“At night, when the objective world has slunk back into its cavern and left dreamers to their own, there come inspirations and capabilities impossible at any less magical and quiet hour. No one knows whether or not he is a writer unless he has tried writing at night.” –H.P. Lovecraft
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A look back at 9/11
Even 25 years later, I’m still saddened by the horrors of that day in September – and all of the death and destruction that followed.
But I also remember how people in NYC, DC and Pennsylvania joined together to help others. How teams of first responders from other states and countries came to our aid. How the folks in Gander, Newfoundland welcomed/fed/clothed thousands of strangers. How ordinary New Yorkers stood on the sidewalks and cheered the fire trucks as they drove down to Ground Zero. How restaurants and bodegas gave away free food and water. How hundreds lined up at hospitals to donate blood. And how a small band of journalists and support staff at the New York Times (Dan Bigman, Fiona Spruill, etc.) worked together to tell the world what was happening.
You all are in my thoughts as the spotlights pierce the sky and the bells toll for the dead.
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Goddamnit, Donut!
I know I’ve been rather quiet of late.
I could easily blame the news. Between covering the wars and natural disasters and political fuckery, things have been busy. I could blame the summer, which all of you know is my least favorite season (migraines and sweating and bugs, oh my!). Both scenarios accurately explain my absence from this blogging space. But, there is a third reason.
I’ve joined a cult.
The cult of “Dungeon Crawler Carl.”It’s M’s fault, of course. He listened to the first book in Matt Dinniman’s LitRPG series and was so impressed by the story and the vocal talents of Jeff Hays that he encouraged me to join too.
“You probably won’t like Carl, at first,” he said. “But give it a chance.”
I did. Soon I was also trapped in a post-apocalyptic world with Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, forced to battle monsters on an intergalactic reality TV show where survival is not guaranteed.
So far, I’ve read the first four books in this funny, fierce and horrifying fantasy series, all on Audible. M’s picked up a handful of the books on Kindle and we’re thinking about contacting a local independent bookstore to put in an order for the first eight books in hardcover. Yes, we love “Dungeon Crawler Carl” and we’re not alone. The series has sold over 14 million copies.
When we’re not reading them individually, M and I discuss the books. We sprinkle the catchphrases into our conversations:
* New Achievement! Reward?
* Hi Zev!
* Mongo is appalled!
* You will not break me.
* Now get on out there and kill, kill, kill!And like good cultists, we do our best to convert others.
What do you have to lose? This is a bad timeline. Let’s join forces and read for a while, then regroup and change the world. The powers that be have no idea what’s coming.
As Princess Donut says: “Viva La Revolucion, Carl!”
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Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst
As I begin to plant my garden, I’m focusing on three key areas:
1) Plants for the pollinators
2) Flowers for me, particularly night blooming ones
3) Fruit, veg and herbs
This last category is of particular importance in 2026 as the U.S. war on Iran continues, food and gas prices soar, tariffs affect access to affordable goods/services and supply chains break down. Throw in a lack of security in my field — complete with the possibility of layoffs on the horizon — and it just makes sense to prepare for the future by growing some of our own food.
Much of my garden will be started from seed, as that is the most affordable way to plant in bulk. But, I do hope to make at least one trip to the local nursery for items that require extra time and warmer weather in order to bear edibles. Needs must when you live in New England. Although the weather forecasters say temperatures will reach the upper 80s next week, this week we’re dealing with rain storms and nightly freeze warnings.
So what crops do I plan to grow? I’m focusing on foods that we like to eat: blueberries, carrots, celery, garlic, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, raspberries, shallots, spinach, strawberries and tomatoes. For herbs, I’m aiming to grow apple mint, basil, cat mint, chocolate mint, cilantro (for M), ginger, lavender, oregano, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage and a couple of different varieties of thyme. If I can find the right space, and a little bit of courage, I might plant a sincere pumpkin patch. And for the girls, lots and lots of catnip.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to plant survival crops, I highly recommend checking out GrowVeg on YouTube.
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Music to my ears
One of the things I miss about living in New York City is walking through the subway and hearing music.
I could be in a terrible mood, or hot and sweaty from the scorching summer temps, and that music would ensorcel me.
Upon hearing those tantilizing notes, I’d walk straight for the busker and just stand there until the song ended. Sometimes I would be alone, listening intently while the crowds hustled down to their trains or up to the city streets. Other times, I’d be joined by fellow music lovers, who silently agreed that stopping to appreciate someone’s talent was worth a few extra minutes of time.
To show my gratitude, I would smile and applaud the performer at the end of the song. Whenever possible, I’d also leave a little coin. Then, I’d head toward my destination, carrying their music in my heart.
