I remember the early summer vacation days. Tension from within my bones and muscles were finally letting go. The early mornings turned to affirmations and a shining sun glow through the window. When summer arrives, the body is in shock. Perhaps, I’m learning that muscle relaxation is a must on a daily! When are you releasing your clenched jaws? Are your shoulders crunched up? Are your legs crossed? This past school year did a number on me. I ended up signing up for a program to help me release major stress from my body. I’m still going through the program, and when I’m done I hope to write more about it.

I did have one large solo trip planned to Ohio for a week to attend the Kenyon Review Summer Writing Workshop! A few bumps on my experience with anxiety did occur, but I was a tough cookie and worked through it. Other than that personal construction work, I took on a total of twenty four hours to drive across midwestern states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Kenyon is hilariously so rural — I did not check the map or else I would’ve been less surprised. At the welcoming dinner, loads of people in a medium sized AC room from different walks of life felt overwhelming. We were placed at tables with our writing cohort for dinner, where I met the best of the best. I was incredibly thrilled to have been accepted to the creative non-fiction cohort led by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo. It was the first time I sat in a writing space led by a Latino writer. Marcelo Hernandez Castillo is the nicest and most thoughtful human I have ever met. I felt so welcomed, and I’m positive that the rest of the crew would agree (based on convos exactly about this). That entire week was filled with independent writing and relational work. I got to meet friends of friends, which reminds me just how small society really is. I created new writing pieces that I’m holding dear to my heart. After leaving Ohio, I leaned into editing a potential piece for an anthology. I also reflected on what’s next in my writing. Over the last few years, I’ve been signing up for workshops in poetry and non-fiction. I am interested in expanding to other genres and being more playful with them. I’m also okay not making a lot of moves with writing at this time. I want to do it for fun, for joy, and for me. One day soon, I might move it along in a more formal setting but only time will tell. I definitely recommend the Kenyon in-person workshop and online ones. I always get something out of them!

And somehow, we made it to August. The month where the bugs are louder and livelier than ever. I can hear their loud buzzing through the windows of my home. As I water the flowers surrounding my trees, I’m greeted by dried cicadas still holding on to dear life on the bark. It’s a lil spooky but also so earthy. It’s truly the best. With August in full force, it also means the return of school. I’ve entered my classroom, and I’ve stared at the walls in disbelief. I’m headed to the halls I walked as a young teenager. I’m rather excited (of course nervous and a bit scared) to be in the building that (mal)nourished my young self. There’s a lot of healing that will come with that, I’m sure.

Since I did have more solo and chill time on my hands this summer. I resorted to watching some new shows. I found Sterling Point on Amazon Prime, and I wrote a short review below! Should I get into show review writing? Let me know.

A Review on Sterling Point

A show I binged this summer on Amazon Prime, starred up and coming actors such as Ella Rubin (protagonist), Amélie Hoeferle, and Keen Ruffalo (Mark Ruffalo’s son). Before I go on my spiel about this show, I have binged other shows too, such as The Five Star Weekend, Abbott Elementary, and Dying for Sex (100% recommend). Sterling Point stood out to me because of the plot and nonchalant likeable actors in this young adult series. Sterling Point, is not only the name of the show but it’s also the name of a small middle of nowhere Island in Ontario, Canada (the setting). Ella Rubin plays Annie Jacobson, whom is an affluent adopted child learning more about her adoptive dead mother’s secrets. A whirlwind, right? She lives in New York City with her brother, Connor (Keen Ruffalo), and her dad Steven (played by Jay Duplass). After her grandfather’s passing (the dad of her adoptive dead mother), they receive a note in his will about finding someone and becoming owners of the island (rather icky). Annie being the determined daughter, immediately flees NYC to find out more about her adoptive mom in secret. Mind you, this girl is a teenager. As the show goes on, I’m shown her single adoptive father is rather careless, if I may say so. Her brother Conner is selfish and a slimy capitalist. While he looks caring at points in the show, he is completely self-indulged and has his own goals in mind that often contradict his twin sister’s wishes. When Annie arrives to the island she meets new people (including her future love interest and a future bestie) who will turn out to be great assets to finding information about her mother and (spoiler alert!!!!) sister. My jaw dropped nearly five times throughout the show. There are many scenes of annoying rich people to underage parties. It’s also a show with visible queer identities relationships. Without adding more content from the show, I enjoyed the back and forth drama occurring between her NYC family/social circle and the small community on the island. The writing is decent and the actors really bring it their all. There’s accents, there’s Indigenous representation (very minimal), and yes, there’s definitely YA romance and betrayal. It’s a definite must-watch show! With all due respect, this show is better than Off Campus. I’d be shocked if they did not come out with season two as there are shocking revelations in the final episode.