July Update

(I almost typed "May Update" again, if that gives any sense of how much the past 2 months have been a blur.)

Hi buds! It's been a while. Here's what's up on my end.

Life

Things have been a real mixed bag. I've spent the past couple weeks mostly on vacation - a bit at home, a bit on the beach. Ironically, it's been great for my productivity: something like 30% of this job takes place inside my head, understanding texts and developing ideas, and this break has given me more mental clarity than I've had in a while. I feel refreshed and ready to jump back in.

On the other hand... Can I just say fuck 2022? I think we can all agree on that, right? Since the last update, a couple more loved ones have died, and I was just exposed to COVID again. I've rapid-tested negative and have no symptoms so far, but considering the details of my exposure, it'll be a miracle if I dodged it.

Work

Unless said COVID exposure derails my plans, the last week of July will see the release of three videos! My series on trans youth and healthcare, produced with Trans PULSE Canada and in the works since January, is finally wrapping up.

On August 1st, Vic & I will host a livestream to celebrate 40 000 subscribers. The last one was so fun! If people like these, we'll keep up the tradition and do one for every milestone. Follow this link to ring the notification bell so you catch us!

After that... I'm not sure! I've got a few ideas, but they're so new it's possible they don't pan out. I've been guilty of announcing videos too early and then axing them for one reason or another. I know I want to take my time and really polish whatever comes next, so it'll be out mid-September at the earliest.

Art

I can tell you what I'm reading and watching lately, lots of which will probably come up in future projects.

I'm reading three books at the moment (well, two books and one play): Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night, Rebecca Solnit's River of Shadows: Eadweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West, and Lawrence Weschler's Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology. All are good, but I'm adoring that last one. Despite being a Pulitzer finalist, nobody seems to have heard of it!

My obsession with Charlie Kaufman remains in full swing, and I think about Synecdoche, New York almost every day. (Not to imply I "get it" - I don't!) I've also been falling in love with Sidney Lumet's filmography - Network recently rocked my world.

Bye

Alright, see you next week with those trans health videos! <3