The first step into fiction.
A slightly different newsletter edition.
I’ve started to think of this newsletter as a living writing portfolio. When I think of my future perfect self, I see myself as a professional writer. A writer of novels, specifically.
I once heard that fiction is the best way to tell the truth. The piece at the end of this newsletter is fiction.
March Book Reviews I
Come & Get It: 4 stars
What I liked about this book: I absolutely loved that this book centered around residence hall drama. I worked for Student Housing for about a year during college and this book felt so real.
I absolutely loved the first 2/3 of this book, but the ending fell flat for me. I still give this book 4 stars since I enjoyed most of it.
Who I’d recommend this book to: anyone who used to work in Student Housing; anyone who is very goal-oriented and needs a reminder to take a step back every once in awhile to see the whole picture.
Medium of the book: Audiobook from the Sacramento Public Library (excellent accent work, would recommend this medium).
Judging a book by its cover: I like it. The pig looks like it’s in a good mood and I love that it makes me think that. I am just now wondering if there was a deeper meaning to it.
You Dreamed of Empires: 3.5 stars
What I liked about this book: I liked how short this book was and how vividly it described the architecture and environment. It painted a pretty picture in my mind, but it was overall a little underwhelming.
I do like that it is a translated novel, though. I will be making more of an effort to read translated books.
Who I’d recommend this book to: anyone interested in the Aztec empire; anyone who’s wondered what would’ve happened if Cortes had lost.
Medium of the book: Audiobook from the Sacramento Public Library
Judging a book by its cover: Psychedelic horse art?! Yes, please!! Visually appealing while also being true to what’s inside the book.
My favorite people’s favorite things.
I love the Celebrity Shopping lists on The Strategist. Last month I bought Carole Radziwill’s cat litter. Here are some of my favorite people’s favorite things.
When I think of my community, I think of Ali. She is one of the pieces of my heart that I left in Oakland. I think we met at her SF Pride picnic in 2019, but I’m not sure. It feels as if one day I just blinked and there was Ali, fitting perfectly into my life.
She is a fellow champion of the public library and I love her opinions on books and movies. She is also the person whose style I most admire. Whenever I see a cool and interesting pair of earrings, I tell Collin, “I could see Ali wearing these.”
She’s also another person who inspired me to create this newsletter. Many people have told me to write a book one day, but when Ali said it, I took it seriously. I trust her taste in culture so much so when she said I had something to write about, I knew it was real.
This is all to say, I think she’s the absolute coolest and I’m so glad you all get to meet her here. So, without further ado, please enjoy Ali’s favorite things, as told by her:
Tide To Go Stain Remover Pen. As someone who spills things constantly, having a Tide To Go pen on hand is essential. This is a little magic wand that removes stains instantly. I keep one in my purse at all times, alongside a pack of tissues to wipe up any spills. #virgo
Biore UV Athlizm Protect Essence SPF 50+. In my experience, Asian sunscreens are superior. Although I opt for a non-waterproof sunscreen for daily use, I’m obsessed with this waterproof sport version for sweaty days. It’s pretty much the best waterproof sunscreen I’ve ever tried. SPF 50, no white cast, no weird smell or texture, dries instantly—a true treasure.
Non-mint toothpastes. Mint is such a great, versatile herb—I love it in tea, chewing gum, mint chocolate chip ice cream, etc.—but can we please end the tyranny of mint toothpaste? It’s just so boring. If you’re looking to get into unusual flavors of toothpaste, Marvis and Hismile are great places to start because they still have a minty/cooling element. If you’re looking to go next level, salt toothpastes are a wild and refreshing experience, and this arugula toothpaste is one of my all-time favorites (but still an acquired taste). For a luxury experience, Selahatin offers some beautiful flavors. The Strategist also has some unique international recommendations that are on my to-try list.
Cocofloss. Don’t forget to pair your toothpaste with some non-mint flavored dental floss too. It’s the only thing that’s gotten me to floss daily.
Lactase enzyme. AKA Lactaid. I love this stuff. I have the CVS membership just so I can get the best deal on it, because my partner and I go through it so fast. We both love dairy but are lactose intolerant, sadly. While taking Lactaid is no longer enough to allow me to eat certain foods (like bleu cheese—sad), I can still enjoy the wonders of burrata and ice cream.
Baggu's Medium Nylon Crescent Bag. Wow, what an absolutely perfect bag! I’m always worried about getting pickpocketed, so I appreciate that this bag is both a crossbody and has a zipper closure (two must-haves). It’s also super lightweight yet can easily expand to hold a lot of stuff. At full capacity, I can fit so many things in here: all my chapsticks and lip glosses, hand lotion, a Tide to Go pen, a wallet, my keys, a snack, sunglasses, emergency migraine meds, Lactaid, a Kindle, and even a water bottle. Plus, it’s only $56, gender neutral, and it comes in cute designs like this embroidered Gudetama collab (Editor’s Note: this version is no longer available)! What are you waiting for??
Kindle Paperwhite Kids. I think it was The Strategist that turned me onto the kid’s version of the Kindle. It’s the same thing as an adult Kindle except that it comes with a cool cover, making it a good deal. I resisted e-readers for so long because I love physical books but this finally converted me. I love that I can download any book pretty much instantly, and the library holds system for e-books is so much more flexible than for physical books—I can continually push back my hold until I’m ready to read something, instead of losing my place in line because I failed to get to the library on time to pick up the book. I still mostly read library books, and I find that I read even more now because the Kindle is so convenient.
Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo. I have very oily skin and I need to wash my hair everyday or things get very bad, very quick. I’ve been using this since middle school and it’s the only thing that truly gets the grease out of my hair. I’ll follow this up with another more hydrating shampoo or conditioner so my hair doesn’t get too stripped of moisture. It probably has all kinds of ingredients in it that would make beauty influencers quake in fear but whatever, it works for me.
The sense of smell. Such an underrated sense! In our modern world, we have less of a use for this sense (no need to smell danger, for example) which makes it all the more important to pay attention to it. Over the past several years, I’ve gotten really into perfume as a way to focus on this sense. It’s such a great way to elevate the everyday—energizing you, calming you, or bringing you comfort depending on the scent you choose. Scent is so personal too. It’s literally connected to the part of our brain that stores memory, so how you perceive smells is always tied to your history. If you’re looking into getting into perfume, I highly recommend ordering samples first. Ministry of Scent and Surrender to Chance (dumb name, legit site) are great places to order decants from.
My cat, Furdinand. Wow, I just love him so much. He’s a sweetheart but spicy too. He loves to play, hiding around corners and jumping out to scare us. He’s not very cuddly (his only flaw) but he makes up for it with his deep purr. If I just say his name and look at him, he’ll start purring. That’s how I know he loves me too.
Furdie, in all his glory.
Propagation
The severity of the situation didn't hit Benny until he was washing her blood off the pavement. It was barely 11:00 am and the day had taken a devastating turn.
Plumeria, his favorite mare, had died after delivering her foal. The foal had just finished nursing when she began pacing again. Once satisfied with the spot she had chosen, she lowered herself down onto the straw. Then it all seemed to happen at once.
A cough. A push. Prolapse.
Her uterus and bladder had spread out on the straw in front of them.
Even though it had only happened two hours ago, the memories start to blur and play tricks on him. Had he been the first to scream? Who was the one that moved the baby to a new stall?
It doesn’t matter now, he thinks to himself. Plumeria’s body is at the clinic now. The farm manager had called and said she had died as they drove up the clinic’s driveway.
“See you on the other side, Plummy,” he whispered to himself as we washed her into the grass.
But there was still hope. A nurse mare had been ordered for the newborn filly. The beautiful, perfect filly who already trusted people. Whereas Plumeria was the color of chocolate cake with the personality of spoiled milk (Benny loved the mean ones), the new baby was a bright chestnut. A source of joy and light in this terrible morning.
A nurse mare is another horse that “adopts” the orphan foal and raises it as her own. There are entire farms dedicated to supplying the region’s farms with nurse mares on demand.
As they prepared a new stall for the nurse mare, Benny asked the farm manager about the nurse mare system.
“How were we able to get a lactating mare so quickly?” Benny asked as he now used the same hose to fill up a water bucket.
“These farms have plenty of mares with foals that they are just waiting to switch out.” In order for a mare to be lactating and accept a new foal, she first has to have her own.
Benny took a moment to think about the supply chain before asking his next question. “What happens to the nurse mare’s original foal then?”
The farm manager stopped shaking out the straw for a second to consider his answer. He picked up a pitchfork and began working again before he quietly said, “it’s best not to ask questions when you know you don’t want the answer.”
They finished preparing the stall in silence.
A truck and trailer pulled up to the barn forty minutes later. Benny watched the driver pack his lip with tobacco before getting out of the truck. He opened the trailer’s door with just enough room for himself to climb in. Seconds later the door swung open and a small pinto mare jumped out.
Her muted brown-and-white coat showed it had been some weeks since the mare had felt the bristles of a brush. She was led into the freshly prepared stall and tied next to a hay rack full of hay.
The farm manager brought in Plumeria’s filly to meet her new mother. Distracted by the hay, the pinto mare didn’t even flinch as the new filly began to nurse.
Benny’s felt his heart warm as he watched the baby drink to her heart’s content. He loved Plumeria and he would love this filly a little extra on her behalf.
But as quickly as his heart warmed, his stomach dropped when he heard the pinto’s own foal call for her from the trailer.
