greetings folks! ★

i turned 30 on february 10th. feels weird. i'm very relieved that my birthday has passed. i didn't expect to have so many complicated feelings about 30, but my new year got off to a very rocky start and i think i was feeling preemptively disappointed because of all of the pressure to have a good time. after a difficult visit home, a breakup, and a host of health issues, i forgot to count my blessings for a minute. i've been trying to take it easy this month, so i don't have a ton to report. the crocuses i planted are popping up in my yard and my heart is full.
 

open no mic recap ★

there was a huge turnout for the winter open no mic! it was a bit overwhelming, to be honest! there is a possibility that a friend of mine will be hosting the next open no mic in the spring. i'll keep y'all posted. i don't know how many folks know that my friend matt actually started the open no mic at the track house years ago. it was meant to rotate houses but i ended up having the most stable incubator for it. i'm excited to potentially relinquish some of my responsibility to it and witness its evolution. hosting events is exhausting :') please thank an organizer.
 

wanderer issue 6 ★

i keep saying that i'm done writing stuff for this zine, but now i think i actually mean it! i have a lot of things left to draw and lay out, but i'm finally feeling good about this issue. hoping to publish it in the next month or two, and hopefully restock some other zines at that time. here's a short excerpt from a section entitled "reckless-" 

You’re a couple months shy of your 30th birthday, in the kitchen at a small party, drinking hot tea out of a jar you brought from home. You haven’t drank any alcohol in months, on purpose. You’re having a conversation about sobriety and harm reduction with a new friend. You find common ground on your reasons for quitting certain substances, and you talk about substitutions. Your friend divulges their penchant for graffiti art, as a means to replace the rush that using substances created. This revelation turns your world upside down. Sure, you’ve heard of seltzer. But until now, not one sober person you’ve spoken to has mentioned a substitution for the rush, the urge to be reckless or surrender control.
 

tender perennial ★

the song i shared with y'all last month has been included on a dreamy benefit comp that my friend jack put together. it's called love ten ways: a benefit for the crisis clinic of thurston and mason counties. please listen and throw a few bucks at it if you're able! jack did a really great job and i'm stoked to have my song included alongside so many musicians i admire. i have two songs left to record with my pal trick before we start adding accompanying instruments.

in other music news, have a gig rapidly approaching and you can message me for the address if ya wanna come. i made the flyer. i haven't been practicing at all, wish me luck :)

thanks for reading! til next time :) <3 alyssa