Hiatus because Teeth and America
See you in July!
Hi! I have to go get two teeth1 out after work! And next week I am on vacation because it is the Fourth of July! And I am in the midst of another poetry project! And I also have a bunch of other stuff going on so I am thinking…I will go on a break until…the Friday Dispatch on July 12? That’s two weeks, that sounds like a good Brain Vacation. And if I half-ass today, well, that’s even more vacation! Wow!
So in lieu of a Real Email, here is a very short list of things that may tickle your fancy until I see you in July:
My subway reading the last couple days has been this webcomic, about a "therapeutic" boarding school in Maine where children and teens were tortured for decades. This 100-chapter comic is like a portal to hell, and I can’t recommend it enough.
A few people have recently asked about PDF copies of my book – the publisher, Bullshit Lit, was undergoing a re-design and the digital version was temporarily taken down. But I am happy to say that it is back online now, at this link!
I am mad about Build-a-Bear. This week they announced the release of their MOTHMAN PLUSH:
…and, excuse me?! Inspired by Mothman, “only way cuter and cuddlier?” Oh, so the REAL Mothman is ugly somehow??? MEAN! Keep your thoughts to yourself!
I rewatched this video for the first time in probably a decade, and I am
proud ashamednot surprised to say I remember EVERY WORD:This week’s WIDNBTW is just this entire website, I Felt Kitsch. Warning: you will either hate or love this site.
The product that I saw on Instagram, which first alerted me to the site’s existence:
The image that made me realize this is about so much more than simple Barbies:
And the item I personally see myself reflected in:
One final note for the week.2 The Department of State is testing a new online passport renewal system. Not everyone is eligible to use this beta version, and slots are limited; you need to wait for “slots” to release each day at a particular time. With that said!
Last Friday, I successfully got a slot and submitted my passport renewal. It was approved, printed and shipped by Wednesday. And USPS Informed Delivery showed that my passport is arriving today. I hope I’m not jinxing it by talking about my passport before it arrives! But, I wanted to tell you, if you have been dilly-dallying on your passport renewal, dilly no further! Dally no more! Submit it ASAP, whether you do it online or via mail, because it seems that processing times are way down. My experience is consistent with those recently shared by random people on the r/Passports subreddit. It seems like a lot of people are receiving passports with a three-week turnaround. Just a hot tip!!!
Well, with that, I’m off to eat soup all weekend. Thanks for reading. I hope you all do a little bit of summer chillaxing. Watch Point Break! Bye!
I haven’t even told you guys about my ongoing Tooth Struggles but, after getting ONE MEASLY WISDOM TOOTH removed a couple months ago, I have been FIGHTING for an appointment to get my problem teeth out, and it’s FINALLY happening…after being rescheduled, of course. So! Two more teeth out today, and then one more to go after that…if my oral surgeon ever calls me back.
Okay, one more PS for paid subscribers: My May/June Empties are going to be combined into one THRILLING DOUBLE ISSUE (read: slightly long-ish list) which you’ll receive next week. Sorry for the delay! I had a lot of Life happen along with my Annie show! I’m not complainin’! After I send it, I’ll pause my paid subs for 2 weeks, since I’m slackin’.