First Word

We continue with our social distancing orders and stay-at-home policy. It's not easy to stay home and avoid all those fun social gatherings, parties, and celebration; however, it's critical to jump-starting not just the U.S., but the world at large.   When I drove past the Aquatic Center last weekend and saw all these people gathered, I felt disappointed. We need to social distance not just to save lives, but also to get this whole thing over with. Our lives won't return to normal until people abide by the social distancing rules. Even my mother wanted to break quarantine to go for a drive with me, and I said no. Mom is in the risk group of senior citizens. If you take one moment to think about it, do you want to be the one who infects someone who could end up dead? I know, I don't want that on my conscience. So friends if you want to get back to normal, follow the rules and stay home.

YOUNG ADULT (YA) ADDRESSES TEEN DEPRESSION, BULLYING, AND ANGST Depression is a serious medical issue that millions of teens face; a riveting, new book titled Rocket Queen takes on the topic to help others. Sacramento, CA—Rocket Queen written by a new and emerging novelist named Julianna Morgan takes on an theme that many modern teenagers face and can identify with—teen depression, bullying in high school, and general angst trying be one's self in a complicated world. Morgan knows firsthand the experiences in the book, as she is a freshman in college writing about high school years that are not so far in her past. Rocket Queen goes deep into the state of mind of a 16-year-old teen named Wren who has recently faced some emotionally crippling traumas in her life. Not atypical of many young teens in the U.S., she has faced some tough issues arising for the consequences of being unjustly kicked out of her dance school. This emotionally intense story d...

You’ve been sent home and quarantined. Maybe you’re now working remotely for the first time in your life or you already work at home. I’ve worked at home for 14 years—and I love it. I find I get way more work done when I don’t have the daily disruptions one has at an office. Regardless of how you landed at your home, you might be going stir crazy. I wanted to share some ways to keep your morale up during this time of quarantine. Get up every day and act as-if, meaning you act like you’re going somewhere even if you’re not. Get dressed, shower, do your hair (or makeup if you’re a woman and wear it). Why does this matter? Lying around in one’s pajamas or sweats isn’t healthy. It can create depression. Think about how you feel when you don’t bother to get dressed. In my world that usually happens when I’m sick (now if you are sick that’s a different story). I don’t feel good about myself if I don’t shower and take care of myself, which can make me feel depress...