It’s mid-morning where I live and I’ve spread the word about my @marchxness.bsky.social essay on Brick to everyone and in every way I know. The game is not over, but it does feel now as if it’s out of my hands. We’re down by over 300 votes, but I can honestly say I’m happy.

I had a blast repping Brick all month! We didn’t get the gold but I look better in silver anyway. And for my post game snack, you better believe I’m eating one of these Brick cookies. Great game, @mfitejohnson.bsky.social! 🧱

Wondering if at least some of the (many) votes for Celine are revenge/protest votes (which is legitimate of course)

If you are looking to vote for an underdog, may I submit Brick?

Vote here, yeah? marchxness.com#/sadnesscham...

As promised, I am following up with a part 2. Watch me nearly have a breakdown over frosting color! (And then get it exactly right, all because I want you to vote for Brick). @marchxness.bsky.social youtu.be/NXcKfXGE78s

"My Heart Will Go On" is unironically one of my favorite songs of all time, but I'm voting "Brick" in @marchxness.bsky.social due to Cicily's incredible essay & Mormon-girl solidarity marchxness.com#/sadnesscham...

Vote BFF!

Here’s the snapshot I almost used as my author photo for this @marchxness.bsky.social tourney. It is the essayist holding a doll of her own likeness. Too on the nose? We’re down by a lot, but it’s not too late to vote for Brick! marchxness.com#/sadnesscham...

This final feels pretty inevitable to me, especially as an Xennial. Both essays are so good, and so sad, and this is a true 90s heartbreaker of a matchup. My Heart Will Go On is iconic, but Brick devastated an entire generation, and still makes me cry every time. I've gotta go Brick for the win.

THE March Sadness National Championship: (6) Ben Folds Five's "Brick" & @cicilybennion.bsky.social against (1) Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" & @mfitejohnson.bsky.social! Listen to the songs! Read the essays! Which is the saddest? YOU DECIDE (by 9am AZ time 3/31): marchxness.com#/sadnesscham...

BEFORE YOU VOTE in today's championship game, here are some late night baking thoughts for your consideration. (Hang tight for part two, coming later today). Vote for Brick! youtu.be/OKLfpx5G6hs @marchxness.bsky.social

MARCH SADNESS 90S EDITION FINAL FOUR FINAL SCORE BEN FOLDS FIVE 389, Ani DiFranco 348 ! The championship is set for MONDAY. Until then, stay strong!

Waiting for all the @marchxness.bsky.social peeps to wake up and start voting like:

All right everyone, it’s time to get your vote for Brick in. We are only 16 down! And Brick is sad! Really, really sad! @marchxness.bsky.social

Here for the cover. You have until noon eastern tomorrow to vote (for Brick or for You Had Time). Go to marchxness dot com

Please be cool and vote for Brick (my leg is fine now).

I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow being hyped when my older brothers say something nice about me. Fun fact: Kimball also put his name in the lottery this year for @marchxness.bsky.social, but my name got drawn and his didn’t. Probably for the best. A house divided, etc.

There is a March Madness bracket for essays about sad songs from the '90s and my extremely talented sister's essay about "Brick" made it to the final four. Go to marchxness.com and vote for it! @marchxness.bsky.social

I’m really enjoying these essays. This is my favorite match-up so far. Read and vote! marchxness.com/final4-folds...

Vote for Brick here! marchxness.com/final4-folds...

Hello @marchxness.bsky.social people! I made this account and sang this song in the hope that it would persuade you to vote for Brick. Let's take it to the championship! Big thanks to @elainehickb.bsky.social and my brother Kimball for doing all the heavy lifting with the music. youtu.be/v6eMu-Tm6Cs

We do love a performance!

Take my buddy’s word for it. @rtrishman.bsky.social

Cicily is sleeping on the other side of the world, so we made this video to bump her essay. If she makes it to the top 4 we will record with real drums and make her sing vocals. Vote for Brick by Cicily Bennion @marchxness.bsky.social

ANGER IS AN ENERGY

My SIL is in an essay contest. TW: She wrote a devastating essay about the grooming and sexual abuse she experienced as a teen. Her abuser was an older married man in her LDS ward. I feel strongly that this essay needs a wider audience. Read and vote: Brick marchxness.com/sweet16-fold...

I am once again asking you to read and vote for Brick-Cicily Bennion. TW: She writes about the sexual abuse and grooming she experienced as a teen from an older man in her LDS ward. I can’t punch that mother f-er in the throat, but I can try to get people to vote. marchxness.com/elite8-folds...

My SIL is in an essay contest. TW: She wrote a devastating essay about the grooming and sexual abuse she experienced as a teen. Her abuser was an older married man in her LDS ward. I feel strongly that this essay needs a wider audience. Read and vote: Brick marchxness.com/sweet16-fold...

MARCH SADNESS 90S EDITION ROUND 2 DAY 2 SCORES, 120 minutes to go (yeah) in some VERY tight games: Bonnie Raitt 74, Alanis Morissette 72 Ben Folds Five 177, Mazzy Star 155 Collective Soul 118, Des’ree 115 Bush 136, Paula Cole 88 120’ to go; vote by 9am AZ time Friday the 13th at marchxness.com

There are times when I miss my old Mormon Twitter community. I want to read this essay with them and rage. My SIL wrote this essay about a man from church her groomed her for years. The writing is the kind that sticks with you. Read and vote. Brick- Cicily Bennion marchxness.com/2ndround-fol...

I would like to express my annoyance at Utah suburbs calling themselves “small towns”. -signed me (someone who graduated with only 40 other Seniors and had to drive 45 minutes to get to the nearest Emergency room)

Aaaand I cried.

I was scared that Titantic was going to be number one in July 1997, but it wasn’t released until December 1997.

I hate when people say “Wah-la” instead of “Voila”

I decided to watch “Love, Actually” for the first time so I would understand all the pop culture references. I cannot stop thinking about how bad it was. Have not stopped raging about how terrible the writing was and how sexist the stories are since yesterday.

I love this holiday.

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 💙📚 #BookChallenge 13/20 Jane Eyre 👇This is the edition that I own.

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 💙📚 #BookChallenge 12/20

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 💙📚 #BookChallenge 11/20

The Hourglass Nebula seen by Hubble

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 💙📚 #BookChallenge 10/20

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 💙📚 #BookChallenge 9/20 Between Shades of Gray BETWEEN

Usually armed with a shotgun or a .38, Mary Fields was the 1st black female mail carrier in the US. At a time when saloons were strictly "white men only", the ones in Cascade, Montana made exception for Mary. She was often foul-mouthed, drunk & violent, but always a good Catholic...

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 💙📚 #BookChallenge 8/20

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 💙📚 #BookChallenge 7/20 This one might give me a vulnerability hangover. Might delete later.

What an achievement vaccines are. What a monument to our love for each other it is to stare straight into the face of something as horrific and unstoppable as smallpox or measles or polio or cervical cancer and say “You know what, it doesn’t have to be like this.” HUMANS!

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 💙📚 #BookChallenge 6/20

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #Books #BookSky 💙📚 #BookChallenge 5/20