Hi Darling Ones, From the very first time I saw “Reality Bites” at an Eau Claire movie theater with my pal Amy in 1994 I’ve been a Lelaina. Of course I wanted to be a Vicky. Who didn’t? She was a sarcastic, droll, vintage, fuck & run kinda girl. She did not care about letters or sodas. I still kinda want to be Vicky. Instead, I was an earnest, eager,…
$27 Cookies & Other Tales from a Cruddy Week
Ugh, Darling Ones, This week has been utter shit and it’s bringing me down. 1. I’ve had the song since Christmas time. It’s 100% my fault. A few years back I made an incredibly singable playlist of one-hit wonders from the 90s. My sibs & nibs all love this playlist and whenever it’s on someone is bound to burst into song. It’s fun. At least it was fun for that…
Please Solve My Brain
Hi Darling Ones, Ever since my dad died in September, he has been in every single dream I remember having. Doesn’t matter what the theme of the dream is, he’s there, usually in the background. He rarely has a speaking role. He had a bigger role in the dreams shortly after his death, and the him in those dreams was the frail him of his last two years. The him…
Even When Talking About Art Made by Women, Men Do Not Value Art Made by Women
Hi Darling Ones, When I saw that my favorite podcast, 60 Songs that Explain the 90s, which happens to be the only one I listen to, was discussing Liz Phair’s “Fuck and Run” in the latest episode I was elated. When I saw the guest was author Sam Lipsyte I deflated a bit. Not because I dislike Lipsyte, I’ve read and enjoyed quite a few of his books, but I…
It’s a Temporary Lull
Dear Darling Ones, For the first time since sometime in 2021, I have a momentary lull in work. And boy, howdy, do I fucking need it. If you recall 2022 kicked off with me getting The COVID, then BFK’s restaurant burned down, and it ended with everyone dying (Jodi Hanson’s mom, my dad, Uncle Danny, and Betty). Through it all, I worked my ass off. I worked because it was…
Maybe the Focaccia is a Symbol
Hi Darling Ones, The other day I made my favorite soup, pasta e fagioli, and focaccia for dinner. This was the first time I ever made focaccia. While I love all kinds of foods made using yeast, making those kinds of foods is not my favorite. Yeast requires faith and trust, and I hate those things. Yeast turns me into someone who prays to a higher power, another thing I…
Why I Tell My Toothpaste to Fuck Off Every Night
Dear Darling Ones, I’ve worked in marketing for the better part of twenty years. One of the side-effects is being inordinately invested in redesigns and rebranding. Also, being a sucker for good packaging. This is kind of annoying because I long to be an anti-capitalist renegade, and not an “oh! that’s pretty I must have it” tool. Holding two diametrically-opposed opinions at the same time is one of my superpowers….
There is No Jodi. There is Only Catghan.
Hey Darling Ones, You know those regular gym-goers who get up on their high horse and become smug assholes who complain and mock the people who clog the gym after the start of a new year? They’re the worst. Guess what? I discovered that I am a very close cousin to those very same smug assholes. Only instead of being a jerk about new gym goers, I’m a jerk about…
A Cool (Not) Dry Place
Hi Darling Ones, I don’t know if this social media phenomenon happens everywhere, or if it’s unique to the Twin Cities area. Or maybe it’s a particular trait found in the people I follow on social media. Anyway, my very favorite thing on social media is when we have some sort of striking weather event and you find everyone sharing pictures of it on Instagram or Twitter. I love this…
This Really Happened
Hey Darling Ones, I am not dreaming as I write this, but please forgive me if I go astray. This morning I had a frustrating dream about trying to take a picture of an implausibly pink sky. In the dream I was trying to capture the color of the sky because I didn’t think anyone would believe me. Or I would forgot about it before I woke up. I was…