It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's your missing newsletter

A look at how a humor piece got made and an explanation for a very long absence

Hey everyone!

So, it’s been a year. I have some explaining to do. But first, for all of you who signed up for this newsletter for that sweet, sweet humor, let me show you a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite 2021 pieces.

Behind-the-Scenes: 7 Signs She’s the Pick-Me Girl in a Modern Historical Drama

Sometime in July, I ran into the term “pick-me girl” while scrolling through Twitter. Though I thought I knew exactly what it meant, I had to be sure. If you’re going to satirize something, you should make sure you know what you’re satirizing. Like any good researcher, I started with a google search.

This led me to some articles that had examples of what a pick-me girl might do. I decided to show what those examples look like when they appear in historical dramas. Though I love those costume-heavy shows, I can’t help but notice how that kind of pick-me (or I’m-not-like-other-girls) girl pops up, often as the protagonist.

Using the examples provided by the search, I made a list of 15-20 possible ideas to illustrate in comic form.

Once I had a list I was happy with, I was able to pick some of my favorites and do mini-illustrations for further brainstorming.

Look, I’m was making thumbnails, not trying to write a fancy letter. Sorry about the handwriting if you are trying to read.

Then I took those thumbnails and used them as a guide to get my final images.

You can read the full piece here.

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Alright, if you are just here for the humor and comedy, this is where you can skedaddle. If you aren’t, then you probably noticed my last newsletter was in January. Almost a year has passed. Here’s what’s been up.

After we moved last January we determined that, since we needed to be here for more than a few years, it was smarter to get a house. While we stayed with his parents, we searched for and found an affordable fixer-upper. Everything started off fine. We picked paint, and floors, blissfully assuming we’d be in the house by the end of March or beginning of April.

It is now December 29th, and I am writing this from my little corner of what used to be my partner’s childhood bedroom/his ex-office/my current office/ storage room.

Getting paint samples during a supply shortage was no easy task. Guess which we picked.

There were issues we had to solve. We filled out forms. We waited. We refilled out forms. We waited. We made calls. We wrote emails. We waited. We bought more supplies to update the house. And we waited. Because of permit/inspection issues, we added months to our expected move-in date. Covid-related delays did not help.

I won’t lie. I’ve been very…angry. This isn’t to say I’m not aware of how fortunate I am. We’ve had a roof over our heads, and my partner has a very supportive family. But nothing is ever truly free. There is a lot that’s been less-than ideal about the situation. Most of my things are still in boxes. Still, the first 6 months were OK on a professional level, in terms of working and blogging. I didn’t feel comfortable writing a newsletter and lying through my teeth though, pretending everything was fine. “Next month,” I told myself. “Next month will be better.”

One month rolled into the next. I began to lose hope, my drive, my desire to connect, and my creativity. I had no control over so many aspects of my life. I lost sleep and, slowly but surely, bits of myself.

This isn’t to say there wasn’t fun or relief in the last year. I pushed myself and, with bursts, kept the blog up to date. A visit to my mom gave me much-needed perspective. Not to mention that the nature here is new to me. Check out these birds you see just strutting around.

Legit thought this was a lawn ornament until it ate a lizard.

Flirters gotta flirt

Then imagine the thrill you get when you’re surprised by wildlife that you sense hates you.

Annoyed snake was not happy we were cutting down her bush.

Did I mention I’m terrified of alligators? This guy snuck up on me when I was trying to snap a picture of a turtle.

And whenever I could I would try to cook new things with actual flavor.

Smashed potatoes are better than mashed potatoes. Fight me.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Today I saw the house for a walkthrough. We’ve been told, after all the inspections and delays, that we can move in this weekend. The rooms look nearly complete. Windows are being repaired. Tiny scuffs are being buffed.

I’m so ready for this move. Particularly the joy of having an office that’s not doubling as a bedroom, kitchen, living room, storage room, or any other room. Just a space I can keep as I like. No loud sounds coming through the walls besides the occasional train. My books can come out of their boxes, back into the light.

I 100% do not regret this purple

Here’s to 2022. New home. New goals. New chance to make things right. Not to mention a new space that’s perfect for a garden.

Thanks for your patience. Thank you for reading my humor, and letting me know when you enjoy it (and when it doesn’t work). It means a lot to me.

Hope you have a Happy New Year!

Kyrie