The Latest Letters from Wonderland

15,003 Days Alive

144+ Miles Driven Today

2 Hours of Country for Car Karaoke Sung Along To

Owl and I fell asleep cuddling and watching an early collection of The Great British Baking Show. As such, I left almost an hour later than I usually do to go back to Madison. I am… toast after this weekend.

To help keep myself more alert on the long ass drive from the Parliament of Chaos back to Madison, I put on a favorite Spotify playlist, linked above, and sang. I sang along the entire trip to avoid imbibing a ridiculous amount of caffeine to keep me awake. At least my anxiety makes me hyper-vigilant when driving. I kind of wish I had someone to talk to the last forty five minutes or so of the drive, but I was also really enjoying my playlist.

The majority of my belongings now live at the Parliament of Chaos, with some assorted art supplies, some of my witchy stuff, and almost all my clothes are still here in Madison. I’m hoping that I’m able to find work down in Illinois before my housing situation destabilizes.

Anyway, moving all that stuff, even with adolescent assistance yesterday, was exhausting.

I need so many storage solutions, mostly in the form of bookshelves, honestly. I have a very small Amazon wishlist for things I need to furnish and nest in my space properly. If anyone has any suggestions on things to add, please let me know!

For now, I’m for bed.

Take your meds, folks.

15,002 Days Alive

313 Miles Travelled Today

2 Chicago-Style Hot Dogs Eaten

Trigger warnings: loss of pet, grief, depression

I miss my Spock. He passed away, in my arms, on the 16th of June. Five weeks and I am still devastated. He was 16 and will be greatly, greatly missed.

We were together through sixteen years, seventeen moves across seven states. One very well travelled baby man that I miss every day. I am not ready for another cat of my own. I get to love on my sweet feline nephew, Bennett, when home in Madison.

Well… sort of home. I just did a five hour round-trip today with my girlfriend Owl, her kiddo Goblyn, their boyfriend Ty, and the bonus kiddo, Sablyn. It was definitely an experience. I’m glad that I didn’t have to move all of my stuff by myself. Uncle Comic helped with today’s relocation efforts with the use of his panel van, and the storage space therein.

So, I am absolutely exhausted physically. But mentally? My brain cannot shut off, even though I am so tired it physically hurts. All I can do is lay here and pray that I get some sleep tonight. Especially since I have to drive back to Madison tomorrow afternoon so I can be home in time for work on Monday.

I am still not doing good/well/whatever you wanna call it. Depression is kicking my ass. Grief is kicking ass. Stress is kicking my ass. Basically, there’s a lot of ass kicking going around. I

I lost Spock. I graduated from college! had food poisoning for almost 6 days. I get full-time benefits from work as of next month! I may have to change jobs from where I’m working in Madison to something a little closer to Aurora, Illinois to put me closer to the parliament of Chaos.

I think my body is finally going to let me get some sleep.

Take your meds, folks.

14,961 Days Alive

I got to make cold processed soap today with Owl. I am more than a little worried because Mr. Spock is under the weather and he’s just so damn old for a cat.

I’m going to bed in self-defense.

Take your meds, folks.

14,960 Days Alive

1,085 Days Since My Mother’s Death

I am down in Illinois visiting my girlfriend Owl and I realized that I genuinely feel like she is a supportive partner, not a child masquerading as an adult. It’s a rather glorious realization.

Owl needed help with taking down a cabinet in her kitchen, so I got to be a Handy Gay for her and take the doors off the kitchen cabinet. And then we went to Menard’s to get a pry bar and small sledgehammer to take the rest of it down. We have also enlisted Owl’s youngling son, Goblyn, and said teenager’s boyfriend Ty, to help with the gleeful , purposeful destruction.

I am tired from all the physical labor from today, and am in desperate need of a shower. I know that I will likely sleep well tonight.

I am glad to be able to help, even if I’m a little sore tomorrow. I am also glad to know that if I need help, it can be worked off in part by sweat equity.

Anyway, I didn’t bring crocheting with me so I’m off to spend time with Owl and Goblyn.

Take your meds, folks.

14,959 Days Alive

144 Miles to Drive Tomorrow Morning

13 Homework Assignments Done Tonight

3 Mild Italian Sausage Meatballs Eaten with Dinner

Tomorrow morning at bright o’clock, which here translates to approximately eight a.m., I will be trundling down the road for two plus hours to go see Owl and her parliament of chaos.

I’m going to get to be a handy gay and help take down a cabinet in the kitchen to make room for her new appliance. I love being able to use power tools for both good and mischief. This case is primarily leaning towards the former and staunchly avoiding the latter.

Spock has been a little under the weather today, but seems to be on the mend. I should get him to the vet here soon for his annual.

Speaking of a full year: it is sixteen days until the one year anniversary of my arrival here in Wisconsin. Strange how slowly and quickly time has flown. Getting laid off back in September 2025 really damaged my calm and financial health. Ugh.

I’ve got a question for you, my dear readers: if I used the word “acquiescence” or “acquiesce” in a sentence, would you know what I meant? I used it at work today, specifically because I was asking about someone’s willingness and capacity to assist me in a task. But… I had to break out the Pirates of the Caribbean reference to make myself understood. When asked why I didn’t just announce that I needed help, I kind of fumbled for an alternative to “I did, but y’all were otherwise occupied jabber-jawing about an admittedly enjoyable show and weren’t listening the first two or three times I asked”. I get… crisp when frustrated.

In any case, I did get the help I needed, taught my coworkers a few new words (overmorrow anyone?), and got to find out one of our patrons is a literature professor for the local college. I made him snort in rather indelicate laughter when I said something along the lines of “at least I didn’t say please spare me the dubious joy of your company”. Made my day, really.

I should head to bed. I’ve been up for seventeen hours now and I am toast.

Take your meds, folks.

14,958 Days Alive

66 Days Since My Last Post

4 Migraines in That Time Period

1 New Romantic Partner

I had stepped away from Postmark Wonderland, intending to take a day or two break from posting. That was two months ago.

My mental health has not been great. And because of a combination of many overlapping and frankly awful things happening, I got… burnt. Just completely burnt out. I stopped drawing, crocheting, dancing in the kitchen while cooking; I stopped being able to find joy in the little victories.

I knew I was in the mire. The Swamp of Sadness felt like it was up to my chest. I would not have survived if not for the support of my online clan like J, Reffie, Chelé, and Mel. Tina and her family were also amazing, even from Indiana. Also on the roster of awesome are: Sharky, Brian, Grandma Gator, Uncle Gator, Aunt Gator, Mal, Bubbles, Cousin Kay, Cousin Jay, and Phoenix.

I’m still here. I’m not doing great but I am trying. I’m writing again. Researching the book DW kicked into my brain with a video on the word unhoused. I got the outline down to like… 15 pages. Goddess help my pen flow smoothly to actually tell the story I want to: how being homeless isn’t a moral failing, it is a societal one and the words we use to identify people as different than us have a greater effect that commonly acknowledged.

I’m not homeless. I am employed. I still have a 4.0 in my classes and am doing my damned hardest to keep it that way. I finish classes on July 5th.

I am also exhausted and could use about a grand to take care of the transition between where I am now and where I am moving to. That would cover movers, gratuity, gas, food for helpers, and possible vehicle rental. I don’t know if I have enough time to come up with it. But I will worry about that another day.

I was trying to wait for the perfect time to post this. Or waiting for the right time, I guess? It never seemed to materialize in the way that I expected it to so… I just jumped back in.

I’m back, if still putting out the flames of burn out.

Take your meds, folks.

Hello again, my friends!

Now, y’all know by now that I am nearly addicted to reading. I am an utter bibliophile and reading challenges, specifically this reading lunacy is just up my alley.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the 13 Moons Reading Challenge for you, if you missed my first posts about it:

     The Who started the 13 Moons Reading Challenge is:

User Read N Buried on Tumblr. As far as I can tell, they have been spearheading the 13 Moons Reading Challenge since 2024. Lucky year number three that I’m jumping in here!

The What it is of the 13 Moons Reading Challenge is:

     An online reading challenge that my darling friend Chele found and shared with me. There are a total of 104 prompts divided between categories that are separated by the names of the 13 Moons of the year.

The When of the 13 Moons Reading Challenge:

The when of this challenge is now! The year of somebody’s lord, Anno Mundi 5786, aka 2026 AD. I’m doing my best to rock through at least forty one books this year, one for each year I’ve been around! I thought it was clever.

The Where of how I plant to track the 13 Moons Reading Challenge:

     Postmark Wonderland already automatically cross-posts to Tumblr. So, between the blog here, my Tumblr account, and perhaps Instagram, I hope to be regularly updating for the 13 Moons Reading Challenge as of April. 

     The current plan, since it is a Moon-centered challenge, is to update on Moon’s Day. No, I am absolutely NOT sorry for the terrible wordplay. Not even in the slightest!

The Why of the 13 Moon Reading Challenge:

Is “because why not” enough of a reason for y’all?

     The How of the 13 Moon Reading Challenge:

The level of participation I have chosen to do is the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. This translates to one book from each of the thirteen prompt lists divided by moon. However, I am aiming for fulfilling at least two prompts with each book for each monthly category. I could bend the rules a little bit, making multiple books meet the prompts for several months… but I have chosen not to do that (this year).

The rather massive prompt collection also has the general date information on each full moon taken from TimeAndDate.com. Here are the prompts I am trying to fulfill at least one of if not, two or three per month. It may get whittled down further, but right now these are the parameters I am sticking to:

Wolf Moon: 3rd January

• Read a book in your Favorite place
  • 👉🏻My favorite place is the library
• Do Not read this book while sitting on the floor
  • 👉🏻Reading it in a chair!

Snow Moon: 1st February

• Book with a Mirror on the cover
• Read a book while sitting next to someone

Worm Moon: 3rd March

Total lunar eclipse for this moon!

• Book which has a Movie adaptation
• Read a book on a blanket
• Start a book after 5:00 PM/17:00

Pink Moon: 1st April

• A Friend recommendation 
• Choose a book Blindfolded
• Book title is the same as a name of a Song
• Book that you think will make you blush

Flower Moon: 1st May

• Book featuring a Castle
• Book featuring your favorite Flower
• Book with more than 5 colors on the cover

Blue Moon: 31st May

• Book in your Reading Challenge TBR
• Book featuring Inheritance
• Book you think will surprise you

Strawberry Moon: 29th June

Micro full moon, one day after my birthday!

• Book has a Gothic setting
• Book which has a Series adaptation
• Book with Eyebrows on the cover
• Read this book on a Desk

Buck Moon: 29th July

• Book with a Ghost character
• A Book Club read
• Start a book right after eating Lunch
• Book you wish turned into a Movie

Sturgeon Moon: 27th August

There is a partial lunar eclipse this day!

• Book in which a character Dies
• Read a book from somebody’s Anti-TBR
• Book featuring Royalty
• An AI recommendation Hell no.

Harvest (or Full Corn) Moon: 26th September

• A Horror book
• Book with a Framed Painting on the cover
• Book about a Fandom
• Roll a Dice and read a book corresponding to the number
• Read the First book you see on the Shelf

Hunter’s Moon: 25th October

• Start a book after Midnight
• Book with the word ‘Road’ in the title
• Listen to a Free Audiobook
• Book written by an Indie Author and then taken by Publishers

Beaver Moon: 24th November

• Book set in the Victorian Era
• Book Similar to your favorite book
• Book with British and American characters

Cold Moon: 23rd December

A supermoon!

• Read a Psychological Thriller
• Book featuring a Game
• Book with a Fantasy creature
• Book featuring an Egg

There is one thing that I should bother to point out about this whole challenge: since time is made up in the points, don’t matter, I don’t necessarily have to fulfill each month prompt in that month. I may bop around on the calendar or try vaguely to keep it in order. But I make no promises as to linear progress.

Since the world is sliced into thirty-seven possible time zones, you will notice that I have not put any times for the Full Moons. With the time differences, the International Date Line, and my own human fallibility, all information presented here is as accurate as I am currently able to offer it.

Happy reading and take your meds, folks!

14,892 Days Alive

6 Eggs Scrambled for Dinner

3 Mini Waffles Eaten

1 Doctor Appointment Tomorrow

I am out of energy today. Happy Easter to those who celebrate it. Happy Sunday to those that don’t. And happy birthday to my SIL, Bubbles.

14,891 Days Alive

152 Miles Driven Today to Meet Up With Uncle Comic

49 Words Per Minute Typed Going Moderately Slow

12.5 Hours Till the 221B Weekly Write In!

1 Accidental Nap

My jaw is doing the thing where it keeps randomly clenching bilaterally. I assume it’s because of anxiety, because solo trips, more than about 45 minutes have a tendency to make me anxious.

I did get to meet up with Uncle Comic this morning. And I was only seven minutes behind schedule. He gave us some groceries and gave me a great, big hug. I might be able to help him with his taxes this year. Since I am a quick study, and he needs someone who can work with the Quicken program, we may be bartering or I might just get straight up paid for my assistance. The possible money from it is very nice. But it’s also just nice to help him out.

I also started a new audiobook this morning. Some urban fantasy romance thing that is about as serious as a Baskin Robbin’s clown cone.

When you are as non-neurotypical as I am, neurospicy as I usually put it, pattern recognition is a bitch and a half. Noticing a lot of things that neurotypical people do not makes for a very interesting existence. I feel like it should be red alert on the bridge, but I’m the only one hearing the klaxon.

Mr. Spock is quite insistent that we go to bed now and I am inclined to agree with him even if I did have a accidental nap on the couch today.

Take your meds, folks.

14,890 Days Alive

11 Hours Til I Meet Up With Uncle Comic

We got out of work early today since it is Good Friday. I haven’t ever really been in a family that religiously observed Easter, so I’m not quite sure what I should expect when I am traveling tomorrow morning.

I know this counts as a holiday weekend. I don’t know Easter is pretty much the other big Jesus holiday of the year other than the falsely attributed winter holiday. However, I don’t have to worry about it honestly.

Unfortunately, unexpected dental work derailed my existing holiday weekend plans. I was going to go visit with Owl. I am not the individual who was seen by a DDS today. Poor Owl though; she has to deal with having post-extraction pains, and/or possible discomfort.

Everything for a reason, I suppose. Owl and I have made plans to attend a local to her event later this month. More details to come, but it does involve a native population celebration of which I am very excited to attend.

Anyway, it is Friday night. It is Friday night and I need to be up at 7:30 AM to meet with Uncle Comic just over the border into Illinois. Off to read the next chapter or two of “One for the Money” so I can try to catch up to Sean Michael.

Take your meds, folks.

14,889 Days Alive

4 Layers of Clothing Soaked Through Getting from My Vehicle to the Front Door

1 Spilled Cup of Slightly Splenda-Sweetened Sweet Tea

Physics defeated me this evening by reminding me that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon otherwise. What does that mean? My hand, and a good square foot of my bedroom carpet, got covered in diabetic-friendly sweet tea.

There are many things I could say about the South. Many of them derogatory even. But one thing I do miss is a proper sweet tea. So about two weeks ago I stopped by Woodmans to get stuff for dinner. While I was there, I was trying to find Twinning’s black currant breeze teabags. I did successfully locate them. But, I also saw the family-sized Lipton teabags. When I worked at McDonald’s, literally 21 years ago now, I loved half cut sweet tea. Full sugar tea from McDonald’s is just diabetes in a cup. But for some reason whatever brewing secret or whatever tea they use is especially delicious when you have a bad day. So I bought some Lipton teabags and used an empty Best Damn Tea jug to make unsweetened ice tea. And I have no regrets about it.

I got soaked coming home from work today. As soon as I got to the grocery store, the skies opened like someone had drawn a dagger across the bottom of the clouds. Just sheets and sheets of water pounding down. It sounded like someone hammering their fists against the roof of my vehicle. And, as is prone to happening, as soon as I got home and got out of the car, I was drenched from the walk/run from the car to the front door. Mind you, this was with groceries in both fists and my work backpack on my back. My shoes squelched, fully soaked, within the first five seconds.

On a related tangent: I really need to get a new pair of everyday sneakers for work. For some reason, work has a thing against multicolored shoes. So if I want to be able to wear tennis shoes, they have to be a solid color. Flats, since I spent so much time on my feet at work or getting up and down, are absolutely out of the question. Part of me does want to buy a pair of ridiculous rain boots, and just wear some sort of supportive shoe. I wish that there was a good shoe store around here that had something like nurse shoes. Those are always phenomenally comfy, and they have to be because nurses are incessantly on their feet.

Mental health is always a struggle around Easter for me. I never really got over my mother saying that the wrong daughter died. I don’t actually know if there is a way to get over a parent being so vitriolic that they wished you dead on more than one occasion. When she really wanted to hurt me, that’s what she say.

On the 30th of March, it was the 40th anniversary of my elder sister Valerie’s passing: Easter Sunday 1986. The loss of Valerie broke something in my mother, something loadbearing or just fundamental. I don’t know. I know that my mother held many scars emotional, physical, and mental. I don’t think she ever truly recovered from Valerie’s death. And, in my own way, I do understand. A parent having to bury their child is horrific, even if it’s for a reason, you can see coming like a congenital heart defect. Now, I have never carried a child to term; I have never given birth. But I know loss in both similar and different venues than my mother did. But I will never understand some of the things she said to me.

The year 2026 has not been kind to me so far and I am hoping that April brings gentler days, stronger successes, and more joy. I know that I have my graduation to look forward to. I am so very proud of myself. But damn do I wish that at least one of my parents was actually going to be at my college graduation. It makes me so sad to know that they won’t be there.

Anyway, I’m making myself upset. So I’m going to go read the first Stephanie Plum book written by Janet Evanovich. We might be doing a read together, my sibling Sean Michael and I.

Take your meds, folks.

14,888 Days Alive

20,095 Hours Until I Turn 41 Years Old

94 Days Until I Finish My College Classes

4.0 GPA

We watched the successful Artemis II launch today. I was kind of distracted because of the amount of physical pain I’ve been in the last couple of days.

But, I was able to focus long enough to actually see the Artemis II actually clear the atmosphere and get something like 750 miles away from earth before I stopped watching. It is amazing how much we have accomplished as a human race between the 50 some-odd years since we’ve been to the moon. I hope the astronauts make it there and back well enough.

I am so tired of being tired. Doctors still say my vitamins are out of whack, that I need to get my blood sugar implant done as soon as possible, and I need to see treatment for my insomnia.

I know I fell off the face of the Planet for a bit. I’m not quite ready to discuss what happened; so if I said to say, I am still here.

Take your meds, folks.

14,887 Days Alive

It’s been a while.

I’m not sorry I’ve been done for a bit, but I do apologize if I worried anyone with my sudden absence. I was fried. Still am, still struggling. Doing the best I can.

Take your meds, folks.