I owe you a review of Unstrapped, Michelle. It will be favorable, never fear — you had already won me over before you mentioned the Vimes "Boot Theory", one of my favorite Pratchett bits. 💚
Oh, that’s amazing! My 11-year-old granddaughter at this point loves babies so I hope she will choose to make me a g-GMA at a not-too-soon but not-too-late time.
I thought you’d convinced me to become a paid subscriber with this post, but then I remembered I did it a couple of weeks ago. Best wishes to you and your loved ones 2025.
Well, in terms of going back to an abusive ex that was worse than the alternative, I'm sure you know that 71% of the working class who voted --including yours truly--totally disagree with liberals on that. We all lived through four years of Trump, then four years of Biden, and our lives *got worse* economically and we became truly terrified of nuclear annihilation due to the constant wars his administration was pushing us into. The short version is this: the cultural rhetoric of the Dems did not appeal to us emotionally enough to overlook all of that.
What do I think the next four years under the Orange Guy hold? Nothing good, but nothing worse than what we would have gotten under the Cackling Lady. And I continue to contend, as do most on the Classic Left, that things will not get better for the working class until we take matters into our own hands--start our own movement apart from the duopoly, stop siding with this or that group of capitalists, and turn all states into citizen ballot initiative states. That's the only way forward, IMO.
As for everything that went well for you this year: My congrats! As you know, most of us writing for Medium and Substack can only dream of earning that kind of money from our work. I'm glad you were one of the ones who managed that, as it was very well-deserved :-)
Congrats on your book signing! I bought it, and I've published several books, from both myself and other authors (I have my own small indie label, it's what I do) yet never had the honor of a book signing. I'm sorry I was too far away to visit and get you to sign a paperback copy :-)
Congrats to your daughter for her recent marriage, and I hope she and her groom share many years of happiness!
Thank you for everything you did in 2024, and for everything you will do in 2025 :-)
OK, I must be on a Dickens kick, because the next thing I publish is going to be about Dickens. Almost done with it.
Did you ever read "Hard Times"? Man, that's a book for OUR times, for sure! It's so timely!
Yes, it was a year full of good and bad.
Happy New Year! So glad I recently found your writing and I'm looking forward to reading your books in 2025 ✨
Thank you!
And Happy New Year right back!
I owe you a review of Unstrapped, Michelle. It will be favorable, never fear — you had already won me over before you mentioned the Vimes "Boot Theory", one of my favorite Pratchett bits. 💚
Pratchett was a genius!!
And thank you.
Happy new year!
Happy New Year! Congratulations to your daughter on her engagement! And last, but not least, I will be promoted to Great-grandfather this year!
Oh, that’s amazing! My 11-year-old granddaughter at this point loves babies so I hope she will choose to make me a g-GMA at a not-too-soon but not-too-late time.
Here’s to a great year! Thanks for sharing your amazing writing, Michelle!
Thank you! Happy New Yesr!
Congratulations Michelle on the engagement of your daughter and best wishes to you and your family for a good and healthy 2025.
Thank you! It's such a joy when one's children are doing well! Nothing is more meaningful.
I thought you’d convinced me to become a paid subscriber with this post, but then I remembered I did it a couple of weeks ago. Best wishes to you and your loved ones 2025.
Thank you, Bill! Happy New Year!
Well, in terms of going back to an abusive ex that was worse than the alternative, I'm sure you know that 71% of the working class who voted --including yours truly--totally disagree with liberals on that. We all lived through four years of Trump, then four years of Biden, and our lives *got worse* economically and we became truly terrified of nuclear annihilation due to the constant wars his administration was pushing us into. The short version is this: the cultural rhetoric of the Dems did not appeal to us emotionally enough to overlook all of that.
What do I think the next four years under the Orange Guy hold? Nothing good, but nothing worse than what we would have gotten under the Cackling Lady. And I continue to contend, as do most on the Classic Left, that things will not get better for the working class until we take matters into our own hands--start our own movement apart from the duopoly, stop siding with this or that group of capitalists, and turn all states into citizen ballot initiative states. That's the only way forward, IMO.
As for everything that went well for you this year: My congrats! As you know, most of us writing for Medium and Substack can only dream of earning that kind of money from our work. I'm glad you were one of the ones who managed that, as it was very well-deserved :-)
Congrats on your book signing! I bought it, and I've published several books, from both myself and other authors (I have my own small indie label, it's what I do) yet never had the honor of a book signing. I'm sorry I was too far away to visit and get you to sign a paperback copy :-)
Congrats to your daughter for her recent marriage, and I hope she and her groom share many years of happiness!
Thank you for everything you did in 2024, and for everything you will do in 2025 :-)