I’ll just say this, it’s been A YEAR. Is there something in the air? Everyone I know has been THROUGH it this year. (And I’m just talking personally… there’s plenty more global horror to be weighed down by.) There are still three weeks left, and I don’t want to tempt the year into giving us MORE YEAR, but let’s just say… we’ve very nearly almost just about made it through. And for those of you who are like “what are you talking about? I had a great year!” I respectfully say shhhh no one wants to hear about it.
I’ve got some exciting things in the works that I can’t wait to eventually share… when I’m given permission and/or actually done with them, but for now let’s raise a glass of something delicious and say - we did it.
(Knock wood)
Real quick - Five things I’ve recently liked that you might also like:
Anyone else have trouble reading this year? I read about HALF the books I wanted to read, as evidenced by the towering stack on the floor next to my bed (which is itself overflow from my bedside table). But there are two books I can recommend, both about art and the making of it. Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being is a delightful, philosophical collection of musings and morsels and stories. Some soothing, some surprising, all interesting. The other is Make Your Art No Matter What by Beth Pickens, which is an encouraging and practical guide to cultivating a creative life. Both great for New Years Resolution season!
I helped crowdfund this tarot deck. It is beautiful and whimsical and very fun to read from, even when it’s telling you shitty things are afoot! (PS - I love pulling a card for people, let me know if you want one…)
Recently, I did a thing I never do, which is look back through old journals and cringe at how self-absorbed I am. But I kept a journal through most of 2020, and it was actually really fascinating to read and remember what I was thinking and worried about (For example, I was very hung up on having enough chicken breasts in the freezer at all times). One interesting thing I came across was a quote from Jeffrey Ford, with whom I had taken an online class (and whose books you should absolutely read):
“Accept and incorporate doubt. It’s part of the deal. Just gotta wait for the evil to run its course. There’s a purpose to all that stuff.”
I love this SO MUCH. Waiting for the evil to run its course is exactly right.
Trust me, just make this eggnog. And then wait at least 3 weeks before you drink it. (Yes you’re reading that right - one LITER of bourbon.)
In an effort to, I dunno, make things more interesting with minimal effort, I bought these guest checks that they use in restaurants (or used to use, anyway, back in the 20th century when I was a waitress). They’re fun to write notes on or type poems or draw pictures or play “restaurant,” whatever your kinky heart desires. (Forgive the link source, I’m sure you can find a way to buy these from a non-billionaire if you so choose).
Bonus lewd animal fact:
Apologies if you know this already and I’m just reminding you of an unpleasant fact, but it has come to my attention that some people are not aware that most koalas have chlamydia. Apparently between 20-90% of them are infected, which is quite a statistical spread. It’s also a MAJOR cause of their decline in the wild over the past two decades, and the Australian government recently declared them endangered.
Sorry, this one really did turn out to be kind of a downer.
Apparently, it’s likely they get chlamydia from sheep and cow poop, and I’m going to refrain from making a joke that will get me sent emails accusing me of slut-shaming ungulates. Good news, though, apparently they’re starting to get vaccinated! A happy ending, if you will.
Thanks for reading and happy holidays! Since you made it this far, I’ll post one last thing I’ve started doing, which is stick a post-it to my monitor that says “What if it ends up BETTER than you can ever imagine?” It’s weirdly helpful.