moon list: november 2025
Dear You,
Apologies for not writing to you last week. I was feeling frankly insane. A mix of everything: life, work, micromanagement, misunderstandings, travel.
There’s a lot of change afoot, and I just don’t feel ready for it (not that you can ever truly be ready for it). Things feel too big for me to hold, and it’s all happening too fast. And I’m honestly just scared. In the most selfish way, where it’s entirely about me and all the silly things involved with that.
—
1. choose your own adventure (take credit for your detours. what is something you’ve done in your life [or maybe this week] that clearly diverges from the norm?)
I think willingly choosing to be a writer (in profession and passion) is a bit out there. I also think identifying as a communist is maybe not the norm.
But if we’re just talking about personal norms: I’ve been ordering out a lot more. I’ve typically deprived myself of that as a means of saving money and just because I like cooking when I have the time and energy. My brain has felt on fire though, so getting food delivered has been the only way to maintain any semblance of a meal schedule.
2. yoko ono (name something that’s considered serious, sophisticated, or “good taste” that you will always think is overrated, boring, or just… bad.)
I mean, I’m the annoying guy who thinks most things considered “sophisticated” are automatically bad or overrated because they tend to be tied to class dynamics. Etc. etc.
But I’m going to say…bidets. I’ve used enough bidets to deem them mostly ineffectual. I could obviously just be using them wrong (I don’t know, am I supposed to just sit there for like 10+ minutes?), but in my experience, they mostly just create the illusion of cleanliness. I still have to wipe!
3. stolen structure (whose routine or way of organizing their life have you stolen, hacked, and/or fully made your own?)
I roll all of my clothes instead of folding them because of my mom. Not that she even rolls all of her clothes. When I moved, I think she knew my penchant for being messy with my clothes. Folded piles immediately turned to disaster because I’d take from the middle or bottom of the pile.
So rolling my clothes was the compromise, a way of maintaining order while making space for my messiness. It really does just make things look a lot more organized. And this doesn’t apply to underwear, socks, or shirts. T-shirts, pants, sweaters, sweatshirts, all rolled into their respective cubbies and piles.
4. false binary (cite a time when you were presented with two options and picked neither. and/or: name two contradictory things you’re holding as true at the same time.)
I feel constantly full of contradictions. Currently though: Understanding that I hate my grueling customer service job that pays not-enough while also being entirely afraid of anything beyond it, any new thing that would actually encapsulate my writing career.
5. labubu brain (think of something something objectively stupid from the current zeitgeist—a labubu, a meme, a celeb scandal, whatever—and find something genuinely interesting in it. what dumb thing are you distilling a bit of secret satisfaction or wisdom from?)
Oh man, I guess a bad time for the whole Olivia Nuzzi/Ryan Lizza situation to be happening. I actually haven’t followed up since the initial newsletter, and I probably won’t. I think I got enough from all of that mess.
I don’t think I’m gaining any real wisdom from all that. Just that, even with my wildly loveless life, I’ve somehow made better romantic decisions than Olivia Nuzzi.
6. anxiety audit (what’s a low-grade dread you’re carrying?)
I mean, maybe not as “low-grade” as this prompt is asking, but I’m pretty anxious about turning in my two-week notice and starting at this new job. A new job that i can already see the seams of. Like, I can already see how it’s going to inflict a lot of mental anguish on me, but it pays well, comes with benefits. At worst, it’s something to put on my resume.
7. it’s entropy (the second law of thermodynamics says entropy always increases. aka the universe tends toward disorder. our messes are proof of life. what’s something you’re deliberately not improving right now?)
My wisdom tooth situation. Part of this comes from the frustration of modern dental insurance. Part of it comes from the fact that my insurance is going to change in mere weeks, so I don’t know if it’s worth making any sort of appointment right now.
8. buoyancy device (what is keeping you afloat?)
My boys. Mike and Omair. It’s funny, all three of us are dealing with some big things, the type of shit that you can’t fully get your arms around or carry. But we try our best to joke, to send the little messages and reels. We survive through the dumbest videos and links to Transformers toys that weren’t released in the U.S.
Caitlin, who is also dealing with her own enormous things. In another life, we would live near each other, and we would watch old movies and find old books and pet so many dogs.
My brother, with all his wisdom and support and cocktails
My niece
Wrestling
Claire’s horoscopes, always
The Lakers (I must unfortunately hand it those white boys.)
Taco Bell (but I don’t want to make a habit of it)
9. front burner
Bugonia
Sentimental Value (I loved this one.)
Hamnet
To Sleep with Anger (All of the new, very good movies that came out, this is honestly the best movie I saw this past month.)
Dandadan (I haven’t really gotten into a serialized anime in ages, and after Mike and Omair talked about it, I finally dipped into this. I finished the two seasons within a few days. It’s just fun, engaging, lovingly animated. The first season intro is also a fucking banger.)
Emily remains one of the best writers to ever exist. There’s no way you’re subscribing to me and not also subscribing to her letters.
—
I feel like Thanksgiving happened, and we made the immediate switch to winter. It’s freezing now, and I can’t wait to get to bed just to bundle up.
I hope you’re okay. I’m just trying to see out to a month from now, and I don’t know what’s waiting for me when I get there.
Love,
A