What’s really funny about this is that you’re exactly like my wife, and she is also named Christina (well, Cristina). I wonder if your wife is anything like me. Guess I’ll find out if I keep reading your stuff. Belated congratulations on your three years here, Michael!
fortunately enough and for most people unflinching unguarded honesty is the foundation most good things are built on in your case it allows for us to see a uniquely nuanced and extremely entertaining take on the world around us and in a way which excludes really only the deeply unfunny amongst us (there must be an Easter Island for those people where the stone statues stand mute, perpetually frowning in exile heh) i would caution conflating "flat" with the "blues" because the latter is a necessary catharsis which has created so much joy over the years it needn't be explained further but i will anyways: when you turn yourself inside out you expose the inner vulnerable parts like hands not used to scrubbing toilet bowls to new sensations, perhaps even strategies. The blues sets you free and IMO are far preferable to the flatness which is also natural self protection but more of an aneasthesia , a numbing buffer....this piece really explains what i assume many feel exactly on here trying to pull weekly rabbits out of a hat that was finally left out too long lately in the manure pile of accumulated sad and bad news ...again you did what you normally do even without the hysterical undercurrent we have come to expect (ok DEMAND so like uhhh get your shit together!!!) universal, real and connecting the dots at the same time hey if michelle pfeiffer can do it so can you right?
thank for this! you make a damn good point about the difference between flatness and the blues. appreciate you setting me straight. also, i just wanna say, it's always a pleasure seeing you in the comments. working on getting my shit together!
But this really spoke to me. You can't help how you feel, and you can't feel one way all the time. I love this newsletter, Michael. Thank you for writing it.
Thank you, Noha! I'm glad this spoke to you and also I wish we weren't in a place where we feel like we do. Your piece spoke to me too. But I do have one correction for you: never feel guilty about eating poutine.
I do not know. I think my challenge around procrastination is that I'm a slow reader and a slow writer, mostly because I grew up with a lot of learning and vision challenges to overcome. To get through school, I put a lot of pressure on myself to start projects early because I knew I needed extra time to do the reading, write, edit, and proofread.
You know, I'm the biggest procrastinator because I was the opposite in school. I would learn for a biology test in the bus on the way to school and ace it. And I've been thinking about it: This is what made me a lazy twat for the rest of my life. So good on you!
Firstly: Happy Anniversary!! Three Years!! WooHoo!! We lucky readers!! Here's to three more and then three more and on and on and on. And I love the new podcast. Secondly: I'm so glad you wrote this. As anticipated, I relate to a lot of this, most especially this: "if it’s something enjoyable like eating ice cream or watching a movie, it’s not a valuable use of my time, but if it’s a chore, like running errands, or cooking, or cleaning, it is a valuable use of my time." YES!! And: WHY ARE HUMANS SO BANANAS?! I feel like this sentence could launch a whole other post. This is really an issue for me and I'm guessing for others. And we need to change it or we're all going to lose our minds! Can you help us change it, ME?! And, finally, I'm not convinced you are flat--unless you're viewing it strictly through the lens of humor. Because, for me, this was a beautifully written, thoughtful, compelling post on living in today's extremely difficult and often emotionally and physically exhausting world! Well Done!
Thank you, Jane! For everything. I think you're right. Maybe I'm not flat. Or, maybe I'm only flat in the humor sense. Also, you're right again, I think there's something to this idea about how we value our time. That line resonated with a lot of folks, so I'm putting on the list for an essay at some point. Maybe if I can figure that out for myself it'll help everyone else figure it out too. In the meantime, we are just bananas.
Well, Michael. Flat is a good word for it and, as others have said, it's very relatable. Congratulations on your Substack birthday and I wish you lots of new supportive subscribers. You know we are all rooting for you, don't you? It's such a pleasure being part of this community, both when we're up and buzzing and even when we're flat. We're human after all.
Thank you, Yasmin! I do know this community is rooting for me, and I'm so grateful for that, but it's also nice to hear that too, so I really appreciate this comment from you!
Happy 3 year anniversary! Definitely relate to feeling flat sometimes. Don’t have a magic answer around it other than realizing sometimes things are up and down and that’s a normal trajectory.
Happy 3rd birthday to SN! Imho I don't think it matters if you're flat or bumpy or hexagonal, the most important thing is you keep showing up for your ppl/readers! That is a major achievement. Also these are freaky deaky times. Maybe being flat is a sign of yr sanity or relatively good mental health. Anyway, I am cheering for you: & I wrote a v nice review abt yr new podcast on Apple podcast app, using that cool link you provided at top of newsletter. HBD, rock on.
Sometimes flat is the move. There’s a lot of wisdom in this answer, Gabe. Always appreciate your perspective. Also, really appreciate you leaving a review of the podcast!
This is, maybe weirdly, one of my favorite pieces of yours precisely for your honesty. I don’t connect with artists in the humor space that are all jokejokejokeWACKYTHINGjoke!! I don’t trust those people. I definitely use humor as survival mechanism, self-expression, and tool to figure out what the FUCK is happening, but I’m determined not to HIDE behind it the way I think those kind of artists I described tend to do. This comment is drunk. Let me sum up: Getting to see the messy, warm, smart, funny you is always the right call. Clink to three years and secure catalytic converters.
thank you for this drunk comment. i love it! all of it! and i get what you're saying about not trusting a clown who's always laughing. something ain't right there. or, maybe i'm just jealous. maybe that clown life is 10 out of 10, and they're making millions to boot. god bless 'em, i guess. i dunno. that's not our world. also, thanks for the catalytic callback, brought a smile to my face.
I think you are living your best clown life. I just meant that in some of those cases, I feel like they are giving me empty calories, junk food (Twinkies & Ho-Hos because they are the funniest of junk foods). The masters I admire give me wit & emotional depth. And that’s why they are masters and I am barely an intern...still. Please make that catalytic caper a graphic novel okaythanksbye.
How to Live Your Best Clown Life is a good book title. Also, a catalytic caper a graphic novel is a great idea! Need to find a collaborator on that one. But yeah, I dig that. And yes, I see the empty calories. Funny thing is, when I first started writing comedy, the big note I got over and over again was, "where's the heart?" The shift, for me, was I began writing about subjects I knew. At first just me and some weird jobs I had (NSFW, for example), then a couple that was sorta like me and Christina, then actually me and Christina. That sorta forces you to find the heart or be an asshole, and i'd rather not be an asshole.
I love that! When you are invested on some level it absolutely shines through and the art is so much more compelling. It also happens to be the braver choice and now we’re back to GO: honesty, vulnerability, owning the flat. Always look forward to your work.
Michael: I’m here for the funny, but I’ll settle on occasion for the truth. Having also celebrated my third anniversary recently, with Rule of Three, the scam I endorse is publishing a “Best of. . .” column on occasion - rehashing an old column, and perhaps dressing it up a bit - hell, The Tonight Show used to do that, when Johnny Carson wanted to get away.
I'm impressed you clean the toilet even though you feel flat. I need a little does of positivity before I can do that.
What’s really funny about this is that you’re exactly like my wife, and she is also named Christina (well, Cristina). I wonder if your wife is anything like me. Guess I’ll find out if I keep reading your stuff. Belated congratulations on your three years here, Michael!
fortunately enough and for most people unflinching unguarded honesty is the foundation most good things are built on in your case it allows for us to see a uniquely nuanced and extremely entertaining take on the world around us and in a way which excludes really only the deeply unfunny amongst us (there must be an Easter Island for those people where the stone statues stand mute, perpetually frowning in exile heh) i would caution conflating "flat" with the "blues" because the latter is a necessary catharsis which has created so much joy over the years it needn't be explained further but i will anyways: when you turn yourself inside out you expose the inner vulnerable parts like hands not used to scrubbing toilet bowls to new sensations, perhaps even strategies. The blues sets you free and IMO are far preferable to the flatness which is also natural self protection but more of an aneasthesia , a numbing buffer....this piece really explains what i assume many feel exactly on here trying to pull weekly rabbits out of a hat that was finally left out too long lately in the manure pile of accumulated sad and bad news ...again you did what you normally do even without the hysterical undercurrent we have come to expect (ok DEMAND so like uhhh get your shit together!!!) universal, real and connecting the dots at the same time hey if michelle pfeiffer can do it so can you right?
thank for this! you make a damn good point about the difference between flatness and the blues. appreciate you setting me straight. also, i just wanna say, it's always a pleasure seeing you in the comments. working on getting my shit together!
I feel like this piece says what I said last Friday about feeling off and weird and having a split brain and not knowing what to do when it comes to the war https://pronetohyperbole.substack.com/p/war-and-the-splintered-mind-how-we?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2, except my piece is depressing and your piece is ... flat (with some funny sprinkled in)
But this really spoke to me. You can't help how you feel, and you can't feel one way all the time. I love this newsletter, Michael. Thank you for writing it.
Thank you, Noha! I'm glad this spoke to you and also I wish we weren't in a place where we feel like we do. Your piece spoke to me too. But I do have one correction for you: never feel guilty about eating poutine.
Thank you! you’re right about the poutine of course.
How can you be funny without procrastinating?
I do not know. I think my challenge around procrastination is that I'm a slow reader and a slow writer, mostly because I grew up with a lot of learning and vision challenges to overcome. To get through school, I put a lot of pressure on myself to start projects early because I knew I needed extra time to do the reading, write, edit, and proofread.
You know, I'm the biggest procrastinator because I was the opposite in school. I would learn for a biology test in the bus on the way to school and ace it. And I've been thinking about it: This is what made me a lazy twat for the rest of my life. So good on you!
Firstly: Happy Anniversary!! Three Years!! WooHoo!! We lucky readers!! Here's to three more and then three more and on and on and on. And I love the new podcast. Secondly: I'm so glad you wrote this. As anticipated, I relate to a lot of this, most especially this: "if it’s something enjoyable like eating ice cream or watching a movie, it’s not a valuable use of my time, but if it’s a chore, like running errands, or cooking, or cleaning, it is a valuable use of my time." YES!! And: WHY ARE HUMANS SO BANANAS?! I feel like this sentence could launch a whole other post. This is really an issue for me and I'm guessing for others. And we need to change it or we're all going to lose our minds! Can you help us change it, ME?! And, finally, I'm not convinced you are flat--unless you're viewing it strictly through the lens of humor. Because, for me, this was a beautifully written, thoughtful, compelling post on living in today's extremely difficult and often emotionally and physically exhausting world! Well Done!
Thank you, Jane! For everything. I think you're right. Maybe I'm not flat. Or, maybe I'm only flat in the humor sense. Also, you're right again, I think there's something to this idea about how we value our time. That line resonated with a lot of folks, so I'm putting on the list for an essay at some point. Maybe if I can figure that out for myself it'll help everyone else figure it out too. In the meantime, we are just bananas.
Well, Michael. Flat is a good word for it and, as others have said, it's very relatable. Congratulations on your Substack birthday and I wish you lots of new supportive subscribers. You know we are all rooting for you, don't you? It's such a pleasure being part of this community, both when we're up and buzzing and even when we're flat. We're human after all.
Thank you, Yasmin! I do know this community is rooting for me, and I'm so grateful for that, but it's also nice to hear that too, so I really appreciate this comment from you!
Happy newsletter birthday! 🥳
I'm new here, pleased to read you.
As for feeling flat, here's hoping it means you are integrating, processing, and about to level up and be bumpy again.
Thank you, Jen! Welcome to Situation Normal! Glad to have you here.
Huh. That's funny.
Happy 3 year anniversary! Definitely relate to feeling flat sometimes. Don’t have a magic answer around it other than realizing sometimes things are up and down and that’s a normal trajectory.
Thank you, Julie. Ups and downs are normal is an excellent mind set. Honest and practical. Who needs magic?
Happy 3rd birthday to SN! Imho I don't think it matters if you're flat or bumpy or hexagonal, the most important thing is you keep showing up for your ppl/readers! That is a major achievement. Also these are freaky deaky times. Maybe being flat is a sign of yr sanity or relatively good mental health. Anyway, I am cheering for you: & I wrote a v nice review abt yr new podcast on Apple podcast app, using that cool link you provided at top of newsletter. HBD, rock on.
Sometimes flat is the move. There’s a lot of wisdom in this answer, Gabe. Always appreciate your perspective. Also, really appreciate you leaving a review of the podcast!
i feel flat a lot, especially when i don't take my prescriptions. but i'm so glad you're turning 3! you are a gem, dude. :)
thank you! i really appreciate all of these comments. they made me smile. always love seeing you in the comments!
that was wildly inappropriate
i think that for a 3rd newsletter anniversary you need to go all out - Fleshight for he and her. the gift that keeps on giving.
This is, maybe weirdly, one of my favorite pieces of yours precisely for your honesty. I don’t connect with artists in the humor space that are all jokejokejokeWACKYTHINGjoke!! I don’t trust those people. I definitely use humor as survival mechanism, self-expression, and tool to figure out what the FUCK is happening, but I’m determined not to HIDE behind it the way I think those kind of artists I described tend to do. This comment is drunk. Let me sum up: Getting to see the messy, warm, smart, funny you is always the right call. Clink to three years and secure catalytic converters.
thank you for this drunk comment. i love it! all of it! and i get what you're saying about not trusting a clown who's always laughing. something ain't right there. or, maybe i'm just jealous. maybe that clown life is 10 out of 10, and they're making millions to boot. god bless 'em, i guess. i dunno. that's not our world. also, thanks for the catalytic callback, brought a smile to my face.
I think you are living your best clown life. I just meant that in some of those cases, I feel like they are giving me empty calories, junk food (Twinkies & Ho-Hos because they are the funniest of junk foods). The masters I admire give me wit & emotional depth. And that’s why they are masters and I am barely an intern...still. Please make that catalytic caper a graphic novel okaythanksbye.
How to Live Your Best Clown Life is a good book title. Also, a catalytic caper a graphic novel is a great idea! Need to find a collaborator on that one. But yeah, I dig that. And yes, I see the empty calories. Funny thing is, when I first started writing comedy, the big note I got over and over again was, "where's the heart?" The shift, for me, was I began writing about subjects I knew. At first just me and some weird jobs I had (NSFW, for example), then a couple that was sorta like me and Christina, then actually me and Christina. That sorta forces you to find the heart or be an asshole, and i'd rather not be an asshole.
I love that! When you are invested on some level it absolutely shines through and the art is so much more compelling. It also happens to be the braver choice and now we’re back to GO: honesty, vulnerability, owning the flat. Always look forward to your work.
Michael: I’m here for the funny, but I’ll settle on occasion for the truth. Having also celebrated my third anniversary recently, with Rule of Three, the scam I endorse is publishing a “Best of. . .” column on occasion - rehashing an old column, and perhaps dressing it up a bit - hell, The Tonight Show used to do that, when Johnny Carson wanted to get away.
Thank you, Bill! The best of column is the best scam there is.