Well, folks, this will be a short one because I am knee deep in my online poetry class work, and researching, and writing two novels. Plus my day job, prepping my garden, getting some exercise, reading books, and staying on top of current events.
But the best news is that Idaho opened up vaccinations to the 45+ group, and I got Dose #1 of my COVID-19 vaccination! Woohoo!
What am I reading lately? I just finished the audiobook of Talia Lavin’s Culture Warlords: My Journey Into the Dark Web of White Supremacy. I mean, a smart snarky Jewish journalist going undercover in neo-Nazi chatrooms? Riveting, disturbing, darkly humorous. Wish somebody I know would also read it so we can discuss.
Last week thanks to Hollaback I completed their online Bystander Intervention Training to Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment. Y’all, it’s great. Hollaback has quite a list of free trainings, and a lot of good resources, from how to respond to street harassment to conflict de-escalation (an upcoming training for which I’m also registered). Also check out this short video on YouTube (found via Ijeoma Oluo on Instagram). I don’t want to be the person who simply stands there dumbfounded when someone is harassed, nor do I want to cause more harm or endanger anyone - webinars, videos, and guides like these are helpful, concise, and free (though I did donate to Hollaback).
I watched two scaaaaary movies! The Empty Man and The Deeper You Dig. They couldn’t have been more different. The Empty Man might appear to be another one of those tween-centric urban legend shockfests, but oh no, it went completely bonkers in a cosmic horror mindbending WTF way. Also 🔥James Badge Dale🔥 The Deeper You Dig is an indie flick from the filmmaking team The Adams Family (no, no, not that Addams Family) about the lengths to which a mother will go for her child. It was spooky and arty and sad and even if you don’t watch The Deeper You Dig, treat yourself to this review, which I found to be film critique at its best.
I’ll leave you with Devin Townsend Project featuring the goddess Anneke van Giersbergen. Every day’s a new day….
🚴🏻♀️ Carrie This!