Mid-May Updates
Newsletter #17 of 2026
Hello! I know I have been MIA from my weekly newsletters since April, it’s because so far May has been pretty wild and busy. I started the month with an ocular migraine, so I took a new medication that’s supposed to stop it, and that landed me in the ER. Turns out I have a rare allergy to that particular medication that was giving me a fever and rapid heartbeat in addition to some stomach issues. Super fun. I was sent home after being given some fluids and Benadryl, then I felt unwell for about a week at home, fighting a low grade fever for a few days (they did rule out any viruses, so the fever was purely from the medication. It was so weird). I also was unable to really eat at all because I had no appetite and stomach pain. It was pretty awful, but once I got through it I thankfully felt totally back to normal! And now I know to never take that migraine medication again!
In other ocular migraine world news, I got an MRI and MRA done last week to make sure I haven’t been having mini strokes and/or that there’s nothing wrong with my veins. The results show that my brain is looking good! But that still doesn’t really answer why I’ve been having more ocular migraines this year, so the journey on figuring that out continues.
The MRI did provide a good laugh though with the mix of mellow 80’s music they put on headphones for me and the violent beeps, thonks, and vibrations that MRI machine was providing.
Otherwise, I’ve been super busy with work at my day job as it’s unfortunately Summer Camp season, which means in addition to all the other things I do at work (programming arts workshops, promoting arts workshops, taking care of registrations for arts workshops, managing our after school art programs, doing graphic design, editing and sending out our newsletter, managing our social media, planning our end of the school year art show, and various random tasks for my boss) I also have to oversee everything with our Summer Arts Camp. We’re in the prep stages and I have to go through everyone’s curriculums, do all of the registration forms, get rosters together, take payments, schedule staff training and then do all of the staff training, all of that fun stuff.
It’s also the time of year where we are going through all 300 applications to OC Zine Fest to see who is accepted into this year’s fest and who isn’t. Several meetings have already happened, we are slowly but surely narrowing things down, but phew! 300 applications is a LOT to go through. Plus it’s a new organizing team minus me, so I’m like, having to teach people how to do this.
In addition to all that, I’ve been working on getting my zines and things ready for vending at the first MOJAVE ZINE FEST! I went to it this past weekend and it was a BLAST, I am working on some diary comics to share in next week’s newsletter that will share more about it. I had so much fun hanging out in the desert and meeting new people and seeing good zine friends, especially LongArmStapler and their friend/a new friend for me and fellow zinester Angie (deltarat over on Instagram). Many desert adventures were had including getting attacked by bats, having a scorpion in our bathtub, getting my car stuck in sand, and having a cop scream at me (all separate incidents). The best part was the vibrancy of the art community out there, and meeting so many cool people that have inspired me. It was an incredible trip, one of the best of my life! Kitsch and art are alive and well out in the Mojave! I love to see it!
Here are some pics to hold you over until I share more about Mojave Zine Fest and my trip in next week’s newsletter:
I have also been chipping away at new COOL DOG COMICS, which I am so excited to start sharing with you soon.
I’m slowing down with my art markets and zine fests, I’m still waiting to hear back from a few I’ve applied to, but my next event will be the Santa Ana Art Walk on June 6th from 5pm-10pm. I’ll have my usual: zines, stickers, prints, and live cool pet portraits! It will look like this:
This past weekend also marked the anniversary of when Peg entered our home and our hearts forever, she has been with us for 8 years now. <3 While we didn’t get to celebrate with her, since she was being dog sat while we were romping around in the desert, this month’s Mail Club package is all about celebrating her. Each Mail Club envelope comes with a hand painted, one-of-a-kind gouache painting, each one original, as well as a minizine about the day in the life of Peg, and a sticker. I also write out a little letter too.
There’s still time to join before the end of the month to get this month’s Mail Club package! Next month’s is all about the desert, so if you want to sign up for June’s Mail Club consider it now and start saving your... nickels? Since pennies are dead now I guess. RIP.
Anyway, thanks for your support, and I’ll be back next week with some fun stories.