Welcome to The Octopus and The Ant

The name of this newsletter, The Octopus and The Ant, is taken from my two tattoos, which are, well, you can probably guess. The Octopus, to Aristotle, was a universal form embodying the mind (the head, also the phlegmatic humor), the five senses, and the three other humors (eight legs; the melancholic, choleric, and sanguine humors). At least, that’s what I deduced in college, inspiring me to get an octopus tattoo. The Ant represents hard work and service to one’s community.

I started this newsletter in early 2023 to share my ideas and my thoughts about the things I hear, see, read, and feel. I want to offer my friends (and if you read this, we are friends) smart, thoughtful, and funny opinions about art, movies, books, politics, and about being a parent, a spouse, a friend, and a 50-year-old woman. I assume my readers are smart people with eclectic thoughts and interests who feel a connection to what I write. I want to offer you well-rounded critical thinking.

Remember, before the internet, when we used to send each other letters? By subscribing to this publication, you are signing up to get a letter from me, each week. You can write back (I love getting letters!) or not, I’ll still send them. It’s also a little like a zine, in that other people can read it too. And it’s handmade and random and full of my passions. My notes are alternatingly funny, pithy, sweet, and insightful. I can’t promise you all four of those at once, but that’s what I’m aiming for.

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and website. Right now, all subscribers get every newsletter. I offer a paid subscriber level for those who want to show they are willing to pay for good writing. In the future, I may offer paid subscriber content. If you’d like to comment on my posts, you need to create a Substack account, but you can always email me at andreadooley@substack.com.

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