I've got 3 or 4 drafts saved, each of which are some small attempt to write, to verbalize my experience in England and in the MFA program. For some reason, I can't seem to figure out how to say it. 

I suppose while I figure out that nonsense, I can post other projects. I have a few zines I've made that save for a few zine fests have not seen the light of day. I'll make a point to post them here, just to get writing and thinking and hopefully jump starting some sort of tangible thoughts.

Since I need to take pictures or videos of them, which I haven't, for now here is a recording of me reading 'LUST SLUT' at the book launch of Selfish magazine's most recent issue, Hot and Bothered. The inspiring women at Selfish were kind enough to not only read my submission, but to print it. Such a joy, such an honor. So here is me acting like a dope and reading my poem/zine: Selfish at Skylight. I think the entire podcast is worth listening to (it's only 30 minutes!) because all the women are inspiring and the work varies in such a great way. BUT if you just wanna listen to me blather, skip to about 17:20. This reading was also one of the last things I did in LA before coming to England. 😭

Just as a teaser here is the last page from my zine which can now only be seen in Selfish because I have no more physical copies!

See ya soon.

Your Broad Abroad,

​Dacy

One of the most difficult things to do is sit down and write. Whether it's for journalling, or poetry, or blog- I find it hard to make myself SIT DOWN and WRITE. So it goes that since I last posted, I've savored Long Beach and LA, my friends, my family, the food. I've taken in as much as I could and hopped on a plane and now I'm in England. Back again. 

It's a different city and school this time around. It's nice to have a few people I know even if they're not in my city.

It's also nice to not know anyone. 

What looms most ominously over my head at the moment is the need to find a place to live. I have one more night in an Airbnb and then....you know, I'll figure it out. Maybe. It’s been a hectic, stressful week trying to find a place to live. Kingston is full of places to live, but most are dingy, dirty, and overpriced. Am I being too picky? Am I being too concerned about who I live with? Probably. But so be it. This is when I realize how nice it really is to know people in England.

The few days before I hopped on the plane to England were full of family, friends, and my dog. To be honest, it’s all a blur now. I celebrated my birthday, had drinks with friends, ate good food with my family, packed and packed and packed. Sigh. It’s all a blur now, isn’t it? So much to remember, so much to miss, but also so much to be done!
 
There’s been so much walking and emailing and phone calls that I can’t honestly say I’ve thought much about missing my family during the day. At night, when there's nothing to do but let my thoughts swirl in t I miss everyone, but during the day my mind is occupied by the looming fact that I NEED TO FIND A PLACE. Fingers crossed the following week finds me a home. My fingers will be crossed so hard they might break.

Will update more soon. Plenty of things to tell. 

Your Broad Abroad,

​Dacy

This blog has been neglected to the max in the past few weeks/months. Things have been swirling and spinning and moving fast and it's just about all I can do to keep up, let alone write about it.

I tabled at OC ZineFest at the end of July, where I got to yet again go through the strange and exciting world of selling my own stuffs. Selling and talking and shmoozing seems to come so easily to some- it's an art form I have yet to grasp. Don't get me wrong, I can talk talk talk about other people's work for days, but when it comes to my own...just don't talk to me, yeah? I suppose it comes from a lack of confidence in myself or my work. I believe I jinx myself too when I convince myself no one would be interested. Tabling more only means I can improve on my self-confidence, right? Right. The fest was a lot of fun and I actually managed to walk around at the end and buy a few great zines. Good times.

A few months ago, I submitted to a magazine, Selfish, and was accepted! Exciting and unexpected, as I had definitely forgotten I had submitted. The issue is just about to be unleashed into the world, highlighting what looks to be an amazing group of talented women from all over the world. I'm honored to be included. You can take a peep at the website and purchase the magazine here: Hot and Bothered.
​
I've mentioned before that I applied to grad schools in England. I've been accepted and I have accepted. Soon, I get to go back to not just being Your Broad, but Your Broad Abroad. This broad is excited, apprehensive, giddy, worried, and all the other emotions that come with making a BIG change. In anticipation of the great amount of money I won't have, I should probably change my moniker to Your (Broke) Broad Abroad. Haha.

Since I made the decision to study abroad, I've done so many things with friends and family. Pow Wow Long Beach, a week long street art event happened and it was such a glorious art-filled week. I spent a lot of the week getting off work and riding my bike around to watch some amazing artists make magic happen on the walls of Long Beach. I got to spend a weekend in a cabin with some of the best ladies I know, celebrating a great lady's birthday, but also celebrating our own beauty and the beauty of having a strong deep connection with women. There were laughs and drinks and talks and walks. It was a much needed time. 

I take a step back and realize, man, why am I so lucky? I not only get to leave for a great journey, but I'm leaving behind so much goodness, happiness, and love. I step back and realize how much I will miss it all. I step back and feel all the love I have for the people I know, the people I don't, and the city that has given me so many memories. Eventually, I'd like to give back some of that love and goodness. Gimme some time, Long Beach, and I'll be back to love you just as much as you've loved me.

There are lots of things going on and I can barely take a moment to just stop and reflect. Must make a better point to stop, breathe, think, and repeat. Till next time

Your Broad (Soon to be) Abroad (Again),

​Dacy

The drive from Atlanta to Nashville was uneventful, if not a relief. Our previous day in Atlanta had been stressful and unfortunate. It was nice to go to bed that night and just hit reset. 

By the time we made it to Nashville, the sun was starting to dip down. Ellen had reserved a camping/glamping site on a private plot of land. And I gotta say, as the sun crept closer into the horizon and we drove away from civilization, I started to worry- I didn't tell anyone about this camp site, no one knows where I am, Ellen and I have literally no weapons on us or knowledge of how to take care of ourselves in the wilderness. I could tell Ellen could tell I was starting to freak out. The directions took us farther and farther away from civilization, the darkness stretched deeper and deeper before us, the moon loomed above us in mock knowingness. 

​By the time we reached the dirt road leading to the AirBnB, I was on edge, repeating 'this isn't right, I don't know about this, this isn't right'. It wasn't my most graceful or gracious moment and Ellen handled me well. The owner of the glamping site turned out to be a really nice guy and even though I was still wary of the situation, I started to settle down. It turned out to be such a lovely magical spot. We settled in and then wound our way back down to civilization to eat the best BBQ. You step out of the car and the smell of sweet sweet meat and sauce just surrounds you in an envelope of goodness. Take me back to that!

We didn't even have one full day in Nashville which was a true shame. We happened to go on the weekend of the Country Music Awards, so the streets were jammed with drunk cowboy hat and boot-laden men and women. It was sort of a shame because it was so crowded, but also really interesting to witness. Country music is not my jam, so it was sort of amazing being in the thick of a North American culture of which I know nothing. 

The best part of this leg of our trip was the quiet night we had sitting in front of our glamping tent. No lights, no music. We didn't expect it, but a glint here, a flash there and then all around us: fireflies. It was beautiful, unexpected, and magical. I won't soon forget the way fireflies appear and disappear in bright flashes of electricity. Twinkling stars whose light doesn't have to travel light years to reach us. No pictures because there was just no way for us to capture the beauty. 

Nashville, despite the brief time we had, treated us so well. 

Your Broad,

Dacy

What to say about Atlanta? Well, not much because we honestly didn't experience much of it. I had high hopes to cram in as much as possible in the one full day we had- Martin Luther King Jr. house, Puppetry museum, good food, a nice park. 

​That was all derailed by rental car troubles. Instead we spent our full day waiting for a tow truck, although we did get a chance to grab a coffee at a decent industrial-style coffee shop, check out some fancy art books at an expensive book store, and pick up some little gifts at a stationery store. Decent enough, considering we were confined to one area.

I'd like to say that was the only mishap, but it wasn't soon after we were driving away with our new rental car that I realized I'd left my shoes in the car of the nice gentleman who drove us from customer service to our new rental. Phone calls, waiting, frustration, getting hangry....and then driving back to get my shoes. And in the midst of that fiasco, our AirBnB for our last night in New Orleans canceled on us. 

It's a laughable day now, but at the time I'm pretty sure Ellen and I just wanted to hit reset and start all over. 

We did get a chance to experience some small piece of Atlanta at night. We went to a place called Ormsby's where there was booze, food, and a lower lever full of games- Ski Ball, Bocce Ball, pool, darts, board games. We took some bad pictures on Ellen's instant polaroid camera and I drew a bad drawing of Ellen and her fave banana burner phone. Weird things to end a weird day.

And that's really about it when it comes to what we did in Atlanta. I'd like to go back and try it again sometime.

Next post: Tennessee!

Your Broad (in the South),

​Dacy

Cause vacations are all about eating. 

New Orleans:

• Parkway Bakery and Tavern: Golden Fried Shrimp Po'Boy, Gravy Po'Boy, Fried Pickles, Unsweetened Tea
• Museum Cafe NOMA: Tomato Basil Soup and Portobello Mushroom Sandwich and a Golden Beet with Goat cheese and Arugula Sandwich, both with pickled veggies, tea
• Morning Call Coffee Stand: Choc/Vanilla Swirl ice cream and Mango Freeze
• Basin Seafood and Spirits: Boudin Balls, Royal Red Shrimp, Crab and Crawfish Beignets, a beer, and some delicious refreshing cocktail made with watermelon, salt, and a tomato and it was delicious
• Clesi's Catering: Fried Catfish, Jambalaya
• The Ruby Slipper: Cochon Eggs Benedict, Southern Breakfast (Grits, eggs, bacon, biscuit, fried green tomato), cappuccino

Alabama:

• Gas Station: Free sample of Rice and Beans and sausage

Atlanta:

• The Pig and the Pint: Shrimp Hush Puppies, Pulled Pork Sandwich on Texas Toast, Turnip Greens with Pork, Creamed Corn, Mashed Taters, Mac and Cheese, Wine
• Octane: Cappuccino, Macchiato, Red Pepper Hummus and Pita
• Botiwalla: SPDP (Puffed flour crisps stuffed with potatoes, onions cilantro, sweet yogurt and tamarind chutney), Kashmiri Tri-Tip Roll, Chicken Tikka Roll, Pineapple Turmeric Soda, Nimbu Pani (lime, simple syrup, soda water, dash of salt)
• Ormsby's: Crispy Brussels Sprouts with goat cheese and pancetta, Fries with lemon aioli and chipotle cheddar fondue, Creature Comforts Tropicali Beer, Paloma Cocktail
• Highland Bakery: Cilantro Corn Cakes with black beans, over medium eggs, sour cream, and salsa, Rustic Italian (rosemary garlic bread with sauteed mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, onions, red peppers, over medium eggs, marinara sauce, and grits), Cappuccino, Orange Juice

Nashville:

• Martin's BBQ Joint: Big Momma Sampler (Spare ribs, 1/4 pound pulled pork, 1/4 pound pulled chicken, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad), Simple Man beer, Black Abbey beer
• The Red Bicycle: Breakfast Tacos, Field of Greens Crêpe (onion, red pepper, tomato, lettuce, mozzarella), Cappuccino, Latte

Nashville - Austin:

• Waffle House: Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Hash Brown, Waffle
• Little Czech Bakery: Jalapeño, Sausage, and Cheese Roll, Cream Cheese Roll

Austin:

• Chuck's General Store: Hamburger, Corn dogs, Modelo
• Chi'lantro: Kimchi Fries with Tofu, Korean Fried Chicken with Gangnam sauce, Rice Bowl with rib eye beef
• Con Madre: Breakfast Tacos (Corn tortilla, potato, bacon, eggs, nopales / corn tortilla, potato, eggs, chicharrones, nopales / jamaica aguas frescas)
• Jo's Coffee: Belgian Bombers (cold brew coffee mixed with their sweeter Iced Turbo coffee)

Houston:

• AKA Sushi: Cajun Roll (Spicy crawfish), Hamachi Sampler, Stuffed Mushrooms, Shiso Hasami-age (tiger prawns in shiso leaves tempura style)

New Orleans, Part Deux:

• Café du Monde: Cafe au Lait, Beignets
• N'awlins Cafe and Spice Emporium: Seafood and Okra Gumbo
• Zatarain's Kicthen (at the airport): Grits and Grilladés, Sausage Platter (Sausage, dirty rice, biscuit, potato salad), Bloody Mary's

I think that's about it. We also had some snacks during our drive, but pretty standard things from Trader Joe's. I think my choicest meals were at Basin and Martin's. 

Your Broad (Reminiscing about the South),

​Dacy

For some reason I had this vision of what the south would be like- deserted and dusty and old with dry brown landscapes. But I was so wrong.

​We picked up our rental car and started our drive to Atlanta. Louisiana to Mississippi to Alabama to Georgia and it was all gorgeous greenery. The highways are flanked by tall puffy green trees and bushes and wild flowers and there are so many rivers. The trees are dense and seemingly endless. The sky is expansive and never ending and the clouds were a mix of dense cotton balls scattered against light linen. There was so much variation in the sky, so much dimension. 

We made a pit stop in Long Beach, Mississippi because we just had to visit our sister city, plus we got to take in a southern beach. Mostly, we stopped and took pictures with this sign. And marveled at the brown waters of the Gulf of Mexico. 

I was driving for a lot of the Long Beach and Gulfport drive so I didn't get to take many pictures, but it was my first experience with houses on stilts. I had never seen them before and immediately fell in love with them. They were magical and dreamy. They looked surreal because it wasn't just row after row of houses, but rather they were spread out randomly and it was a little surprise when we drove past one. I also learned that Gulfport and that area of Mississippi were hit just as hard by Katrina, if not harder, than New Orleans. From what I saw, it seemed to be thriving and rebuilding. I'm glad we let ourselves get sidetracked and experienced something we hadn't planned.

In Alabama we stopped for a bathroom break and gas and met a nice dude that was working there. He was talkative and friendly, albeit a tad ignorant. There were quite a few comments aimed at homosexuality and our asian ethnicity, but I have to say, none of them ever made me feel threatened or offended. It felt like he was genuinely coming from a place that had very little real experience asian people. We want to shout 'well in this day and age with the internet and tv, there's no excuse..', but honestly, seeing or watching something through a screen is so different from experiencing it first hand. It was clear this man had no ill will or hatred, just a little ignorant and probably a little clueless too. Even though I expected to experience prejudice and racism during my trip, I encountered nothing of the sort. The more I think about this encounter, the more I'm realizing that maybe I experience racism and real prejudice in Long Beach, CA than in the south. Just like I thought the south would be dry and dusty, I was wrong again.

I feel like there's so much more to say about this first leg of our road trip. I wish I'd had the energy/time to write posts as we were going places, but it was such a whirlwind. I have more thoughts about our trip and will post more. I also have film to develop, so pictures to come!

Your Broad (in the South),

​Dacy

Ellen and I arrived at Louis Armstrong airport on Monday afternoon. The airport was about the most calm and easy airport I've been in, with jazz softly floating in the air from speakers behind orange and red panels. We waited for ages for a bus to take us to our AirBnB and had our first taste of that hot humid southern weather. The sweat is immediate, the need to water yourself like a wilting house plant immense.

The bus trip from the airport was our first real glimpse of Louisiana. Perhaps most notable on that first bus ride is how easily the buildings and landscape change from very old to modern and back, from run down and ramshackle and boarded up to pristine and shiny and linear in a modern way. There's something quintessentially southern about this place (besides the fact that is literally the south), something that movies and books and tv have told me is southern, but at the same time it isn't something I could pinpoint. It's the homes- stately flat front homes with columns and wrought iron railing and slatted shutters and balconies and gas lamps. It's the trees with their big heavy roots and thick trunks and graceful long limbs reaching towards the sky then bending and bowing back down to earth, with long tendrils of moss hanging like angel's hair. It's the Jazz, which is everywhere, from the airport to the museum to the restaurants, it's piped in on a tinny radio or loud and raucous and live in a dark dingy bar. It's the heat, the humidity, the food, the people.

It's the food! We've had po' boys and shrimp and crab meat beignets and jambalaya and fried catfish and fried pickles. Many foods. All delicious.

So far it's been killer hot. Nearly all the buildings are heavily air conditioned so there is a continual changing of drastic temperatures. The minute we leave an icy building, the sweat is pushing its way out of whichever pore is closest. The minute we leave a building there is a layer of sweat which will not leave. And then in all our splendid sweat we go into a restaurant or shop where the ac is blasting and that sweat becomes a frosty blanket. And then we do it all over again.

Tomorrow we rent a car and we drive drive drive to Atlanta, Georgia where we will eat more food and experience more of the south. I have a ton of pictures on my phone. A ton of pictures waiting to be developed (all of which will hopefully come out since I'm experimenting with expired film).

I'll update soon.

Your Broad in the South,

​Dacy

I didn't say much in my last post, but in the past few months I've tabled at Long Beach ZineFest, finished my first 5k, and planned my next trip. LB ZineFest was an experience. It takes a special talent to know how and when to talk to someone and how much to talk. And I gotta say, I am awkward when I'm on the other side of the table. But it was great fun. It was inspiring, even a little intimidating, witnessing the zine community come together and celebrate each other's work. And there was a lot of great work too.

More importantly, I've booked a trip to New Orleans with a friend. I've been pining for the far away lands of Europe, but there's so much of the US I have yet to explore. New Orleans will be the furthest south I've been in the US and I am curious to experience bayous, shotgun homes, Creole and Cajun food, cemeteries, big southern mansions, jazz, and a whole lot more.

(Already in New Orleans, post to come soon!)

I went on vacation to England in JANUARY and I am just getting around to posting more pictures. This particular day at Botany Bay was a lucky sunny day, but still so so cold. I don't know if my body has ever been more confused than it was being at a beach with icicles for feet! But it was a great little beach with looming white cliffs and a bunch of crazy jellyfish just chillin in the sand. Not sure if they were dead or just waiting for the tide to take them away again. Now that I think about it, should I have been more concerned? 

Anyway, here are the pictures, which are a little on the blue side for some reason. 

More to come, as always,

Your Broad,

​Dacy