Not Dead. :D

On By Rhys FordIn Bloggy Stuff, Food

I keep promising that I will post more often and then I get carried away into doing things or life just ask everything in close for a couple of weeks.

It’s been an interesting or rather a kind of sad time this past couple of weeks because the Potato is definitely slowing down and sleeping a lot. And I know that he is 15 which is ancient for his breed but it is still hard to know that you are reaching the twilight of your dog’s life. We have reached the you can eat anything you want to stage and he still gets excited to see company come through the front door. The weather is warming up so I know that will help with his joints and is Auntie Paige will be here this Friday to see if he is up for a walk. He still got doggie ice cream and his dinners are turkey burger and mashed potatoes which he does eat.

I am looking forward to writing this week because I have been some flashes of what I need to do so it’s important to focus and get that down.

I have been slowly watching a YouTuber who does “historical breakdowns” of foods and time periods. He just posted a one about Hawaiian luaus and I will admit to not wanting to watch it because my people have been done dirty by so many people. I didn’t want to get turned off his channel because he disparaged away or added sugar to it. I just read some of the comments on that particular episode and other Hawaiian people seem to be okay with what he presented so I might go take a look. I have had to stop reading certain authors and watching certain YouTube personalities because of how they presented my people’s food. Mind you there is also a chef who disrespected Sam Choy on a cooking show so as far as I am concerned, that person is dead to me and I hope sand mites burrow up into their sinuses.

Max Miller does do a good job and I wanted to continue to watch him so… Here is one of his videos that explores what ancient Egyptians ate and I really enjoy watching them re-create these foods and every single one of his videos. So if you’re into that, go take a look.

 

Rambling about being “Too Pale”…

On By Rhys FordIn Rhys Ford

It goes both ways… colorism. I’ve been told I’m too “pale” to be Hawaiian, despite very Hawaiian. Enough to attend and graduate Kamehameha Schools. But yes, I also agree Nani shouldn’t be scrubbed lighter. She is kanaka. And looks it.

But we as Hawaiians also need to have those hard discussions about gatekeeping, color, and what is cultural appropriation vs appreciation. The US overthrow of our Kingdom threatened our people’s language and culture, leading to things like grass skirt costumes and Elvis’ movies.

And even knowing all that, my own mother asked a friend I’d brought with me to visit the Big Island if he’d met a Hawaiian before he’d met my Dad 2.0. He replied; just the one that brought me. And my own mother said, Doesn’t count. Doesn’t look Hawaiian enough.

She isn’t the first one to say that. We code switch, pidgin to “proper English” both are valid. We need to fight for our culture, language and people. All of them. But yeah, Nani should be as she is drawn because she IS who we are. I’m still wondering why David wasn’t Kawika.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/23/entertainment/lilo-and-stitch-live-action-colorism-cec/index.html

 

Special Illustrated Monster Dad Releases! Coming May 30th!

On By Rhys FordIn Rhys Ford
Oh… and by the way… Coming May 30.
Special Illustrated Editions of The Monster Dad series! Collect All Three! 😀 TA Moore, Bru Baker and Rhys Ford
Illustrations by Emily Chan, creator of Stupid Fox
https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/monster-dads-12343-s

State of the Rhys

On By Rhys FordIn Bloggy Stuff6 Comments

My ongoing medical fight had a new wrinkle added with the MRSA hospital stay but I am back home… and the day after I came home, I was laid off.

Which… not surprised. Only myself and one other person was laid off. Both of us ID as queer. I don’t know if they realized that or maybe they did? Either way, job hunting while fighting a health condition is gonna be awesome. And yeah, I don’t qualify for disability. Technically I can still work. And truthfully, I want to.

Still, life and lemons happen.

And oh, this looks good.

Nothing much else is happening. Dusting off the resume, building up all of the portfolio things I need to do, paperwork… so much paperwork… and of course, still doctors’ appointments. But on he happy side of life, writing is back on the menu so, I’m looking forward to getting something out.

I hope you all are doing well, and please stay safe!