Holiday Blues

Today's edition is a holiday treat to my paid subscribers. Upgrade your subscription here to read in full — and to see what I'm reading and the lives of people already dying at the hands of the climate crisis.

LISTENING: to my creamy keyboard
FEELING: ready to rest some more
SEEING: Christmas presents everywhere!

Here in New York, we had the first white Christmas since 2009. I wonder if it'll be our last.

Last week, the temperatures were warm enough that I was sweating in only a sweater. I didn't need a jacket. Then, the temperatures dropped so low that a quick walk to my car made my hands hurt. Not long after, the snow fell. Now, it's back to feeling weirdly warm. The snow is quickly melting. It's supposed to rain this weekend. Shouldn't it be snowing?

Sigh.

It's Christmas Day, so I'll keep today's short. I didn't want to miss this week's edition even though I'm sure you all have much better things to do today than read this newsletter. The holidays are an odd time. It's jolly. I can be a very corny holiday person. However, they're also a bit of a bummer.

You have to smile at the family members you kind of want to slap and ask, "Why did you vote my future away?" You spend more money than usual paying off the credit card debt you accrued for buying your loved ones the things they wanted (the things you also recognize are slowly destroying the planet and chipping away at your moral compass). The stress is high at home around all the increased pressure and plans.

I took off this week and next to reset and refresh. I'm tired, y'all. My body's been all out of whack since President Asshole got elected. My anxiety, which I thought I had learned to manage, has been back in full swing. I have less tolerance for idiots (especially when they're family). I'm in full flight-or-fight mode, and my body is not happy about it.

Tomorrow, I plan to be lazy. I plan to wake up and boil some eggs and then mash them up with some avocado for Salvadoran-style guacamole with toast for breakfast. Then, I'll smoke weed and do something fun. Maybe I'll play a video game. Or read. Or maybe I'll doomscroll on TikTok because who knows how long we'll have that for. Maybe I'll feel productive and do laundry or head to the library. Maybe not! I'm free to do what I want. And that freedom is something I don't take for granted. You all help make that possible, and I can't emphasize how much I appreciate y'all.

I share this all to say: Rest is important. I hope you have the opportunity to recharge, too. You deserve it as much as the next person. We have a long four years ahead. We have more weird winters to come. We can't sustain this work without taking the time to breathe and reflect – without taking some time to be both alone and hug our loved ones close before the world descends into madness.

I've had a busy year with work, and next year is already looking even busier. I hope you all will stick around. We'll need more journalism in the years to come. I plan to keep doing this work. And I can't do it without community.

Much love, friends. 🌀

Rest in Power

While we can't say for certain that climate change led to these specific weather events (we need attribution studies for that), we do know that the Earth's rising temperatures are already creating more disasters like these.

The official death toll from Cyclone Chido in Mozambique is at least 73.

Currently Reading

I need a feel-good story, and Samantha Maldonado at THE CITY has just that.

If you're not subscribed to Apple News, I'm not sure you'll be able to read this, but Alex Steffen wrote a must-read piece for Mother Jones about the incoming president. Sorry, I can't manage to find a non-Apple News link.

Art

See you next week. xx

- Yessenia