Yesterday, I was in denial about the pinprick pain beginning to blossom in the back of my throat. But today, it is clear that some kind of viral infection is brewing. Negative for Covid. No fever. Maybe a cold?
I like to think we all have our “sick day” rituals. For dignified people, it’s lemon-ginger tea with honey and a good book. For me, apparently, it’s eating mashed potatoes and watching old Smosh videos. I feel a little bit like a goblin as I do this — starchy foods have that effect on me, I guess — except I’m not being all that mischievous. It’s just me on the couch all glum-and-nostalgic for videos that have aged semi-poorly since 2012.
You know, a couple of days ago I wrote that maybe I was due for a less-than-wonderful Christmas; this is because I had a poor Thanksgiving last year and a terrible Halloween two years ago. Do you know why both of those holiday predecessors were bad? It’s because I was sick! Apparently, the holidays are not the most wonderful time of the year for my immune system.
But the show must go on, write? (Laugh, fools!) This inopportune ailment has inspired me to tell you what I’ve been up to this year. All those exciting moments where I took my non-sore throat for granted.
This has been a busy year, no doubt. It may seem like I pulled back from writing because very few blogs were posted to That American Girl in 2025. But the truth is that I have been writing more than ever. Every week, I participate in a writer’s workshop; I’m constantly revising and submitting new work. I’ve recently had some poems published in The Brooklyn Review, and I have a few more things lined up for later publication dates.
I’ve also been playing my hand as a fashion-and-lifestyle journalist for Holy Thrift, the chicest online marketplace for shopping vintage and independent designers. Which inspired me to pursue video-essay content creation on TikTok, where I’ve curated a small following of nerdy divas.
Like many writers of the digital age, I’m at a crossroads: how much of my writing do I continue to share with the world …. for free? That may sound arrogant or greedy, but it’s ultimately the truth. At some point, the writer must pull back from the online scene and instead knock on the doors of the publishing houses.
Success, of course, is different for every writer. And this is not to discredit blogs — some blogs have had profound impacts on pop culture. I know stumbling upon a blogsite may seem quaint, but really, blogging can be such a life-changing experience.
That American Girl has connected me with countless long-distance-couples in need of some encouragement — some of whom are now real-life friends of mine. And one particular blog post continues to get hundreds of views everyday, a blog post that shall not be named …
What else have I been up to when I wasn’t writing and wasn’t sick? Working. Teaching. Working and teaching. This year has been a productive blur. I know that every year we say “I can’t believe the year is over!” but considering how long and crappy this one has been, I think we’re all looking forward to whatever fresh hell 2026 brings.
As for Blogmas, we’re already five days in! Which means Christmas is just a week away.
Normally, the Christmas spirit has washed over me with its whimsical-pepperminty-goodness by now. Instead, I think I’m just feeling the effects of Nyquil.
Until tomorrow, when I will reveal more eccentricities about my family, the holiday season, and this year’s change of plans …
That Blogmas Girl
That American Girl 
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