Newsletter: How's your 2020 so far?
20 Resolutions for 2020:
1. To invest in a foxy wig;
2. To limit my "hmm, what should I watch?"-ishness;
3. To cook one thing in the Instant Pot I've had for two years;
4. To leave parties at first mentions of CrossFit, homebrews or "traffic on the bridge";
5. To give the thumbs-up to skateboarders;
6. To give the thumbs-down to suspicious vans;
7. To decrease "liking" and increase calling;
8. To form a Guided by Voices tribute band called Guided by Vulvas;
9. To write an unauthorized biography of Norman Fell;
10. To avoid sportos, dweebies and waistoids;
11. To embrace alternative meats;
12. To channel Laura Dern;
13. To conjure Michael Shannon;
14. To dip new things in Nutella;
15. To stop feigning interest in oat milk;
16. To marry my neck wrinkles;
17. To insist that "bon mots" should indeed rhyme with "Don Knotts";
18. To time-travel to 2525;
19. To resurrect Harry Dean Stanton;
and
20. To spend at least 30 minutes each day doing something *I* wanna do, regardless if it makes money, generates buzz or smells lemony fresh.
* Hey, what about you? Send me your resolutions, and I'll share a few next week.
Looking for a kickass way to spend the new year? Consider reading PUNCH JOURNAL, a short story I wrote about a woman who vows to punch someone in the face by New Year's Eve. It's funny, poignant and—who knows?—parts of it might remind you of your own life. Get it on Patreon for just $2 (along with the audio version!). If you prefer to use PayPal, send it to whitmath@gmail.com, and I'll reply with a PDF of the story.
I love this book: Over the break I became obsessed with I REMEMBER, a wonderfully unique memoir by Joe Brainard. First published in the '70s. the deceptively simple format lists tons of things Joe remembers from his '40s and '50s childhood and throughout his adult life, from movie stars to first loves to heartbreaks to his life as an artist in New York City. You can pick up I REMEMBER on Amazon or order it from your favorite local bookstore. I find it quite inspiring, even if I only read a page or two a day.
I love this book, too: Huge thanks to my parents for buying me the massive, 1,300-page SAGA compendium! It's been awhile since I've felt so deliriously lost in a series, and Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples hit a sexy-stupendous home run.
And this movie is bananas: Is THE APPLE a *good* movie? Nope, not at all. Am I glad I watched it on Amazon Prime? Heck, yes! This 1980 cult classic musical takes place in the oh-so-futuristic year of 1994, and it's about ... well, I watched the whole thing, and I'm still not totally clear on the plot. But who cares? It's a wild ride. (Afterward, I suggest you listen to the APPLE ep of HOW DID THIS GET MADE? for more laughs and context.)
Don't look back:
- On Jan. 3, the new standup special from BROAD CITY's Ilana Glazer arrives on Amazon Prime;
- On Jan. 4, Netflix debuts the new show from the creators of SHERLOCK: DRACULA. It looks like it's gonna scare the crap outta me, and I can't wait.
- Also on Jan. 4, Michael Stipe turns 60! He'll celebrate by releasing a new solo single.
- On Jan. 7, the Michael Hutchence documentary MYSTIFY plays in theaters for one night only.
- And right now, They Might Be Giants are doing a 30th anniversary tour of their incredible album FLOOD.
P.S. I love this "2020 Emotional Planning Worksheet" from The Creative Independent. Get your creative dreams in order!
I hope your 2020 is as delightful as my daughter's portrait of Charles Nelson Reilly, and I'll see you next week! Holler anytime via whitmath@gmail.com or my hotline, 929-515-1988. If you like this newsletter, please forward it to a friend!
This will be our year,
Colin Blunstone
"I'd rather somebody punch me in the face than drop my sax."
- Clarence Clemons