@buttondown.email.monteiro@rss-parrot.net
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**Hi.** My name is Mike and this is my newsletter. Every week I answer one of your questions. The question can be about anything you want, but I'll only answer it if I think I can give a good answer. To ask a question, just subscribe and reply to one of the newsletters. **Why the hell should I subscribe to this?** Well, you shouldn’t. You should go outside and plant a garden. You should start a band! You should go explore every part of the world you’ve ever wanted to see. You should learn Italian, French, or Tagalog. You should volunteer your time to an organization that works with disadvantaged youth. You should go teach an ESL class for immigrants at the local community college. You should spend your time tracking down abusive priests, like some sacred Avenger. Those are the things you should do. And I encourage you to do them. Feel free to subscribe to my newsletter because you want to. In addition to doing some of those things above. **How often will this shit hit my inbox?** Weekly. **Are you going to eventually charge us for this newsletter?** Nope. I can’t imagine asking you to pay for this. I might promote some stuff at the bottom of the newsletter. Don’t get me wrong, I very much want your money. But not for a newsletter. **Who did that drawing in your newsletter header, and is it supposed to be you?** My friend, the wonderful Kate Bingaman-Burt. And yes. **Is there any hope for the world?** No, but there's a lot of work to do.
Site URL: buttondown.email/monteiro
Feed URL: buttondown.email/monteiro/rss
Posts: 11
Followers: 1
How to grow strawberries
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-grow-strawberries/
Published: February 27, 2026 01:02
Feels so good to have a studio again. This week’s question comes to us from Anthea Tawia: I came to San Francisco to visit the company I work for—sadly I was let go the first day I visited the office. I’m early in my career, worked there about 5ish months…
How to listen to records
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-listen-to-records/
Published: February 20, 2026 23:57
Yes, I bought a 3D printer just to make whistles. Fuck ICE. This week’s question comes to us from Alan McCoy: What's your process for welcoming a new record into your collection? Ok, so here’s a recent story. A few weeks ago I headed to one of my locals…
How to raise children
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-raise-children/
Published: February 13, 2026 22:47
A wee little painting (11×14”, sans stick) I made last week. This one got auctioned off on Bluesky to help folks in Minnesota. I’m making more. This week’s question comes to us from April Piluso: My daughter turns 3 this month. I want to help her have…
How to vote early and often
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-vote-early-and-often/
Published: February 5, 2026 23:57
First painting in my new studio! This is The Einbinder Trilogy. Enjoy this newsletter? Gimme $2/mo. This is labor. This week’s question comes to us anonymously: Is voting an illusion? Short answer, ehhhhh… no. Voting is real. Too many people have died for…
How to survive high school
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-survive-high-school/
Published: January 30, 2026 00:32
My friend Milly’s well-manicured hand holding a test copy of my new book! It’s SO pretty. This week’s question comes to us from Nika: I am 14 years old. I have friends my age. They’re nice, I like them, but they are sort of boring—even the weird ones!—and…
How to haunt a house
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-haunt-a-house/
Published: January 23, 2026 01:28
Our grandmother’s house READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! This week’s question comes to us from Betsy Streeter: Do you think houses can be haunted? Yes. On my recent trip to Portugal my cousin Irina and I walked to my grandmother’s house. My…
How to fix a Kit Kat clock
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-fix-a-kit-kat-clock/
Published: January 16, 2026 01:15
I haven’t started making anything in my new art studio yet, but I organized! This week’s question comes to us from Gwen Dubois: How do I keep functioning in a capitalist world? I am going to tell you a very shameful story. Erika got me a Kit Kat clock for…
How to feel wonderful
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-feel-wonderful/
Published: January 9, 2026 00:46
New art studio taking shape! This week’s question comes to us from Kylie Gusset: What makes you feel wonderful? Ok, yeah. So… the last couple of newsletters were heavy. Dead fathers. Crazy families. Feelings. (Y’all were so nice with your replies. Thank…
How to attend a funeral
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-attend-a-funeral/
Published: December 22, 2025 23:02
There’s no question this week. This newsletter is part two of last week’s newsletter. My father was buried on Sunday in the town of Alcobaça, where he grew up. The service, which included a full Catholic mass at my mother’s request, was held in a small…
How to bury your father
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-bury-your-father/
Published: December 13, 2025 07:26
This week’s question comes to us anonymously: How do you lovingly care for an aging parent who treated you like shit? This question has been sitting in my inbox for almost two years. While I fear that I’ve waited too long to possibly help the person who…
How to get through cold, wet, dreary days
https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-get-through-cold-wet-dreary-days/
Published: December 4, 2025 23:15
Huzzah. I finally got a new studio. Haven’t moved in yet. 💰 Gimme $2/mo if you’re enjoying this. 💰 This week’s question comes to us from Jim Christensen: How do you get through cold, wet, dreary days? Last week was pretty great. It was Thanksgiving…