Month: November 2024

Categories
Writing

“Taking the Steak” — Literary Veganism

My short fiction story, “Taking the Steak,” has now been published in Literary Veganism! This is a story I wrote last year. It is meant to be humorous but is written from the heart, reflecting both my political and personal beliefs about animal rights and plant-based eating. The story is more topical than ever, as today is Thanksgiving. I wish everyone a happy holiday, and hope that they enjoy the piece. It can be found here. 

Happy reading!

 

 

Categories
Writing

“The Count” — Joy of the Pen

I am happy to announce that my short nonfiction story, “The Count,” has just been awarded Nonfiction Honorable Mention for Joy of the Pen 2024! This is a Maine-based writing competition held by Topsham Public Library, sponsored by several local organizations. This story is about a single day that I worked as a seasonal park ranger. It was written not long after I had left my position.

Publication Journey: “The Count” was rejected by two publications (Ninth Letter and Boulevard—both were not encouraging rejections) earlier this year before it found a home in Joy of the Pen. I am happy that the piece will be in a Maine-specific journal, as it is a Maine-specific story.

I am honored to have placed in this journal. Many incredible writers call Maine home, and the Joy of the Pen publishes excellent work every year. For these reasons, putting my work out into this community feels extra special. I am thankful to the coordinators and judges who worked hard to put this competition together.

This piece is available to read on the Joy of the Pen website, here.

Categories
Art

Maine Friends of Animals Flatbread Community Bake

Add it to your calendars: Maine Friends of Animals is having their annual Flatbread Community Bake on November 19th from 5PM-9PM! The profits from every pie will be donated to MFOA during this time. This is a wonderful event that benefits a crucial organization in Maine. Though our state has solidified more animal rights than most, there is always more that can be done. MFOA does important work—especially when it comes to legislation centering around animal rights and cruelty to animals.
It was my pleasure to paint the canvas MFOA sign that is currently hanging in Flatbread, advertising this upcoming event. A photo is included below.
Flatbread’s pizzas, salads, and desserts are delicious. If you can, I would highly recommend stopping by during the Community Bake (even if it is just to check out the sign 😋).

Categories
Travel Video

A Week In Texas

Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin—farewell! We ate delicious food, saw incredible botanical gardens, and visited some of the most beautiful art museums I have ever seen. I am so grateful to have had the chance to check out these cities. That said, in the wake of the election, I am also grateful to live somewhere very different from the political environment we witnessed in Texas.
For me, the cultural diversity is what made this state seem like a worthwhile place to visit. However, so many of the people, signage, and advertisements that we saw were bigoted against the same cultural diversity that makes their state interesting. It was disturbing to see such hate spouted proudly on billboards, flags, and t-shirts.
Additionally, this was the first trip that we have been on where my partner and I often had to eat at two different restaurants because of my dietary restrictions. Being vegetarian has never been a problem for me—not in Canada, not in Australia, not even in rural Hungary. But the Texas diet is meat meat meat. In my opinion, if a restaurant and a chef are really skilled, they can provide food without meat that is still delicious and appealing. This may seem silly to others, but I believe that the way a society treats its animals is an important reflection of where its values really lie. It disappointed me.
All in all, I would have to say that the most amazing thing I saw in Texas was the resilience. The resilience of the animals, living in such a harsh environment, struggling against people who see them as less than. The resilience of the Texan women, living amongst people that cling to the belief that they are entitled to control their bodies and destinies. The resilience of the immigrants who experience unimaginable difficulty to get there; people who are trying to create a new life in a foreign land and, on top of this enormous task, are constantly reminded of their “otherness” by xenophobes and racists. I will remember this resilience, and carry it with me as I move forward into a frightening, dark future.
Our trip was perfect and I would do it again in a heartbeat. That said, I am not sure if I will ever go back to Texas. There is so much more of the world I still have to explore.
I also cannot stomach seeing another “Real Men Love Babies” billboard again in this lifetime.

I made a video of our trip, which can be found at this link

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I hope that others enjoy.