​"Tea Pigs"
 Written By: Ash Catcher

     There are a handful of remedies that seemingly have the power to abate — or at least provide comfort in the face of — nearly any problem at hand. I am not talking about another acid trip altho that seems to reset just about any problem I have had in my life.  A nice, long shower, an extra few hours of sleep, and a hot mug of your favorite tea can have real healing powers, I am talking more wholesome then MDMA-  So it’s no surprise that, in the throes of 2021 we’re constantly reaching for the kettle. 

     Right now, tea culture is at its peak ( I think!). You’ve likely found yourself scrolling past targeted ads for herbal elixirs or swiping through endless Instagram stories depicting still-steaming mugs. You’ve heard celebrity endorsements for choice brews and you’ve read about “wellness tea” in magazine roundups devoted to self-care. The stuff is more popular than ever but...why now? 

     I am a tea snob, if you thought my coffee addiction was bad wait till you see me compare kettles. I am a pour over addict- and apparently you can do pour overs with loose tea. GAME CHANGER! Alert the media and my big ass tea box on my kitchen window sill.  I am not sure anyone was aware but this past year aged me just shy of like 30 years so now I am in bed by 9, and haven’t had a warm cup of tea in almost 3 years….  I just forget about it okay.  I hosted a party one time and drank 12 cups of tea. I am just a feen for the leaves. 

Call it what you want there is just this weird satisfaction of having a warm comforting drink- dont get me wrong I drink iced tea in the summer like its going out of style- I do my own blends- I'll get pretty wacky with the combinations too- we go beyond the realms of raspberry mint- or blackberry sage iced tea altho both are good and I would either offer lemonade mixed in with that and/ or some boba pearls. Why not get fancy? Life is too short and if I want something I want it to be worthwhile! — 

UNTIL next week- that is the tea! 

-Ash 
​

[Photo Credit: Harley Maili, CEO and owner of Photodelphia Studios]
​By Ash Catcher.
"I like odd things, and people, of which I have met, and collected many thoughts about my life…. I am a squirrel.  I hide things, and you only see the tip of the iceberg- plus I nut up." 

     Apparently I come from a family of collectors. This is not news to me, I just thought I had a shit ton of interests and had trouble honing on one specific focus ( very Ash I know) but what I didn’t realize is what or exactly what it was that I had squirreled away. I am almost 30 and I have been collecting records since I was 15, that's almost 2 decades collecting vinyl, which you know if you have had the pleasure of hauling vinyl up and down flights of stairs ya know that shit is heavy. I probably have like close to 200+ vinyls, 7 inch, you name it I have it. I just cleared another record player, I think I am on my 4th or 5th. I just obliterate technology like Jubilee.  Headphones, computers, you name it UH PHONES! I am collecting those too apparently… Books, art, clothes  PLANTS! I think I just have a lot of stuff, but it all seems to have its own home, and such. I can't even begin to get into how many concert ticket stubs I still have-  I am going to have to do something super special with those!  SO I wanted to take a quick look at why humans feel the need to keep things. Nine seemed enough to me, and again love those odd things: 

1. Knowledge on a specific niche, topic, or genre:  I love rocks! I have a huge rock collection too, yes I am 6. 
2. It's relaxing and stress reducing: I love to sit, and listen to records that are a huge stress reducer for me. 
3. Personal pleasure, pride and ownership: Very proud of all the black dresses I own, oh you need one? 
4. Social interaction with fellow like minded collectors: I used to love going to book clubs, I have too much books for my own good, yes I have heard of a kindle, no I think they are stupid. I just like odd things. 
5. Competitive challenge. 
6. Street Cred amongst your fellow collector friends: I am not one to brag, but if you do I think you are a complete tosser. 
7. Altruism: I donate my time to teach art classes, but that is not for everyone, and not everyone who collects things does this. 
8. Nostalgia: Nothing like bidding on something you owned when you were 5 in the mid 70’s at 3am. 
9. Accumulation of general wealth: measure of security and freedoms. If I wanted to I could sell off my record collection and put it towards a down payment on a house. But honestly my music collection is worth more than just a cookie cutter house- but. a treehouse or a cabin in the pococnos….. mmmm Ill get back to you on that.  

     I have a shit ton of things, there is no other greater unit of measurement to describe all the things I have acquired.  I have a lot of plants, books, clothes, records, artwork ( mine and others) and now cat things. THANKS BANNER!  It can sometimes be overwelhming…. Oh and mugs please please if you see me with a mug in my hands if there is nothing hot in it please wack it out of my hands I don't need another mug, but I have been looking for more wicker chairs. 

I love collecting things. This problem fills some sort of emotional void that I developed as a child. But what I love more is liquidation. I love selling off my things. I get an enormous rush from getting what is essentially something that just sits there and turning it into fast cash. I do this like close to every other season. I donate clothes, and try to be fashion-conscious. I feel like you got to spend a little money to make money. I really like researching and pricing items, something that I have inherited from my dad I am sure. He has an enormous collection of items as well. I really didn’t have much choice in the matter. it is just something I am weirdly good at. Desire, Acquire, Catalog, and Sell- it is really quite fool proof. 

I am always so curious to see who likes to collect things! 

See ya next Wednesday! 
-Ash Catcher