Fifteen Minutes of Scrawl

I recently finished Alison Cochrun's The Charm Offensive  (Atria Books, 2021), and I felt compelled to write a fan letter.  Dear Alison Cochrun,  I was lucky enough to find your book, The Charm Offensive , in one of my neighborhood's little free libraries. How it ended up there, I do not know, but I know I was meant to find it. I live with anxiety and depression, and that means, among other things, that sometimes I put off doing stuff even if I will enjoy it. And so, I began The Charm Offensive , but somehow I couldn't manage to pick it up again for a while, even though I had been enjoying it thoroughly. That was, until I did. I committed to myself that I would read 25 pages a day and finish the book, but I ended up reading the remaining ~200 pages that night, work in the morning be damned. I just could not put it down. Even though I knew Dev and Charlie would find a happy ending (as the romance genre promises), I could not predict exactly how they'd get there or wha...

A new season of  The Traitors  has begun, and while I know some of the contestants, I thought it'd be fun if I got to cast the show, so here are 15 more possible contestants (you can read  my original casting here ,   read my second try at casting here ,  read my third try here ,  read my fourth try here ,  read my fifth try here , read my sixth try here , and read my seventh try here )! I tried to cast people from different shows, but there are times they overlap. I let myself get out of this by saying if I could credit them with a different show, then I'd do that so that way it SEEMS as though everyone is from a different show.  Kori King ( RuPaul's Drag Race ) Jinkx Monsoon ( RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars ) Sasha Velour ( We're Here ) Courtney Robertson ( The Bachelor ) Trista Sutter ( The Bachelorette ) Julia Lemigova ( The Real Housewives of Miami ) Bozoma Saint John ( The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ) Marlo Hampton ( The Real Housew...

Time for some callouts? Dylan and Pattiya are so uncomfy Pattiya and Dylan are so incompatible Madelein, girl, if trust has been lost DO NOT MARRY THIS MAN Jenny, Sumit has a point in that YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY Jenny, it's pretty wild to say, "I know you don't want to move out, but we are going to do it and you're going to figure out all logistics" Okay, I do agree that Chloe going through your phone, Jonathan, is a bad look, but it does not change the fact that you cheated and lied Jonathan, Chloe is the one being childish when your explanation for cheating is that "it's a guy thing"? Hot take, Jonathan, if Chloe sucked so bad you could've, you know, broken up with her instead of cheating on her? Luke...you THINK this is Madelein? WHO ELSE WOULD IT BE?! Madelein looks SO young Is Luke's dad filming the wedding when there is a literal camera crew? Pattiya, leave this man Jonathan, how did Chloe try to ruin your reputation? Jonathan, you on...

A new season of  The Traitors  has begun, and while I know some of the contestants, I thought it'd be fun if I got to cast the show, so here are 15 more possible contestants (you can read  my original casting here ,   read my second try at casting here ,  read my third try here ,  read my fourth try here , read my fifth try here , and read my sixth try here )! I tried to cast people from different shows, but there are times they overlap. I let myself get out of this by saying if I could credit them with a different show, then I'd do that so that way it SEEMS as though everyone is from a different show.  Gordon Ramsay ( Kitchen Nightmares ) Laverne Cox ( TRANSform Me ) Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté ( RuPaul's Drag Race ) Valentina ( Drag Race México ) Vanessa Lachey ( Love is Blind ) Jeff Probst ( Survivor ) Heather Morris ( So You Think You Can Dance? ) Lio Tipton ( America's Next Top Model ) Karamo Brown ( Queer Eye ) Clay Aiken ( American...

Time for some truths! Lisa, a roller coaster already is a BAD sign Wow, Lisa, this is a LOT of details that I do NOT need WE DON'T NEED TO BE HERE FOR THIS LEVEL OF INTIMATE TALK Well, Forrest meeting Sheena's family is super awkward Wow, Sheena's family has money Yeah, Aviva, Stig is allowed to have exes that he writes songs about Birkan, it is sketch Laura...this is so clear what he's doing Rick must be good at it I guess (though, once again, I don't need to know this) Aw, what a cute lizard Rick, you're being a jerk Trisha does like you for you, until you start being a jerk Lisa, yes, the chickens are being sold for food Omg Lisa, I do kind of love that you had your chickens watching TV Lisa, I want you to go to therapy SO BADLY Aviva, you are not a good dancer (though, to be fair, neither am I) Aviva, I'm on Stig's side tbh Wait, Lisa actually did research? I'm honestly shocked Oof, Daniel, I'm not quite sure of your strategy here Rick is rig...

A new season of  The Traitors  has begun, and while I know some of the contestants, I thought it'd be fun if I got to cast the show, so here are 15 more possible contestants (you can read  my original casting here ,   read my second try at casting here ,  read my third try here , read my fourth try here , and read my fifth try here )! I tried to cast people from different shows, but there are times they overlap. I let myself get out of this by saying if I could credit them with a different show, then I'd do that so that way it SEEMS as though everyone is from a different show.  Richard Hatch ( Survivor ) Janice Dickinson ( The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency ) Ozzy Lusth ( American Ninja Warrior ) Mike White ( The Amazing Race ) Fraser Olender ( Below Deck ) Trinity the Tuck ( Botched ) Kerri Colby ( Slaycation ) Gottmik ( RuPaul's Drag Race ) Patricia Altschul ( Southern Charm ) Vicki Gunvalson ( The Real Housewives of Orange County ) NeNe Leake...

RDR Live! I just noticed that Mandy wears a mango earring in her confessional look Kenya and Mia are adorable Like, Jane, I do get being excited for a comedy challenge...but you have already been shining without one tbh Juicy, you KNEW there would be comedy and acting challenges...there always are Oof the queens are trying to sabotage Athena (IMO) Myki is a supportive scene partner Is Discord really unaware of her walk? Okay, so I'm excited to see an animal-themed runway, but I do also wonder if we're just appealing to furries at this point The butter churning sketch made me smile, but not LOL Athena and Briar don't have great chemistry (IMO) Okay, in the lipstick sketch, everyone was reading cue cards, but Kenya beating up a rag doll was funny Ciara and Jane did have decent chemistry I'm quite impressed with Juicy! Okay, how was no one playing saxophone at the end? Wait did Ciara say she worked for the CIA? Okay, Ru really should've said "Up FURst" Discor...

A new season of  The Traitors  has begun, and while I know some of the contestants, I thought it'd be fun if I got to cast the show, so here are 15 more possible contestants (you can read  my original casting here ,   read my second try at casting here , read my third try here , and read my fourth try here )! I tried to cast people from different shows, but there are times they overlap. I let myself get out of this by saying if I could credit them with a different show, then I'd do that so that way it SEEMS as though everyone is from a different show. Kass McQuillen ( Survivor ) Venita Aspen ( Southern Charm ) Lauren Speed ( Love is Blind ) Randy Fenoli ( Say Yes to the Dress ) Toccara Jones ( America's Next Top Model ) Dr. Pepper Schwartz ( Married at First Sight ) Jasmine Goode ( The Valley ) Kaitlyn Bristowe ( Are You My First? ) Sasha Colby ( RuPaul's Drag Race ) Gabriel "Gabe" Paboga ( 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way ) Nikki Exotika ( 90 Day Fiancé ) Chaz...

So, for those who don't know,  Bat Boy: The Musical is a real "American horror rock musical with a book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming and music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe, based on a June 23, 1992 Weekly World News story about a half-boy, half-bat, dubbed "Bat Boy", who grew up living in a cave."  After seeing  Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical (based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson, conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, book & lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, and music by Frank Wildhorn), my friend and I were talking about  Bat Boy: The Musical . She challenged me to look up the list of songs and then make up my own tale for how the story progressed through these numbers. Per the Wikipedia  page on the musical, there are three different song lists. I'm using the list for "The Directors Company, The Directors Company Theatre 3, August 2000" simply because it was the first set listed. Enjoy! Act I Hold Me, Bat...

A new season of The Traitors  has begun, and while I know some of the contestants, I thought it'd be fun if I got to cast the show, so here are 15 more possible contestants (you can read my original casting here ,  read my second try at casting here , and read my third try here )! I tried to cast people from different shows, but there are times they overlap. I let myself get out of this by saying if I could credit them with a different show, then I'd do that so that way it SEEMS as though everyone is from a different show.  RuPaul ( RuPaul's Drag Race ) Milania Giudice ( The Real Housewives of New Jersey ) Riley Burruss ( Next Gen NYC ) Nicole Jimeno ( The Family Chantel ) Anfisa Arkhipchenko ( 90 Day Fiancé ) Brennan Lee Mulligan ( Critical Role ) Grant O'Brien ( Dropout ) Eugene Lee Yang ( The Try Guys ) Jazz Jennings ( I Am Jazz ) Christine Brown ( Sister Wives ) Carmen Carrera ( Drag Latina ) TS Madison ( The TS Madison Experience ) Braunwyn Windham-Burke ( The Real...

Time for some moves? Yeah, Jenny, it's probably stressful for Sadhna that all of you live with her now JENNY! LEARN MORE HINDI! Jenny, how in the world are you going to move out? Wait, Jenny, how can Sumit also want to move out but also he'll be upset when you tell him you're both gonna move out? Manon, how did you and Anthony not look into what was in town? I do feel bad for Manon in this moment, but I'm just so surprised that she and Anthony did not think to look any of this up before making such a huge purchase Jonathan, asking strangers for nudes is not "just being a guy" or a thing to do when you're bored It is a bit wild that Greta made this decision after four days Greta, you could've answered when Matthew asked how you were Matthew is quite cute Greta, can you not stay with a friend for a hot second? Aw, Athony brought Manon flowers Oof Anthony looks sunburned I'd be pissed if I was Manon (or Anthony) for just learning now the job responsib...

First off, fuck ICE. But, yes, there are most certainly more things to do than are on this list. Also, this list is going to lean towards Chicago and Illinois-related actions. Many of these come from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) website , the Indivisible Chicago website , and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) website . Learn your rights when encountering ICE and spread the word about those rights  (you can also attend a Know Your Rights Workshop | Taller de Conoce Tus Derechos webinar hosted by ICIRR ) Learn how to recognize the differences between ICE administrative warrants and judicial warrants and spread the word (you can find example images of the different kinds of warrants on National Immigrant Justice Center's website ) Sign up to stay up to date about actions with ICIRR Donate to ICIRR / Volunteer with ICIRR Memorize ICIRR's number (1-835-435-7693/1-835-HELP-MY-FAMILY) If you are safe to do so, know that you have the rig...

Time for some confrontations! LISA! DO NOT SAY YES TO THIS MAN! I don't need to see this much tongue, tbh Did Birkan and Laura hook up? Yes, whirling dirvishes (sp?) are cool, but I am far from sold on this relationship Oy, Birkan, you are not doing well What do you mean you don't know if your debt is in Turkish liras or USD? (Oh, he meant it was USD) Lol Jovon was bad in bed (although Anna said he was good) I hope Anna shows up Jovon in the spice tolerance category Jovon, you think Anna is on 100?! My dude...no Emma is right, Ziad mislead her Emma, RUN Did Trisha just kick a garbage bag THIS IS SO MUCH INFORMATION, RICK THAT IS A TARP So, Rick, in terms of being exclusive...wer eyou being exclusive when you went to Colombia? AVIVA! INSIST ON BIRTH CONTROL! Um, I'm not into Stig talking about "breeding" Stig's friend should let Stig tell Aviva this stuff Did Forrest reference a "sex bear"? Sheena is correct that Forrest's parents could not naviga...

I just had an idea that there is a lot of media out there just WAITING to be adapted. Here are some adaptations I'd flock to see. My Brother, My Brother and Me Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Smoke by Dan Vyleta Clue (1985) Firefly  (2002-3) The House in the Cerulean Sea  by TJ Klune Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and Her World by Alison Weir Six Women of Salem: The Untold Story of the Accused and Their Accusers in the Salem Witch Trials by Marilynne K. Roach Geekerella: A Novel  by Ashley Poston Lumberjanes by ND Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Faith Erin Hicks (Authors), Gus Allen, Brittney Williams, Aimee Fleck, Faith Erin Hicks, Becca Tobin, Casey Nowak, Anne Marie Rogers, Felicia Choo, T. Zysk (Artists), Aubrey Aiese (Letterer), Maarta Laiho (Colorist), and Dafna Pleban, Bones Leopard (Editors) 90 Day Fiancé , season 4 (2016) Witchcraft for Wayward Girls  by Grady Hendrix The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise t...

Girl group challenge! Jane is not about the non-elimination So, Kenya, you were in the bottom two, but I do agree that DD's outfit should've been in the bottom Oop all of the rejects become their own team Wow, Vita is playing mind games Kenya remains immensely charming Discord, you're saying good stuff, but I've heard rumblings about you... My apologies to Dove Cameron, but I did have to look up why she's famous (but I am notoriously not hip--as evidenced by the fact that I said hip) "Studio 50 Whores" is quite funny I do like Athena so far, but she is just talking (though this then seems to be a pattern) The screaming was pretty funny Okay, so, see? Mia is actually singing! Kenya is singing too! Okay this second group is way better than the first (and, I think also better than the third) Jane is the best in her group Athena looks stunning Darlene's look is funny, but I'm not sure it celebrates her skin? Mandy's look is tongue-in-cheek and she ...

So, I've recently been on a Kitchen Nightmares kick. Here are some wild things I've observed/wondered as I watched. It's bad enough that the majority of these restaurants aren't clean when the cameras aren't there, but how do none of them think to at least clean RIGHT BEFORE the cameras show up? How do so many people with 0 restaurant or even food experience think they should open a restaurant? Why do so many of these owners think a restaurant is a way to make a quick buck? I find it funny that even after the first season, restaurant staff are still like, "Wow, I never imagined Gordon would shut down our restaurant during service!" as though that isn't just a segment of every episode I do think sometimes Gordon is oblivious when it comes to why restaurants have broken equipment and/or outdated decor...like...they don't have money...that's why (not all the time, but a lot of the time) So many of the staff and owners of these restaurants need ser...

Time for some respect, moves, and decisions. So Manon and Anthony have found a place, but they are not ready to move (but have to?) Wow, Anthony got a job! Chloe, believing in Jonathan is great, but like...you should be at least helping with housework Jenny...if you can't have a boss...why did you agree to do Family Café? Luke's dad...uh, yeah, Madelein is right that you asking for trust while saying Luke has cheated in the past is an odd choice Hey, Luke's dad, maybe don't call Madelein silly for worrying about providing for children Luke's dad, are you not at all worried about your son marrying a 20-year-old when he's in his early 30s Uh, Luke's dad, plenty of men would sacrifice things for their partners I would hate the ride up this place Pattiya and Dylan are, but I would love to see the wildlife I guess it's nice to see Pattiya and Dylan happy, but I just can't get attached to these two Ah, Manon is calling their new community "the asshole...

It's at the end of March, so we need to start planning! Many of these are ideas I had last year ( read my post "15 possible C2E2 costume theme ideas for 2025" ).  Children's TV (Ms. Frizzle, Ms. Rachel, or Carmen Sandiego) Benoit Blanc mysteries (I'd try to do Glass Onion , but Knives Out and Wake Up Dead Man  could also be fun) Wicked  (I'm torn, but I think it'd be fun to be Glinda) Internet Famous (Moo Deng) Sims (we'd all get Plumbobs and--possibly--be iconic Sims like Bella Goth) House of the Dragon (Alicent) Star Trek (Nurse Chapel) Clue (Mrs. Peacock) Shrek (Fiona or Donkey) Bridgerton (Penelope Featherington) Labubus (I'm honestly surprised that when I searched Amazon there weren't already Labubu costumes for sale) AI art (crazy amalgam of art) Louvre robbers SNL sketch references (I'd probably do cowbell) Da Pope (Prompt by me, but also kind of one of the friends I attend C2E2 with who reminded me we need to start thinking about ...

Time for some relationship-focused conversations! I still think Sheena and Forrest are cute together (so far) Ah, Forrest is too big for this country's shopping Omg, like wear whatever underwear you want, Forrest, but I never need to know what style of underwear someone on this show is wearing Sheena does seem to exclude some key details, but, personally, I think (at this point) that she is really under the thumb of her overbearing parents Lisa, ew, I don't need to know this Lisa, if Daniel isn't it...just have a nice vacation! Jovon, do you not find it odd that you're married but have never met your wife? Hrm Anna seems to have withdrawn a bit Hrm Jovon wants someone submissive, huh? Wait, Laura and Birkan made out? When? I feel like the doctor should've checked with Laura about sharing the photos (although, maybe he did it off-screen) Okay, Molly, if Forrest doesn't want to go to a strip club, he doesn't need to go to a strip club Dev, I HIGHLY doubt that ...

It's only the 4th?! Also, these vary wildly in importance. Bulgaria adopted the euro Cyprus began its role as President of the Council of the EU The US launched several airstrikes in Venezuela a The US captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores The UK and France conducted a joint airstrike on a suspected underground arms cache in Syria Victoria Jones (Tommy Lee Jones's daughter) passed away Eva Schloss (Holocaust survivor, memoirist, and the stepdaughter of Otto Frank, the father of Margot and diarist Anne Frank--she was also friends with Anne) passed away RuPaul's Drag Race  season 18 premiered US theatrical release of the movie  We Bury the Dead US release of  The Dutchman The 31st Critics' Choice Awards I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not aired on CNN Betty Boop entered the public domain In IL, pharmacists can now dispense contraceptives, covered by Medicaid The 2026 NHL Winter Classic was played (Prompt by me) Photo by Immo Weg...

Season premiere! Remember when Ru and the judges didn't like fart jokes? Athena looks divine (if you will lol) I don't get this lighting choice Wait, why is Plane Jane just "technically" Athena's daughter Kenya has a great name and is so cute in and out of drag I quite enjoy Nini's entrance look Jane does have a kind of Jinkx look Discord's look is a lot, but that seems to have been done with artistic intentionality Mia is stunning Damn, Mia has like made it as a dancer DD's outfit reminds me of those coyote-safe vests (but make it fashion) Okay, I do love that there are so many queens over 30, but please stop suggesting that's old Did...Juicy make an OJ reference? Either way, she looks fantastic Vita is beautiful in drag and so handsome out of drag Briar is so cute So...Briar is the season's villain, yes? Also, it's looking like Athena is the season's narrator Is Mandy making a Pokémon reference? I love that Mandy is a nurse Okay, so f...

I was able to see Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical  (based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson, conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, book & lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, and music by Frank Wildhorn) thanks to a lovely friend. Note, the poster I've included as the image for this post is from the 1880s stage (and non-musical) adaptation of  Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Overall, I really enjoyed the production I do think (as did my friend) that most of the songs could've been shorter and a few could've been cut While all of the actors were great, the stand outs to me were David Moreland as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde and Ava Stovall as Lucy Harris I was quite impressed with how well the simple set was utilized (like the only piece of furniture was a table) There were times when I had difficulty hearing the singing voices over the live orchestra (though, I do want to note that this is far fro...

Here are some short pieces based on things that have happened in my life recently. Delay I have been delaying things this winter break. Some of it is because I have been enjoying time with family. Some of it is because my anxiety has been up lately. Why it's been up though is a little confusing to me. Maybe it's because this was the first winter holiday season without my dad. I mean, I'm sure that was a contributing factor. It seems to be affecting me more than others and in ways I did not anticipate. I've been sad during jolly times, lonely even when I'm with people, and the constant need to be on my phone even when there are other things to do. I guess being on my phone feels safe, being occupied with trivial things is easier than acknowledging my actual life. I should confront some things, but, again, I've been delaying. Fantasy Farm The alpaca farm I went to while I was earning my MA in Ireland is up for sale. I have this fantasy where I buy it. To be clear,...