As seen on Gizmodo, there’s a sling that tells people how you broke your arm with a clear diagram. Brilliant!
From Face Your Manga
http://www.faceyourmanga.it
So, I’m off to couch surfing again …
My current housing situation is truly fabulous, but requires some flexibility on my part. In particular, when the homeowners come back for a holiday, as they are for the next two weeks, I pack up and make myself scarse. Not too difficult to do - I have family and friends who take me in - but still, it is a bit unsettling. So be it.
“The best political, social, and spiritual work we can do is to withdraw the projection of our shadow onto others.” - Carl Jung
I don’t know where to start.
I am jealous of those who can celebrate this election without bitterness.
I resent the fact that not only do some people distrust, dislike, dare I say hate me and others that don’t fit their mold, but they feel so justified, so entitled, that they must impose that view on everyone, must write their hate into law.
I am struggling to maintain a “live and let live” worldview when others don’t want to extend that courtesy to me.
I am angry.
And like most conflict-averse introverts, I don’t like being angry. I want to believe in the best in people. I want to believe that whenever prejudice is brought to light, it disintegrates. Not passed into law, damn it.
And that silver lining - there are so many people I would never have expected to speak up for gay rights are being vocal. It’s wonderful …. and yet …. I find myself wondering why have I never expected them to speak up before? When did I learn to settle for quiet tolerance and not expect anything other than being “accepted” so long as I didn’t make them too uncomfortable, as long as it was safe? I want to believe the best of people, but apparently, I don’t always expect it.
I have been denied the euphoria so many are feeling this election, the sigh of relief that everything is going to be all right in the world, a moment of hope, a moment when we know that kindness will win the day.
Intellectually, I can take a step back, see this in perspective. I know that cultural change takes time, that tremendous change has taken place.
But right now, on a deeply personal level, I’m angry.
It’s a more powerful statement to leave it at that, but I realize that there’s another strand …. I’m not only angry at those who voted for Proposition 8, but I’m frustrated and angry in a more diffuse way - ashamed that I didn’t do more to fight it, annoyed that it’s even an issue, angry at the years of being quiet if not invisible, angry that being both queer and conflict-averse means that there’s only a handful of communities I might call home ….
It’s hard not to take this personally.
———-
I should note that the video that set off this rant is well worth viewing: Keith Olbermann reflecting on Proposition 8, http://tr.im/z8s
I’ve been sleeping a lot lately, and napped away much of the last month. (This is likely to change now that I have a CPAP machine - that’s the facehugger-vacuum cleaner hybrid that lets me have sleep without my oxygen levels dropping to the point that I stir awake, over and over and over again …)
In any case, the nap-a-thon of late reminded me of my favorite Piraro cartoon. And now, with Dan Piraro’s permission, I give you ….
Shown with permission. For more moments of glee, check out http://bizarrocomic.blogspot.com/
For the last few years, I’ve been volunteering with Rock Medicine, a program of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic in San Francisco. It’s an impressive program that sets up the equivilant of a field hospital, complete with first responders, paramedics, ER nurses and docs - all volunteers. It’s been a fabulous way of getting first hand medical experience and to see to a lot of shows.
Last night, I worked the Bridge School Benefit concert, which included Neil Young, Death Cab for Cutie, Sarah McLauclan, Norah Jones, and some others. I got to see most of Sarah McLachlan’s set - what a voice! - but missed the last few songs due to what might-have-been-but-thankful-was-not a heart attack. And then, I got to hear all of Norah Jones set. Not only is her voice smooth as butter, but she’s cute as a button! Sigh.
Anyhow, I was amused and pleased to be reminded of the Rock Med philosophy, as scribbled on the wall of the clinic:
Take care of the individual right now. Return him or her to their friends and family and do away with the necessity of either hospitalizing the individual or getting involved with the law.
Yep, Rock Med emerged from the Greatful Dead shows, most defnitely. Good folk.
It’s true that my new best friend looks like a vacuum cleaner and acts like a face-hugger, but Oh!!! I got a restful night’s sleep for the first time in weeks….. Happy! Happy! Happy! Bounce bounce bounce!
Yes, it’s true, one data point is not a trend, but it’s a very nice data point.
For the last three or four weeks, I’ve been getting sleepier and sleepier during the day to the point that I really didn’t want to do much other than nap. But this morning, I woke up and actually wanted to get out of bed. Woo hoo!
I’ve decided to get a futon chair for my office - something that would promote staying in the office for reading and quick naps. Something like IKEA’s Grankulla/Massum, but a bit less college dorm room looking … Any recommendations? Extra furniture in their garage? Warnings to not invite the Spanish Inquisition into the work place?
So, a few months back, my father and I took a wonderful photography class in Monterey. My father got this shot, which left me in stitches and him scratching his head. I had to tell him the Truth of His Noodly Appendage …