Just Hilly

The Penny Pub in Bay Shore, NY is a warm and cozy Irish bar on Main St. On the smaller side, they use the best of their space. The decor combines traditional Irish pub fixtures, beer memorabilia and a little cottage core. The stained-glass luminaires on the ceiling are a nice soft touch to the stained wood in the background.  My friend and I went the weekend after the St. Patrick's Day parade in Bay Shore (arguably the best on the island). Luckily for us they still had their special St. Patty's menu available along with their regular fixings. I had their potato soup, and it was to die for. The bacon was a nice touch, but it would have been just as filling without it. We split a basket of wings after being recommended by two people we met at the counter. We were happy for the suggestion because they were so good. We scarfed them down before remembering to take a photo lol.  Speaking of the folks we met, both the bartender and strangers at the bar added to how enjoyable the expe...

 The Most Anticlimactic of Escapades “Disappointment forever lurked just beyond the edges of her joy, ready to spring like a ravenous cougar.”     - Kathleen Rice Adams, Prodigal Gun  In “An Adventure in Paris” by Guy de Maupassant the subject of the story is a woman dissatisfied with her life. The narrator refers to her as a “little person from the provinces” suggesting she is not of a lavish lifestyle. She is a wife, mother and homemaker; exactly what a woman should be yet she yearned for more. Sexual exploration and being a participant in group sex was her main fantasy, those thoughts being her escape from the everyday boredom she experienced. Even while next to her sleeping husband, those thoughts ran through her mind. The lives of the wealthy appealed to her, “ she was continuously thinking of Paris and read the fashionable papers eagerly.” She was naive, adventurous and ready to change her life. Once she got the nerve to go, there was no stopping her; her ...

The topic to be discussed in this essay is Black women in sports; more specifically how they navigate the challenges as both female athletes and black athletes. This will be an analysis of literature and statistics through primarily Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the feminist theory.  My first lens, critical race theory, formerly studied on college campuses, has seen a recent push to be applied to broader schools of thought and institutions. It evaluates the significant inconsistencies in the consideration of the place of “race” in legal circles impacts life chances, freedoms, and every day experiences in social structures (Lawrence & Hilton, 2022) With one of those social structures being sports, black athletes have had to navigate exclusion, abuse, unequal opportunities and protections. The beginnings of most black American participation in sports at a higher level began in historically black colleges and coloured leagues. Those athletes were some of the first to encounter po...

This essay is on a proposed new, more precise and ethical way to systematically test athlete's hormone levels to check their eligibility for competitions. The feminist theory, in regard to how sports reproduce gendered ideas and practices related to sexuality (Group, 2020), is the theory I felt most aligned with the issues to be discussed. It is a mostly accepted belief, that due to the natural, physical advantages males have, sports should be separated by male and female to create a fair playing field. Most sports authority organizations around the world segregate their athletes. Prior to puberty, there is no difference between males and females in terms of athletic ability and performance. Once puberty starts, a male’s testes begin producing 20 times more circulating testosterone than their female counterparts which triggers major physical and physiological changes.(Handelsman et al., 2018) In regards to sports, the changes in a male’s height, bones density, muscle gain, muscle r...

Healthcare workers are members of the working class that gain income from directly caring for and treating the sick and ailing. They are responsible for the maintenance of the hygiene, nutrition, clinical treatment and rehabilitation of those unable to keep up with their own care while recovering from disease and injury. As voluntary members of this group of laborers, healthcare workers (HCWs) acknowledge that the welfare of their patients usurps any personal feelings or ideals they may have as part of their professional obligations; just as a convicted rapist is expected to get the same standard of care for their ailments as any other patient in the healthcare setting. Similarly to how HCWs don’t choose their patients, they also don’t decide the types of care plans or preventative measures to be put in place- governing bodies of health science research and the biomedical sciences inform healthcare schools, institutions and workers of what is effective treatment and prevention.  In...

I recently went on a date with my partner to a local Irish Bar in my area called Kitty Mulligans. I follow them on Instagram and was excited to see them post about having bingo nights as a weekly event on Thursdays. I'm a big fan of playing bingo, I find it to be a fun game to play while chilling and having some food. Our reservation was made the day before and when we went in our name was on a little chalkboard on our table. A very cute touch that I haven't seen before. The owner introduced himself and was a sweetheart.  The layout of the bar with a large counter was separated from a side section for tables and booths with nice big barn doors separating them. The side with tables and booths is a space that can be booked for private events which I thought was cool. The list of food and drinks on their website was actually shorter than the actual sit down menu. We took quite a while to decide on what to get. My partner and I both shared their Grilled Chicken Flatbread and their ...

Today at my college they held a 'Take Back the Night' event that was about highlighting the voices and experiences of sexual assault victims, promoting the importance of consent and the different resources available to anyone going through interpersonal violence, sexual harassment etc. As a small opener they had students write messages to anyone struggling with their experiences, to uplift, spread awareness or positivity. I chose to make my message about coercion, albeit I did misspell the word lml.  "A 'YES' AFTER 10 'NO's IS A NO!  #stopcoercion' I am unfortunately one of billions of victims of various forms sexual harassment and sexual assault but one of the seemingly 'lesser' overlooked forms is coercion. It can look like your partner begging you throughout your evening to have sex, possibly throwing in some guilt tripping, maybe blackmail, even potentially leaving without a ride in somewhere unfamiliar or threats of bodily harm etc. Your in...

To walk into a room, a space, and find yourself being examined Every detail of your countenance being microscopically observed Studied, picked apart and concluded on- A black person disallowed from individuality & personhood. The laughing group of black people in a public space- the stares, The murmurs, the sighs- the disapproval of black joy How dare they make noise? How dare they be loud? The censorship of black hair, black attitude, black perspective, black ingenuity-  BLACK BODIES We can find ourselves policed everywhere for not following guidelines that were never truly handed to us on a personal level- a broad stroke of social rules to follow. We must remember that when we empower ourselves, as a race of people, we must not forget to grant each other personhood- a leave from this job we are tasked with in our day to day. See each other not through their eyes but our own- see the individual and FORCE others to see the individual as well. For we will never be free of this r...

One of the greatest and most impactful inventions of mankind, arguably up there with the wheel, the internet and the MMR vaccine- the automobile created one of the great permanent shifts in the course of human history. After spreading throughout the globe and transforming the way people could travel, motor vehicles also obtained the status as an important tool to be handled with care- a tool for men. In this day and age, 2024, the belief that women are bad drivers, dangerous on the road, unaware of how to handle their vehicles etc. has remained as a globally shared stereotype in global societies by long held misogynistic views perpetuated by the patriarchy. To first understand the origins of this stereotype, why it continues to persist over the years and the deconstruction of it, one must first understand patriarchy as an institution that often dictates the overarching views of civilizations. Institutions in general, serve as a guide for participating members of society by providing th...

Happy New Year everyone 🥳🥳🥳 Glad to have made it another trip around the sun. For this year I have quite an ambitious outlook towards what I'd like to accomplish. Hopefully they're ambitious enough that if I fall short I'll still have done quite a bit overall. I would like to obtain my NHA certificate for Clinical Medical Assistant this year. It's been a while since trade school graduation and my last MA job and I'd like to get back into a clinical position. My current job is clerical but still in healthcare; it's been great with my school schedule but not as fulfilling as being part of a medical team.  Updating my blog more often as well. I've been wanting to do more creative writing, trying my hand at more journalistic pieces and writing on topics I'm passionate about or would like to bring awareness to. Growing my savings is also a huge goal for me. After using my little nest egg to help my family in a hard time, it's been a little sad not havi...

There is a general respect for the arts among Long Islanders, and there are quite a few spaces in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. In my town, or hamlet really, Bay Shore has been renowned as the place to go for things like festivals, parades and free outdoor activities for the community. The Westfield Mall, roughly a mile or two from main street, serves one of the main commercial hubs in the community. The Islip Arts Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to the showcasing of work by Long Island artists and authors, is located in this commercial hub right next to the Dick’s Sporting Goods.  The IAC focuses on hosting exhibits to uplift different communities within the LI greater community as well as offering a myriad of art classes year round.(Dekoning, par. 5) Like most places, the IAC suffered a huge hit during the height of the covid pandemic- their former residence closed down; the manager of the Westfield Mall in Bay Shore invited them to relocate to an open space avai...

In its most simple definition, a name is an identifier. Names are often one of the first pieces of information you can learn about another, a label to match a face- another conscious being. Historically, names carried weight depending on things like your family’s prestige or class, any trades passed on from father to son, one great ancestor who did something revolutionary or tied to a certain ethnic group/region of people. In recent history and modern society, a name can still be tied to prestige as well as socioeconomic status, ethnicity and gender identity (or lack thereof). Both historically and in present times, a name has been closely tied with different aspects of one’s life journey that influence the paths they take; and while it may not be the only factor molding a person into who they are- a name plays a role in who they become.  Traditionally, names (specifically last names) held the purpose of identifying a group of people, whether a clan, a royal lineage, tradesman etc....

Hello everyone 👋 The fall semester started for me this past Monday and almost all my classes are writing intensive. I'm considering posting my essays, responses to certain prompts and research I end up doing throughout the next few months. Not sure if I'll make a separate page for longer pieces or just post them on my regular feed. I know the mobile version of this blog allows viewing the feed by selecting individual posts instead of the desktop version's continuous layout. Lmk/comment what you think would be the best approach based off your experience going through my blog. The insight would be helpful with making that decision. I'm also hoping all the writing this semester will encourage some new ideas and motivation towards the poetry and stories/books I'm writing. Some personal and some published on a different platform anonymously but all needing work. Thanks for stopping by :)

Last Thursday night, I went out on another date with my partner at the same little bar I mentioned a few posts ago. It's called Nostalgia and is a very cute 90's themed bar in Bethpage, NY. We went for what we found out is going to be a new monthly drag show hosted by some of my friends who are drag queens along with performances by other local queens as well.  (Video shows a quick vid I took of one of the sets done by my very talented friend Gemma Tolstoy  ) The bar is very queer friendly and definitely in my opinion a safe space for LGBTQ+ folks looking to go out and have a fun time. Definitely a mixed crowd bar depending on the night, when I go tends to be more folks in their 20's with just a  sprinkling of those in their 30's and 40's. The place is totally decked out throughout with everything 90's from movie memorabilia, autographed headshots of 90's celebs, fun colored lighting, Pokemon decor around the bar, CD and comic book themed bathrooms and the r...

So I FINALLY got to see Barbie yesterday and it was so much more than I expected. With all the snippets and posts I had seen these past 2 weeks online about the movie, I had prepared myself for a more girl power, tween-ish feel for the movie. Instead, I was surprised by ever changing metaphors for womanhood, navigating society through the lenses of male and female, mother-daughter relationship woes, the importance setting boundaries along with insurrection and patriarchy. It felt like half a fun kids movie half eighth grade English class with all the symbolism, juxtaposition and satire. The colors, dance numbers, fun outfits and the vast array of Barbies (and Kens) in the movie made for a fun visual experience. I ended up being one of many movie goer's who left singing 'I'm Just Ken' by Ryan Gosling (stereotypical Ken) when leaving the theater. I felt the movie was well casted and everyone played their parts very well. I would say whoever thought to make Will Ferrell pl...

This summer I'm planning on being out and about as much as I can.  Anyone who wants to make plans with me, knows I'm down for almost anything as long as I have notice. I went out the other night to this really cute bar with my partner and some friends for a drag show. Supporting two of my friends who were queens in the show as well as three other local queens. I had so much fun but going home I wish I had taken more photos of the bar items because the themed decor was so good and the prices were hard to beat. (Here's a video I took of one of the sets done by Miss Rana Ssanz  - my friends are so cool (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) lol) There's another show next month my friend is hosting at the same bar and I'm thinking of making one of my adventure/out&about posts, pinning the location and posting lots of pictures/videos. May or may not make that into a series once the semester starts if I'm able to continue being outside once classes start lol.  

I saw that a couple of my friends and mutuals have joined the new Meta platform called Threads. I'm not sure if I'm ready to join a new social media platform but from what I've seen it looks similar to Tumbler and Twitter. Maybe it's supposed to be the Elon Musk free version.The Meta monopoly is growing and isn't slowing down. Formerly known as Facebook. Inc., Meta now owns and controls its old namesake and sister apps Facebook and Facebook Messenger along with the acquisition of WhatsApp, Instagram and the newly dropped Threads. Reminds me of the old high school U.S. history picture of the octopus gobbling up companies, representing the monopolies that took over during the late 19th and early to mid 20th centuries. Anyway heres a post I saw on my friends insta story she made on there that I related to.  Thanks for checking out my blog :) Post by @fallinginsociety View on Threads

  I had such a good time at ENHYPEN NYC, so many engene groups(Enha fans) went out of there way to make the experience great for everyone. The birthday banners made for Heesung were such a nice touch. There were also individual engene who gave out photocards and stickers, glow sticks, candy and some selling lightstick decor and phone charms they had made. Met up with some engene from Twitter and had a blast going to different spots around the area before the concert started. They even helped me get a lightstick when I had trouble in the merch area. Despite a few bad apples, the fan base was not only welcoming and friendly but also fashionable and creative. Can't wait to see ENHYPEN again when they come back to the US. I wish them all the best on the rest of their world tour.