So comforting and familiar and final
More of a diary than an essay this week.
Comedian’s first ambient show this week: Chihei Hatakeyama at Elastic Arts. You can see it above.
Made me feel this (convo with my new buddy/ambient sherpa Matthew Sage):
And made me think this:
And made me remember my “ambient comedian” realization in which I embraced what I do, however different from what other comedians do, as valid.
Yet I still spent this week plunged in despair over my career, comparing myself to the same SNL cast member who unknowingly helped me realize dissatisfaction is a choice. Applying to hundreds of jobs on LinkedIn (please yeet me into a black hole) and freaking out about money for test strips and insulin hasn’t helped.
Just a reminder to myself and you that the lessons we’re perpetually learning are hard won and thus easy lost. I’m trying to take a page from the lyrics of this week’s music rec (below):
I will not choose cynicism
Or take it up on its delicious, bitter offer
That is so comforting and familiar
And final and fatalistic
Got a response to something here? Want to work with me? Reply or comment, and I’ll hit you back.
THIS IS MY PODCAST, THIS IS YOUR AFTERLIFE
Jo Scott (Joe Pera Talks With You) delivered a classic. This is simply a lively conversation about death between friends. A great intro to the show.
Content warning: motherhood, families, children crying, rough childhood, fear of Nothingness, me shitting on reincarnation, Defending Your Life.
MOOD BOARD
I’m revamping my workshops for June! Let me know ASAP if you want in. I’m going back to once a week, Sundays from 11am-1pm U.S. Central Time, with a more explicit focus on community & follow-through. Feedback will be available, but there will be more discussion on creativity in general and co-working time at the end. As always, sliding scale payment. Again, if you’re interested, a reply to the newsletter or email to thisisdavemaher@gmail.com will do.
We’re up to $895 for Chicago Abortion Fund’s Fund-A-Thon. It ends in just over a week, so donate now to get us to $1600 well ahead of time!
MAY I PLAY YOU A SOUND?
One last lyric from this beautiful, simple, and true Alabaster DePlume song:
I will be incomplete
Incompletely,
DM