(For years, I thought the lyrics to that David Bowie song were "turning faces change". Which, I guess makes sense, too, in the context of the song. But it was one of those embarrassing moments when I was car-singing with a friend and got the line wrong. Oops. Live and learn. Turn and face the strange.)
Sometimes distro work is tedious, like the website stuff? It makes me zone out in front of the computer because I am, apparently, deeply unable to focus on productivity when facebook and webcomics exist on the very same internet on which I am working. 

But then there are the really fun parts: getting and sending mail, tabling at events, justifying your office supply addiction. And the best part is carrying zines and stuff that you're so enthusiastic about that talking to the author or artist makes you feel like a big nerdy fan. 

The people whose work I carry are not just mind-bogglingly talented, but also kind and shockingly enthusiastic about this distro. I am very lucky. 

I added a couple of zines today: Deafula #2 and Give Me Hope or Give me Death. I mailed a couple of things yesterday that I forgot to mention: 

Stuff going out to: 
my grandma (not zine related, but outgoing mail nonetheless)
Heather in CA
Welch in PA

This is what my distro looks like in 3D. I put this picture up on facebook, so the four people reading this blog will already have seen it. But I like having a system. I like being organized and able to find stuff. I enjoy the cabinets themselves, which came from some really lovely people who are as enthusiastic about freecycling stuff as I am. I love that there are balloons - another really big part of my life - in this picture. And I love that zines, which have been hugely influential and important in my life, take up so much physical space now. I love the picture of my partner and I hanging on the front door of the cabinet shelf. The text is too small to read, but there's an arrow pointing to me that says "much taller". She put the little green post-it note up there that says "much nicer". 

What you can't see in this picture is the inside of the cabinet, which is chock full of crafting supplies that I haven't really messed with since I moved to Philly. You also can't see the top of the shelf, which is piled high with clip art and personal zines and mixed media of all sorts. I think if they're taking up space in the distro, I probably need to incorporate some handmade crafts in some way. What are your thoughts? 

So, yesterday as I was leaving to go into the city, some of my favorite people ordered zines! Putting together packages for people you really care about is one of the best feelings - even better when you're putting some of your favorite stuff - books and zines and magnets and stuff in to share with them. 

So, today, orders went out to: 

Brian in TN
Beth in NY
Tina in WA

Good times!

So, I will say that I expected this distro to not be much work. I thought it was something I'd work on when I wasn't ballooning or whatev. It has become sort of an all-consuming obsession. I'm excited to be able to pump what I make on this distro into restocking and adding new titles. Which is what I've done enthusiastically with the orders that have come in so far. 

I'm so amazed by the amount of support that this distro has received in the one (1) day it's been open. I am a little obsessive about watching web traffic and stuff, and make sure everyone knows that this is out there. That said, I launched this from the peer counseling room at the William Way Center last night after tweaking and re-tweaking little things on the site for so long that I was getting on my own damn nerves (I can't imagine how annoying it must have been to the other people I spend Wednesday nights with - they were all troopers, though!) 

After several months of ordering, hard work, and anxiety, I'm throwing open the doors of my distro! I'm so excited to be able to support friends and zines/projects I'm enthusiastic about.

That said, this is a whooooole new venture for me. I'm still working out the kinks with postage and working on a page for events and workshops and stuff.

I hope you're as excited about all this as I am? There's a mailing list! Sign up for it to receive news and special discounts.

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