So I was up in Brooklyn for a weekend away this past weekend (no spoilers still not talking about future plans yet). Things I learned about Brooklyn:
Gorilla Coffee is pretentious (but not untastey) and well designed
Describing the neighborhoods as “block by block” doesn’t even begin to paint the picture of the drastic changes that occur rapidly.
Park Slop borders Gowannus, a noun that until that trip I thought referred to a disease sailors and strippers got.
Chook is Aussie for Chicken. Still not sure what kind of a condiment Rocket is Aussie for and I’m likely fine without knowing.
You can buy tires at any time of night on any block.
About 17 more days until I’m finished with my BA. and then blogging baby here I come.
So if you read this blog through my site, not through tumblr, you will be surprised by the interesting conversation that took place earlier today. It’s my fault. Well it’s also South Africa’s fault.
You see this semester I’m taking a class in South African literature and one thing that becomes painfully obvious is that during times of civil rights violations and oppression, those who stay quiet are not as guilty as those committing the atrocities, but they aren’t exactly innocent either.
Right now in this country exists the attitude that we can’t say that nice people who think gays are going to hell are wrong because it’s based in religion. Freedom of religion is what this country was founded on, but so was it founded on the ideals of freedom from oppression. You see how these two conflict, right? I knew you would, you are very smart.
And I was dumb enough to open my mouth on the internet and say something along those lines. It is my own fault. You can’t fight with the internet, or even attempt to express unpleasant views on the internet without finding someone who wants to make it personal. My apologies if you unwittingly read through those statements. I will try to refrain from inciting such rhetoric in the future.
Nah, fuck it. I won’t. And neither should you. Please take the time to remind people who agree like sheep that it’s okay to hate gays because it’s based in religion that that is the equivalent of supporting fundamentalist muslims’ anti-semitism. Keep saying it. Keep pissing people off. Because the only way things will change is with a dialogue.
That’s my soapbox folks, ya-ta-ta-da-da-da ::jazz hands::
“And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.”
I cried when I read the Obama’s victory speech. I’m not going to lie.
I’m moved by the sentiments and the realities of it.
I didn’t wake up yesterday or today with a better life, but I woke up feeling a few things:
1) That I am not alone in this country, and that I am American.
2) That my voice was heard. That the better angels finally shouted down the demons of the past 8 years.
All that up there was written days ago. Before another midterm, bastards at work, the wear and tear on my soul.
I had wanted to write something about suffrage and the responsibility our grandmother and their mothers gave us. About the pride I feel when I consider the privledge offered people to vote.
I wanted to write about casting my ballot for my sex life, private parts, and right to overthrow a tyrannical goverment.
But mostly I just wanted to say thank you. It’s been 8 years and there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.
I love being in my bathrobe in a way that verges on disturbing. I’d rather be in a bathrobe than any other form of clothing. I don’t understand it at all, but accept it as part of my truer self.
Or some such shit.
Spent the day reading and writing. Wrote a short story for class with an all right ending, but endings for me are part of the revision process, not the initial write. As I delve deeper into what it is I’m writing about I find the emotional chord to hit.
It’s funny what’s happening to me as a writer though. On several occasions I’ve gone back to review a piece that I’m working on only to discover that 90% of the piece doesn’t exist in it, only in my head. The back story, the outfits, the careers and foibles of the characters, all exist to me, but aren’t relevant to the story itself. It’s a good thing to know more than you tell, it colors them, but ti’s something I never really expected would evolve independently of effort.
I finished 97% of my UBC application, was foiled by either my computer, cookies, or the web site. If it isn’t working by Wednesday I’ll get Dave’s help.
Don’t care, still relieved. It means I only need to do a personal statement before I can start sending out other applications. I’m going to do one a week. for the next month and a half. UBC had the earliest deadline, so that’s why it was so crucial to finish. Brooklyn has the most massive manuscript, so that’ll be last. I’m hopeful to have one more piece to add to it y December, something from my class this semester, likely.
Trying to think of something nice to do for everyone who edited work for me, especially if I actually get accepted anywhere. It’ll be odd, because the three people who gave me the most help will likely all be having dinner together with me in Baltimore in January, so maybe I can figure out something by then.
I need to do a real quick edit of the piece from this morning, but I tried to put as much time between writing and editing as I can. difficult when you try to pull off a one day story.
Sorry about angry Phillies rant. Feeling better. I think I’m on edge with Tuesday looming so close and yet still so far away. I’ve had to triage calls from both my sister and my mother about polling number they didn’t like today. I swear to god I hate the polls. I don’t think they should be released to the public.
Figured out how to make ringtones from songs I like. So cool. A little time consuming for everyone, so mostly they are just for people that call me, which is a very very small number. It’s a shame you can’t do something for individuals who text only. That’d be pointless but neat.
Spent Friday arguing with a cute guy about politics. It was seriously hours we were yelling at each other. He is an old-school republican, and all I could think is that I need to stop being attracted to the same guy over and over again. I seriously need to stay single and in therapy until I stop trying to date my ex in every guy I meet.
At least I’ve finally admitted there is a problem. And single I can do. I’m ridiculously good at single.
Okay it’s only quarter of six, which rocks. I’m off Wednesday, and I’ll probably blog on Tuesday but if not it should definitely be Wednesday.
Just typing that my heart started racing and my stomach clenched up. I’m too sensitive for this shit.
If I don’t talk to you before then:
Good Luck
Please Vote
and Gods willing we’ll wake up Wednesday gripped by hope.
edited to add:
Everything that I’m reading says if it’s going to get bad for us Tuesday it will be because of Pennsylvania. Seriously, like 98% of the people reading this right now live in Pennsylvania. Please, please, please vote. Pretty please? I’ll buy you a puppy*.
*Full Working Puppy only comes with proof of Democratic voting. Republican voting only gets you puppy “accessories”. Flaming puppy accessories on your doorstep.
Personally I think after the crying girl says she’s been raped and talks about Sarah Palin’s wishes for the victim’s body she should ask why she has to buy her own rape kit. And then she should ask why the fuck Sarah Palin hates rape victims. I mean it’s a very odd demographic to target. They aren’t known for their ties to terrorism or the liberal media.
It seems a cheap thing to score points on the backs of the largest silent majority in the country, women who have been abused. They are easy to target, they don’t want to talk about what happened. They don’t want to politicize their pain. They are nameless and faceless to most of America, because it is still taboo in this country to have been raped.
My view from the 3rd Obama Rally in Philly on Saturday:
This was them taking down the barricade and flag at 52nd and Spruce when they realized they couldn’t fit the crowd into the area originally planned.
Kate and I went down together and it was amazing. Definitely a moment in history. The diversity of the crowd and the excitement were overwhelming. I look forward to November 4th even more now, if that’s possible.
All images were taken with Silas, my new iPhone, and edited with CameraBag from the app store.
Unrelated, finally got my third agreement for a recommendation letter, and I’m thrilled that she’s able to do it. I’m handing out the packets on Wednesday because I still need to grab international postage for the envelopes.
