Blog Entry #1: May 2025

For my first entry on here I am going to do a little FAQ and some fun updates for what is going on in my life! Since this website is being shared with friends, family, and online friends I want to make a catch-all for anything people want to know who maybe haven't heard from me in a while, y'know on account of the whole... not using social media thing. In the future I might add a comment or question box on here but right now I kind of don't know how to do that.

Why are you not on [insert social media website]?

I have always been awful at using social media. And in recent years a lot of my work and interests have put me instead on the "old web" or "web3" side of the internet. I have a love of analog tech and websites that I learn how to tinker with myself. I think we share way too much about ourselves online and I think our phones carry way too much importance to us. I am trying to make an active decision to move away from that reliance. It doesn't mean you can't still text, call, email, or even snail mail me! It just means I don't really feel comofortable with the Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/insert social media here of the week. Plus, and I won't get into this here, I really do not feel comfortable continuing to exist as a marketable asset for billionaires who advocate for legislature that hurts me and people I love.

Where are you living and what are you doing right now?

As of 2024 I am back in California! If you've been keeping up I have spent the last several years living in Indiana and then Massachusetts but came back to California for a little while. That is almost certainly changing soon so keep your eyes peeled. And if you didn't know that I have been living away from California the last few years... well, then you probably have a lot to catch up on!

Right now I am also working at a non-profit agency but still doing work with and in higher education. I am also very active in academia even now that it has been 2 years since I graduated with my Master's degree. I present at conferences internationally and I publish peer-reviewed research in books and academic journals. Right now I am working on [redacted] chapters for [redacted] books. One of my chapters is being published next month as well and I will be applying for PhD programs this Fall!

What are you writing about now?

Currently I am working on subjects around identity as it relates to literature. That's a broad way of saying I cover multiple topics in the realm of who we are as people and how that relates to the media we consume or create.

Wait - wait... a PhD?

Yeah, despite the state of the world currently and despite the immense stress my Master's degree caused I am, in fact, planning on obtaining my PhD. Applications happen this Fall/Winter and I am applying across the country to a variety of programs so no, I do not have even the slightest clue where I will get in, if I get in at all. But regardless, my plan is to pursue a major gap of unstudied work within my field that I am interested in. Hopefully someday I can share what that is :)

Why is the blog named "les blanches fleurs" and what does that mean?

I needed to come up with a username that is different than others I have used online. I chose Les Blanches Fleurs as it relates to my studies... kind of. It's the name of a fictional group of (mostly gay) pirate women from a story and since all I do is write about lesbians and similar topics I figured it fit!