EEDA Newsletter Vol 6, Res 21: Postage Stamps, Revolutionary Actions, & Help for Sore Feet
This is a public issue of Enthusiastic Encouragement & Dubious Advice. Feel free to share it!
Hi friends! Last weekend, Nicole and I went on a little getaway about an hour from where we live. Our neighborhood gets incredibly loud on the 4th of July to the point of inducing panic attacks with booms close enough to shake our windows so we decided to get out of town this year. We hung out by the pool and I am also working on one of these guys as I’m back to learning how to crochet. Someday I’ll get this kit, but one thing at a time. We also went to a branch of the Sonoma County Public Library and got library cards. I now have a library card with Peanuts™ characters on it and I am fucking thrilled!
Also, in the constant search to find consistent movement (exercise) that I don’t hate, we’ll be having our first Pilates lesson next week. I think I’m also finally in a place of acceptance that maybe there isn’t exercise I like and maybe this is just one of those things I have to do in life that is necessary but terrible, like participating in capitalism. We’ll see how it goes!
New episode of EEDA Pod this week! Own Your Words: How 'I Statements' Change Everything
In this episode of "Enthusiastic Encouragement and Dubious Advice," Patricia and Nicole reflect on their experiences at the Trans March and discuss their recent activities involving harvesting garlic and decluttering their book collection. They delve into effective communication techniques, particularly “I statements,” to improve personal interactions and resolve conflicts. The hosts also share book recommendations and discuss how community events and supportive gestures, like free hugs at marches, uplift their spirits.
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It’s another resource week so let’s get to it!
Resource 1: USPS Postage Stamp Increase July 13
Postage stamp prices are going up! If you have forever stamps, they’ll still be good. But these prices increase Sunday so buy your stamps now. You can always buy stamps online through the USPS site. You do not have to go into a post office to buy stamps. More info on the increase here. If you’re planning on sending postcards to voters, make sure you buy your postcard stamps before the increase.
Resource 2: Is Your Book Club More Revolutionary Than Your Protest by Jo Lorenz via The Progressivists
Activism almost never happens in isolation and reposting about a fire online is not the same as throwing a bucket of water on the fire. This piece is an absolute banger and I’m going to be thinking about it for a long time. I hope you take a few minutes to read it. In this newsletter and on our podcast, we’re constantly talking about the importance of gathering in person when you can. I love how this piece feels like it’s not only in conversation with my/our work here at EEDA, but with other works like Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind by Annalee Newitz and “The Books Won’t Save Us” by S. Zainab Williams via Book Riot.
Resource 3: 6 feel-good exercises to alleviate sore, achy feet by Andee Tagle via NPR LifeKit
The floors in our home are Not Good and my feet have basically hurt on and off for two years. So maybe this resource is only for me but I figure if NPR is doing a whole episode on it, then there are a lot of us out here with sore feeties. These foot exercises have definitely been helping me.
Recent & Current Reads
Inclusion of a book in this section is not necessarily a recommendation and these books won’t always be added to my Bookshop. Links are affiliate links.
Recently Read:
All Fours by Miranda July
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer, illustrated by John Burgoyne (reread)
Currently Reading:
Hot Girls with Balls by Benedict Nguyen
Necessary Fiction by Eloghosa Osunde (out 7/22)
Volatile Memory by Seth Haddon (out 7/22)
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brown
That’s it for this week! You can shop many books I’ve mentioned in this newsletter at my affiliate shop, The Infophile’s Bookshop, and support independent bookstores. In fact, any Bookshop, Amazon, or Etsy links in this newsletter are affiliate links so if you shop through those, it helps support my work. Or you can leave me a tip on Ko-fi, Paypal, or Venmo.
If you want to send me some snail mail, you can find me at P.O. Box 21481, Oakland, CA 94620-1481.
You can find our podcast, Enthusiastic Encouragement & Dubious Advice on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts.