16 Comments
User's avatar
lchristopher's avatar

There is in fact a Central New Jersey [grew up in North Jersey Industria, educated in Central Jersey - can verify].

This was excellent. Thank you for it. *subscribes instantly*

Expand full comment
Alex Muka's avatar

Haha thats right! Much appreciated !!

Expand full comment
Jen White's avatar

I kind of want to read the book but only if you tell us which characters are Anna and me.

Expand full comment
Alex Muka's avatar

Kind of?! You’ll have to read it to find out hahaha

Expand full comment
George Kalantzis's avatar

MFA with boxing . Ha. Ya sign me up

Expand full comment
757sean's avatar

The Substack text-to-speech thing read “the it crowd” as “The IT crowd.”

As a recovering IT guy who’s been rewatching “Silicon Valley,” I can safely say that it’d be tough to tell the difference between coder, and someone with a TBI might be tough…

Expand full comment
Alex Muka's avatar

😂😂😂 I work in software too so my brain is definitely fucked

Expand full comment
Matt Cyr's avatar

I never knew that Kenison story but that tracks in an undeniable way.

The Brandon Hoyte story was a tough read, in a well written way. The part about him talking about using your head… man, the irony cut deep on that. Sad. Made me think about car accidents where they say sometimes you fare better if you don’t see it coming, you don’t tense up, and your body adjusts better. I know that’s not how it all works w/ concussions. Makes you wonder how/why some people are affected so much worse than others.

Expand full comment
Magda Muka's avatar

Ok…I, your mother, never knew about all of the mini’s!!! I only knew about the one that made you stop playing football. Mother of the year! 🫤

Expand full comment
Alex Muka's avatar

Don’t ask, don’t tell 😂

Expand full comment
Henny Hiemenz's avatar

Man this is weird. I was just writing about the effects of my TBIs this morning. I’ve never thought about their connection to my writing.

Expand full comment
Alex Muka's avatar

We should start a pod. Bald & Braindead.

Expand full comment
Henny Hiemenz's avatar

Maybe you can join Trav and I one week. You can help me convince him to finally come to the dark side and shave off the few follicles he has left!

Expand full comment
Alex Muka's avatar

Very in!

Expand full comment
Anna Paris's avatar

I second that

Expand full comment
Alex Muka's avatar

😂😂😂

Expand full comment