Postcards from a former self saying "How you been?"

• I can't believe I didn't mention the blood ice cream! (I apologize to my non-carnivore friends.) Salt and Straw, a chain of fancy ice cream shops, had special October flavors, including Dracula's Blood Pudding. Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, heavy cream, and (pasturized) pigs' blood. Of course I had to try it.
  
  It does have a mild iron aftertaste, but if you didn't know it was made with blood, you'd probably think it was spiced sweet cream ice cream with a hint of chocolate. I found it delicious, and now have 2.5 pints in my freezer. And because I have decided to be extra fancy about my cliches, I eat it from a dark red pressed glass bowl (Avon Cape Cod) with a silver spoon designed to look like the handles are human bones. Vampire Witch Queen life!



• Last night I wrote a new GCS post, which will go up Wednesday. This is the one I expect to start a war in the comments. You see, the never-ending argument goth argument has resurfaced across social media, especially in FB groups and reddit: "If you don't listen to the "original" goth music, you're not a real goth! Other dark interests don't count!" With a side of "Gatekeeping helps keep the scene alive!"
  
  I was ... really angry when I wrote the post. I don't think my rage completely shows in the text, but I was angry enough to drag out all of my goth reference books and throw quotes around. Anyway, I expect angry rebuttals in the comments, and I'm going to have a good time moderating them.



• The Stroppy One comes home tomorrow, yay! And then I leave for Burbank on Friday, to visit loved ones, yay! (And omg day trip to Disneyland.)



• My 50th birthday is fast approaching. I'm not freaked out by it; in fact, I'm looking forward to hitting that big milestone. However, I have no idea how I'm celebrating it. I have a vague understanding that the Stroppy One has some sort of plans, but what they are? No clue. Which is fine! He loves planning surprises, and I'm one of those odd people that likes surprise celebrations.



• I now have all the equipment to film videos (ringlight with phone mount, remote for phone camera, lavalier mic), so filming test videos to learn how to edit is the next big project. My goal is to have some videos up on YouTube through Dec. and Jan., and launch the Patreon in Feb.