I got glowing feedback from my mentor on a hard writing assignment, so what did I do? I crashed out. Complete sobfest.

CFP IR US: The call for papers for the Implicit Religion US Conference, "Challenging Narratives" is live. #IRUS CFP DEADLINE: 3rd April 2026 CFP: www.implicitreligion.co.uk/ir-us/implic... CFP PDF: cdn.prod.website-files.com/616453adbf9f...

I have a writing assignment from my mentor that's hard emotionally, so I'm doomscrolling to avoid it. Yeah, that's a solid plan.

"Fuck this day," she says, and it's not even 7:30 am yet.

"We are supposed to have our constitutional right of the freedom to film, to be a member of the press. I don’t feel like I have my First Amendment right as a member of the press," Georgia Fort said. https://bit.ly/4qcOQHt

I can't count how often we re-enact the "fold in the cheese" scene at our house. 71 seems so young.

"Fuck this day," she says, and it's not even 7:30 am yet.

I have a writing exercise assignment from my mentor that I started, but I just can't find the care to work on it today.

Oh, OK.

Decided to make a no bake cheesecake* as an actual treat. *gluten-free graham cracker crust, y'all

Had a meltdown today as a little treat.

There's apparently body cam footage of Alex's murder. Do people know this? This lets you know that a demand for body cams is USELESS and in fact just a way to give more money to the killers.

Having a hard time giving a shit about my manuscript in progress and work for my MFA program because of *gestures to everything*

Renee Good was also a helper and—by all accounts—a wonderful human being, working to protect her community when she was summarily executed by the regime’s Gestapo. But it’s also important to emphasis it’s still wrong and illegal to summarily execute anyone, regardless if they were a “good person”.

NEWS: @nationalnurses.bsky.social “demands Congress abolish ICE entirely. We will be doing everything in our power to vote out any elected official who supports funding for this all-out assault on the health, safety, and civil rights of our people.”

Keith Porter was shot and killed by an off duty ICE officer on New Years Eve in LA. The officer alleges Porter pulled a weapon on him but the family and other witnesses deny that. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Meanwhile, one of my cats is in his villain era.

Didn't realize how fragile I was until something small in the grand scheme of things happened today and I almost completely lost it.

I am pretty sure I won at therapy because I got my therapist to say "what the fuck?" a few weeks ago.

Of course, these are the assignments the week the kid is at home sick with the flu. Like, c'mon, universe, why?

My sixth grader is doing inequalities in math, which requires greater than and less than. My old nemeses have returned. I'm not helping because I'm wrong every time.

Am I just overly tired because I haven't slept well in forever or am I coming down with the flu?

The first episode of Reign of Error is here! Trump Year One: The War on Civil Rights, with @antheabutler.bsky.social. Give it a listen and spread the word! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/0...

I ate popcorn with Reese's pieces for a late lunch because why the fuck not?

I'm watching Hamilton with the teen, who now has the flu too. And my hottest take about this show is that "Wait for It" is the best song.

My middle schooler's best friend has the flu, so they are on the phone while playing video games with one another. They might be sick but also sort of having fun.

I had nightmares all night about revising my manuscript, so it seems my anxiety about this is... high.

I now have two kids down with the flu. And I am willing my body to not be taken down by it. I don't think that's how it works 😬

My mentor sent notes. There's good feedback, but also a lot of revision, I think. I'll know more after our meeting. Cue me trying not to freak out.

I’ve been writing Popular Information for 8 years, and this is one of the most important stories I’ve ever published. This is a humanitarian crisis that has gone unreported.

I am supposed to meet with my mentor today to talk about my book today. My youngest has the flu, and I've had two sleepless nights. I'm sure it'll be fine.

I DO NOT CARE IF THE PERSON ICE IS BRUTALIZING IS A U.S. CITIZEN OR NOT AND EVERY TIME YOU MAKE THE DISTINCTION IT'S LIKE YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE FINE WITH THEM BRUTALIZING IMMIGRANTS

My friends local to Minnesota, whom I trust a great deal, would like to share the following resources that could use support. PowWowGrounds - Native American Coffee Shop doing direct food and supply aid to their communities- Venmo @powwowgrounds www.powwowgrounds.com

For all those who have been calling for a General Strike. How we support a localized/ state-wide General Strike to succeed, is an important muscle building exercise for a larger General Strike.

Holy shit. Renee Good was alive when the bystander physician asked to check her pulse. She was alive when ICE refused to let him help. She was alive when they told him “I don’t care.” www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...

I sent off my manuscript of my whole essay collection (15 essays so far) to my mentor today. And I'm feeling...both underwhelmed and apprehensive about it.

Gender-based violence researchers told @19thnews.org that the widespread visibility of physical violence against women in public spaces does not happen in a vacuum and goes hand-in-hand with the policies and messaging coming from the administration. 19thnews.org/2026/01/ice-...

Friends, I have powered through most of it, and only have one chapter left. And yet, I cannot.

Do I not like the book I'm reading or can I not focus? An investigation.

I am struggling to finish a draft of my book. I am struggling to read the books for my packet. My life is not going great. And I am considering applying for a job, which looks too good to pass up. Kelly, what are you doing here?

Read the poem in it's entirety: poets.org/poem/renee-n...

I put all my essays into one document today. I have 147 pages. Eeep.

Revised some essays, had a frustrating therapy session (not my therapist's fault--life is currently frustrating and upsetting and hard to manage), so now I'm having tater tots for lunch.

So, I have a tentative order of essays for my collection. Now onto revising 😬

I am rereading my essays to organize and structure my book, and they aren't bad and are possibly good. Yes, they still need revisions, but it's a nice feeling.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH

2025 ended as the worst year of my life, so I am tentatively hoping 2026 turns out better.

My sixth grader is on the phone with friends telling them: "My mom writes depressing books." And I am in the other room trying not to die laughing.

I didn't think the year could get any worse. Then, December happened.

Santa brought me a skeleton armadillo!