things i think about while powerwashing 164

January and February were crazy months. I knew this! It was by my own design: visiting friends, friends visiting, family visiting, crazy work, traveling! March was supposed to be the calm month — the month for locking in and getting on the straight and narrow and everything. And it has!

I re-signed my lease. For the first time in a long time, I'll be spending two years living in the same place. Finally, a chance to put down some roots and really get to live in a place and get to know everyone!

Also I'm not really sure what to write about so I can write about me and esteemed subscriber Alisa Reynya's journey down to Brighton Beach.

Thanks to a wonderfully warm day, we were emboldened to take a walk by the Brighton Beach boardwalk. There were a lot of people out and about. Just chilling! Here are some pictures from my walk lol.

museum of the week

Sometimes, you see things on Google Maps that seem better than they are. Sometimes, you see things on Google Maps that seem worse than they are.
The Austin Toy Museum is neither — it somehow lives in the liminal space between the two, just like how it feels when you enter. It's a strange memorial to the past — to a nostalgic childhood that seems to stop just right before mine started. All the toys in this museum definitely appeal to people who remember 9/11.
Something about these purple walls, man.
Upon entry my coworker and I were handed a scavenger hunt with a list of toys to find (including Waldo). Unfortunately we could only find maybe half of them before having to take our phones out to Google what some of these toys were, and before we were called to our next offsite event.
One of the many things I envy millennials for are the pinball machines — why do we not have more of these? They have a bunch of video games available for free play and I made use of the Star Wars pinball machine for maybe 20-30 minutes before locking in on the toys.
Some subjects of note:

• A King of the Hill display box. I guess I should have known there were toys. It's funny to have confirmation.
• The legendary Gameboy Color camera! Man, this society used to make GADGETS.
• A collection of Transformers toys
  Honestly I think I would maybe recommend this. If you're really into toys or maybe you just want to kill some time in Austin I'd recommend this. I think $15 to play pinball for an hour or two is ... not bad?

anonymous subscriber news

So I also recently got a humidifier. And as soon as I start to use it the weather humidity jumps from <20% to 50%. So I'm like ok I guess I didn't need to buy this! And now I have to find somewhere to put it for like eight months.

Submit here: https://forms.gle/2MABf8jNr2V8kEY87

• anon rises: I started getting up at 6 everyday and I feel like a new person
• anon struggles with addiction: I need to reduce my doomscrolling aaaa
• anon reels: My car was hit by another car in a parking lot and I am so unhappy ):<
• anon adults: I got a humidifier, am I an adult now?

animal of the week

Esteemed subscriber Noah Curran contributes an animal that is commonly seen on college campuses: the squirrel.

For your news letter, fat squirrel eating someone’s garbage

Send me your animal photos at ryan@torrtle.co OR at this form https://forms.gle/NT3nSkKVbpkjCr1u8!