Issue 26: February 2026

OF NOTE: FEBRUARY 2026

FOR THE LOVE OF HUMANITY

Is Your Heart Big Enough For This?

So glad 2025 is behind us, but 2026 is not without it’s speed bumps and pot holes already. The fight for women’s rights in the US and across the globe has never been as dire as it is right now. With the GOP raining assault upon women daily, threatening all States with Federal anti-choice laws, and the Trump administration working tirelessly to weaken the three branch system of our government to bend the direction of all American lives at the whim of The Donald, there’s plenty to concern us all. Even well known long time Conservative mouth-pieces like Anthony Scaramucci, a former Trump Whitehouse Advisor, decries the troubling actions of the Trump administration daily. Trump openly sides with the murderous Putin, turning his administrations back on long time European and continental American allies. Between such betrayal of the US Constitution and American People and the threats to our species due to changing climate, more frequent natural disasters, and the Global effects of the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and other places it can be difficult not to slip into crushing depression. As individuals there is little that can be done to make any noticeable effect on such tragedies. So, what do we do? What CAN we do? As a ReiKi teacher and practitioner I turn to the Ideals of Dr. Usui for guidance and wisdom: Just for today I will not anger. I will not worry. I will do my work with integrity, be filled with gratitude and be kind to all Beings. This is no small task, especially when faced with such challenges as we are in our modern times. BUT, it does give us a reasonable place to start by focusing on the things that are within our ability to control. No one is perfect. No one does all of these things every day of their lives. That is what makes us human. But, when in the throws of distress and dis-ease the ReiKi Ideals defined above and on page 36, call us into the present and guide us toward inner peace. In this issue you will find a story of real people, the Nguyen’s (pg.22), over coming some of life’s most difficult challenges. You will see images of women who are strong and self-reliant. You will begin the journey with me of finally beginning to fabricate the rugs I designed way back in 2020 after the CZU fire ravaged the Central Coast of California. You will also see some new and exciting changes! As of January 1st, 1UV MONTHLY Magazine now has it’s own dedicated website separate from 1UV Gallery Studio. In an attempt to make the publication more legitimate I designed and launched 1uvmonthlymagazine.net AND applied to The Library of Congress for an ISSN to formally register 1UV MONTHLY Magazine as an internationally recognized periodical. Once issued, the ISSN will be found on the back cover in the lower left corner, the front cover after the title and on the header of most pages of the publication. This number identifies the periodical and publisher. 1UV Gallery Studio is the publisher. Limited edition print copies of the magazine will still be available free of charge at 1UV Gallery Studio and at select locations in California. These locations are listed on the inside front cover under the Letter from the Editor. If you would like to request a print copy to be mailed to your home you can now buy an official subscription on the new website. Both print and e-document subscriptions are available on the new site.  By selling subscriptions (in addition to advertising) I hope to be able to cover the cost of printing and offer financial compensation to writers. Which brings me to the next piece of news…

I have joined The National Writers Union and have been approved for an internationally recognized Press Pass. Whether this does anything to help me in my endeavors or not is yet to be seen, but I can say it DOES feel great to be recognized professionally by peers in this way. I can’t tell you how many people have trivialized my work over the years, even as I have received death threats and had attempts made on my life over my journalistic and artistic integrity not to mention all the Intellectual Property theft. And now for my final bit of news at this moment…

1UV Gallery Studio is excited to share news of our new partnership with Zolina (Z) Zeravica and her historic Soquel eatery, Tortilla Flats. Tortilla Flats is now partnered on Private Viewing/Shopping Tours (pg. 5) and Large Group Tours (pg. 7). Tortilla Flats is located at 4616 Soquel Drive in Soquel. If you’ve never been there I highly recommend it. The food is amazing and so is the array of 40+ tequilas. Look for an interview with Zolina (aka Z) in the April issue of 1UV MONTHLY Magazine. It’s wonderful to be partnered with a fellow Woman/Female Gen-Xer California small business owner. 

One last note before you read on, this month’s chapter of Lucky Stroke (pg. 25) is particularly heavy. Consider the philosophic congruity between the Vietnam and Ukraine wars as you read. Consider Ukraine in the terms of Vietnam and Russia as the US, or even the 79 conflict between Russia and Afghanistan. The cost of war, any war, is so much higher than the price of weapons. The Ukrainian people continue to incur the cost to maintain the safety of Europe from Putin and Donald Trump. I can’t help but think of Americans — who will protect us?