The Misadventures of a Native New Yorker

Hey, LJ. How's life?

Yeah, yeah, been awhile.

Work has been kicking my ass hardcore. I know that's what I usually say, but it's especially true lately. I feel kind of drained when I get home and not particularly like sharing. Which is too bad, because I have things to say for a change.

No idea what order I should put them in, but here's what's "up" with me at the moment:

1. I am now the proud owner of a sprained ankle. Apparently, I've been for some time. Said ankle had been bothering me a LOT ever since the Christmas snowpocalypse, when in my climbing over hill and dale I must have rolled or twisted it just a little too much. Then, I proceeded to walk on it for several months, not wanting to admit something was wrong. That finally came to a head during my vacation, and J all but frogmarched me to the doctor himself. So, after a visit to the doctor, I was handed a prescription for more PT. Yay. I like my therapist a lot better this time, he's a lot more knowledgeable than my last go-round, and I feel like we're making some progress. The truly frustrating part is how much time I have to spend off of my ankle, icing it and resting it, so it will heal. Anyone who knows how deeply I abhor sitting still for ages and not being able to walk a lot could tell you how very much I hate this.

1a. This has been complicated by feeling kind of nauseated and under the weather the last couple of days. Last week I wondered if I wasn't coming down with a cold. This time, I've been feeling fluish, but nothing blows up into actual symptoms. It's as fun as it sounds. I'd be doing more of the exercises I can actually do, but my stomach has been acting up so much I feel worn out and not really like doing much of anything. Blah.

2. When not feeling physically meh, I've been a little bundle of rage focused at all of these asshole politicians that want to do things like defund Planned Parenthood, legalize the murder of abortion doctors, and basically strip my rights away until I'm a fucking incubator with legs. While I support those I know who have chosen to have children, I don't even pretend to think that everyone should be a parent. And while I could go on about this literally all night (just ask my lovely and patient fiance), I'm not going to. I do everything I can to respect the choices of others, and, as hard as it, to respect the choices of those I violently disagree with. I don't get for one second why it's so hard for the other side to do this, but then again, there's a reason we call them "anti-choice." Because that's what they are doing everything to prevent: the ability to choose. The ability to have the education and information to decide what is right for the person already living. They are hell-bent on creating a world not unlike Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, which they are making clear, and why I am considering, sprained ankle and all, to go to the Rally for Women's Health this Saturday. If you're a woman, or you care about any woman, you should think about going, too.

3. I'm turning 31 in a couple of weeks. I'm also having my first joint birthday party, with J, who will be hitting the big 4-0. I'm happy to celebrate, but a good friend made a prediction a few years back (I remember it being quodlibetic for some reason) said that you pretty much freak out until you turn 30, but after that, it's kind of "shrug". So far, she's right, but we'll see how I am when 35 rolls around.

4. Oscars are also this weekend. I continue to dislike and resent this whole 10 nominated best pictures business. Either split into two sets of categories the way the Golden Globes do, or roll it back to 5. All of the other categories get by with 5 or fewer nominations, I don't get why they suddenly need 10 Best Pictures.

5. And in wedding plan news, I received the extremely disappointing news over the weekend that in the state of NY, you can't have a friend who ordains themselves over the interwebs marry you. (Another win for the Wedding Industrial Complex). So, the hunt is on for a justice of the peace, I guess. I'm so annoyed - I was hoping for us to be married by someone who knows us, who cares about us, and will respect our wishes, not some stranger (and definitely not some stranger pushing an agenda). I'm hoping at the very least we can find someone completely and totally secular. I guess I'll start looking when we nail down the venue, at which time I hope to stop being annoyed about this.

Okay, here's the thing:

I am hetero. It happens. I was born this way, yadda yadda.

However, I am fortunate enough to have wonderful, amazing people in my life that fall on every different point of the Kinsey scale. What are those points? Up to them. All I care is that they're good people, honest people, loyal people, kind people. Who they date is only relevant to me if I'm making some kind of attempt at matchmaking, because I have this cockeyed optimistic belief that everyone deserves a chance with love and happiness with the right person, whomever they may be. I was lucky in that regard, and I want that luck to spread around.

What's more, my paralegal learnings thus far have taught me of the huge numbers of legal benefits and rights to being legally married, both on the state and federal level. It's also taught me that the law is about fairness, and about providing the best protections and equal rights among all its citizens, and that the law is in a constant state of flux to best reflect how to make things as fair and equal as possible, at least on the surface. All of the things I learned in my Matrimonial Law, Tax Law, and even Bankruptcy Law classes have cemented my belief that ALL PEOPLE should have the right to marry. People who have a committed life together and a shared household should be allowed to file a joint tax return, to have equally vested shares in a bankruptcy proceeding, and receive all spousal benefits. If you share bed, board, bank accounts, and household expenses, your gender shouldn't determine your ability to marry. I can marry, because of a preference set by biology, and they can't for the same reason. This doesn't add up.

So it's absolutely infuriating, flabbergasting, and depressing to me that there are so many people in this country are so hell bent in denying rights to others. In creating this big, scary, OTHER that they have to hate, oppress, fight and eliminate to protect their precious FAMILY VALUES and THINK OF THE CHILDREN. I'm pretty sure the reason these bigots get so freaked about the kids is because children are so accepting, as they are still learning about the world, and if they learn something as a fact, they'll just accept it and move on, and it'll be all okay. And it's terrifying to them - so they're redoubling their efforts to create as many bigots as possible, to keep the bigot production line rolling, because otherwise, someday the ENTIRE WORLD might not only allow, but celebrate non-heterosexual unions. CAN YOU IMAGINE. And no one has been able to give me a compelling reason as to why this is a BAD THING that isn't some bizarre cha-cha involving misquoted Bible verses, personal squick, and a lot of what amounts to I DON'T WAAAANAAAAA IT'S NOT FAIR IT'S MY TREEHOUSE THEY CAN'T HAVE IT NO NO NO NO MINE MINE MINE NOOOOT FAAAAIIIIIR.

And I can't point fingers at a particular group. They're neatly spread all over, into everything.

So, what my rant comes down to is this: if you don't support full and equal rights and protection under law of all GLBTQ people?

GET OFF MY LAWN.

My lawn is my journal. If you don't think people who aren't living a tidy little life that you approve of in your narrow little worldview deserve ALL of the rights, privledges and protections that being an American Citizen should have, get lost. Unfriend me. We're done here.

And before you ask:

They should choose to be "normal" if they want all these rights.
1. It's not a choice.
2. Who are you to say what's normal?

I have no problem with gay people, but do they have to get married?
YES. Yes they do. They have to for the same reasons you wanted to.

Does it have to be marriage marriage ?

YES.

Does it have to be now?

Why not? They've only been waiting for what? Thousands of years? What's a few more? A LOT, ACTUALLY.

Can't you just respect my beliefs?
Because you're providing such a shining example of live and let live? I'm supposed to respect your right to deny the rights of others? That sentence should give you a headache, too.

Feel free to link/post/share/or gripe at me, I'm sure I've glossed over a few things here or there. But what I'm trying to do is stand up for people I love dearly and who I feel are being unfairly segregated from rights I enjoy, for really stupid, arbitrary, outdated reasons. I've marched for this, I've signed petitions, and tried my best to put myself out there as a supporter. This is just one more thing, however tiny.

Whatup, LJ? I've been meaning to post updates since Sunday, and have not had the chance.

Sunday was the Pride Parade, which I was thrilled to be a part of. The ever-talented and awesome nemesisbecoming formed a group called Bridesmaids for Marriage Equality, which I joined. We were asked to be on Marriage Equality of NY's float (take a good hard look at the mother-effing float) in the parade, and I got to dance and hold my sign and have a great time, along with j_bkl at my side, and the always-awesome company of leahpia77 and dkellergrl. I had a great time, forgot the camera, but I think some other people have pictures (please let me know if you do).

It was a marvelous, surreal experience. I've never been on a parade float before, especially in an event as big as Pride. I loved waving and waving my sign to the cheering crowds. I even had a great vantage point to flip off a cranky old man who gave us the thumbs down at 23rd Street. I write and call my sentaors and congresspeople regularly to advocate for marriage equality, but it was nice to take part in something bigger.

It was especially memorable since J and I made the float at the last minute, literally seconds before they rolled out, due to some missed calls on my part. I had to do a crazy-ass Spiderman manuever to get on the float, which was interesting, considering my big, poofy dress. But we got there, and our float had a giant blue wedding cake (with two grooms on top) bouquets and bunting, a dj and a whole bunch of dancers. Apparently, we were sponsored by the entire city of Amsterdam (just see what legalizing pot and prostitution can do for you GNP!). Afterwards, we met up with different bunches of J's friends, and I changed into civilian clothes, but we crashed out for home by 7. I was so wrecked, I couldn't even stay awake for True Blood . True story.

Monday J and I had a make up Father's Day celelbration with his family, at a lovely restaurant in Midtown. A few hours after dinner, I was a trainwreck. I don't know if the clams oreganata gave me food poisoning or an allergic reaction (never had a problem with them before, and redesigner can attest that I ate a metric ton of clams and mussels at a seafood buffet in vegas last year). Either way, it was ugly. And I am feeling much better now. But yesterday was pretty much a wash.

So, I'm back today, work is crazy. And I have to get back to it. But after tomorrow I am off, and tomorrow is a pay day. With the rest of the overtime in it. And, J and I are due to go mattress shopping this weekend!!! In addition to parties and other funtimes. So yay on that.

Suck it, Bush!

Just so awesome.

Keith Olbermann's commentary on Prop 8 is about as dead on as it gets here. Though I agree with nihilistic_kid that perhaps the use of the Clarence Darrow quote was a bit misguided (and Olbermann does ramble a teeny bit towards the end), I felt that overall strength of this message really overshadows any fragile fractures in the overall content of the essay. Because his thesis really is a strong one:

You are asked now not to stand not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight, you are asked now to stand on a question of love.

Well done, sir.

Here's something I suggest. If you agree with the content of this video, refer to it or link to it in your journal. Ask those who read you to do the same, or to do the following.

If you don't agree with this message? If you think Prop 8 was a good thing? Watch the video, and post your answers to his questions. I think the entire class is really interested what you have to say.

I'm all for being a gracious winner, but first, I need a little time to celebrate.

I'm so excited. So hopeful. I'm really hoping this will show people that they can make a difference in the democratic process if they participate. Last night was so very inspiring, and I'm glad I got to share it with some really cool people. (And I'm sorry I couldn't spend it with ALL of the people I wanted to, but sadly I'm not yet able to appear in hologram form wherever I please.)

The mood in Manhattan as I made my way home was incredible. People were screaming, honking horns. I high-fived total strangers. It was amazing. It was so positive, so hopeful. dotfic also wrote this up well. Right now I am very very tired, and I have to concentrate on work.

But I am proud of my country right now.* And hopeful about what the future.

More of substance as brain comes back online. I didn't get to bed until 2am.

*(However, if Prop 8 passes, I want to organize a California boycott of some kind. I'm dead serious, and am looking for suggestions on how to do this.)

I forgot to add an anecdote that happened as Puck, quasisonic and I prepared to cast our ballots.

The women running my district (17), were asking everyone for ID. Because the line had been so long and so slow-moving, Puck had been reading everything in his line of sight - including the Poll worker guide stating specifically that IDs were only required so long as there was a notation next to that person's name stating if that particular person needed to show ID.

Puck, when asked for ID, asked if there was a notation next to his name that specifically called for it. When they said no, he balked, and told them that ID was not required. They pushed him for it, saying that ID made things "easier" and to please just hand over his ID. He said he would, but that he would complain.

Then he asked me for a pen, and wrote down the names of the poll workers who had demanded ID.

Later on, I got this email from him:

It was WAY EASY to get to talk to someone in the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ about my problem. They took down all the relevant information, were able to locate the right person to talk to in our local area, and this problem is going to be handled right away.

So, if any of these poll workers are not behaving as they should? I'm guessing that the DOJ is the place to call. And good for him for not treating something like this with a shrug of the shoulders and/or a "whatever," and for actually following through on his threat to call.

I wonder if they're still asking for ID over there. No way to know tonight - I'm going to be watching the returns and drinking heavily in Manhattan, at least for part of the time.

I vote in every election. Always have, always will. So I'm accustomed to what the polling place is like on the day. A few years back, I was amazed at having to wait 10 minutes on a 6-person line.

Today, I got there at 7, and waited for a solid hour. The polling place in the slope that I went to was as crowded as a 4 train at rush hour. People brought their kids. (Which I'm usually for. It's great to show junior the electoral process. HOWEVER, I'd prefer it if they A) waited for the pre-work rush to be over and B) left the aircraft-carrier sized strollers at home or at the very least, outside the scrum. But when you live in Park Slope, I suppose this is all par for the course.)

I vaguely remember being taken by my mom or dad into the booth during the 1984 election. I vaguely remember it being crowded then. But even that is no comparison to the crowd I saw this morning. This is akin to trying to get on the subway after a Yankee game.

And the best part? No one was deterred by the line. Everybody stood, everybody waited, and everybody voted. When I finally got to the front of the line? I was #103. And this was before 9 am!

No stickers, though. They never seem to have stickers. Hopefully Ben & Jerry will hook me up anyway.

Sometimes life just baffles me.

For example, this year, Halloween was on a Friday. Usually an excuse to party in such a way as to make Bacchus proud, this year it felt like a non-event.

On the flipside, however, I have received SIX invitations for Election day gatherings of various sizes (4 in Brooklyn, 2 in Manhattan). SIX! Usually I'm one of the few people I know of who gives half a crap about election day, and this year, people are actually planning events. I wish I could hit them all, but I don't know how that is physically possible.

I'm due at the very least to have dinner with dotfic, and we're definitely going to be somewhere there's a tv. Otherwise, my primary goal is to be wherever they'll be watching the Stewart/Colbert event at 10. That's very important.

I'll be at the polls tomorrow morning, bright and early. I may even wear my Obama shirt. And a bright blue sweater. I've done all my research and I have a crib sheet of all of the elections I'm to vote in, so I remember who I wanted to vote for when NOT in front of the computer. (President is easy. It's the local ones I sometimes have issues keeping straight. But I do research them!)

Otherwise, I'm in the lovely sort of mood one can only have after a whopping 2 hours of sleep last night. I have no idea what kept me up, either. I'd say it was due to sleeping on the floor thanks to some Ikea-related shenanigans, but I slept just fine on the floor the previous evening, so that can't be the reason. Either way, I'm going to prop myself up and get through the day as best I can. Yes, I can.

Because if I can't make up some sleep debt tonight, I'm going to make my dinner plans and go to bed at a reasonable hour tomorrow.

I don't read Making Light every day, but every so often they run something that catches my attention. Today it was a clip of "The Tale of Sir Robin" from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, dedicated to John McCain.

The clip was a call out to this blog post by John Scalzi, which contains such memorable quips as:

"A man who has readily admitted he doesn’t know much about the economy makes a big show of bringing his presidential campaign to a grinding halt to rush to Washington to fix it, which seems a bit like a NASA auto pool mechanic declaring to all and sundry that he’s going to stop making oil changes to rush to Florida to consult on the Shuttle."

and!

"...that Sarah Palin can’t be trusted to extemporize about damn near anything without appearing like she’s stuffing her conservative-yet-stylish pumps far enough down her throat to alarm her epiglottis."


also: Kudos to David Letterman for also calling Senator McCain on his bullcrap. It's always entertaining to see an honest, yet respectful, epic WTF echo from the heavens. I'm not sure if I agree more with Scalzi or with Letterman, but both of them made interesting points and observations that I happen to agree with.