A while ago, Cathy sent me a copy of another zine for review, and at that time, I saw something in her that I knew would continue to grow if she just kept at it and kept publishing. I'm happy to report that my instincts were on-target and now that she's got three more issues of Born to Lose under her belt, her voice and style have really evolved. It's a quick read, but it's an interesting one, and worth the $1 price tag to be sure.

In this issue, she has her trademark handwritten articles, but also some that have been typewritten and set over photographs to add some visual interest. The contrast really works. Her more personal articles (things like her actual biography and the absolute joy of naptime) are handwritten and her more abstract, universal pieces are typewritten (i.e., her piece on how your body changes without your consent).

I'm a big sucker for lists, too, and Cathy's got some good ones that made me laugh -- her list of things she can "sometimes kind of do partway when Zelly is awake and streaking through the house half-naked" is reminiscent of some of Ayun Halliday's pieces in East Village Inky, in fact. Whether you have kids or not, you can appreciate them.

Before the comparison goes too far, though, I want to mention that Waiting to Sleep differs from EVI in a very profound way -- instead of being all about the funny and touching side of parenting (which Ayun does well, but most end up being a bit cloying with), Cathy really does talk about the issues with parenting that aren't quite what you'd see in Parenting magazine. Things about sometimes resenting the time it takes, or about feeling like she's melting into a homogenized version of "Mommy" instead of herself -- all the things you'd really want your friends to tell you about being a parent, more than just the "oh, it's wonderful" line that's too often repeated.

All in all, I have to say that Cathy's evolution is amazing, and in future issues, I can't see her getting anything but better. Send her a buck c/o Born To Lose Press, 409 Water St., Jackson, CA 95642, and take a few minutes to find out how the Mommy Half lives.

[ by Elizabeth Badurina ]
Rambles: 30 November 2002