I got back from our family’s vacation a couple of weeks ago, and have been meaning to ramble about it for a while here. We went to Cozumel for a week of diving and other topside adventures, which was exciting. It was quite an experience. Read the rest of this entry »
Two relatively recent events surrounding the concept of “butch” identity have induced a bit of reflection for me. This is a bit long and rambly, folks. You’ve been warned. Read the rest of this entry »
Happy New President Day! On my Facebook profile, I have my political views listed as “Ambivalent”. The roots of that word are “ambi-”, which means “both” or “many” and “-valent”, which means “attracted”. I am attracted to many political ideologies, is all that means. “Ambivalent” is not analogous to “apathetic”, which would imply that I don’t give a rat’s ass. I do. I just wanted to clarify that, on this quite historic day. Too frequently people have confused the two, and I’m really quite tired of it. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m just as politically involved as the next person [if not moreso], though not necessarily through the most-recognizable channels.
I witnessed this historic event the best that I could, watching a live feed from some news agency projected on a wall in a giant room. The place was pretty packed with people getting really into everything. Some were quietly tearing up; some were crying more visibly; Ella was cheering and pumping her fists exuberantly.
It was a good speech. A good series of speeches, even. Extremely poetic. But in the end, of course, it was just words. I will move beyond cautiously guarded optimism as I start to see more than patriotic heartstring-plucking videos and images and montages with beautifully-crafted speeches reverberating concurrently. It’s not that I hate the guy. It’s not that I loved the last guy. I just take politicking as just that; politicking. And it is great if politicians actually believe in all the lovey-dovey bipartisan let’s-work-together schtick that they’re throwing out there. However, as the saying goes, it takes two to tango, and so adversaries must, as Obama said, unclench their proverbial fists for anything to happen. And in these situations, my experience rails on my hope, guffawing loudly and proclaiming my optimism the fool for having the wool pulled over hirs eyes. So, in commemoration, a haiku.
politics, my dear| burns have left me cynical | the burns are from you
Two days ago, I tragically stabbed myself with a fork. It was an accident. I was fishing a fork out of the dishwasher, when it slipped out of my hand. I tried to lightning-reaction catch it, and did so. Only problem? A tine in the thumb. It’s on the lower part of the thumb, between the pad and the heel of my hand, so at least it doesn’t get banged into things. It does, however, hurt. A lot. Most of the time. I’m pretty sure that there’s tissue bruising that happened, though fortunately it’s avoided appearing swollen or red or oozy, so it doesn’t seem to be infected. Also, I haven’t gotten lockjaw yet, so I’m hoping that I won’t get it [at least not from this injury]. It bled quite wonderfully; right through one “plaster” [that's what they call bandages here, the goobers] and then another. I got some cool pictures and will post them once my camera gets all charged-up.
Also, I presented a project to one of my classes. It is my smallest class [six students and one professor]. I related my own journey through self-injury, and more generally, depression, to the article “Helping” by Marianne Gronemeyer, which I recommend that you read, if you can get your hands on it. Very interesting article, and I liked the piece that I made for it. So did my class. So did the woman at the photolab. Score. I’ll post pictures of that up eventually maybe, too.
In other news, Amanda Fucking Palmer is in just over 24 hours. In just under 23 hours, I will be standing outside of Koko, hopefully with Becca O., waiting to be let in to see the show. I cannot communicate in any way/shape/form [other than screaming my head off] how excited I am.
It’s been just over a week that I’ve spent in London at this point, and I thought that I’d venture into the realm of the too-personal, too-awkward, too-everything realm of my mental health. Don’t read on if you’re not comfortable, but do know that there’s a rewarding little bit about the excitement to come if you do read on.
