N.b.: I started writing this a long time ago (in May) and then finished it a long time ago (in June) and then never hit send. I’m sending it now, mostly to get it out of my head and somewhere in the ether, and it’s an interesting little snapshot of what spring-into-summer was like.
N.b., 2: I started re-writing/editing/formatting this two weeks ago, and then things got more chaotic, and I never hit send. Fair warning, it’s pretty long. So:
“Current” (9/21/25) updates from me:
I’m almost done with my fellowship with NYT! Story TK and, as some of you saw, I’m avidly job-hunting. Any leads are appreciated, and I’m excited to be jumping into some fun contract work these next few months, too.
Things are kind of haywire. I’ll write something up soon that’s more introspective and coherent and witty and whatever about it, but I’ve been dealing with some health issues that have just utterly consumed everything, and I’m writing this from a hospital waiting room (but not here for me!). It’s made me think a lot about working in journalism with a chronic illness or disability, about information accessibility, the power of community and the wonders of modern medicine.
It’s so hot here in Chicago in a way that makes me yearn for winter. (I’m dodging tomatoes being thrown from the crowd as I type this.)
Hey, look, a new email! Thanks to folks who subscribed. This should be a fun little project, and I’m excited to have a spot to stash things that isn’t social media. It’s more meditative and feels less hostile. (For now >:-) )
This week and last have been a bit of a slog — I’ve been really bogged down with projects, in my head too much about dog training, irritated about everything, slightly teetering on the edge of overwhelm and in need of a break.
So I’ve been taking one. I took a really long night walk, something I haven’t done in a while, and stopped by a local ice cream place to shell out an indulgent $16 on a pint for me — vanilla, but their vanilla is really good — and a heart-shaped puck of peanut butter ice cream for the dog.
hi! if you're reading this, you must (maybe?) know who I am, bc you likely wouldn't have gotten a link to this otherwise.
anyway— my name is Cam. i'm a newly minted 25, liver in and lover of Chicago, journalist by trade, trivia wonk by practice, often with too many thoughts bouncing in my head. ergo, junk drawer.
i think the junk drawer is an interesting concept, and as a perfectionist, it just intrigues me further. we have a space that, no matter where we are, always ends up occurring in some capacity. it might be a chair, or a desk corner, or a physical actual drawer, or a downloads folder, or a notes app list or a glove compartment. but it always exists, and try as we might to organize it— buying bags of containers in bursts at Target, perhaps— it will come back. and it'll be there.
