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
Sundials & Compasses
Because my writing like this last post is often a long and complex weave of many ideas1 , I'm writing this short post as a palate cleanser. I also
low-to-no ownership
With poorly drawn diagram of a cross-section of Earth and Space. Because Western civilization and most economic systems seem to be centered around
Following
When I witnessed a rational, loving human unfriend nearly half of her Facebook people for no apparent reason, and a another freak out enough to call
Concise
I made a short 16mm film named Concise. It could be called an avant garde film1 and it was engrossing to make. I made it as a follow up to another
Believing, Knowing and a Timeless Smile
The power of acknowledgement & questions for deep, time-released understanding. Sitting outside at a small red cafe table on Laguardia Place
Stewarding the Internet
Women are used to this in terms of motherhood, being unseen and unpaid: just "expected." Moms do love and care and survival of the species. It's a
Becoming a writer
Play on words, Play with words: what do you want to know about you? My first poem, which I can recite by heart, woke me up. I wrote it with crayon
Shame & taking responsibility
And a healing plan for this type of overwhelm below. I was talking with family the other day, and heard myself saying, "I feel ashamed all the
Flow in the trenches
I used to work at a restaurant run by, as the owner put it, "a team of leaders." I never knew what she meant until the rains came. This
Process sans plans & perfection
[originally published in weekly newsletter] I feel at a loss of what to say here today, but my hands love to write, and I made a commitment to myself
The toilet in my back yard
And the knowing that comes from an 'in house' metaphor. Last month, we cashed in some Apple shares to have a friend's brother fix our bathroom.
Feedback is free
On a lovely 15 mile (!) hike with a good friend yesterday I learned about feedback. Specifically, that some folks seek it and some don't. I
Dream On Drum Kit: What’s Your Rhythm?
Ever feel like you need a new timing or approach? One that hasn't been done quite yet? So, the other night I have this dream that I'm back on
Is AI, or my butt, running my mobile phone?
Ever call someone you didn't intend to by "butt dial?" I keep my phone in my pocket, and given how tight my jeans have become, watching the
Hey Ram
Today in the woods, I saw Ram Dass1. Well not really. And yet, in another way, precisely. The older man had just a little grey hair and sparkly
Validation & Credentialing ~ Terms of Endearment for oddly-credentialed kin
I've been pondering the value of credentialing and validation for someone to get recognized for mastery in action, but have personally not chased
