Mom: I think you’ll like that show. It’s right up your alley. Me: what’s that supposed to mean? Mom: You know, it’s got a crazy evil lady in it. You and I always like those kind of shows. YES WE DO! 😂

"While homicide totals and most other violent crime figures dropped in Chicago last year, homicides that resulted from domestic violence increased by 15 percent..." blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/13/c...

It’s all light from here.

I prefer clothing that is more beautiful than functional.

Wait! Jacob Anderson is Raleigh Ritchie?!? One of his first singles was one of the first things I ever reviewed at Pitchfork. 🥺 That makes me so happy.

Black Friday sucks unless you’re a Black girl purchasing your yearly bundles and faux locs for 40-50% off.

Really enjoying Raye’s new single, especially because of the bridge. Bring back bridges!

First time in my 25 years of going to shows where they had to confiscate a potential weapon from me. 😬

Love to be talked to like an idiot by a man about my own illnesses and disabilities. So helpful. Just what I need.

With appearances by @britticisms.bsky.social, @zoezolbrod.bsky.social, Gina Frangello, @meganstielstra.bsky.social, and the all-star band of @marydeereynolds.bsky.social, Amalea Tshilds, @beanatitagain.bsky.social, Angela James, L. Wyatt, Julie Pomerleau & Jeanine O'Toole.

I read a journal entry out loud to my therapist who said she was “riveted” and that it was “better than the last thing” she “got on kindle.” “Never stop writing!” And it was just me writing about a situationship.

I am NOT your Mommy. I WILL crush your spirit and laugh about it later.

The feedback was good! Everything worked out! Do the thing if it takes you two minutes or two days!

$188 in tariffs for one item?!? 😭

I was thinking that the only thing I have to look forward to this winter is a new season of The Traitors, but then I remembered they cast Michael Rapaport. Everything is tainted.

I know there’s a whole meme about “finally doing the thing you put off for weeks and it only took a few minutes,” but I just finally did my “thing” and it took two days. 🥴

Crazy to be old enough to witness OG Tyler the Creator, Tyler’s rebrand, and Tyler’s cancellation for his OG Tyler antics, all in real-time.

Heartbreaking: Neo-soul legends Angie Stone and D’Angelo both passed away in 2025, just 7 months apart. Stone died in March at 63. D’Angelo died today at 51. They shared a son together. An entire generation’s soundtrack, gone. Rest in power to both 🕊️💔

One of his most powerful, critical tracks ever. Honestly, this record was kind of underrated while still being highly praised and celebrated.

after getting over the initial shock I got a follow-up "oof" remembering he was just in the Sly Stone doc talking about how white rock stars get to grow old and comfortable RIP to the man with the greatest three-albums-in-20-years career in music history

Pancreatic cancer disproportionately affects the Black community, and we have a lower survival rate. This makes me so sad. Fifty one is SO young.

I am so grateful to have seen D’Angelo live. And at North Coast Music Festival of all places. So random, but he was also so incredible.

D’Angelo has passed away after a private battle with pancreatic cancer. He was ONLY 51. This is completely devastating. I am in shock.

Part 1 of my "How I Felt" diary is featured in this week's Unbodied, by @britticisms.bsky.social

Folks are out in my neighborhood warning each other of ICE spotting with whistles and car horns. Love it. 🙏🏾

JUST IN: Chicago journalistsa re suing DHS and ICE over force used against reporters: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Maybe I’m old fashioned but a $16 burger and fries does not feel like a happy hour “deal” to me.

Excuse me? Code BJ2OLD feels kinda rude as a confirmation code for my birthday trip.

Yall. I finally did it. After months of missing it, I finally caught the soft serve ice cream truck that rolls through my neighborhood. Only $2 for a cone. I skipped when I heard it arrive.

I’ll be repping @illinoispress.bsky.social books in Tent E all day Saturday. Sunday at 5 I’m talking about Sinéad O’Connor and her legacy of dissent with @britticisms.bsky.social @zoezolbrod.bsky.social & Gina Frangello on the Center Stage.

I get to talk about Sinead O'Connor's legacy of dissent at Printers Row Lit Fest this Sunday in our beautiful city with @marthabayne.bsky.social, @britticisms.bsky.social, and @circegirl.bsky.social.

Received a press release from my mom’s old pastor, whose church she stopped attending because he had a private jet and called Trump “our savior.”

Planning a “Back 2 Skool” shopping day just to feel alive again.

Thank you for sharing my newsletter. 💗🥰

Some great ones in today's "what we're reading" section, including this one from @britticisms.bsky.social! --> Unbodied 001: The Wisdom of Ourselves theunbodied.substack.com/p/unbodied-0...

Did you tell him, "Well, you oughta know."

I was talking to my new physical therapist about monoculture and I mentioned Alanis Morissette and he said, “Who?” Haven’t felt this old in a while.

It feels like fall. 😔

Always annoyed that we have to wade through whatever bullshit angle they decide is the reason why Dems lost in the weeks post election, only to completely ignore that issue when Republicans make it worse months later. This is about “voting for the economy” but it could be about a lot of things.

It's true! I'll be discussing Sinead and her legacy of dissent at 5 pm on 9/7, with @zoezolbrod.bsky.social @britticisms.bsky.social and Gina Frangello. We are in the final time slot of the final day, so come by and hang out with us!

"The nightclub scene is not dead. It’s just been transformed into something different." My new story on the rise of DJ sets and coffee shops as a nightlife alternative is now live on the Chicago Tribune. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/06/d...

“I ran and I ran. I’m still running away.”

Hate that my life, every year and like clockwork, involves yelling at insurance companies/pharmacies to get the medicine I was actually prescribed and not the alternative that sent me to the hospital five years ago.

Doechii at Lolla. It doesn’t get any better. The star is here.

I’ve relaunched my Unbodied substack about healing, the body, and culture. The first issue, discussing everything I went through to attend the Cowboy Carter tour, is now live! theunbodied.substack.com/p/unbodied-0...

I listened to Ray of Light for the first time in like 20 years, and I cried. This is definitely an album that makes the most sense in your late 30s.

I saw a group of six girls in a car last night, windows down, shouting along to Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” and I smiled because GIRLHOOD but then 20 seconds later, I heard them hit a parked car because the girlhood was too distracting.

Is playing one song on repeat for hours/days always a bad sign?

Not Malcolm. This seems especially unfair.

*in my most unhinged woo woo astrology girl voice* “You don’t believe astrology? Well, explain this on the night before Mercury retrograde in Leo!!!”