The “Great Purge” Edition :: Issue #317, Rusty’s Electric Dreams


“You’re never too old for anything.”

— Betty White (R.I.P.)

An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #317 :: The “Great Purge” Edition :: 1:19:2022

The Great Purge…

A. Oh, let’s see, an entire set of Hazel Atlas “Musical Pigs” barware I bought (and then never used) in the mid-1990s, a laundry basket full of random opened bottles of booze, antique plates passed down to me from my grandmother, a circa 1999 Pets.com sock puppet in the box, and other stuff that’s been taking up space in my life!

Q. What sort of things have I given away this month?

So, I had 10 days off from work a few weeks ago and was supposed to travel to see family and friends. But, given the state of the variant du jour, I decided to stay home. So that gave me a big chunk of time and nothing planned out. Sounds great, right? I had thought that I’d lay out all the projects I want to do in 2022, and I did do some of that. Instead I ended up in my garage purging, letting go of things I’ve been holding onto for way too long. Some stuff went to friends, some to my local Buy Nothing group, and some was donated. I sold a few things too. Everyone scored big time, let me tell you! Though, I’ve had some big feels watching it all go.

One notable sale: A guy in Louisiana bought my mid-century maple dining set and is going to have it shipped to him. When that goes, I’ll have room for my new adjustable art table. Yes, I’m making room for more art in my life, which is super exciting! (Also looking out for my daughter because I don’t want her to be stuck with my lifetime of complicated memories!)

Honestly, overall, the Great Purge of 2022 has been pretty great. As draining as exorcising the past through rehoming objects has been, it’s also been freeing. I’m not in charge of all those things anymore. I don’t ever have to interact with those objects again and feel whatever emotional charge they were throwing back. I think the most eye opening part of it all the amount of hope I had placed on objects. Like I would be able to touch the past again somehow. The past is the past and I need as much space—physical and mental—as possible to move forward. I have some big ideas and I look forward to finding out if it’s possible for me to do them!

Long story short, I didn’t have the staycation I wanted but I did have the one I needed.

Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. Out with the old, in with the new to me: I’ve wanted to do screen printing at home since forever. To make this happen, I need an exposure unit but they are so expensive new! Anyone have one just collecting dust in their garage that I can have?

As seen on the Internets

Opportunity knocks:  Anthony Rocco is behind a new four-week “mental reset” called Follow Your Curiosity and it has certainly piqued, well, my curiosity.

“Curiosity is one of our innate superpowers. This natural desire to question, discover, and learn is what allows us to discover new territory. To find love, beauty, humor, and ease in life. Sometimes curiosity can be less present or move to the background. This 4-week journey reorients you to the embodied experience of curiosity. You will be looking through the eyes of master experience designers at how to start creating a practice that will strengthen your muscle of inquiry.”

The journey begins February 7 and there is a free 30-minute interactive webinar THIS MORNING (January 19 starting at 8:30 AM PST). Register here. Use the code EDREAMS to get a 30% reader discount.

:: Oldie but a goodie: What will you reveal to your future self?
:: futureme.org

:: Get free at-home rapid Covid tests from Uncle Sam
:: www.covidtests.gov

:: You’ve heard of Wordle but have you heard of…
:: Twordle?
:: Letterle?
:: Sweardle?
:: Queerdle?
:: Absurdle?
:: Byrdle?

:: You have to watch at least one episode of Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace
:: youtu.be/rlPZAfylOUY Thanks, Jenny!

:: Andy Warhol got almost 15 minutes of fame on The Love Boat in 1985
:: boingboing.net/2022/01/12/that-time-andy-warhol-cruised-the-love-boat-1985.html

:: The Tender Bar‘s soundtrack is a ’70s rockfest that reminds me of my childhood
:: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn4ZL0bHxai1N3I6RUrbJlH1fwAlunR1P

:: See how the “vehicular sausage” is made
:: roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a38734853/wienermobile-has-corvette-g-wagen-and-nsx-parts Thanks, David!

Real things you can actually buy: yay?



This new LEGO set features a pink “eye of the tiger.”
image via rdemqo
Other real things you can actually buy
:: Emergency eyebrows: yes way! Thanks, Kent!
:: The Winter 2028 “Climate Change” issue of Popular Pandemics is out: yay!
:: This yarn has reflective threads in it: yay!

Featured Events



[Brooklyn, NY :: 2/5] Shadow Traffic’s Competitive Winter Picnicking returns! Fort Greene Park, 12 to 4 p.m.

WORLDWIDE
[6/11/22] The 2022 Game of Shrooms has been announced!!

BAY AREA, CA+
[San Francisco :: now through 2/1] Charlie Gadeken’s Entwined has returned to Golden Gate Park. It’s free and outside. Peacock Meadow

[Oakland :: 4/9Baba Yaga’s Forest Tea Party, “Baba Yaga invites all folklore and fairytale creatures from around the globe to join her for tea in her enchanted woods. Wear any fantasy or folk wear, and share your favorite dish.”

[San Francisco :: 2023] Because of omicron, SF Sketchfest 2022 has been rescheduled for 2023.

[Oakland :: early 2022] In-person White Elephant Sale returns!

SCOTTSDALE, AZ
[Scottsdale :: 4/28 to 5/1] Arizona Tiki Oasis

VENETA, OR
[Veneta :: 7/8, 9, 10] The Oregon Country Fair is back as an irl event this summer.

Tootsie Roll E.T. by Amanda Lynn Dalley

Rusty’s Electric Dreams is a fortnightly inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff for positive deviants and the people who love them. If this was forwarded to you, please consider subscribing yourself.

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