Things That Made Me Less Cranky: April-May 2023 Edition
Do not recommend moving while working 50-hour weeks, plus Saturdays and Sundays
Welcome to my monthly list of recommended cultural consumption. This edition is focused on all that made me less of a raging, bitter, hag despite the dumpster fire that is our world. Enjoy!
Friends! Thanks for hanging in there while I disappeared into the dark existential vortex that will forever be remembered as The April-May Clusterfuck of 2023. Basically, in order to make up for the delayed freelance projects of January and February and my gigantic tax bill, I had to take on an unruly amount of freelance projects that were all due around the same time. On top of that, I had to move in the real estate paradise that is New York City. Both of those things combined left me so burned out and depleted, that I need to spend some time processing what they did to my general will to live.
In any case, thank you for being patient. Everything points to the fact that I can resume this newsletter’s standard operations. Fingers crossed!
Podcast: Trashy Divorces because it’s like hearing your two lesbian aunts give you no-nonsense gossip about the perils of heterosexual partnerships.
Newsletter: Not Financial Advice, which is looking for readers questions!
Interwebs: northwest_mcm_wholesale, which I do not know how to explain.
Feel Good Org: Zebra Youth, an Orlando organization which provides services to LGBTQ+ youth in a state that is looking more and more like the Inquisitions’ fever dream.
Books for Fun: So many great ones! Ordinary Girls by my upcoming Tin House Summer Workshop instructors Jaquira Diaz; I Have Some Questions for You by Chicago-literary-scene champion Rebecca Makkai; and You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith, one of the few divorce memoirs that does not make me want to roll my eyes.
Books for Writing: I’m taking all the video courses but not reading about writing just yet.
Activity: Getting life advice from La Jolla sea lions.
Purchase: I recycled all the cheap sheets I got from Amazon when I first moved to NY and was flat broke and replaced them with Brooklinen.
Movie: None! I’m really hoping I can catch up during the summer, what with all the outdoor screenings.
TV: My move was made bearable by the campy delight that is Alan Cummings.
Song: Obsessed with this cover of “Tom’s Diner” by Silvana Estrada.
Links that Made Me Happy (or Cranky)
The Tragic Zero by Roxana Hadadi for Vulture (for all the Scandoval devotees)
Your Email Does Not Constitute My Emergency by Adam Grant for The NY Times
Pick a Practical Major, Like French by Freddie deBoer for New York Magazine
New Mexico Is Losing a Spanish Spoken Nowhere Else on Earth by Simon Romero for The NY Times
“Blurred Lines”, Harbinger of Doom by Jayson Greene for Pitchfork
The Unbearable Costs of Becoming a Writer by Nicole Chung for Esquire
It’s Never Too Late to Travel the World With Your Best Friend by Jennifer Harlan for The Ny Times
Send Ines to Tin House!
I am beyond proud that I got into the Tin House Summer Workshop. Getting there though is a bit of a challenge. The total cost of room and board is $2,200 plus the cost of a ticket from NYC-Portland, which ended up being $817.70. Tickets to Italy are cheaper, lmao. The payment is also due during a season when I have to pay an exorbitant tax bill, movers and security deposits for a new place, and health insurance, which will cease to be free for me by July.
I want to thank everyone who has booked a tarot lesson, subscribed specifically to support my Tin House workshop experience, and those long-time subscribers who have stayed with me through freelance feast and famine life. So far, I’ve managed to raise $521, which is an amazing amount of help.
Here is how you can help:
To help me offset the costs, I am offering donation-based Tarot readings to raise funds. I have two options for Tarot readings:
A virtual 30-minute reading done via Zoom. This is a great way to gain some in-depth clarity around a situation in your life through the Celtic Cross spread. You can schedule one via Calendly. Please note that my schedule fluctuates wildly from week-to-week, which is why you can only schedule a reading two-weeks in advance. However, feel free to shoot me a quick message if there is a specific date you want. I’m sure we can work it out. Suggested donation: $30 via Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle.
A quick and dirty three-card reading done entirely via email. Just fill out this form and you’ll get a response from me in 24-48 hours, including a picture of the spread. This is great for when you want to brighten your day, send someone a fun gift, or simply want to do a vibe check lol. Suggested donation: $15 via Venmo, PayPal or Zelle.
If you’re like “Girl, I just like you and want to support you” then I also have other ways you can do that!
Every subscription payment from April-July will go directly towards paying for Tin House. If you’re already a paid subscriber, THANK YOU. My Tin House experience would be impossible without your support. If you are on the fence, a reminder that paid subscribers get:
Full access to the archive
Subscriber-only posts where I share my accepted pitches, residency and intensive applications, query letters, LOIs, templates and other miscellaneous material that I used to get published.
Access to all the food diaries, my biweekly account of what I ate, cooked and why you should too.
If you are feeling extra generous and your last name is Warbucks, you can send me your donations via:
Venmo: inesbellina
Zelle: ines.bellina@gmail.com
PayPal: ines.bellina@gmail.com
I will also gift you a year-long subscription for any donation you make. Please note that when I say “suggested” I really do mean suggested. If you have $2 to spare, I will graciously accept those, thank you profusely, and comp the subscription.
And to everyone who is like “IN THIS ECONOMY”, I totally understand! It’s enough that you read my work. Truly, thank you.