I've been down on AI for a while now, for a thousand reasons, but not because I knew it well enough to authoritatively criticize it. Honestly, I was
Life is a feeling
One of my teachers1 said the title of this post with great authority, and it gave me pause. How could life be a feeling, I wondered, isn't life a
What do you call utopia?
With Sunday Morning Hope by David Byrne and Patti Smith I don't care for the word utopia. I feel it's been so overused for so long that my
Regress, or Congress?
In 2016, I wrote letters to a number of GOP Senators asking them to hold the line against the destructive tendencies of Trump. It seemed clear that
Stone Soup
Email Newsletter published 11/4/2025 is here.
One-Third School, Two-Thirds Sky
I've had so many things on my mind lately, and much of it related to the sky: blues, clouds, galaxies, light and dark matter, and accelerating
In (and out of) Service
[Originally published as newsletter on 11/11/2025]My Dad is a Veteran. He served our country in a regimented way to protect democracy. Practically, he
What I know about marketing
Good marketing is not a getting activity. It's a giving one. To do marketing well, you must give first. And give often to new people. And I
Road Songs, Libraries, and Hard Work Hassles
After dropping my 15 year old at drivers ed, I drove around listening to classic rock and landed at the library. Before I forget, Bob Seeger is an
Here’s my story (and I’m not sticking to it)
I've been in between things for some time now. Like in my career. And it is glorious. I mean, literally glorious. Each day feels like an adventure, my
Time Travel
[ Originally posted as Newsletter on 10/21/2015 ] Good morning, I'm at the airport with 20 minutes to get this out to you. I love flying
Polarity: a mechanism of expansion
My father, a man of few words to me, once said our culture was bipolar. His colleague provided a wide-eyed surprised look and consenting chuckle. I
What changes when you have kids
So yeah, this avant-blog has the word "mom" in it, which probably makes you think that somehow it's going to be all beautiful beige housekeeping tips,
Annnd today, there’s peace-ish in the Middle East
[originally published in newsletter on 10/14/2025] My friend is dying and everyone except a rogue lung doctor is doing their job. Well, actually
Anchors Away
There was a time when women undergoing spiritual transformation could take a vow of stability of place, and hole up – practically – in a cell in a
What’s your story? Mythic or Mundane?
[originally published as newsletter on 9/30/2025]There's a good deal of talk in self-development circles about the stories we tell ourselves. That we
recent visual work
Birth of VenusMarkup on photo AVMarkup on photo Visual Works © September 2025 Elizabeth Mullen Matteson | Contact for licensing.
Admitting Conflation
See, I'm on a self-study immersion in the English language and American culture so as to become a better writer. And my course is pretty sloppy and
Mapping: meeting what you need on the checkerboard of life – with art project
On the checkerboard of life, the right thing is finding its way to you, as you are to it.~ My Mom Artwork: No Title by the author 2024 I love
When a mound of sand sends you to the stratosphere
Originally published as newsletter 09/24/2025 This photo above is of sand mound about 10 inches wide, and reminds me of hurricane clouds. In
Culling, destruction, and birth by menopause
I am experiencing menopause. And also a deep gleaning of my business ventures, clients, relationships, subscriptions, and some obligations too.
Over-Unders for the Sandwich Generation
IE the gamble of choosing material renunciation as a middle-class, middle-generation American. Sitting here squarely in a middle class "sandwich
pushy, derivative, thieving, lying, child AI.
Ok, first: forgive this title. Yes, it's here to grab your attention, but has less vitriol behind it than perhaps it sounds. Truth is, whether I like
Matchy matchy branding is going, going …
I only have a few minutes to write this. Remember when the sign that a business was "official" was that all their social channels, their website,
Mother of
I was out late last night at a concert with my teenager. Total bonding experience, and great to see how even punk and goth music can still send a
If it’s brown…
There's a bell in the bathroom at my mom's house. Like one of those "ring for service," bells that dings when you slap it. Because there's more than a
“Yeah, No” and knowing what you’ve really got
Originally published by Newsletter 9/3/2025 Hello Reader, I keep thinking I'm supposed to write relatable material here, and then, I think, I'm
3 little words… on my doorstep
A multi-media pairing for a multi-media life. Thank goodness for music, art, and poetry. In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about
Band of Brothers
A few weeks ago, a solid, insightful, kind and loving man from my home town took his own life. I knew him a little, and what I knew made me like him.
You won’t all get this, and that’s okay
Menopause is like a pack of wolves in a bitch's clothing. So fun to play with tools like Facebook color boxes, then turn them on their head by this
Waitress TV
[Originally published in newsletter 8/26/2025] "All the world's a stage" they say, but I'd venture all the world may actually be a
Waving
For the first time in ages, I sat outside and watched the trees. First, I saw trees. Then my eyes opened, and I saw breeze. Boughs bending
The inhumanity of over-helpfulness
In my digital world, where AI is proliferating, technological "helpfulness" can sanitize language between humans to the point where it is blocking
The Helpers
On building trust and hope in a world we cannot control. Mr. Rogers said, when you are in crisis, look for the helpers. This is a good strategy for
Good Mourning
Originally Published Via newsletter on 8/5/2025 I've been thinking a of writing a series of good morning letters in honor of my mom, who was Yelp
Good Morning Letter
Dear Younger One, Your mom asked me to write. She said you were doing pretty well. I'm glad. I also heard you are afraid of growing up. Turning 18
A Rich Background
[originally published via newsletter on 7/29/2025] "I want RRRIIICCCCH Surfaces!" Richard Calabro commanded our college art class with twinkling
Emergence ⟺ submergence
Acknowledging your submerged self, the media you choose to portray it, and The Beatles. Have your ever felt that you are emerging from something?
The gift of unfinished business
[Originally published by email for subscribers] Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a pile of books, only to realize, you may
