New Subscribers: Welcome to The Giggler! We’re on a never-ending quest for amusement and unadulterated fun here. Sometimes my newsletters are all about insights from my life as a voice actress and writer, other times I post original short stories or progress from my adventures in learning to draw, and recently I’ve started sharing updates regarding my husband and his fight against ALS. Today I have a fun and reflective life update for you.
Thank you all for being here. ❤️
Today’s Newsletter Recording:
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Hey gigglers!
Five weeks have flown by, and in that time I’ve been doing a lot of voice acting and adapting to the demands of taking care of Kealoha and myself. Also, I’m finally used to calling him my husband! LOL. Though I’m still not done ogling my engagement ring and wedding band. 🥰
We’d originally planned to take a three-month honeymoon through Italy after our wedding, but Kealoha was diagnosed with ALS before the big day, and our lives have changed drastically since. Kealoha is a competitive, determined adventurer at heart and, slowly but surely, he’s showing signs of improvement. Whether it takes a few years or a few decades, we believe he’ll recover—and that we will embark on our dream trip together.
In the meantime, we’ve been having a blast watching The Amazing Race! We’ve been catching up on the more recent seasons to see what the world looks like post-Covid. It’s as if we’re right there racing alongside the contestants! We constantly debate who would do which task, whether we’d make it past certain roadblocks, and who would be the navigator (K) versus the driver (me). It’s such a fun way to see the world together!
Speaking of fun, we’ve also been baking our own sourdough using whole-wheat einkorn flour—an ancient grain that’s been left untampered with! We don’t add any sweeteners or oils. We like to keep it simple. Our first batch was surprisingly awesome. Full of flavor, dense yet springy, light yet hearty, and perfectly tangy. We’ve been making it the same way ever since. We call it Jesus Bread.
We’ve also started growing our own broccoli sprouts! They’re ridiculously expensive at the grocery store, so we decided to try growing them ourselves and it’s so darn easy. They turn out crunchy and slightly spicy, earthy, and so good with a dollop of cottage cheese on our Jesus Bread. Best snack ever!
All you need is a mason jar with a mesh lid to drain the liquid.
And now… we’re starting a garden! We’ve wanted one ever since we moved in together in Las Vegas, but the desert heat and wind had other plans. Now that Kealoha and I live in a tropical climate, we’re ready to test our green thumbs. Here we gooo!
On the creative side, I’ve been really intentional about where I put my energy and attention. My priority is taking care of Kealoha and myself, but I’ve been pouring my remaining energy (of which I now have extra!) into voice acting.
I cleaned up my website so it reflects this. Now my voiceover work and my writing are neatly separated so people in both industries can understand who I am at a glance. (Check it out here 👉 www.alexatuttle.com)
I also, out of curiosity, queried some dramatic rights agents to see about representation for my inactive steamy romance pen name’s bestselling work, but I think most agents aren’t interested in older content if the creator isn’t actively publishing in that genre anymore… even if the work is AWESOME and has hundreds (and counting) of five star reviews confirming readers find it totally entertaining! 🤪 Bummer. Oh well. I’ll keep those stories (and reviews!) in my back pocket and turn my focus toward voice acting now. Did you know it was through my pen name that I rediscovered voice acting?!
My fellow romance authors asked if I’d narrate their books because they knew I used to do voice over as a kid. Once I got back into acting it was like I had never left. Everything fell into place so perfectly it was obviously meant for me! And it’s been a vital source of enjoyment and motivation through the ups and downs of my life these last few years, allowing me to stay active in storytelling even when I haven’t been able to write. I’m so very grateful my wild short-lived adventures in writing steamy romance led me back to voice acting. Once again—thank you, God!
It’s interesting isn’t it? How some of the things/careers/dreams I thought I wanted in the past no longer align with who I’ve become, and others that were there from the start found their way back to me in the most unexpected ways. God has provided me with an infinitely more meaningful and exciting life than even the creative, younger me could have imagined.
I’ve been humbled by this practice of reflection, and now all I want is to do what God asks of me—to be the best version of myself and let Him guide me through whatever comes next. Giving it to God always sounds easier than it is in practice, but every time I do, things always work for the greater good.
Isn’t it wild to think that just three months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to handle the workload I manage every day now? I’m constantly adapting to this new life of ours (and so very grateful for your prayers for strength— we’ve felt them and I need them!). Since no one has paved the road before us, there are no instructions or guidelines. It’s adventure in the truest sense—sometimes scary, but also entirely liberating and motivating. Kealoha and I are like a real-life Zoro and Luffy! (Guess who’s who 😆)
Each day, Kealoha heals a little more. Every few weeks we’ll notice a new improvement. He’s walking a little faster, standing a little taller, he speaks more clearly here and there. Some days he feels amazing and so we do more than usual, but that will usually lead to both of us getting a bit wiped out and spending the next week or so chilling and recuperating. Though sometimes it can feel like two steps forward followed by one step backward, we’re still moving forward!
We’re navigating these uncharted waters together. He’s the best partner, and I’m so blessed that God brought us to each other.
Thank you for your love and prayers, friends. Kealoha is a steady source of love and strength for me, and we’ve absolutely felt you lifting us up. We’re enjoying leaning into this new life and rhythm we’ve established.
I’ll keep you posted!
Until next time,
Alexa ( AKA The Giggler) 💛
P.S.
Since I don’t have any new fiction of my own to share with you, I thought I’d recommend something totally in the vein of my absurdist adventure fiction here at The Giggler. I’m really enjoying listening to the audiobook for Dungeon Crawler Carl, narrated by Jeff Hayes—it’s hilarious! It follows Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world… in a video-game-like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. Think exploding goblins, magical potions, and deadly, drug-dealing llamas!
Apparently, it’s being adapted into a TV show, and Jeff may even voice the lead?! I can’t believe I’ve only just learned about this series!
Fellow gigglers—do yourself a favor and check it out!
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