January 31, 2022

You think YOU'VE got it bad? 😾

I SPENT ALL WEEKEND TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF TIKTOK

 Who's the most miserable of them all now, hot shot?

I kid, I kid. (Mostly.) But yeah...TikTok. Facebook and Instagram ads — which in all likelihood are what originally led you into Boredwalk's dank, maudlin corner of the internet over the last few years — have been an absolute money fire for us over the last several weeks, so like a very frantic lemming, we are going to be doing some stuff over on TikTok to see if that helps. 

Some of our content on TikTok will be similar to what you've seen on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, but it'll also feature some more behind the scenes stuff like process videos, tours of our office and production area, and other (hopefully) fun and entertaining stuff!

If you happen to be on TikTok and would like to follow us there, too, click here and throw a like or follow our way! It's very bare at the moment, but don't worry — we'll be adding stuff daily to keep things fresh! Or as the kids say...

Andy Samberg keeps is hella fresh

Kids still put hella in front of everything they say, right? This is gonna be so easy...
(He said before 100 million teenagers derisively called him a Boomer in the comments even though he's actually a Millennial.)

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Not many noteworthy random holidays on January 31st, but it is National Hot Chocolate Day, so we have that going for us! It's also National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. I appreciate bubble wrap every day that a Grievance Journal is delivered to a customer in pristine condition. Thanks, Marc Chavannes and Alfred Fielding! (They're the engineers who graced us with the endlessly poppable substance.)

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Despite the dearth of notable random holidays, January 31st is packed with notable birthdays:

• The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution was passed by Congress on this day in 1865! The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and forced servitude in the United States (except as punishment for crimes). 

• Austrian composer Franz Schubert, born this day in 1797! I have nothing to add about ol' Franz.

• Baseball legend Jackie Robinson, born this day in 1919! Mr. Robinson famously broke the color barrier and integrated Major League Baseball in 1947 when he was called up by the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was also just a REALLY good player.

• Singer, actress, and comedian Carol Channing, born this day in 1921! If you're into mid-century musical theatre, you're probably quite familiar with her.

• Actor Jonathan Banks, born this day in 1947! Mr. Banks spent most of the 70s and 80s playing various supporting henchmen, but finally landed what may be the defining role of his career when he was cast as Mike Ehrmantraut in the show Breaking Bad and it's various spinoffs, like Better Call Saul. Still kind of a henchman in that role, too, but he had a lot of lines and was more layered and nuanced.

• John Joseph "Johnny Rotten" Lydon, born this day in 1956! I spent most of my first semester of college wandering around the frozen wastes of western Maryland listening to Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols on repeat. Do with this information what you will.

Also celebrating birthdays today are actresses Minnie Driver (1970), Portia de Rossi (1973), and Kerry Washington (1977), musician/actor Justin Timberlake (1981), and actor/comedian/SNL alum Bobby Moynihan (1977). 

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Alrighty! Scroll on down to learn more about fellow Boredwalk fan Heather M.! If you'd like to be featured in our Monday Q&A segment, reply to this email and let me know!

We'll be back in your inbox on Wednesday morning with links to fun distractions! If you're in a shopping mood, be sure to use the code YAY10 at checkout to save 10% on orders of $100 or more! Until next time...

Peace, love, and hella freshness,

Matt

Heather looking erudite in her Support Your Local Library tee!

1. What's your actual day job and what's your dream day job?

My actual day job is teaching at a university. My dream day job is either this (because I do love it most days) or being a stay-at-home adult with a platonic sugar parent.

(Editor's note: wait, that's a thing?! If it isn't, it should be, and I want in on that action!)

2. What keeps you up at night?

Anxiety mostly. That, and my inability to put down my phone/iPad/laptop.

(Stop copying my answers, Heather. Eyes on your own work!)

3. What's the most useful piece of advice you've ever received?

Nothing is forever; life goes on. (That and "at least no one's shooting at you" — that one also puts bad days in perspective.)

4. If you could have any super power what would it be and why?

Invisibility, to be a fly on the wall for conversations of interest. This wish is followed closely by teleportation because sometimes people I want to hang out with are too far away.

5. You can curse your nemesis with a minor annoyance for eternity; what do you choose?

Inability to locate floss when food is trapped between teeth. Stepping on gross things while barefoot, or wet things while wearing socks. Long queues everywhere they go, from fast food drive-throughs to checkout lines. Pouring a bowl of cereal to discover there is no milk. Being trapped behind a gaggle of slow-walkers. My list could go on forever, as my pettiness knows no bounds.

(You are our kind of person, Heather. Feel free to copy off me anytime.)

6. What experience do you most want to cross off your bucket list?

Another family vacation once travel is more feasible. It's been too long and Mexico is calling to me. By then maybe the kids will be old enough for an all-inclusive grown-up resort. A girl can dream, right? More realistically, looking forward to retirement and time to read for fun again.

7. What's a life pro tip the Boredwalk community needs to know?

You can disagree with someone without being hateful. Shocking how many people seem unaware of this and go straight for personal attacks instead of engaging politely and listening to one another. Also, whenever you have an opportunity, go out of your way to help someone else...the little things ARE the big things sometimes.

8. What is a surprising fact about you?

I got my PhD as a first generation college student. I can read braille, I teach braille, and I love all things braille. I was adopted from foster care, and am a major proponent of adoption and fostering. I'm raising biological children, adopted children, and we have a revolving door of other kids in need of a home/family.

 9. Where can the rest of the Boredwalk community find you?

On a good day I'm on campus getting things accomplished, on a tough day I'm ... on my couch, elbow deep in snacks and blankets.

Social media: facebook.com/hetherenee ("Heather Renee," but misspelled and smushed together).

Instagram: @the__audacity (because I have it in spades)