Canva added automatic page numbering in October, but I just found out about it yesterday. 🫨

Finished reading: Crossover Vol. 1: Kids Love Chains by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw 📚 I liked the premise, but I’m not sure I’ll read more of this series.

Updated my Now page. ✨

Friendly reminders

This has been a tough week, especially in the U.S., especially if you’re not a straight white male.

Here are some friendly reminders from me. It’s not much in the grand scheme of things, but I hope it helps.

You’re the only person who decides who you are.

No one gets to define your gender. The way you were raised doesn’t have to define your current beliefs. Your family and your friends don’t determine what kind of person you are. You decide who you are, and you can change whatever you want, whenever you want.

You are worthy exactly as you are.

Other people’s standards are other people’s standards. They don’t have to be a measure for you. Your value does not depend on how much you do (or don’t) work. It does not depend on how much you do (or don’t) rest. It does not depend on how, when, or if you meet stereotypical life milestones.

I support you.

Everyone deserves a life where they are happy, safe, loved, and cared for. I support freedom and equality for all people, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nationality, disability, or religious beliefs.

If it feels too big, make it small.

Life can get overwhelming in a lot of ways, for a lot of reasons. When you have a lot to deal with, try to find ways to break down what you have to do. Focus on one task. Ask for help with one thing. Plan for one day. Taking small steps is totally fine. You got this.

Make a little something

I saw lots of posts this week with recommendations to make something as a way to help with feelings of sadness, frustration, disappointment, anger…but I didn’t set aside time to make something until today.

I made a collage on an index card. I used outer-space related imagery that was already on my desk, because of a zine I’m slowly working on.

It’s a small collage and it didn’t take much time, but yeah, it helped.

A hand holds a small collage made up of outer-space related imagery: a full moon and a galaxy against a background of blue and purple night skies. Orange stripes are in contrast to the blues and purples.

Recent zine mail

A red zine titled Why Short People Are Awesome by Karen Goldsum is accompanied by two colorful stickers with positive messages.

Why Short People are Awesome by Karen Goldsum. Check out her work on Instagram and Etsy.

Three mini zines and several stickers.

Zines and stickers by Charlie T tea. See their work on Instagram and Etsy.

My January newsletter is out.

In this issue:

A lot of my friends on Instagram are moving to Bluesky. I’m debating starting a Bluesky account vs. not starting an account but following friends through Micro.blog. 🤔

Even if I started a Bluesky account, I would be mostly cross-posting from Micro.blog. Same as I do with Mastodon now.

🍿 I watched First Man today.

Making a movie about real events can be difficult because the audience likely knows the outcome of the story. The movie felt boring to me most of the time. But despite that, I recognize the cast was great, and the filmmakers included a lot of details to make the movie authentic to real life.

Finished reading: How to Resist Amazon and Why: The Fight for Local Economics, Data Privacy, Fair Labor, Independent Bookstores, and a People-Powered Future! by Danny Caine 📚

Good overview of Amazon’s workplace conditions, unions (and union busting), data collection, and effects on the economy, small businesses, and politics. The book is written from the perspective of a bookstore owner, but a lot of his points apply to any kind of small business.

My favorite part of the book was the end, which encourages people to be pro-small business and engaged in your local community.

Movies I watched in 2024

Here’s the list of movies I watched in 2024. Titles with an asterisk after them (*) are ones I recommend.

My top 5, in no particular order

Superheroes

Documentaries

Prequels, sequels, and re-makes

Sci-fi

Grab bag

If you’d like to see movies I’ve watched in the past, I have a list going back to 2015. 🍿

Books I read in 2024

I had a slow year for reading books in 2024.

Here are my favorite 2 from the year:

And the other 3 I read:

I have a whole bookshelf of unread books, so here’s to more reading in 2025.

If you’d like to see books I’ve read in the past, I have a whole list going back to 2011. 📚

Perks of living in the snack belt. Potentially unnecessary flavors, but fun to try. 🤭

A bag of Herr's Fire Roasted Sweet Corn popcorn is displayed on a granite surface.

📺 Doctor Who Christmas special - “Joy to the World”

The acting was great, and the concepts were interesting. Plot was a bit messy, and the last few minutes got really sappy. That made the episode feel flat to me. 3/5 ⭐️

Cutting out some magazine images for collaging. No plan. Just gathering stuff.

Various photos cut out from magazines on a black cutting mat. Photos include decorative pumpkins, a decorated Christmas tree, and nature-related imagery.

My December newsletter is out. A little zine preview, some links to share, and what I’ve been watching.

Does anyone have strong opinions about moving a company/business site from WordPress to Webflow? (Specifically from a marketing perspective, because I would not be doing the development or design work.)

📺 I finished watching Black Doves (streaming on Netflix). They left an opening for a season 2 but I would be fine if this were the only season. It’s a complete story. 4/5 ⭐️ overall but 5/5 ⭐️ for casting.

📺 Currently watching Black Doves (streaming on Netflix). It has some awkward moments, but overall I like it so far.

I mistyped my email address on an online order (at a pretty major retail site), and customer service cannot correct the email address on their end.

But their site is clearly tracking me with cookies and sending customer survey emails…to my correct email address.

We’re living in the future. 🙄