Pop Culture Omnivore

Last month, my primary care physician prescribed a power wheelchair for me. It’s harder for me to get around these days because of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), fibromyalgia, etc. My joints experience subluxations that cause tripping and falls. Everything, but especially the POTS, cause exhaustion, sweating, tachycardia, and…

My insurance won’t cover a power wheelchair because I need it for outside the home. They only cover wheelchairs if you need it for “toileting, feeding, dressing, grooming, and bathing.” I am able to do these things, albeit slowly, with my current mobility devices. I live in a two bedroom apartment, so there’s not a lot of ground to cover. Sure, on really bad days or post-surgery it would be…

My continuation of the My EDS Challenge from the Ehlers-Danlos Society! Day 8: What Good Healthcare Looks Like-One of my neurologists, Dr. Joy Burke, spends time talking with me about how hEDS (hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) is affecting me overall (triggering migraine and tension headaches). She takes notes and helps me find other specialists. This doctor looks at the whole picture, not…

I’m in love with Maybe Not Tonight by British outfit Lime Garden, released today on So Young Records. The music is upbeat, yet the vocals express a lethargy that I feel to my core. Recommended if you like Elastica and La Roux. Check out the banger “23.”

That’s right! Burned As Witches, the side project of Ash drummer Rick McMurray, has released a banging new single entitled “Hold Your Nerve.” It’s from the forthcoming self-titled album due out April 17. For tour dates and to sign up for the mailing list, visit the Burned As Witches website. The video, directed by Anthony Neale, is a fun one with Ash’s Mark Hamilton as “The Reaper Cop.”

I’ve been going through my concert ticket stubs and adding them to setlist.fm. Unfortunately, a good chunk of my early concerts aren’t on there! So, I’m posting some of the stubs here for archival purposes.

Do note that The Juliana Hatfield Three opened for The B-52’s at the Dana Center Gym in Waltham, MA. That was a great show.

It’s another Bandcamp Friday! That means Bandcamp waives their revenue share and passes the funds directly to artists and labels. It’s one of the best ways to support those artists you love. According to Bandcamp, over $120 million has gone directly to labels and musicians since Bandcamp Friday’s inception in 2020. Here are my picks for this Bandcamp Friday: Black Cross Hotel – “Rebel Yell” The…

Elizabeth Eulberg knocks another one out of the park with Cruel Summer: The Taylors Version #2. Just like in Love Stories: The Taylors Version #1, this book has excellent character development. It’s fast-paced and filled with Swift Easter eggs. A must for fans of the first volume in this series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OW! My head is killing me. I’ve had a refractory migraine for three weeks. Up until this bout, I had been doing really well with Vyepti infusions and my abortive medication called Reyvow (lasmiditan). But when this migraine started, I was out and driving, and you can’t drive while taking Reyvow, so I wasn’t able to nip the migraine in the bud like usual. It was a few hours later when I finally…

I’m dealing with a refractory migraine and Ehlers Danlos syndrome flare, so this edition is simply my picks. It’s still early in the year, so most are pre-orders. Sunlight Echoes by Whitelands a short history of decay by nothing (pre-order) Ambiguous Desire by Arlo Parks (pre-order) Animal Style by Wynona Bleach (pre-order) Birdy by deary (pre-order) Lucky Now by Lande Hekt Creature of…

Art by neondemon.jpg My talented friend Luciano Oliveira, (AKA neondemon.jpg) has created this lovely portrait of my two cats and me! Includes nods to Hello Kitty, Lush, The National, Ash, The Smiths, and even my mobility aids! I love it. If you love it, too, you should check out his art portfolio or follow him on Instagram. He is open for commissions!

Morrissey giving me a hug in 1994 | Photo by Craig Lordan Some people think it’s fun or newsworthy to mock legendary Smiths frontman Morrissey for all of his concert cancellations, but have you ever stopped to think about how your jokes and vitriol affect disabled people who have to cancel plans frequently? Obviously, Morrissey has health issues. Whether they’re physical or mental-it doesn’t…