Well, I tend to get distracted, but over a decade since my last post is even a lot for me!
Life has has some major ups and downs since the last time I was here. I will probably get more into that (but I don’t know how much exactly…) and how that has changed/affected me at a later date.
For now, I just want to say HELLO again. How are YOU???
And thought I would share a few updates since the last time I posted.
In the last decade+, here are some work/career/project/health highlights:
Started a small photo booth business near the end of 2015
Started grad school 2016
Went fully vegan (was one step away as a lacto-vegetarian since I was 11) and gluten-free in 2016
Was diagnosed with MCAS, EDS, (and later POTS), Hashimoto’s, fibromyalgia, etc. (and figured out the long list of foods I must stay away from) in 2016
Finished my first novel (co-wrote it with 3 friends) and it was published in 2017 (I also did the cover art for the novel)
Had some fun book signings and took part in a book panel in 2017
Did the cover art for another author’s book in 2017
Presented a lecture on animal universality in literature, wrote my ECE (extended critical essay) on literary devices used and the therapeutic nature of literature in two chosen books, and completed my thesis, which is a linked short story collection, in 2018
Graduated from grad school in 2018
Started teaching English/composition classes at a private University in 2021
Started hosting a book club at the end of 2021
Created a photo shoot concept and modeled for it to express the theme for an art show
Dreamt up, planned, hosted, and participated in an art show with over 30 artists included in 2025
Started some new web sites and new business ventures 2025-2026
Working on some new books/stories and new art work currently
Have rescued 4 new dogs since last here (2 are my daughter’s dogs—my grand-pups) (I will share photos at a later time )
Have continued doing the Polar Bear Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics every February —2/28/26 will be my team’s 18th time plunging! (Here is my personal fundraising page for this year’s plunge if you would like to donate!: support.somo.org/AmberAndersonYear18)
Have also traveled quite a bit in the last decade—especially since 2022—bringing me to 21 countries, some other territories, and 42 U.S. states so far
And I have had several personal gains and losses that I’ll leave out of this post, but that have impacted me (and continue to do so) in huge ways
I guess that is a good start after such a long time away. Maybe it won’t take me so long between posts next time.
I need to think of a good sign-off…