The Girvanaca Monthly Report for January

Happy New Year, everyone. I can’t believe I’ve kept this up since August. I haven’t seen much of a hike in subscribers this month, but to those few out there who continue to support me by subscribing and reading—thank you. You helped me limp through 2025.

I’m glad this year is over. In some ways, 2025 was a good year for me: I started this Substack, spent two nights in Austin watching comedy and music from one of my creative idols*, saw my favorite band three times*, learned new things at work*, and began my eighth year of adjunct professoring. So why do I feel so depressed, angry, and anxious?

I’m not going to spend time—or take up internet space—cataloging my first-world problems. I can only imagine the real struggles so many people in this country and around the world are going through right now. Still, lately it’s felt like one battle after another, and I can’t seem to get my head on straight.

The professionals I talk to twice a month have helped me find a combination of therapy and medication that lets me see some light at the end of the tunnel. And just like the soon-to-be infamous 2025, I know this tunnel will end too. I hope the light is very bright—very bright indeed.

So, happy new year, and thanks for reading.

*Tim Fest 2 *Silkworm *SCRUM

This month’s vestige is the gruesome tale of Mother Barlow and her family. It’s not for the faint of heart. I had to live it—so the least you can do is read my blog post about it:

Buy an album that helps someone - like Passages: Artists in Solidarity with Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers.

There is a lot of terrible in this country right now. I get frustated because I constantly think to myself: "What can I do?” There is always some way to help a cause you care about. It’s also a nice bonus when helping get’s you a cool record. All proceeds go to American Gateways and Casa Marianella, two kick ass orginizations helping Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers. Here is an article about the project.

Anna Fitzgerald sat down with me in September to answer the questions I ask all the creative people I talk to for this Substack. After the interview ended, I felt smarter and excited to create—an effect Anna has on anyone lucky enough to be in her orbit.

A few of my poems and a short story were recently rejected by Swing Magazine. It’s a literary magazine published by The Porch in Nashville, Tennessee, and they do good work—even if they didn’t publish me.

On the brighter side, here’s a link to a flash nonfiction piece that was published in my friends’ literary journal, Neologian in 2017. It’s about my dad, knuckleballs, and a baseball card.

Over the summer, I spent a few days in Nashville catching up with old friends. This blog post highlights one of those visits—with my friend Kenny. We talk about work, life, and the importance of a good shower.

For those who are here and want to read more — please, subscribe and share. Follow me on all of the socials (except X and Tik Tok) and thank you for your support. Have a happy and productive January.