On Wednesday the 13th (sounds ominous), The Backseat Driver Reviews celebrates its one-year anniversary.

Cake by yourself really is living the dream.

We’re going to get animated this week. Literally, we’re doing animation and what it says about selfhood in both Spirited Away and Hotel Transylvania 2. The recommendation for the weekend isn’t animated, but it does deal with notions of selfhood and identity. As an added bonus, I’m also going to repost the very first piece I did on this blog, with pictures no less.

I’m also going to post a follow-up based on the post I did about Trainwreck, which has nothing to do with film. Long story short: I got asked a lot of questions about being in an open marriage, so I did a Q&A piece to cover the ones I got the most frequently – everything you’ve ever wanted to know but didn’t want (or were too embarrassed) to ask. That will be up on Tuesday. And no, there aren’t any smutty stories. This girl doesn’t kiss and tell.

Basically, it’s going to be a whirlwind of self-discovery.

I would like to say this: for every person that has read this blog, offered support, or helped me clarify an idea… thank you. From the top of my head to the ends of my outstreched arms to the tips of my toes, thank you. I’ve made some extraordinary friends, have gotten the chance to write for some great publications, and had the opportunity to converse with filmmakers I admire. This has been a hell of a year both personally and creatively, and I thank you for joining me on it. And so I offer you a story: one year ago, a friend of mine asked me, in an unhappy moment when I felt lost, what made me happiest in the world. I said watching movies and talking about them. He told me to do that, and not to focus on anything other than doing what made me happy: no money, no wild dreams of publication. Just have fun and be happy, because I deserved that. A few months ago, I paid it forward and asked the same question to someone else. My message to all of you: pick the thing that makes you happy and go for it. Don’t give up. Keep doing it because it brings a smile to your face. Everyone deserves joy.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.