April: In Like A Letter, Out Line By Line
The trials and tribulations of Spring are with us. Shout out to Tea in the Tempest: New Work and Collaborations by Heather Divoky and Emelie Weber Wade
Happy Friday! It’s my birthday, May 9th :)
Subscriber count is currently at 23. Things have slowed down and my monthly open rate has been hovering around 50% the last couple months. I could be better about promotion, but this organic method feels more intimate. Genuine thanks to those already here!
Marketing
April was disappointing to say the least. The high of getting two jobs I was so excited for last month was met with a bitter reality of not fitting the needs of the tourism office. After remarkably few shifts for being told I’d have two months to acclimate before checking in to see if this was a good fit, I was ultimately given only about a week. Upon first hearing feedback to improve upon, I was already being let go because sometimes other people will decide for you. That said, tourism doesn’t seem like the safest industry to be in at the moment given the state of the world. I’m glad the role with full-time hours and benefits is going well! There is always room for improvement, but my managers appreciate me and I feel like I make a difference whether by submitting a maintenance request or helping someone go from a bad situation into a new home.
Food
My partner and I partook in pizza week once again! A few times every year, the Portland Mercury makes it all too tempting to cross the bridge in search of adventure and delectable dining. Bars and restaurants across the city come up with special offerings at an affordable price (except for hot dog week – $8 is too much for a got dang hot dog). We ended up topping last year with seven locations and not a piece of pineapple to be mentioned. Which is a shame because the spicy sweetness of a pineapple jalapeno pizza cannot be beat! When it comes to trying so many pizzas, dough is the deciding factor for me. Crust consistency cannot be overlooked. Chicago deep dish or a detroit-style pie are my preference, though a thin crust wrapped around its own crust like an inverse pig-in-a-blanket or thicc croissant ain’t bad either.
Death Doula-ship
The April death cafe I planned included an activity with decorative eggs. The barcode sticker ended up being extra sticky so I spray-painted each egg an off-white colour which was better for rainbow Sharpies than brown paper anyhow. This was the best turnout for any of my events yet! I shared a post on social media which the cafe accepted as a tagged collaborator and I believe that had a draw. I did put up small flyers at the library, the paper store where I got the eggs, and one at the cafe itself the day before. The more likely explanation is that customers who came in that very day saw the flyer at the register and were curious enough to come over for a chat. Six different people, including a retired fire captain, joined in and provided contact info throughout the time I was there, never more than an additional two people. This was a pleasant surprise after a considerable lack of attendance in March. If only I could crack the code of how to reach the correct audience! Marketers and business owners everywhere know what I mean.
Film
Apparently April was sponsored by the letter ‘s’ judging by the selection of cinema we saw. We started this month at the “Drop” of a hat. In my opinion, this movie kinda dropped the ball; we can leave it at that. If you thought “Anora” was a raunchy / real modern retelling of a Cinderella story, you must see “The Ugly Stepsister.” This version keeps it classic but with a flipped script prioritising a sister as the misguided protagonist. Nothing like a mother’s disdain to push you towards familial competition and self-mutilation. “Sinners” is one where I’m going to need to watch it again to soak in the full work. On the first watch, either I was too wrapped up or not into it at all, but it did not stay with me. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. It just means I watch a lot of movies and sometimes they blur together or I get overwhelmed by content. Not to bring the younglings into this, but “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” came to the big screen and we had to go before May 4th was with us. Anakin should’ve used a stillsuit because surely he was dehydrated in the brain to do what he did. Or maybe if he knew “The Shrouds” were in development, he wouldn’t have been so heartbroken over Padme. Cronenberg isn’t the hero we asked for, but he’s the hero we deserve. Body horror & robotic relations for everyone!
Once again I find myself sharing this update after the end of the month. I plan to catch up by sharing now and another blog before the end of the month. Double the fun! May Queen Energy!
Last month I mentioned a bit of traveling I was doing. Now that it’s over, I’ll share more! I was very happily able to fly to the east coast with my partner to celebrate a matriarch’s 80th birthday. Getting to spend quality time with more of his family was so special! We went to Judaculla Rock, drove a segment of the Blue Ridge Parkway, visited the Biltmore Estate, and I got to hug an internet friend of ten or so years! Heather Divoky is a stunning artist and beyond cool with a new gallery opening reception happening tonight! Tap on through to her socials to see just how detailed her work is <3
Thanks for making it this far! Make it even further and read last month’s post here.