My Cardboard Balcony

32 by Belinda Roddie I'm thirty-two years old now, so here are thirty-two people and things I'm grateful for: 1. My wife. 2. My cats. 3. My parents. 4. My twin sister. 5. My friends. 6. Storytelling. 7. The Internet. 8. DnD. 9. Chocolate. 10. Baseball. 11. Bicycles. 12. Music. 13. Nintendo. 14. Sushi. 15. My guitar. 16. My singing voice. 17. Yellow roses. 18. Suits. 19. Books. 20. My students. 21. My health. 22. Dogs. 23. Swords. 24. Cosplaying. 25. Grilling. 26. Dad jokes. 27. The LGBTQ+ community. 28. The BLM movement. 29. Tea. 30. Lexapro. 31. Hard cider. 32. My house.

Fuck Nazis by Belinda Roddie Man, we need more badasses like Danuta Danielsson these days.

Man! This has been a crazy awesome week! Okay, so here's the deal: I've been on my first official road trip with two dear friends from my TikTok shenanigans. The goal was to move them in together, and we've already done a lot of unpacking and enjoyed ourselves. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to travel safely and meet some incredible people in person. Also, I'm gonna be thirty-two in three days. I've always liked the number 32. Not sure why. It just feels solid. I've accomplished a lot. I'm in an amazing marriage. I've learned and loved and grown into a person I never thought I'd become, even as I navigate things like online teaching and doing palliative care for an ailing pet. And now I'm going to crash on the couch and enjoy the fact that my Colorado friend has central air. Have a great night and a great weekend, everyone.

Alligator Man by Belinda Roddie There's the Alligator Man officiating another wedding: This time, it's two lovely ladies in burgundy vests and bowties, while Jessi "Rattlesnake" Munson prepares to play the fiddle for their first dance after moon pies. The Alligator Man is tall and lanky, and his face looks green and scaly in just the right spectrum of light. When he sings, he sounds like Louis Armstrong. And when he dances, the floor moves with him, like a wave along a beach's open lips. I bought a drink for the Alligator Man after he officiated my own wedding. We drank bourbon together in sweaty suits under a sweatier sunset. He was in love with my girl's mother, who would've loved him back had she not lost all her senses two years ago. Even the Alligator Man can hope for Heaven.

Fight, Felines! by Belinda Roddie The three cats were armed and dangerous. I was prepared.

Tonight by Belinda Roddie Tonight, let's calm our bones with laughter and much needed sleep. We'll eat a full-blown meal, complete with grease, and tell stories so grand, and yet so trivial, that we'll reveal the best parts of ourselves. We'll watch something that's silly but delightful, like Sonic the Hedgehog, with shenanigans and rings. Let's discuss the game franchise's super slick history afterwards before we all drift off into dreams that we hope are calm after the storm (storms that were a close call included). Using the AC as a balm for my flush skin, I'll fold myself into an origami bird made just for you.

Kans-ASS by Belinda Roddie I never want to drive through fucking Kansas ever again.