✷ greetings ✷

happy 2024! i’m still figuring substack out but i think i like it! i had a very restful lil liminal space between xmas and new years. maybe the most restful winter break i’ve ever had?? it turns out rest is good actually!

have you done a lil something for palestine today? maybe check out crips for esims for gaza! you could also add your name to queer artists for palestine.

this letter is gonna be a doozy, let’s hop right in. it is a new year and thus it’s time for some reflection! i fucking love reflecting!

✷ 2023 intentions revisited ✷

• prioritize fun & rest ✔️

• work less, smarter ✔️

• analog over digital ✔️

• develop movement routine ✖️

• art for art’s sake ✔️

• no in service of yes ✔️

• visit sauvie island & the quarry, visit john ✔️✔️✔️

conclusion: not bad. in previous years i’ve added tons of stuff to these lists, but as you may well remember, i was recovering from massive burn out during the tail end of 2022 and into 2023. proud of my past self for keeping it simple!

✷ 2024 intentions ✷

• rest more, move more

• trust my gut more

• develop a drawing habit

• work on people-pleasing tendencies

• make a few zines

• say no in the service of yes

• continue journaling every day

goals

• set up permanent lil free zine library

• secure nonprofit status for second home

• table a few zine fests

• organize a punk rock flea market or two

• have at least one open no mic

• host more masked gigs

we’ll see how it goes!

✷ 2023 year in review ✷

at the end of each month throughout the year, i compile a list of tiny victories. i can’t even remember how long i’ve been doing this practice, maybe 8 years? in any case, they’re a nice reminder to myself that i do cool stuff and good things happen to me. this list is kind of a greatest hits from my 2023 tiny victories.

• did a reading at powell’s fucking books!

• more or less did 2023 intentions

• journaled every day

• rested more than ever before

• flew solo to boston to visit john!

• visited ma & vt for the first time

• played 2 gigs, helped with more

• made 6 zines

• did not have a mental breakdown

• started antidepressants

• hosted 2 punk rock flea markets

• started all ages venue scheming w/ friends (second home)

• made websites from scratch for oly prfm & second home

• had a normal sleep schedule for 1st time in years

• embraced my changing body

• celebrated 10 years with kyle

• had a totally stellar garden

• made antiquated future’s 2023 best seller list!

• opened a business bank account

• started experimenting with digital drawing

the phrase “tiny victories” is yoinked from this song by good crime that you should totally listen to!

journals of 2023

look at ‘em! i journaled almost every day in 2023. it was very helpful for my brain.

image description: 7 paperback journals of various sizes, most decorated with stickers.

gigs of 2023

most emotional: elliott smith halloween cover set courtesy of annie schultz, seeing hello shark for the first time at le voyeur

most fun: new junk city + rat cage at le voyeur, dogbreth at le voyeur, mini golf, hidden driver & closet goth at bey blade ii

most cozy: freddie lee toyoda, soy joy, wavers & fastener at new moon

went the hardest: posy at le voyeur, last show at bey blade ii house

most wholesome: may open no mic at the secret garden

✷ some songs ✷

i actually listened to music and not just podcasts this/last month, so i have some recs for you!

Self Titled EP by Hidden Driver

long awaited release!!!!!!!!! fans of indie rock, rejoice! there’s a lil something here for everyone. it’s catchy, it’s hype-y, there are very sick riffs, hugh’s vocals are so fun and the energy of this album is infectious. this ep absolutely rips! i’ve listened to it many times over and kyle is probably tired of me yelling, “THIS IS SO FUCKING GOOD!” every time i put it on.

→ read more here ←

✷ second home ✷

we were supposed to have a masks required end of the year benefit gig at new moon but it unfortunately had to be postponed at the last minute due to lack of staff. i dunno when it’s gonna be rescheduled yet, but i made GOODIE BAGS and kc and i collaborated on a zine for them! as mentioned in my victories, i made a website for second home. keep an eye on our site or instagram for the new benefit gig date :) oh! and these collab zines will go to patrons once i scan everything in, sometime this month.

image description: mini zines on a table in various states of folding, they’re printed on spearmint colored paper and feature black line drawings of animals playing instruments and singing.

✷ oly punk rock flea market ✷

bad news, the armory is closed for renovation into 2025! this means we need to find a new accessible location within our price range, which it turns out is kinda difficult! we have a meeting coming up and one promising (albeit much smaller than the armory) lead that will hopefully pan out. cross your fingers!

✷ a rec & a rant ✷

i’m currently listening to what we don’t talk about when we talk about fat by aubrey gordon (host of maintenance phase podcast) and i had to pause it to write down this quote:

“we deserve a new paradigm of health; one that acknowledges it’s multifaceted nature and holds t cell counts and blood pressure alongside mental health and chronic illness management. we deserve a paradigm of personhood that does not make size or health a prerequisite for dignity and respect.”

woof! yes we do! the reframing of fat hate as a “health” issue is gross. we’re cautioned about the “obesity epidemic” and how fatness is supposedly endangering our children, meanwhile the science points to fatness as a predominantly genetic predisposition rather than the personal failing its treated as by everyday people and doctors alike. fatness and health are not mutually exclusive! “unhealthy” people still deserve respect and access to medical care!

i can’t help but think of the stark contrast of our attitude towards the covid pandemic (a Very Real Thing That Is Still Occurring) and how if “health” was truly our preoccupation, the public at large might be trying not to catch a mass-disabling, often deadly disease. it feels like our government has probably done more interventions on behalf of the obesity boogeyman than it has for covid 19. not a fully formed thought! i’m just pissed lol. anyway, i recommend the book (and maintenance phase podcast)!

on the covid note, clean air club chicago (a rad nonprofit that lends out HEPA air purifiers for gigs/events) is connecting covid cautious musicians/artists/performers for the purpose of collaboration through this neat form you can fill out. i recently bought a HEPA air purifier from the same source they use, and i’m hoping to take it for a test spin at to-be-rescheduled benefit gig.

✷ a lil vigil ✷

i am holding everyone who has been touched by fleetwood’s tragic passing in my heart. i didn’t know him personally, but he was like the human embodiment of fat, queer, trans joy and it’s an injustice that they aren’t still here being fabulous. queer grief club is hosting an online group on tuesday (the 9th) for anyone mourning fleetwood.

✷ that’s all! ✷

image description: view from above of an abundant charcuterie spread featuring cheese, fruit, olives, marinated mushrooms & eggplant, bread etc.

i hope you’re having an okay 2024 so far! i hope your holidays were tolerable or better! kyle and i rang in the new year with our dear friends naomi & sarah (effectively our covid pod cuz we mask around everyone else) and this beautiful charcuterie spread that kyle put together.

oh also! if you wanna send me mail for my bday next month :) (feb 10th) my address is:

alyssa giannini
225 milroy st nw
olympia, wa 98502

thanks for reading! take care <3
- alyssa