greetings pals, this month i bring you (drumroll) exhaustion! and some other stuff.

really though, january has been a rollercoaster and it’s not yet over (but weirdly close to over???). i returned from my shop hiatus on the 11th but i’ve been moving pretty slow. the holidays really took it out of me. i spent my hiatus prepping valentine stuff, being snowed in and stressed out, having my train and then subsequent bus both cancelled due to flooding. after much panic and crying, i was finally scooped up by my sweetie and driven to tacoma for our visit (the only chill and restful part of my vacation). my nesting partner picked me up on their way home from work a few days later (grateful to both my partners for making the visit possible). i had the pleasure of meeting some of my metamour’s family and west coast parents are just different i think? they used my pronouns without issue. plus they’re chill with polyamory. it was a healing experience, since only two people in my own family use my pronouns (and i’ve only mentioned polyamory in passing, but i doubt it would get a warm reception). 

i haven’t driven much since the big snowfall, but i’m hoping to flex that muscle next week. i'm thinking if i procrastinate long enough on getting amtrak tix, i will be forced to face my fears and drive my own ass to tacoma to see my sweetie. we’ll see. ptsd sucks.

anyhow! i have a new valentine for y’all, all previous years valentines are in stock on etsy and in my webshop as well.

 ​it’s sweet p from adventure time! i love him very much and i, too wish to pose the question to the people in my life, “will you be sweet to me?” especially around valentines day (which happens to be around my birthday, a day when all are legally required to be nice to me). 

i also have some new buttons and stickers in my shops, and i did a little work on my website, so the story page now includes an incomplete list of libraries that include my zines. i’m also very stoked to announce that after much trouble with usps, blue stockings cooperative (a rad queer, trans & sex worker run bookstore) now carries my nonbinary zine, and wrote this incredibly thoughtful review that made my week:

ZINE O' THE WEEK SELECTION 1/11/22: "Alyssa Giannini’s 52-page text geared toward parents, caregivers, and other family of non-binary youth and adults is a beautiful example of how deeply insightful self-published guides can be. As a queer, nonbinary person themselves, Giannini writes from personal experience as well as from research, and they’ve incorporated feedback from the intended cis audience and other non-binary folks. They assume no prior understanding of gender on the part of the reader but refuse to stop at the basics, and they bring profound compassion for both the reader and for non-binary people, centering the needs of the latter without dismissing the questions or feelings of the former. Complete with lots of actionable advice and even a glossary of terms!"

✷ patreon ✷

i finally scanned a ton of zines, new digital content coming your way probably in early february. i wanna send out some physical gifts soon, so please check that your address is up to date! i know i've been saying this for months, i guess i'm running on punk rock time these days.

✷ do diy ✷

people are always asking how they can help out with dodiy.org and i'm happy to report that i've devised a way for y'all to do so. it's not very glamorous but it's the single most helpful thing you can do: help me keep listings accurate and up to date.

i made a form where you can choose a page and sign up to go through all the listings and check if they're still active. within the form, there's a link to another form where you can report your findings. tell your bored friends. if you sign up and report on 5 pages or more, i'll send you a free do diy sticker.

i hope this works! i'll be announcing it more widely soon. the pandemic has made it very hard to keep things up to date, since there's even more turnover and uncertainty than usual.

✷ fucking hurray ✷

while there’s a lot to be stressed out by, there are as many things to be thrilled about. i have to get around $1000 of dental work done, and i will be celebrating my birthday on some undetermined date in spring when covid cases are down. but daffodils and crocus bulbs are poking thru the soil of the pots on my front porch. i’m still silly in new love, just real gross smiling all the time and saying i love you constantly love. there’s a house in my neighborhood with very friendly yard pigs and now i know where to go if i need to boop some cute little snoots.

p.s. i’m accepting valentines! (or postcards or whatever!) for my birthday again this year if anyone wants to send something. i believe my address is at the bottom of this newsletter, so send away. i’ll send something back. the fateful day is february 10th. i’ll be turning 32 and that’s pretty cool.

love, alyssa

~ past perzine newsletters ~