💌 Jan. '25: Monthly Wrap-Up

Plus: 10+ laughable things, a garage sale Van Gogh, and a proven-true Amy Poehler quote

The “simple pleasure to look forward to” this month is….Frosty Finger Painting.

Dear Friend,

With all of (waves arms widely, sobs) “everything” going on—here are some things that managed to make me smile.

• This “Common Sense”-esque write-up of a baby’s tyranny.

• My friend Grace wrote this gem on McSweeneys. (So good—even if simultaneously depressing.)

• This “Bardcore” Medieval cover of We Didn’t Start the Fire

• My youngest thinks “How Lin-Manuel Miranda Orders a Pizza” is hilarious, and his laughs made me laugh, and now I have to agree. #contractual

• My recently-foiled attempt at a #basic duck photograph—which sort of looks like a feathery Godzilla-like creature rising through the water.

  

  What to name this piece of art? Duck Down? Butt Quack?

• Prehistoric New Year’s Resolutions, for the “Time to be me that me want to be” line alone. 😂

• What’s a crab’s favorite way to travel? A sidewalk!

• As a The Postal Service fan (both the actual service and the band), I let myself rewatch Round 1 and Round 2 of the band’s “auditions” via Sub Pop and Funny or Die. The indie music-and-comedy cameos are 😙🤌.

• Related, for humor-enjoyers of a certain age.

  

• A carousel in upstate NY featuring a tool-laden raccoon and other native wildlife? Road trip looks daunting, but… (More pics here.)

• BONUS: The new Wallace & Gromit movie (Vengeance Most Fowl) was silly and fun! The fam was happy to see our favorite Aardman villain once again.

  

  Feathers McGraw has my seal (of approval).

Sad note: I don’t earn any commission on what I highlight in this newsletter.

I read this cool story about a possible Van Gogh painting (bought at a Minnesota garage sale!)., and it reminded me of some David Lynch (R.I.P.) wisdom Third Place Books shared. Please take care of yourself in these times (and always). 

My Substack posts from this month were:

• 📌 My Time is a Vehicle Already in Motion

• 📌 Let’s Go Hang the Stars

• 📌 On 180° Character Changes in Picture Books

• 📌 Thar She Blows—A Storystorm!

And two old posts I found when cleaning out the dryer lint trap:

• 📌 Where Are You In Your Stories? - Leaning into *your* particular weirdnesses!

• 📌 Why DO We Reread Books? - I don't have the answers, but I do have some thoughts.

Any video that feels like Bjork x Natalie Merchant in video form =🏆. BUT…there is another official video, just for the lyrics, très, très charmant. And, of course, this song was perfectly used for the ending of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Also: I love its origin story.

“Can you hear the horses-es-es? ‘Cos…he-yah….theyyy…come…..!” (We’re all trying, Florence!)

Here is a quick glimpse of the many picture books I was jealous of this month. You can read why (plus my reviews of many others) on my Goodreads reviews.

Some of the many picture books I'm jealous of.

“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life forever.” —Amy Poehler

Your “grateful to the kid lit community for that very reason” friend,