When I was younger, my father would get on me all the time for doing things the hard way instead of the easy way (probably because I didn’t know there was an easy way). Now, however, it seems like the hard way is the only way there is.

If you read only one piece today about political organizing that's also about remembering a bunch of guys who played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the early 2010s, I think it should be this one. [by me, for THE @wtevs.bsky.social 's BASKETBALL FEELINGS] www.basketballfeelings.com/p/joy-alchem...

I really didn’t want to, but I did the right thing. (It actually wasn’t all that bad.)

Can’t fault any of this!

It seems like most people posting photos from 2016 are doing it to show everyone how young, fun and/or hot they were. All it does is remind me that I’m getting older.

"What is there to explain, anyway? That life is infinitely inventive? That some of us are a little different? That some of us keep living while others do not?" www.awritersnotebook.org/p/words-and-...

We have two little new arrivals in our house — Sam and Sophie. #cats

Happy New Year, everyone. #newyearsday

Have anything relatively low-stakes thar you’d like to do in 2026? Today is Endivus, and the day we declare what those things are! billswritingplace.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/t...

three years ago today, @natsparaccio.bsky.social left home for california. here's the letter i wrote to her upon leaving, with an update at the end michelecatblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/28/g...

Thanks to a little help, we have a Christmas kitty under the tree.

Still Day 17, but think of this as your Christmas Bonus. A Very British Christmas: Holy Shit, What a Bad Film That Was. www.whingewhingewine.co.uk/a-very-briti...

here's my story about spending a christmas in florida in the 70s, and how toto's "hold the line" figured prominently in my christmastime break up ihavethatonvinyl.com/liner-notes/...

If this is the only bit of advice you receive about navigating Christmas in New York … you should probably get more advice.

If this is the only bit of advice you receive about navigating Christmas in New York … you should probably get more advice.

A question I’ve had since I first saw it — “Why did no one tell me about the ‘Ted Lasso’ Christmas episode? I forgive you all, but I’m disappointed in you.

A question I’ve had since I first saw it — “Why did no one tell me about the ‘Ted Lasso’ Christmas episode? I forgive you all, but I’m disappointed in you.

I’ve never seen the kind of behavior they warn you about at an office holiday party, but I did once see someone completely take over a room just by walking in the door.

I’ve never seen the kind of behavior they warn you about at an office holiday party, but I did once see someone completely take over a room just by walking in the door.

Day number four of reviewing Christmas films 🎄🍷 This time we have 'Champagne Problems', whose USP is that it's set in France. I didn't hate it. Nb. It's much easier to write a scathing review than it is to write one for a film that was ok. www.whingewhingewine.co.uk/champagne-pr...

Today's shit Christmas film review is 'The Merry Gentleman'. If you're thinking that sounds like the name of a male strip troupe, then you are correct. Although I gave it a 4/10, I absolutely hated the ending. Please do not show this to your daughters. www.whingewhingewine.co.uk/the-merry-ge...

Our first outing of the Christmas season was relaxed and peaceful. It was very nice.

today on the blog: i wrote about faith, karma, death, hope, and waiting for a final moment's peace michelecatblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/06/y...

I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT “LOVE ACTUALLY”! No, not the discourse about it … already did that. This is about something from the movie that may no longer be true, if it ever was.

I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT “LOVE ACTUALLY”! No, not the discourse about it … already did that. This is about something from the movie that may no longer be true, if it ever was.

The diners where I grew up in upstate New York weren’t 24 hours, but when you’ve been to a proper diner of any kind, nothing else matches up.

Perhaps you’ll learn how to make a great buche de Noel, and the only way you won’t enjoy saying “kransekake” is if you’re dead inside. But there’s also a very important life lesson tucked in those Christmas masterclasses.

Perhaps you’ll learn how to make a great buche de Noel, and the only way you won’t enjoy saying “kransekake” is if you’re dead inside. But there’s also a very important life lesson tucked in those Christmas masterclasses.

The tree is up. Let Wonderful Christmas begin! billswritingplace.wordpress.com/2025/12/01/w...

I studied an old yearbook photo, gawked at how my school has changed … and did I stumble into a Hallmark Christmas movie? It was an eventful day visiting my hometown. #Thanksgiving

I studied an old yearbook photo, gawked at how my school has changed … and did I stumble into a Hallmark Christmas movie? It was an eventful day visiting my hometown. #Thanksgiving

What am I thankful for this year? A lot of things, starting with being here for it. #Thanksgiving

I may or may not have called meditation “hokum.” (I have.) Have I been wrong all along?

hey 4am people, i wrote my annual thanksgiving newsletter, just me giving thanks to all the things in my life that make things just a little more tolerable michelecatblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/26/g...

next up is kaylee dunson writing about bill withers, a cracked record, and a saved thanksgiving ihavethatonvinyl.com/essays/the-n...

good morning. we are celebrating thanksgiving all week on IHTOV, and i've got two good ones for you today. first up, tracy miller writes beautifully about thanksgiving and a nina simone record and the spirituality of music ihavethatonvinyl.com/essays/the-r...

I may or may not have called meditation “hokum.” (I have.) Have I been wrong all along?

If you’re trying to build the ultimate movie trivia team … I’m basically the last guy you want to ask. But if you’re cool and fun, I’ll still have a good time.

If you’re trying to build the ultimate movie trivia team … I’m basically the last guy you want to ask. But if you’re cool and fun, I’ll still have a good time.

Our baby has left us.

It was a question to which I’d surely have an answer. Except I didn’t. billswritingplace.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/t...

i miss baseball but i miss it most of all when i am flipping through all the channels and apps on my tv looking for something to watch and i feel this void where baseball used to be. my companion has wandered off, again

I just mentioned this to my wife, and she said, “He’s the guy on ‘W1A’ who was mean to Will.” Me (repeatedly): “That guy?!?!? THAT GUY!?!?!?” Also, “W1A” and “Crashing” (which he’s in and was Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s first show) are both terrific and you should watch them both.

"Maybe it’s because every play, even the supposedly routine ones, crackled with “Wait, did that just happen?” energy. Yes, it did happen. Too much happened. The night was a blur. Trying to tell the story feels like trying to cage a wild tiger."

today at IHTOV: from me - i wrote about doo wop music and how listening to it soothes me and has saved my sanity by providing me with comfort and warmth, and just really good music ihavethatonvinyl.com/liner-notes/...

When I told a couple kids we were running out, they started throwing some of their candy in my basket because they “felt bad.” It got us through a few more kids.

the second one is about a good friend who passed away in high school, and how teri took my way of coping away from me michelecatblog.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/a...

She shouldn’t be a nemesis. It should be much worse. (If you’re trying to guess what I mean, that is correct.)