๐ Feb. '25: Monthly Wrap-Up
Plus: 10+ laughable things, an old pop-up video, and some Crystal Bridges faves

Dear Friend,
We are somehow 1/6 through the year! (Did that scare you as much as me?) Anyhow, to help us regulate our heart rate, here are 10 things that made me snicker, chuckle, or guffaw.
Laura Ramosoโs impressions of her mother
This is too funny not to be true. #monkgospel
Heโs been gone 20 years, but I still miss Mitch Hedbergโs humor.
While my son and I were in GA last week, we learned about the Savannah Bananas, a baseball version of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Spotted this โrelatable choice madeโ while shopping at Target.
Related, NGL, I think my fifth-grade leech experiment reportage is some of the (unintentionally) funniest writing Iโve ever done. (Click to see.)
Gene Hackmanโs passing (R.I.P.) reminded me of one of my all-time very favorite movies (and game closets).
Hereโs a joke I made up for St. Patrickโs Day. Did you hear about the little redhead geek in a green suit? They were going to Lepre-Con.
Hereโs one I heard: A yogi walks into a pizza parlor and says, โMake me one with everything."
BONUS: But tell us how you really feel, Charlie! #melodramawelcome
Sad note: I donโt earn any commission on what I highlight in this newsletter.
My Substack posts from this month were:
And two old posts that I saw walking in the park, holding hands (aww):
๐ Take Your Cue from Papier-Mรขchรฉ (and the Zen of Caring Too Much) While Querying or Submitting
I really miss pop-up videos!
Here is a quick glimpse of some picture books I was jealous of this month. You can read why (plus my reviews of many others) on my Goodreads reviews.


One of the self-care things we fit in this month was a family trip to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. If you are unfamiliar with it, it really is wonderfulโfree(!) for anyone to visit. Here are some of our familyโs favorite art experiences from that visit.



We were also collectively moved by pieces by Mark Rothko, Gabriel Dawe, andย Louise Bourgeoisย (they had six pieces by herโincluding the phenomenal โMamanโ).
We also very much enjoyed this dog sculpture. Because if you start up an art museum, why not include an eternal ode to your best friend?
I hope you are doing well, and Iโm rooting for you in all that you do.
Your โGet in, loser, weโre going caring!โ friend,
Enjoyed the St Patrickโs Day joke very much, going to save that one up! ๐๐โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
Always fun to read your thoughts Elayne!