I like this newsletter best when it functions as a B-side or backstory. I promise that will be the case in August and July but not June, baby.

I’ve started writing this June Substack four times so far. Once, it was about breaking down in tears after flipping the dial on the radio and going from Mike and the Mechanics’, “The Living Years” to a local religious talk show spouting hatred and harmful lies and then entering into an antique store and seeing all these handpainted signs about being protected by godnguns.

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On my next try, it was about putting my money where my mouth is.

Then, I considered another version called, “Supplement Wife” but figured most of you don’t know me well enough to understand how funny I think it is that “wife” and “life” rhyme1 and probs sharing the supplements I take is TMI.

Then, it was a list of all the tabs I have open right now (or had open then). This didn’t work because I was not being honest (for example, I closed the tab of a passé shoe company before I made the list). I’m guessing this direction was prompted by the fact that one tab was the create login page for chatGPT, as I was tempted to try it out in order to whittle a 1700-word essay I wrote down to 600 words by Friday2 and how chatGPT makes me feel (generally speaking, ew).

But let’s go with that for a minute. Not chatGPT, but tabs.

My youngest was out of school all last week with a stomach bug so bad that on day five, I almost took him to the ER. Then I got it (mild version™️). Then, my partner had an allergic reaction to a stealth bug bite of some sort and now he can’t move his shoulder/arm without a lot of pain. So my tabs were all:

• “venomous bugs in Maine”
• “poisonous spider Maine”
• “Chagas disease in Maine?”
• “dangerous bugs Maine”
• “assassin bug bites”
• “what do assassin bug bites look like” etc.

Two days ago when (my partner could still do the dishes and) I was overseeing bathtime, I texted him, “Brown recluse and black widows seem like the two most likely bites, if it’s a spider.”

To which he responded, “Neither live in Maine though.”

He’s right. As a state wildlife biologist, calls about spiders are directed to him. That doesn’t mean he knows what bit him, though.

I wanted to provide a definitive answer. After a bit more research, I texted, “I believe that you are having an allergic reaction to the bite of an assassin bug.” I sent him a link. He agreed it was a plausible explanation, but he never felt the bug biting him so probs not. The internet was not forthcoming, y’all.

Yesterday, he went to the doctor.

“Could be a brown recluse spider bite,” the doctor said.

“We don’t have those in Maine,” said Derek.

We still don’t know what bit him. He says if he doesn’t move his arm, everything is okay. He’s taking a round of doxycycline.3 Roll on, first week of summer vacation. You do you.

Life After Quitting

Last week was my first as a freelancer with no official sick days, having to take the majority of the week off in order to tend to my sick kid.4 I don’t have a million jobs lined up yet but I do have jobs/projects I’m working on that had to be moved to the sidelines/into this week instead.5 Being able to be present for a sick kid without fear/stress about my lack of presence at my job was very cool.

At my last job, we were given 15 paid days off (delightful sick day/vacation combo).6 Coming from a university job with generous sick time, this was very stressful. Maybe if you’re not caring for kids/other humans/are not dealing with chronic issues yourself (like being alive in the year 2023), this is not so stressful? I don’t know. I imagine it would be stressful for anyone. Like if you are sick for two weeks throughout the year, bam, there goes your vacation! Now I don’t have sick days or vacation days. Every day requires prioritizing and self-discipline, a lifelong practice, but I’m happy. Happier.

On that note, I am still accepting clients. By now, you probably know where to find out more about my services (here). Content writing, editing, interviews, research, transcriptions, etc.

My freelancing journey so far has led me to editing a report for one of the first consulting firms to ever hire me twelve years ago, helping a graphic designer develop a pitch template, and providing feedback on copy for a new program. It’s given me space to explore new story ideas and not be afraid of pitching stories because of a perceived lack of time.

It’s abundantly clear that in the current media (hell?) scape,7 writing itself is not how any technically significant income is generated unless you are one of the “lucky” 😉ones. But it’s also just as abundantly clear that for me, writing = extreme satisfaction and that has hugely positive and immeasurable ripple effects so I’m going to keep at it (while also supplementing my income through the other services I offer).

New Work in the World

AITA for naming this section “New Work in the World”? My background in communications/marketing tells me to KEEP HEADINGS CONSISTENT in order to not leave readers confused. That is a junior rule, anyway, for brands. I know you will not be confused, readers.

As I mentioned at the outset of this Substack, I like this newsletter best when it functions as a B-side to a story I’ve recently published. August is going to be killer. July will also be good. But I have no B-sides today. Sorry, pals.

Currents

• Eels, not elvers Have you ever eaten “Maine”-caught eel? Gone fishing for eels? Have a story about an eel in “Maine”? Holler. I’m scheming and your stories will help.

• I picked up a copy of Elif Batuman’s Either/Or at Bookstacks in Bucksport, a local bookshop I adore.

• Take Back Bags from For Days I can’t figure out if it is a ridiculous scam (the carbon footprint of shipping old clothes/relatively unusable fabric off to where exactly?) or if it makes sense. It feels good to give all those fabric scraps to a company that is committed to keeping them out of landfills but I dunno. The pile of scraps/old clothes/etc. that was formerly behind my chaise longue however, is proof of something, though.

• Belfast Coworking I recently gave up my private office at Belfast Coworking because of cutbacks but want to give it a huge plug. Previously, I worked in an office on the outskirts of town that was so tucked away there was very little opportunity for chance meetings. Working in downtown Belfast, especially at the coworking space made every day so much better. Brilliant minds doing brilliant work. Sliding scale. Good, good humans. Surprising (and organic) networking opportunities. Highly recommend.

• Out in the Open (a nonprofit connecting rural LGBTQ+ people to build community, visibility, knowledge and power) is trying to raise $30,000 in June. Can you help them reach their goal?

• The golden tortoise beetles are back in my yard. Are they in yours, too? Check the leaves of your morning glories or sweet potatoes.

  

Thank you for reading, as always!