Hyperfixation Friday: Good Things
featuring GAY WHALES!
This week has been a doozy, especially the news cycle. As you know by now, I hate toxic positivity more than just about anything, so I’m not going to blow smoke up your asses. Things SUCK. We are in the suck, big time. Suckular. Much suckage.
However, we still have to get out of bed and put pants on. Or at least get out of bed. We still have to show up for the people in our lives and we still have to find pleasure and joy where we can. I know I have been writing a lot of heavy shit lately, but weirdly, I’m in a really good place? It’s strange to feel the best you’ve ever felt while everything is going to hell. I’m sure it will be a rollercoaster of a year, but I’m strapped in.
I think that we all deserve some moments of joy amidst the madness. We still have to be humans, and I think joy should be as essential to our humanity as anything else.
Here are some things that brought me joy this week - many of which happen to be personal hyperfixation faves!
GAY WHALES!
Since I was a little girl, I have been obsessed with humpback whales. I know more about them than is probably healthy, so you can imagine how thrilled I was when the news dropped that humpbacks had finally been caught copulating on camera! They are notorious for never having been caught in the act, and their mating habits are still mostly unknown. But baby whales happen, so we know they get it on.
Turns out that not only were they caught in the act…we can welcome these cetaceans into the LGBTQ+ community!
Both of the whales were male, which makes the photos, taken by Lyle Krannichfeld and Brandi Romano, the first evidence of homosexual behavior in humpback whales as well as the first sighting of sex in the species.
The jokes and memes were flying, of course. With all the talk about what is “natural” as far as human sexuality goes, the animal kingdom always finds a way to be like “hold up, its not as simple as you think”.
St. Vincent (Annie Clark)
St. Vincent is one of my all time favorite musicians (remember when I mentioned I have a thing for girls with guitars?), and I love almost everything she does. INCLUDING THIS:
I am very very here for this song. Her new record - All Born Screaming - is out in April. I will be buying tickets to see her as soon as she announces a tour. If you’ve never seen her in concert, I highly recommend it. I’ve seen her multiple times and have never been disappointed.
Fun fact: She inspired the name of my black cat, Annie! <3
Getting Paid to Write a Play
I have been sitting on this news forever! I am so grateful to be the recipient of a commission from Boomerang Theatre Company right here in NYC. I have been a working playwright for nearly twenty years, and while I have been paid royalties for productions, I have never been paid to JUST write a play before.
I am already hard at work on it, and while it’s still early days, I think I’m starting to see the shape of it. I wrote a scene the other day that clicked a few things into place. The first draft is due at the end of May, which is a tight timeline, but I am confident I can pull it off.
Hitting 100 Subscribers
A couple of weeks ago, I got the notification that this Substack has over 100 subscribers! Considering the relatively short amount of time I’ve been publishing here, I am thrilled to have so many of you with me.
I did not realize when I started writing here that it would wind up being such a huge part of my healing, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. So many amazing writers are here pouring their hearts out and doing valuable, meaningful work. I am inspired by what I read here each and every day. I’m grateful to be a part of this community.
I want to thank every single one of you who read, liked, shared, and sent me supportive messages about my post last week. If I am being honest, I was absolutely petrified when I was writing it. I think the fear of rejection and retribution is something I’ll always battle (thanks, family/RSD!).
It’s going to be tricky to keep up my weekly posts and write a play, but I am going to do my very best. I’ve got a few things in draft, and a few ideas for things going forward, but sometimes I may need a week off, so bear with me.
Also a huge fan of the gay whales. It literally made my week! Congratulations on the play 🙌🏼