Cramped Style Weekly

Issue No. 218: January 30, 2026

So the thing about being a person with a brain and a social media addiction here in Trump’s America is that you go through cycles of feeling like you can’t be a normal person who just talks about normal things. I think I never really got over being just a liiiiittle bit feral since 2020, and I’m so angry about ICE, it’s all I can talk about.

According to a personality test I had to take twice at work, unlike most people, I don’t have a work persona. I’m 100 percent myself when I’m with friends, when I’m at home chilling, or when I am at work. For better or worse. And these days, it’s for worse. Luckily, I am surrounded by likeminded people at work, but DAMN, it’s really hard to not crack really dark jokes about how I have two work trips on the horizon — one to Minnesota and one to Denmark. I mean honestly.

Here’s how I am giving my brain breaks from the news lately.

What I’m reading

I finished The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman. The Thursday Murder Club series are great cozy mysteries, but I also love how much they celebrate friendship.

What I’m listening to

I haven’t watched the Super Bowl in a long time due to the NFL giving me the ick, but I am excited for Bad Bunny’s halftime show, so I’m listening to NUEVAYoL radio. DtMF was my most listened to album in 2025, and I haven’t taken a break from it yet.

What I’m watching

Also in the cozy mystery genre, we watched Netflix’s “Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials,” which was fine. Nothing spectacular, but it wasn’t bad, and Helena Bonham Carter is always a treat. Now we’re rewatching the first season of “The Night Manager” from 2016 (?!) before starting the new season.

What I’m eating

I’ve been a long-time fan of Daily Harvest starting when they just did smoothies. Now, I hardly ever buy smoothies; I’m very into their new protein oat bowls for breakfast. If you’re interested in trying, using my referral link here!

This week’s local favorite

Cafe Dear Leon needs no promo from me (especially since I’m sure I’ve already touted it here multiple times), but they recently became a James Beard semifinalist AND more importantly, today is National Croissant Day. To celebrate, they have special croissants all weekend, and lucky me, Scott is a teacher, which means he is teaching remotely today and was able to go snag a raspberry pistachio croissant and a passionfruit coconut croissant. 10/10 recommend, get your ass into that freezing cold line this weekend and get these croissants!

This week’s obsession

I downloaded Crossplay, the new Scrabble-like offering from NYT Games. Of all the word games I love, Scrabble is not my strong suit, likely due to the math involved, but I’m addicted to playing my dad.

How I’m staying healthy

Um I’m still going for my morning walks out in the icy tundra, so I guess my big health goal lately is not slipping and falling.

Stay warm and safe this weekend friends!