These Few Months
Or, the Q1 report of sorts
Hello dearhearts,
I fear I have once again planned beyond my spoons level/capacity/ability. Remember how I said I don’t like monthly wrap ups so I’ll do quarterly ones? Welp, apparently that means THREE TIMES THE WORK lolsob.
Even though I had grand plans to write this over the course of the three months by jotting down notes and memorable moments, I did not. At all. So in classic ADHD fashion I am speed running this in two days and hoping it has some kind of cohesion and entertainment factor.
Sigh. Without further ado, the first quarterly report of 2025.
January
I welcomed the new calendar year in Australia and tried to adjust to being in Southern Hemisphere when I have spent my whole life in the Northern Hemisphere — it was an Experience.
Went through a massive media consumption slump (which honestly was probably just depression) in which I didn’t watch any of my shows (not even Murder, She Wrote) and couldn’t finish many books. Started several, but only finished three.
Tried so many pies in Australian bakeries. That is tried savory pies, not sweet pies. I am a huge fan of both types, thank you. Also fish and chips. Huge fan, especially when eating them at a park next to a river.
Watched the news way too much. Let myself feel grief and rage and love and everything in between.
Went to a lake, took my first boat ride in over a decade. Got a slight sunburn because I forgot to reapply sunscreen. Classic mistake.
Joined Bluesky. Tried to ditch Threads, lolsob. But failed.
Met a dear friend IRL who happened to be in Australia at the same time I was and we went on a tour of the place where Miss Fischer Murder Mysteries was filmed! It was the highlight of my month, honestly.
Wrote one Substack:
What I Read
I read my dear friend Allison’s book The Consulate and it was so damn good. Immortal warrior FMC, necromancer MMC, queer normative world with John Wick and Ocean’s Eight vibes, absolutely brilliant world-building.
I read a monster-under-the-bed romance called Whispers in the Dark by Lily Mayne & Nikole Knight. It was a surprising combination of sweet and spicy, I cried a couple of times and really just adored Nor and the world-building.
I also read You’re Not My King by Eryn Hawk. An alien romance with tons of banter, interesting world building which I so enjoyed. It was my first book by Hawk and I will definitely be reading more.
Playlist of the Month
I am determined to track my music evolution this year by making each month have it’s own playlist. But it’s mostly New to Me music or I Can’t Stop Listening to This Song music. I listened to a lot more, but these were the faves.
February
The first half of the month I spent in Thailand and it was a pretty difficult trip. One of our cats died and navigating a pet cremation in a different country was a little difficult with the language barrier. But it ultimately worked out and was a lovely if sad experience.
Thought a lot about roles in the revolution and how not everyone needs to be on the front line. And the quiet, small roles still do a lot.
Wrote and deleted several posts, because Imposter Syndrome.
Kendrick Lamar on repeat.
Cried a lot. Had two panic attacks within one week of each other.
PMDD kicked my ass.
Wrote two Substacks:
What I Read
February was brutal for reading books, but I did read a fuckton of Steddie fanfics. Which COUNTS AS READING.
I did read one book. Fellow creatives, have y’all read Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative? It is a fast read and it felt like really nice reminders for my creative practice, which I know is kind of ironic gives the “things nobody told you” lolsob. But really, it was fun and reminded me of things I already knew. I want to get a physical copy of this book so I can keep it on my desk.
Playlist of the Month
March
Retrogrades were retrograding and holy fuck March was the hardest month. I knew the first quarter of the year would be hard astrologically speaking, and knew that March would be the most difficult. But I still felt unprepared for how hard it was.
Lots of miscommunication, old wounds reopening, road bump after road bump, burning a candle at both ends.
Revamped this Substack a little bit. Okay, mostly just changed the name.
Continued to remind myself that seeking joy is not abandoning grief, it’s part of it.
Had a few more panic attacks, bouts of insomnia, horrible PMDD yet again. So much grief and rage.
Journaled so much more than usual.
Moved onto the farm that we are fixing up here in Australia and getting the site ready and cleared.
Became a morning person because the Kiddo likes to wake up between 5:30 and 6:30 now lolsob.
Wrote two Substacks:
What I Read
At least it was a better reading month for me!
Barbarian (Jericho’s Boys #3) by Onley James was like visiting old friends that you can just pick right back up where you left off, no matter how many years pass. Jericho’s Boys is a spin-off/continuation of my fave series Necessary Evils and the banter and mystery and spice combo hit perfect as always with James’ books.
Come Out, Come Out (Haunted Hearts #1) by Alexia Oynx has been on my list for ages to read. A queer M/F dark ghost romance. When I say dark, I mean it. Please check trigger warnings. It was a cathartic read and helped me cry. I loved every moment. And it’s not for everyone.
The Flowered Blade by Taylor Hubbard was another book that made me cry. Orc and elf romance, trans MC, enemies to lovers, falling in love with the orc who kidnapped you. Ugh. So good.
FINALLY read If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio and I’m back on my dark academia bullshit. As a former theater kid in high school this book hit in ways I didn’t expect, but felt like I should have. I might write a longer post on it later.
Another book that’s been on my TBR for too long, EYETOOTH by mars adler. A trans/enby erogoro horror novellette. Once again, check the trigger warnings for this one. But holy moly I loved it and would love to read more with these characters.
Lastly, Dirt-Stained Hands, Thorn Pierced Skin by Tabitha O’Connell. I do wish this one was longer so the world could have been fleshed out a bit more, especially regarding the curse. And I had a little bit of a hard time with the dialogue feeling out of place of the setting at times. But honestly, I am a sucker for any queer Beauty and the Beast retelling and will always read them.
Playlist of the Month
Whew, okay. If you’re still reading, thank you. I know I’m missing so many things from these last few months, but it’s also kind of hard to determine what I want to rehash and what I don’t.
Now I’m going to go drink second coffee.
Until next time,
Ash
Oh wait.... That's me 🥺💚
Wait, I went through the media consumption slump phase as well but thank god, I am out of it now. And my March was weird and exhausting too. I hope this quarter treats us kindly.