Featuring updates on Hoppin Hot Sauce inventory, newly published writing, recuperation from surgery, the year's first barbecue, and a new family pet.

Sandman Knows Kale

Shout outs to the Sandman, who wrote in about kale and he knows more about kale than I ever will. He works with kale as a kaleologist.

Extra Hot Shortage

Buy Extra Hot Hoppin Hot Sauce from Amazon as we will be out of stock on Extra Hot in the near term, and once Amazon runs out, we're out.

Publication

Instant Noodles published my 50-word story "CYBERTRUCK DENTAL, S. DE R.L."

The link to the stuff that is published, along with what's upcoming is on the Publications page of my author site jwh.whatsthematterwithme.org

The sinking feeling you have after publication is the same one you have after you have an art opening. Everything returns to normal. Banal, mundane, normal.

But in fact, I did accomplish something. What I set out to do: become a published writer.

The thing rolls on, even: a second 50-word story will be published in a different publication next week. I recorded myself reading it in a video at the request of the editor.

Surgery Update

Looking at the calendar, it's been about 4 weeks since I had surgery. I've reduced my medication down to the pointt where I'm almost completely titrated off of the pain medications I've been taking for months.

New New Cat

We've got a new cat at the house. It's a two-month-old kitten that's part-lynx. It's in quarantine for the next 10 days, maybe more.

Barbecue

I lit the barbecue for the first time this year. Now that my meds are reduced, I feel like not as scary to grill. For the first go-around, I made skirt steak and eggplantLast night, I grilled a pork tenderloin with whole grain mustard, brown sugar and Shaoxing wine. We ate it with steamed new potatoes and boiled carrots.

Hollywood

We ordered a new juniper tree, a 'Hollywood Juniper' juniperus chinensis var. kaizuka.

Remodeling

After launching my writer's website, I'm remaking the whatsthematterwithme.org website with the same theme. If it all goes well, I could see myself redoing HoppinHotSauce.com the same way.

Gary in the press

Installation view of Gary Cannone’s Manet/Degas at Compound Yellow, Oak Park, Illinois (photo Jonas Müller-Ahlheim)

Past WTMWM? interview subject Gary Cannone got a great write-up by Lori Waxman in hyperallergic about his solo show at Compound Yellow in Oak Park, IL. Check out the Gary Cannone Interview Special here.

Gaining equilibrium

For the first time in months, I got up from the couch by myself. A couple of times

Selfie

Publication Barbecue selfie

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:03 - Hoppin Hot Sauce Jingle

00:01:20 - Shout outs

00:02:01 - Instant Noodles Publishes \"CYBERTRUCK DENTAL, S. DE R.L.\"

00:02:34 - The feeling you have after publication is the same one you have after you have an art opening

00:03:17 - another story will publish next week

00:03:35 - Writing site at jwh.whatsthematterwithme.org

00:04:03 - RF Rhizotomy recovery update

00:06:05 - Tapering off habit-forming medications

00:07:08 - We have a new cat

00:09:03 - First barbecue this year

00:10:15 - The Way I Grill Charred Eggplant

00:12:42 - New Juniper Tree

00:13:43 - Remaking whatsthematterwithme.org

00:13:55 - gary cannone hyperallergic writeup by lri waxman

00:14:35 - getting up by myself

00:16:11 - Outro