March Events & The Inspire Performing Arts Festival
Greetings, friends!
As March is Long Covid Awareness month, I want to send kudos to all the folks who have planned online events for promoting education, advocacy, and community building for those with Long Covid. I'm planning to listen in to as much as I can of the 24-Hour Long Covid Awareness Marathon on March 15 on Twitter. (If you're not on that platform, a recording will be available after the event). There's also a Lie Down for Long Covid event in Los Angeles. I'm looking forward to watching along on Instagram as the city is lit up teal at sunset.
I hope you'll be able to participate in an event as well, or take part in an action, like using the 5 Calls app to contact your members of Congress and speak up about Long Covid. If you're low on spoons, you can still make a difference by adding your signature to a petition like this one to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Every voice matters in raising awareness, so I encourage you to use yours however you can this month!
Virtual Dog Park & Cat Cafe
Last year, I wrote about my dog in My Dog Hates Me: A Tribute to the Pets of the Pandemic. (Spoiler if you haven't read it - she doesn't really hate me... I think). She's turning 18 in a couple of weeks and to the amazement of my family, our neighbors and our vet, she's still going strong. Granted, she's living her life at a much more chill pace these days, so we don't make it to the dog park as much as we used to.
That said, I'm hosting a Virtual Dog Park/Cat Cafe for CC people who love pets (any and all pets, not just cats and dogs!) on Saturday, March 14. All are welcome, whether you have a pet or just love pets. Come wish my senior sweetie a happy birthday, say 'awwww' to your heart's content at the other cute pets on camera, and make some new CC friends. There's no show, no agenda, just a low-key hangout with like-minded folks and the critters who love them. Come join us at the virtual dog park where you get to shoot the shit instead of scoop the shit!
Movie Watch Party
This month's movie watch party pick is 'Frankenstein.' Join us Saturday, March 28, at 3 pm ET/2 pm CT/1 pm MT/12 noon PT to watch. All are welcome and all you need to join is a Netflix account and an internet-connected device. You can find more details on monthly movie watch parties here.
Inspire Performing Arts Festival
Coming up April 15 - 19 is Inspire: A Performing Arts Festival by and for the Airborne Aware. Inspire is a free, fully virtual lineup of musical performances, comedy, and plays, all put together by a talented and hard-working group of CC folks who love the arts.
We've even got an open mic night, so if you sing, play an instrument, do standup, perform theatrical works, or any other variety of performance art, grab a 5-minute spot to showcase your original work!
Learn all about the Inspire Performing Arts Festival here and RSVP here for the events you'd like to attend.
Wayside Updates
Wayside - A serial novel for the Covid Conscious community - is nearing completion! Episode 23 will be published later this week, with just a few more to follow. Over the past year, I've had several newsletter subscribers request audio versions of Wayside episodes, so I'm excited to announce they're in progress with a professional voice actor.
There will be a special premiere of the first two episodes of Wayside at the Inspire Performing Arts Festival on April 19 if you'd like to join in and listen!
Hope to see you online!
In good humor and solidarity,
Guiness Pig
You can support my work by signing up for a membership to The Guiness Pig Diaries, sending me a tip, or buying me a coffee. You can also grab a tee from my shop on Bonfire (use promo code BLACKSHEEP for 15% off).