one thing about me is I will always find a way to make changes that an editor did not ask for and just hope they make the thing better

(& now online!! orionmagazine.org/article/trou...)

last one ... I can't imagine a better end to the year than having this essay in @orionmagazine.bsky.social, a dream byline for as long as I've been Doing Essay: about the bizarre creatures, imaginary and otherwise, of the Gowanus Canal — my favorite toxic waste site. in print for now.

my story about the steam tunnels beneath @oregonstate.edu was the alumni magazine's most-read story of the year; infinitely thankful to have an editor in my life like Scholle McFarland oregonstater.org/osu-below/

but I also started working with @trailsmag.net , examining the implications of transferring the responsibilities of forest service rangers to volunteers and nonprofits (also print-only, print is forever)

my beloved New York Times for Kids came to an end in August, and I got to send it off with the "saddest [page] ever" (- my editor) AND a lovely tribute to the kid opinions we published over the years (print-only, alas)

& talked to artist Wendy Red Star for @thecreativeindependent.com thecreativeindependent.com/people/visua...

I dove into the weird and hyperspecific world of garlic breeding for Offrange ... ambrook.com/offrange/cro...

(then, in February, I was on @opb.org — my radio debut, and a dream to talk about Lynch and this essay some more. www.opb.org/article/2025...)

in January, I went to North Bend, WA, to talk about David Lynch. reporting this story was a trust fall — I went before I had an assignment — and I am ever so grateful to @longreads.com and @cherilucasrowlands.com for seeing the promise in this pitch longreads.com/2025/01/30/r...