Issue 24, containing: Some (Lengthier) Editorial Notes, A Day of Hours, Commonplaces, &c.

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SOME (LENGTHIER) EDITORIAL NOTES

I have come to a realization, which is as follows: I have not been writing this magazine, because with every issue I feel compelled to both maintain the previous issue’s style and also, somehow, expand, nautilus-like, into further whimsy. Having done this maintenance, this expansion, I am then confronted with starting the next issue– and I look down the issue’s long dark hall, where every door is one I must open and examine and write out before I can shuffle on to the next. The exit sign will not turn on until every last room has been described in some way that gets closer and closer to the Platonic ideal of parodic microzine excellence, which is rather a lot to expect from basic electrical wiring. 

It’s unsustainable, as I have come to discover. For me, at any rate. It becomes about catering to an audience, rather than my own wishes– a magazine “should” be consistent and have multiple parts in amusing order, and therefore it follows that The Minor Hours “should” as well. The impetus becomes something external rather internal; the magazine becomes just very long social media engagement, rather than something written because it amuses me, because it makes me happy to have written it down and saved it for later.

So: I must adjust. I must remember I don’t have to be all things, all the time. I don’t need to have perfection running right out the gate. I must become comfortable with only pleasing myself, and not some imaginary concept of A Good Microzine. I must find the balance in myself that allows a public entrance to my thoughts but does not require a docent tour and ever-more-elaborate velvet ropes.

And so, to that end: There is still a hallway. But if there are doors, you must find them yourself. Here, have a flashlight. You can follow me if you like, but you needn’t feel obliged. One way or the other we’ll meet again at the end, the better for having traveled how we wished.

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A DAY OF HOURS

8-9:30 AM

Lounging in bed, checking social media. Not exactly a wise idea. Write a list of to-dos for the day. 

10 AM

Partway through ‘tidying’ parts of to-do list. Text siblings that instead of having a single set mealtime, I was going to cook and feast and drink throughout the day. “Just make it a Very Domestic Holiday.”

11 AM

Have accomplished the tidying parts of the to-do list, and now at the “actually prepare a meal” to-dos. Am briefly distracted by cutting the pages for a chapbook, realizing that pages were set in the wrong order but the margins are great, and making some corrections for the next printing. 

Turned on a SNL compilation of Thanksgiving skits, because I’m going through a Phase. Have completed step 1 of the cooking/feasting plan: pulled out crackers and soft cheeses (Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor and Drunken Goat Cheese), my copy of THE BEST QUICK BREADS, and another blank notebook (for a cooking list). Set an hourly reminder.

12 PM

Hourly alarm works, huzzah. Tweeted out plan to do hourly, which flies somewhat in the face of my social media displeasure from this morning. Still watching SNL, and am now texting the funny queer-written ones to siblings. Have informed sister of my possession of truffle cheese. She suggests that some year we should just plan for a Thanksgiving of chilling in someone’s house and eating cheese. This is my ideal. 

One of my brothers has discovered someplace that delivers Thanksgiving meals for one at even this late date. Somewhat envious, but overall pleased with my general plans so far. Half the truffle cheese gone. Still picking a scone recipe, but have made food list in notebook. Contemplating watching THE RING for the first time (good film for the holidays vs best film for the holidays?). Have decided on 5 min max for these updates, so as to maintain momentum and not get caught up in other things. Friend has shared a demo of a vampire-hunting kit in a tool box; I have sent back a link to “Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather.” I have good friends and family.

1 PM

Have opened the cherry crostata purchased yesterday and added it to the table along with the cheeses. 

A student has wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving on the discord– I followed up with a request that people put emojis of what’s on their menu for today. Briefly thought about offering myself as an honorary auntie, but that’s up to them, I think– they know I’m here if they need me. There’s now a discussion of what emojis should be added to the lexicon, as it is missing some key things. Went to go look for movies to put on (I like having something long and sustained, it sets a good working mood, like a ballad you sing until the end), discovered that A DARK SONG is playing on Netflix. [The Editors would like to correct the narrative at this point– it was discovered, much later, to have been Shudder, not Netflix. We regret the error.] One of my favorite movies– ritual magic done right for once. Immediately messaged my prof friend to let him know– we’re horror-movie buddies, and I owe him for recommending the Korean horror-comedy THE HOST. I should message my vampire-hunting kit friend too, but I know he’s seen it already. Made a list of all things that need to go into the oven, and ordered them by oven temperature rather than time they’d need to be ready. Order will be: scones (400), mini pumpkin pies (425), potatoes (450).

2PM

Have not started anything yet, but that’s okay, there’s no deadline. Instead comforted a freshman with the good news that they can decide what Thanksgiving means to them. Started A DARK SONG– still just as good. Prof friend can’t find it on his Netflix, [The Editors would like to again sincerely apologize for this error.] so now I’m considering how to sneak it to him while simultaneously mocking his lack of access, because friendship. [The Editors cannot stress enough how much they regret certain choices made as a result of the earlier error.] Spent some time on social media (mistake) and asked people to start a Potato Discourse on twitter (not a mistake, I hope someone does). Notified of a sale on Redbubble, will have to mark it in my work journal, very exciting that I now get to mark that page with something. Crostata very delicious. I may have had too much coffee (with eggnog poured in it), may have to change to one of 100000+ other drinks I have in house. Water? Maybe.

3:25PM

Late on this update, because dough with cold butter cut in waits for no man. I think I’d been avoiding the scones a little– I’ve never made them before. But I had my cookbook, given to me by a friend as the best quick bread book out there, and it’s never steered me wrong. It suggested putting cinnamon sugar on the scones before sticking in the oven; I put pink and white decorative sugar on top, that my children had picked out ages ago. It reminds me of them. When the scones come out, I’m apparently supposed to eat them fresh– I’ll take out the clotted cream I found yesterday, and the strawberry rhubarb jam a friend of mine made and gave me a couple months back. All these different friends… it’s nice to write down all these moments, these remembrances. I asked the students for their non-traditional foods and activities, and some new ones who rarely post answered. It’s good. I think I may have to put the cheese away, but, counterargument: what if I don’t. I have poured myself some water (yes, more than an hour later), but it’s done. Things to be thankful for.

4:30PM

Am now rolling with the time shift. Scones have exited the oven. 

Realized after pulling it out that the jam is actually strawberry rhubarb apricot, which is even better. 

It’s getting dark out, which, while expected, is a little sad. I wonder if I should put up a candle? Why not? I have some beeswax ones, and I keep saving them for a Day, but what day would that be? There are more beeswax candles in the world, and I am thankful that that’s the case. I have the means to get more, and for that I’m thankful. And to burn one now would give me pleasure, and that I can recognize that is a thing to be thankful for as well. I’ll set one up after this update. I’ve started another horror film, because why not– ANYTHING FOR JACKSON, another movie about people doing magic that works (and the problems thereof). Next will be the mini pumpkin pies — I haven’t made them before, but I’m marginally more comfortable with it. But the scones were a success– all my desserts first, and then the entrees, like a true adult. The soundtrack for HADESTOWN is lingering in the back of my head. A story about seasons, and change, and art versus commerce. All good things to have humming in the back of the mind.

5:30PM

The candle is burning, which is very pleasant. 

Time for more cheese. Have slowly started putting together the bits for the mini pumpkin pies, but am being leisurely about it. My friend with the quick bread cookbook has offered pie and movies at their house, which is tempting– but I’m enjoying my quiet domesticity. It reminds me, strangely, of the things I found comforting and good during lockdown. I became easy with myself, easy in my home. I learned to enjoy the care and keeping of it. This is an extension of that, or maybe an aspect of it. I miss having the time to do this. I spend a lot of introspection trying to figure out what makes me happy and then how to achieve it, but this is a new one. I love my time organizing paperwork, helping students, making things a little better for those who don’t have the wherewithal to do it themselves consistently. But I love this solitude, too. It’s meditative. It’s quiet, inside and out. I wonder how to combine the two.

6:55PM

Note to self: attempts at baking lead to missed alarms. But there are now mini pumpkin pies in the oven, as well as a small loaf tin of the leftover mix. There is a second loaf tin on the counter, which suggests that the recipe I found online was being generous with its portioning ideas. The candle is almost half-burned down. Beeswax burns clean, so the bottle I’ve placed the candle in is free of wax, but I think I’ll have to blow out the candle before it gets much lower. Another half inch, I think. I wonder how long that will last? When the pies are done, I’ll make the potatoes — they’re little red ones, and will just need to be cut and put into the oven (with olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, etc). At some point, I should put away the cheese — I think that portion of the feasting is over. Maybe, after I finish this entry, I’ll cook the premade squash and such I got from the store. There’s turkey too, but I might save that for a little longer. I’ve switched from horror films to SCHITT’S CREEK now; sunshine for scary, comfort for night– not always the formula, but certainly the one tonight. I think I have to go back to my to-do list soon — I wonder if I’ve got something in mind for after the cooking.

8PM

The time to blow out the candle is now, which is an interesting fact about timekeeping with wax candles. I’m a little sad to see it go, though. I thought I might burn another candle, but do I want to? At this point I technically still have the potatoes, but I’ve also eaten the squash (with spinach, onion, and cranberries) and I’m partway through the turkey (with gravy, though I might doctor it a bit more after this). This is a good time, I think to wander into the living room — I’ve been working all day at a table I set up in my kitchen. I’ve started a load of dishes, and season 3 of SCHITT’S CREEK has just begun — a perfect time to transfer over to the couch, turn on the TV, and draft business plans for friends. Or, better, draft the editorial I had intended to publish on The Minor Hours, explaining my absence and my new plan. I think maybe only another hour will go into this hourly record. But it was wonderful while it lasted.

9:50PM

And then 9 came and went. I have removed myself to the coach, as promised. The cat is kneading the blanket next to me, eyes half closed and her perpetual hunch even deeper than normal. The hourly ends here. More dishes before bed, more work before dishes; but good work, work that makes me feel happy to have done it. I’m fortunate that most of my work feels like that, but to do it on my own terms, within my own wheelhouse, feels grander. I have brought the crostata out with me. The cat is still kneading. I will make a grocery list for tomorrow. I might have eggnog with my breakfast. There’s so much in the world, and I’m so lucky to be in it.

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COMMONPLACES

From Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing:

I cannot hide
what I am: I must be sad when I have cause and smile
at no man’s jests, eat when I have stomach and wait
for no man’s leisure, sleep when I am drowsy and
tend on no man’s business, laugh when I am merry and
claw no man in his humor.

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Donna Tartt, from Laurie Grassi’s interview “Author Donna Tartt on art, culture and criminality”:

In films, we are voyeurs, but in novels, we have the experience of being  someone else: knowing another person’s soul from the inside.

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From lookninja’s daily poetry 1276:

but I think I saw fireflies
in Pellston tonight
not a lot of them, just a few
little sparks in the dark woods
lighting my way home
and it may not solve anything
but you know, it’s nice
some things can just be nice
even now.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

The cat is resting on my hand. I’m typing this left-handed. It’s past midnight, and no longer Thanksgiving. Theoretically I should wait to post until tomorrow. Therefore I will post it immediately.

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If you would like to write a letter to be produced/answered in the magazine, please email me at minor.hours.magazine@gmail.com with the subject line:

Letter to the Magazine: [subject of letter as you would like to see it printed]

If you wish the letter to be anonymous or under a nom de plume, please state so in the body of the email; similarly, if you’d rather not be printed at all, please also state so in the body of the email. It will otherwise be assumed that mail sent to that address is intended for print.

Alternately, commenting on this post will get you a similar result, with much less fuss.

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-Until next week, be safe.