exceptionalism) that could have come into play. This is pretty heavy reading...

     ...especially because Twilight of American Sanity was written during the first Trump regime and things are now so much worse...

     ...But fortunately Frances remains reasonably optimistic and fills us in on things we must do individually and collectively to turn things around before it's too late. 

     This is not an easy or comforting to perused. But for people who grasp the enormity of the crisis and are determined to be part of the solution it's a must read. 

On a purrrsonal note, these days if you're anything like me it's hard to keep up with the news. I've never experienced a more frightening time in my 74 years on this earth. But we must because if we don't, as Francis warns, game over.

A great big shout out goes out to all people who read this book and do their best to follow its advice. 

Jules Hathaway 

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☕️

And my friend Natalie really appreciated her treat.

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Coffee

Yesterday SWell had a popular coffee and energy drink event. Caffeine being taboo for me, I didn't partake. Sadness. But I had fun being paparazzi. My friend Bailey was one of the drink mixers.

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Every Day I Read (adult nonfiction)

     I was about to settle into my bedtime reading. But I was about one hundred pages into Twilight of American Sanity, a nonfiction volume that makes Stephen King's Cujo look like Lassie in contrast. No way was I going to contemplate that level of horror with darkness fallen. I'm too much a fan of nightmare free sleep. So I stuffed that book into my backpack and perused my inter library loan stash where I found the perfect bedtime book: Hwang Bo-Reum's Every Day I Read.

     "I hope to become stronger, to stand firm by my convictions, and to become a more mature person. Someone neither arrogant nor naive. Someone who can be honest about my feelings, yet not let emotions overwhelm me. I want to see the world, to better understand others." 

     That's Bo-Reum's answer to the question: what do I hope to get out of books? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself that question? If not, how about trying? You may be surprised what you discover. It would be a truly awesome ice breaker for a book club.

     Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer To Books is a series of reflections on the experience of reading. What do I want to get out of books?/Why do I read? is one she frequently comes back to, always with a fresh insight. Some of her other topics include:

*reading beyond best sellers;

*visiting the library;

*participating in book clubs;

*choosing books instead of the internet;

*finding life-changing reads:

*reading to suit different moods;

and so many more.

     If I were to choose two adjectives to describe Every Day I Read they would be gentle and engaging. I chose gentle because of the warmth and welcome in her writing. I say engaging because there is something for everyone from the novice wanting to get into reading to the long term bibliophile wishing to think recursively on the reading experience. 

On a purrrsonal note, it's the last day before March break and the UMaine campus is rapidly emptying. There were some pretty cool activities. My favorite was a dinner Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund and Wilson (interfaith) Center put on at Wilson. Dining there is a beautiful experience for people with dietary restrictions. You can see the recipes and know what goes into the food, unlike in restaurants. They served 3 kinds of pasta (an Alfredo, a vegan with lots of colorful veggies, and a kind with peaches) and soup--all homemade!!! Absolutely delicious. 

A great big shout out goes out to my fellow Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund members and the Wilson Center crew.

Jules Hathaway 

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Oldest critters in my collection

The pajama clad bear with a baby bear comes from a mall in Virginia. My beloved Uncle Ken bought it for me in 1986. I visited him after my father died. He said I could pick anything I wanted, thinking I'd choose clothes. I picked something I'd love the rest of my life. It was the last time I saw Uncle Ken. I found the little bear in a Rockport, Massachusetts thrift shop in 1984 for $3. Later that year an antique dealer offered me $300 for him. Of course I just said no.

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The Moon Without Stars (juvenile fiction)

     In her author's note for The Moon Without Stars Chanel Miller says: "Ask any adult if they remember middle school, and you'll realize they're carrying memories that profoundly shaped their sense of self. We can recall that exciting and achy time; enduring small humiliations, strengthening our perspectives, scavenging for bits of confidence, laughing uncontrollably, hurting from rejection, and wondering if who we were becoming was enough."

     The charm of the narrative is that it embodies that time in life marked by new experiences and surroundings when small events take on oversized significance, emotions can shift so suddenly, and misunderstandings and mistakes seem impossible to come back from. It's an Are You, God? It's Me, Margaret. for the twenty-first century. 

     Luna starts middle school content to be in the background with only one friend, Scott, her long time bestie. Then a series of events gives her a chance to bond with the popular girls. She enjoys spending time with her new friends and ditches Scott. When the girls turn against her she's painfully alone. 

     And first menstruation plays a major role. 

     The Moon Without Stars is a wonderful read for girls starting or not far from starting middle school because Luna's experience will be very relatable and engaging, hopefully showing them they're not alone in awkwardness and uncertainty. 

On a purrrsonal note, before I went from elementary school to junior high my world fell apart. My sister, Harriet, became severely brain damaged from spinal meningitis. My parents' marriage became even more dysfunctional. My mom became totally invested in getting Harriet back to normal. I became invisible in my own home. A week or so before I started high school we moved to a much bigger city. I had to give up not only my home, my ocean, my community, and my friends 💔 😢, but my beloved animal companions including my ocelot. Not good transitions. 

Yesterday the weather was gorgeous. At least in the 50s with abundant sunshine. I was able to work outside in shorts and a tee shirt 👕. First time this year. I saw my first spider, a cute, tiny yellow one. And some of my last year's flowers are trying to bloom again. 

A great big shout out goes out to my readers. I'm sure many of you are as eager for spring as I am.

Jules Hathaway 

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New dress

This is the new dress I wore for an event last week. Isn't it gorgeous? I wore a sweater with it because it's still winter.

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Tattoo

Well here it is. I think it's a beauty. Rob does such good work! 

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Fake Skating (YA romance)

     If you're in need or want of an engaging YA romance that will keep you in suspense because there are a lot of twists and you really care about whether the protagonists get together in the end you can't do better than Lynn Painter's Fake Skating. It's about a boy and a girl individually dealing with really stressful life circumstances. 

     Alec, nicknamed Zeus, is his school and town's great ice hockey 🏒 hope. The sport reigns supreme there. For all the times the Southview Packers have made playoffs they've never gone all the way. Everyone is counting on Zeus to provide the skills and the magic. It's his senior year. 

     He also feels that he's the only one who can pull his family out of the financial crisis they're in through no fault of their own. They're deep in medical debt from a car accident his father was in. His father can't work. Alec feels that making pro hockey is the only way they can pay off the debt and become financially stable. He is hiding a serious shoulder injury for fear it could derail his career.

     Dani has been a military brat, having to move frequently because of her father's career. Formerly outgoing, she was bullied in ninth grade and now is cynical and cautious, focusing on keeping schoolmates at a distance so they can't hurt her. Her parents have divorced. She and her mother have moved to the town her mother grew up in. 

     Until they were twelve Dani and her mother spent time in that town every summer. Dani and Alec were inseparable best friends...

     ...but a lot has happened in the intervening years. They both have changed a lot. And each feels betrayed by the other. Circumstances make it expeditious for them to fake a romance. After awhile they both want it to be real...

     ...But there is someone determined to prevent that from happening. 

     I was riding my exercise bike when I got near the end of the book. I was so unable to put the book down even though it meant extra cycling. That's how engaging Fake Skating is.

On a purrrsonal note, I feel so energized now that we're back on daylight savings time as of yesterday. Seeing it stay light out longer was so beautiful!!! Today temps are supposed to get into the 50s. Whole lotta snow gonna melt. Having lived in New England my whole life, I'm under no delusion that it's smooth sailing from now till next autumn. At least one more storm is guaranteed. But I enjoy the spring adjacent preview of coming attractions. 

Today I will get my fourth tattoo. Can't wait to share a picture with you.

A great big shout out goes out to the Canadian province that is now going with year round daylight savings time. Setting a great example for the rest of us.

Jules Hathaway 

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