Pretty cool.

Looking for a Mother's Day gift... ? (Also, I would love to recommend other books that work really well as a Mother's Day gift if you're interested!) us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

(F)DJT re: Robert Mueller’s passing: “Good. I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!” I wonder if anyone screen grabbed that. Just to have. For the future. Not necessarily for any reason in particular, and certainly not to use at some inevitable point in time. Yeah, I wonder.

I haven’t posted in a hot minute. The world kept turning. I don’t know what to say these days. Even if I did, I think smarter, more capable people should do the saying. But maybe enough voices still count for something, and my own small one matters in its own small way. I suppose I should find out.

Anyone else spending today packing up their rejected AWP panel proposal and going home? Just me?

Yep. What Gareth said.

There is no failure so complete, no defeat so demoralizing as a return trip to the car to bring in the rest of the groceries.

Pete Hegseth while defending a Confederate monument in Arlington: “Our job is to ensure our enemies know exactly what we’ll do to them…including total war.” Enemies meaning those opposed to memorializing Confederate ideals. He is promising civil war to defend the pro-slavery side of the Civil War.

Any gamers here? Have you ever played as a character you simply did not like? I recently got a chance to play through the remake of Silent Hill 2, which was brilliant by the way. But I never liked James. So when all the revelations showed up and I met my end, I thought “Good. I got what I deserved.”

I’m feeling like an imposter here in Disability Pride Month. I made it well into adulthood with hearing (very poor hearing I now realize, but still), so I did not face the adversity many in the deaf community did. But damned if I’m not deaf now. I don’t know. It all leaves me feeling out of place.

“I’m thinking of taking my family and getting out of this country soon…It’s cold and it’s mean-spirited and I don’t like it here anymore.” -Alan Moore, V for Vendetta, 1988

A student of mine who is now transferring has taken copious notes in my classes for the last two years. They recently shared those notes with me. Here now are things I have said to classes/students so that all may be inspired. “You didn’t just half-ass it, you quarter-assed it.”

I recently got a new flash drive that my laptop immediately offered to rename upon plugging in. But when I chose Tender Is the Flash, I was told that name was too long. And I think everyone, SanDisk included, recognizes what a tragic missed opportunity this is.

I realize fan is short for fanatic, so baseball fans by definition are not level headed. But what was said to the Dbacks’ Marte in Chicago recently is not acceptable. As someone representing both Arizona and the deceased mothers’ club, I say dead moms are sacred and off limits at the ballpark.

The A’s break ground in Vegas on a new stadium that will be using public funds to partly finance the costs. The Thunder win a championship not in Seattle but Oklahoma City. Lost in our sports fandom is how willing owners are to betray any civic obligations for the best profit margins they can find.

Justice John Roberts, and, by extension, the court he leads, is defined by hubris and inhumanity. How else to justify his majority opinion in US v. Skrmetti? History will not look back kindly on his court, and I hope he lives long enough for that unkind, shameful history to become his present.

“It is not possible for any thinking person to live in such a society as our own without wanting to change it.” - George Orwell President Parade will be celebrating his own Dictator’s Day in DC with tanks and taxpayer dollars, so I wanted to take a moment to wish you a happy No Kings Day. #nokings

So I suppose I am now that stage of old when bruises on my body randomly show up but the memory of how I got them doesn’t. #GenX

Trump is the well-past-its-prime band on tour at state fairs playing all the ancient hits to the delight of the twelve people who can still sing along. A travel ban, you say? (Slowly swaying a lighter in the air.) Play “Lock her up” next! Oh! Donnie! Donnie! Play “fine people on both sides”!

Okay, Satan. Today.

My mother would have been sixty-six years old today. It might be a ridiculous thing to say, but I really think she would have enjoyed getting older. Being a grandparent, getting to order from Denny’s senior menu. Cancer is a real fucker. You know? I love you, Mommykins. Happy birthday.

I’m vegan but I’m not down with cauliflower showing up where it doesn’t belong. I want my rice bowl to be filled with rice, not the riced version of broccoli’s super pale cousin who Mom always makes me take to the roller rink even though they can’t skate and embarrass me in front of my friends. Mom!

The recently-completed three-game series between the Dbacks and Rockies hurts my head. Here are a couple morsels doing the most damage. Across the series, the Rockies averaged 4.67 runs per game—and were shut out in two of them. Arizona lost when they scored twelve but won when they scored one.

I was once stopped at a light in Phoenix. To my right was a Chick-fil-A. To my left was a Dave’s Hot Chicken. I wondered how different Phoenix was from Houston, Chicago, Denver, Orlando and how many dead animals would finally be enough for us. I was vegan before the light turned green.

My wardrobe choice for today’s banal errands run. If you get (and agree with) this shirt, then you and I are friends. Full stop.

Ah, yes. Leave it to the Dbacks to turn a comfortable six-run lead into a holy-shit, white-knuckle, seat-puckering one-run squeaker. You know, just to be silly. I suppose a win is a win, though.

Lori Ostlund is as good as writers come.

Uhm, just thought I would check in with @smlindbe.bsky.social about this little chestnut I stumbled over. Did they use football scoring rules, or was a foot on the plate still only worth one? www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/g...

Asking a quick favor of all my author/novelists friends. I’m presenting this weekend to aspiring book writers about getting book reviews. If you have any secrets you’d be willing to share, I will happily add them to my agenda. So, any tips/secret sauces?

Is it too late to start my punk band of Gen Xers called Jesus and the Tits? Now accepting applications.

If you missed this remarkable debut from @sarahmseltzer.bsky.social, first, for shame. But second, we are creeping up on the paperback release date in August. But if you have a guitar (or four) in your office next to a full bookcase, you really shouldn’t wait.

My current favorite Trump quote amidst the tariff-just kidding-pause fiasco currently crushing consumer confidence and 401k’s is when he said “No other president would have done what I did.” Yep, you did it. You’re the first president to purposefully and publicly shit the economic bed. Congrats.

If there are any long-haul #AWP25 folk around, I’m moderating a Saturday morning panel all about writing and publishing short fiction in a world of novels. Come for the AWP2025 3D-printed keychain swag (true story); stay for the sparkling conversation and invaluable advice.

Did anyone at #AWP25 bring along copies of their book for potential swaps? Half of my suitcase is dedicated to new books. Let me know if yours can be one I take home. I’ll barter, beg, or buy. I ain’t proud.

I hope all attending #AWP25 got to LA safely and have your schedule of panels to attend ready to go. If you last until Saturday, I’ll be on a panel all about writing and publishing short fiction in a world built for novels. Should you want, I’ll save a seat for you.

Canada has a well-earned reputation for kindness. I have experienced that on both sides of the border. But perhaps because of that kindness, too many people overlook how proud and respectful Canadiens also are. If you challenge that pride or disrespect them, I promise nothing good will come of it. 🇨🇦

The car in front of me had the plate 1DATIME. I know I’m supposed to read “One day at a time,” but damned if I don’t read “One D at a time,” and, honestly, I’m not sure vanity plate prudishness is what we need most here in the year 2025.

I’ve never been packed this early for AWP before. #AWP25

Sen. Roger Marshall’s (R-Kansas) Chief of Staff stated “Democrat operatives…sabotaged” a recent town hall event. I find it amazing how widespread and entrenched we Dems are—from running false flag ops on 1/6 all the way to rural Kansas. I suppose that explains how it is never a Republican’s fault.

I’ve never been so in love with the people of Vermont than I am right now. You beautiful souls. You warrior poets.

How old am I? I no longer receive automated texts confirming medical appointments. I receive automated texts confirming medical procedures.

Here’s what I think I’ve figured out in 2025. This country is full of walking talking heaps of excrement, and I’m just trying to get to the end of my day clean on the other side.

Seriously, creative folks: Don't be afraid to let people know your stuff is out there for them, or worry that "now is not the time for that." People are stressed and freaked out and looking for the things that will give them a moment of rest and joy. It is EXACTLY the time for what we do. Tell them.

Okay, sporting gods. That’s enough. You made us choose either the Dodgers or Yankees in the World Series (I rooted for infinite rainouts), Notre Dame or Ohio State in the CFP (ASU! ASU!), and now KC or Philly in the Super Bowl when both Detroit and Buffalo were options. Kindly knock it the fuck off.

As a deaf person who used to be hearing, I find I experience music like a memory. When I come across a song from my younger days, I can hear it in my head. This is an excellent work-around for not listening to any contemporary music without coming across as a they-don’t-make-real-music anymore guy.

I’m noticing the plague of people backing their ridiculous trucks into parking spaces is starting to creep into normal-sized cars. I watched a regular ass Camry back into a spot outside a pizza place last night. 2025 is going to be rough enough as is. Can we knock it off with this at least? Please?

The Broncos should immediately and forever return to the Orange Crush jerseys. While we’re at, Tampa needs to go back to creamsicle, Atlanta needs the red helmets, Philly needs Kelly Green, and the Oilers need to come back to Houston so Love Ya Blue can be a thing again. Yes, I’m officially old.

So. How many times did you cry while watching season two of Arcane? Because if you give me a number in the single digits, I’m questioning your ability to feel.

Here I am. On my way to Target. On Christmas Eve. If I don’t survive the trip, know my final words were likely “I hope all you suburbanite zipper-snags get infinite diarrhea,” or something equally poetic and humanitarian.

I was not thrilled to see the D’backs lose Christian Walker. I took some small solace, however, in seeing that the Yankees did not sign him because I could not stomach the thought of a beloved former first baseman playing for that team. Then NY signed Goldschmidt, and I just despise MLB sometimes.