Let me tell you something really quickly. Today is not Tuesday. I am not sending this out on a Tuesday. Daylight Savings Time ended (began? who cares) on Sunday, which is what today feels like to me because I really haven’t slept much since Saturday — technically it’s like Sunday right now. Therefore in conclusion finally, I’m sending this out right on time.
I am currently writing this on a Sunday1 in Los Angeles, which is in Colorado, I think? For the next couple of weeks, I’ll be on tour with Finom, my cousin Sima’s band, along with her amazing bandmate Macie, and the VGD (Very Great Drummer) Spencer. And it’s not just the three of them that I’m touring alongside; little Miss Zulal is here with us, keeping me company2 as we tour the West Coast. SO, after a protest in DC on Saturday, the New York Marathon on Sunday, working on Monday, flying to Colorado at 6 a.m. EST, and then flying from Colorado to LA to arrive at noon PST, I am finally here with my favorite girly in the worly3
I haven’t been on the West Coast in several years. To prove this point, I looked out my window on the plane and gasped when I saw big mountains. And these mountains looked like the ones in cartoons — ya know, the ones where they seem two-dimensional and seem like you could probably just walk up the side of them. I think I’ve mentioned this in a past newsletter, but that was something that really surprised me when I left the Midwest. I couldn’t believe that mountains weren’t two-dimensional — that you couldn’t see the people walking up them because they were below the trees on the mountains. How in the hell do trees grow on mountains? If mountains are like triangles, how are the trees growing upwards and not just tipped over instantly? And if mountains are triangles, how are houses built on them? Wouldn’t those houses just tumble down the mountains? And wouldn’t it have been impossible to build them? Why is no one answering me? Side note: look at this:
What happened to her?
These are the questions that you’re all too afraid to ask. It’s always up to me to ask them. And I want you all to know that I don’t do this for myself; I do this for my readers. And my readers are you. And I’m so proud to say that I’ve taught you all how to read through Circle Back. If it weren’t for me, no one would know that mountains aren’t two-dimensional. And if it weren’t for me again, no one would know that I thought mountains were two-dimensional for the better part of my first 12 years of living. I teach you all so much.
I know I’m blaming my lack of sleep on the daylight being saved, but the truth behind this is that I’ve been struggling to sleep, eat, exercise, and socialize because of how horrifying it is that our government — Joe Biden specifically — is refusing to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. I am literally not sleeping because I can’t stop thinking about the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, due to the choices of Israel and our own government. It’s gone on far longer than a month, but this past month has shown more about these two governments than Gal Gadot being cast as Wonder Woman ever did.
I drove to the Washington DC protest this past Saturday with a couple of friends to join thousands of people in calling on Joe Biden to demand a ceasefire. We left Brooklyn in the morning and came back that same night.
This protest was emotional, to say the least. To see entire families — from grandparents to toddlers — walking hand in hand, asking for the freedom to live in their homes was so upsetting that if you were to look at them and still not give a shit, you would be heading straight to Denver International Airport after (because that is allegedly where the gates to Hell are). And to hear a young boy’s voice shout louder than anyone else’s as he led a chant made it feel like just the drama of the scene should do enough to stop this genocide.
But of course, there was no response from the White House. And the protests continue. They happen every day, and they won’t stop until something is done. But for some reason, I feel like these dumb little politicians aren’t losing a wink of sleep each night that this lasts. Joe is off to get his fourth helping of a facelift while Palestinian children have to hold a press conference, begging people to help them. Children? Holding a press conference? Asking you not to kill them? What the fuck is going on? Are you still not listening?
I know this isn’t a funny ending to this week’s newsletter, but it’s becoming tougher and tougher to not just be serious and make your priority each day to drink enough water so that you’re not getting a migraine every time you see another video of the horrific crimes that are happening to everyone in Gaza. And the most I can do on my phone is call my congressperson to demand a ceasefire but not even get through to anyone.
The world can be so cruel, and it’s so unfair. It’s so unfair that the villains are in charge almost all of the time. And while it may not feel like anything’s getting done, we still have to keep fighting. Call your representatives until you get through to someone. Go to a protest. Never watch another Amy Schumer special again. These can be done in order or all at the same time.
I promise I will have some fun updates next week. But all I can do for you right now is tell you that it’s time for your annual Fleabag rewatch. Unfortunately, this is not my choice; it’s simply the law. Go on. Rewatch the show. Don’t be afraid. Hot Priest is waiting.
It’s Tuesday.
I am actually keeping Zulal company don’t get it twisted
The world.