Ill just keep my mouth shut before I start to vent again. But I thought I would share some things I was reading yesterday.
“…I have a challenge to every prom committee out there in every city, town, and village across America. Show the world that we're not all like the parents and students of the Itawamba County School district. Send an invitation to Constance McMillen. You don't need to be elaborate, no pomp and circumstance, you just need to send a note to Constance, via the ACLU of Mississipi, that asks simply, "You wanna go to the prom?"
from Michael Seitzman via The Huffington Post
“…Back to present day: the school district attorney invited Constance and all the other students to a prom at the country club in Fulton, on Friday April 2nd. because of the low turn out and from sources in the area, LGR has found out that there was a “real prom” held for the school’s straight, popular students. The rumor is that school officials were directly involved in this ruse …”
from Lezgetreal
“…We can all learn a lot from Constance McMillan and how she has handled herself -- when we see something that doesn't seem right, it probably isn't. And it is the responsibility of every one of us to take some kind of action on behalf of fairness. Whether you bring up bullying at the next PTA meeting, write a letter to the Itawamba County School District, or call out your friends or co-workers when they say "faggot" or "that's so gay," you are improving the climate for queer youth -- and adults. Do something.”
from Candace Gingrich-Jones also via The Huffington Post
“Here’s the news, from a source I view as extremely reliable. The prom the school district promised at the country club in Fulton was a ruse. Only seven kids, Constance, and her date showed, and at the same time, everyone else held a “real” prom at a secret location out in the county …”
from Y’all Politics
Y’all Politics? I read to damn much ....
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Observations from the Roof 4.6
With the coming of spring I have added a whole new vantage point to my view of the city around me. If the window seat is like a cocoon looking out onto the city the roof feels like the city giving me a big hug. Fill the cooler with beer, grab the limes, and climb the final two flights of stairs to the roof and a new world waits. A world centered on friends, broken down deck chairs and beer can ashtrays.
Looking out over the rooftops on a clear warm night the city seems to pulse with energy. Car horns replace crickets, neon lights replace lightning bugs, and a sheet of worn indoor outdoor carpet replaces grass in this world. Ok it’s not summer yet and I’m getting ahead of myself, but still i can feel it tonight.
It’s a funny feeling sitting up there sipping beer and talking. I first sat up here last summer on vacation and it was an instant hit with me. Than again beer is always a hit with me but I digress. Of all the things I have done since I moved here, exploring and such, up here I feel more apart of the larger city than at any other time. It’s loud and quiet, bright and dark, scary and tame, all these things at the same time.
It helps to share it with your best fiend too. Sometimes sitting around talking, talking about nothing and everything, seems to part the clouds in front of your eyes and you just have to smile.
Sports update – Phillies beat the Nationals to start the new season. Look out World Series, here we come again. F&%# the Yankees !!
tuneage, Norah Jones - Young Blood
Looking out over the rooftops on a clear warm night the city seems to pulse with energy. Car horns replace crickets, neon lights replace lightning bugs, and a sheet of worn indoor outdoor carpet replaces grass in this world. Ok it’s not summer yet and I’m getting ahead of myself, but still i can feel it tonight.
It’s a funny feeling sitting up there sipping beer and talking. I first sat up here last summer on vacation and it was an instant hit with me. Than again beer is always a hit with me but I digress. Of all the things I have done since I moved here, exploring and such, up here I feel more apart of the larger city than at any other time. It’s loud and quiet, bright and dark, scary and tame, all these things at the same time.
It helps to share it with your best fiend too. Sometimes sitting around talking, talking about nothing and everything, seems to part the clouds in front of your eyes and you just have to smile.
Sports update – Phillies beat the Nationals to start the new season. Look out World Series, here we come again. F&%# the Yankees !!
tuneage, Norah Jones - Young Blood
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Observations from the Window 4.4
Through the miracle of modern science, or more truthfully those little bottles of 5 hour energy drink, I’m sitting in the window once again as the new day begins. Not quite as nice a morning as yesterday as a heavy fog blankets the city today. A cool raw breeze sends trash tumbling down the street. Happy Easter it calls. Not quite the Easter morning I am used to but Easter just the same.
I’m too tired to be awake but yet still too wired to sleep more than a couple hours at a time. It’s almost as if I have hit some kind of reverse wall where I just stay awake instead of dropping off to sleep. I’m beginning to understand those vamp queens more and more.
A few hours ago this had all the makings of an uber melancholy post. I’m a touch homesick because I haven’t been home for months and I don’t think I have ever missed Easter at home. A dark mood was starting to grab hold of my brain. But a middle of the night conversation with a good friend seemed to melt the mood away and put a smile back on my face.
I found out Friday I finally got to the top of the waiting list for a spot in the nearby garage. That was awesome news. Hopefully sometime this week I can get home and spend some time than bring my car back with me. Maybe even my bike. Now that would be totally awesome too.
I new when I moved here that spring was going to be a big test for me. A test of how much I would miss the mountains and the open spaces. The flowers and trees, just walking bare foot in the grass. I’m going to miss a lot of things the question being how much. But with my car, and maybe my bike, I’ll survive. There are so many places too explore on Long Island and up north.
As always time will tell
tuneage, Cage The Elephant - Back Against The Wall
I’m too tired to be awake but yet still too wired to sleep more than a couple hours at a time. It’s almost as if I have hit some kind of reverse wall where I just stay awake instead of dropping off to sleep. I’m beginning to understand those vamp queens more and more.
A few hours ago this had all the makings of an uber melancholy post. I’m a touch homesick because I haven’t been home for months and I don’t think I have ever missed Easter at home. A dark mood was starting to grab hold of my brain. But a middle of the night conversation with a good friend seemed to melt the mood away and put a smile back on my face.
I found out Friday I finally got to the top of the waiting list for a spot in the nearby garage. That was awesome news. Hopefully sometime this week I can get home and spend some time than bring my car back with me. Maybe even my bike. Now that would be totally awesome too.
I new when I moved here that spring was going to be a big test for me. A test of how much I would miss the mountains and the open spaces. The flowers and trees, just walking bare foot in the grass. I’m going to miss a lot of things the question being how much. But with my car, and maybe my bike, I’ll survive. There are so many places too explore on Long Island and up north.
As always time will tell
tuneage, Cage The Elephant - Back Against The Wall
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Obsevations from the Window 4.3
Sitting in the window as the sun starts to rise just above the buildings behind me. The rays of light just begin to filter into the street below.
I watch the few rushing people in the street. Are they the last people of the night or the first of the morning? I have no idea. Heading to work? Heading home from a late night at the clubs or sneaking home from their lovers apartment? It really makes no difference I suppose. My wired brain starts to wonder about them, what kind of life they have, and what kind of problems. Are they happy or sad or do they just not care anymore? Ash tells me I need to stop worrying all the time and just live life but sometimes I think I was just born to worry.
Than it hits me that I have been almost 24 hours again with only token sleep. I did have a nap earlier today. Or was that yesterday? Do you think the brain can forget how to sleep? I’m beginning to wonder. Now I understand how the vampire queens do it, they just do it. After awhile your brain forgets it hasn’t slept and goes on as if it has.
At least I’m still smiling. I started the day off with a smile, which for personal reasons and to protect your virgin ears I won’t get into, but I’m still smiling now. Even the semi Cajun voodoo priest wannabe (complete with a fish bone in his hair, I asked) at the bar last night just made me laugh. 24 hours is a long time ....
‘We're off to never-never land’
tuneage, Metallica – Enter the Sandman
I watch the few rushing people in the street. Are they the last people of the night or the first of the morning? I have no idea. Heading to work? Heading home from a late night at the clubs or sneaking home from their lovers apartment? It really makes no difference I suppose. My wired brain starts to wonder about them, what kind of life they have, and what kind of problems. Are they happy or sad or do they just not care anymore? Ash tells me I need to stop worrying all the time and just live life but sometimes I think I was just born to worry.
Than it hits me that I have been almost 24 hours again with only token sleep. I did have a nap earlier today. Or was that yesterday? Do you think the brain can forget how to sleep? I’m beginning to wonder. Now I understand how the vampire queens do it, they just do it. After awhile your brain forgets it hasn’t slept and goes on as if it has.
At least I’m still smiling. I started the day off with a smile, which for personal reasons and to protect your virgin ears I won’t get into, but I’m still smiling now. Even the semi Cajun voodoo priest wannabe (complete with a fish bone in his hair, I asked) at the bar last night just made me laugh. 24 hours is a long time ....
‘We're off to never-never land’
tuneage, Metallica – Enter the Sandman
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Constance McMillen Update 4.1
This from the New york Times a couple of days ago, ok i missed it than ....
'JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- An attorney says a lesbian student who sued a Mississippi school over its policy banning same-sex prom dates can bring her girlfriend to a privately sponsored dance.
Itawamba County school board attorney Michele Floyd said Tuesday that 18-year-old Constance McMillen can escort her girlfriend to the dance Friday at the Fulton Country Club.
The private prom replaces one the school district canceled rather than let McMillen wear a tuxedo and bring her girlfriend, who is also a student at Itawamba Agricultural High School.
A federal judge ruled last week that the district's actions violated McMillen's constitutional rights, but he didn't reinstate the school prom.
He said he would hold a trial on the matter later'.
That's so awesome and I am so happy for her! Plus she received a $30,000 scholarship from Ellen DeGeneres and the ACLU Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom! Facebook page has 423,000 fans and continues to grow.
But you know me. Why leave with just good news when i can find a dark cloud in the silver lining. Yesterday the Times asked students 'Should a Gay Teen Be Allowed to Take a Date to the Prom?' and invited comments from students 13 and older. One girl said it best 'Seriously? Why is this even being asked?'
But than there is this ....
'Gay and lesbian relationships are TOTALLY against God’s will. I’m sorry, but I very, strongly, disagree. I hate judging people, and it doesn;t mean their bad people, because I TOTALLY admire Ellen! But it’s gross, NOT TRYING TO OFFEND.'
At least she admires Ellen. Life goes on
tuneage
'JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- An attorney says a lesbian student who sued a Mississippi school over its policy banning same-sex prom dates can bring her girlfriend to a privately sponsored dance.
Itawamba County school board attorney Michele Floyd said Tuesday that 18-year-old Constance McMillen can escort her girlfriend to the dance Friday at the Fulton Country Club.
The private prom replaces one the school district canceled rather than let McMillen wear a tuxedo and bring her girlfriend, who is also a student at Itawamba Agricultural High School.
A federal judge ruled last week that the district's actions violated McMillen's constitutional rights, but he didn't reinstate the school prom.
He said he would hold a trial on the matter later'.
That's so awesome and I am so happy for her! Plus she received a $30,000 scholarship from Ellen DeGeneres and the ACLU Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom! Facebook page has 423,000 fans and continues to grow.
But you know me. Why leave with just good news when i can find a dark cloud in the silver lining. Yesterday the Times asked students 'Should a Gay Teen Be Allowed to Take a Date to the Prom?' and invited comments from students 13 and older. One girl said it best 'Seriously? Why is this even being asked?'
But than there is this ....
'Gay and lesbian relationships are TOTALLY against God’s will. I’m sorry, but I very, strongly, disagree. I hate judging people, and it doesn;t mean their bad people, because I TOTALLY admire Ellen! But it’s gross, NOT TRYING TO OFFEND.'
At least she admires Ellen. Life goes on
tuneage
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Observations from the Window 3.31
Sometimes, a warm bath is just so much better than a hot shower. The vendor dude across the street waves to me but still has no sunscreen so I need to talk to him.
Did you know I have the best brother a gurl could ever ask for? And Corona without lime is like pancakes without syrup or sex without an orgasm.
Sometimes my iTunes will play songs so out there that I wonder if I was drunk, hi, or a combination of both when I downloaded them.
Sometimes I suddenly miss my mom for no apparent reason.
Did you know that in the 1950s the US government did LSD experiments on artists to observe the effects of the drug? Seriously, they gave artists drugs and told them to draw. I would have never thought of that one.
Did you know the Mona Lisa once hung in Napoleon's bedroom? And it is totally smaller than you think, only 2’6’’ by 1’9’’.
Sometimes I have the strangest dreams and some times I have unbelievably sexy ones. I’m not going to say which I prefer. Also I can be a total bitch or a little kitten. Guess which side of me people usually see?
Freddy Mercury died for our sins.
Such is the insanity of my mind.
tuneage, The Killers - Bones
Did you know I have the best brother a gurl could ever ask for? And Corona without lime is like pancakes without syrup or sex without an orgasm.
Sometimes my iTunes will play songs so out there that I wonder if I was drunk, hi, or a combination of both when I downloaded them.
Sometimes I suddenly miss my mom for no apparent reason.
Did you know that in the 1950s the US government did LSD experiments on artists to observe the effects of the drug? Seriously, they gave artists drugs and told them to draw. I would have never thought of that one.
Did you know the Mona Lisa once hung in Napoleon's bedroom? And it is totally smaller than you think, only 2’6’’ by 1’9’’.
Sometimes I have the strangest dreams and some times I have unbelievably sexy ones. I’m not going to say which I prefer. Also I can be a total bitch or a little kitten. Guess which side of me people usually see?
Freddy Mercury died for our sins.
Such is the insanity of my mind.
tuneage, The Killers - Bones
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Sarah Chonicles
No not my Sara or Sarah Connor, although I think I would have much more fun with her. I’m talking about that tea swilling presidential hopeful Sarah Palin. There she was the other day in Arizona playing first fiddle to John McCain’s second. Poor John, ‘the maverick’ just seems to have lost something. Actually there was a time I liked him or maybe respect is a better word. No more, but that doesn’t matter anymore. He just looked like an old fool clinging to his glory days. And there was Palin introducing him, decked out in a way too zippered leather jacket. Maybe she was trying to scare the audience into submission like the apparent dominatrix in chief.
The urban dictionary defines wingnut as ‘An outspoken, irrational person with deeply-held, nominally conservative, political views. A person who chooses on principle to be flagrantly ignorant.’
On her Facebook page Palin recently posted a map of congressional districts to target in the next election. It comes complete with gun cross hairs so you know your target. ‘Don’t retreat, RELOAD’ she tweeted her followers. Pretty disgusting behavior for any right wing nut or radio demagogue but unforgivable for the Republican Party’s most recent vice presidential nominee. I just have to wonder what she would say if one of her supporters took her literally. 'Oh for goodness sake, lighten up folks. You libs have no sense of humor.' Plausible deniability is a wonderful thing. Palin may always be considered a lightweight and a bad joke being played upon the America. But this joke is getting a lot less funny and a bit scary as she inches ever closer to the edge.
But that day in Arizona her greatest crime, one I will never forgive her for, was how I will never look at a black leather biker jacket the same way again.
For that I can never forgive her.
tuneage
The urban dictionary defines wingnut as ‘An outspoken, irrational person with deeply-held, nominally conservative, political views. A person who chooses on principle to be flagrantly ignorant.’
On her Facebook page Palin recently posted a map of congressional districts to target in the next election. It comes complete with gun cross hairs so you know your target. ‘Don’t retreat, RELOAD’ she tweeted her followers. Pretty disgusting behavior for any right wing nut or radio demagogue but unforgivable for the Republican Party’s most recent vice presidential nominee. I just have to wonder what she would say if one of her supporters took her literally. 'Oh for goodness sake, lighten up folks. You libs have no sense of humor.' Plausible deniability is a wonderful thing. Palin may always be considered a lightweight and a bad joke being played upon the America. But this joke is getting a lot less funny and a bit scary as she inches ever closer to the edge.
But that day in Arizona her greatest crime, one I will never forgive her for, was how I will never look at a black leather biker jacket the same way again.
For that I can never forgive her.
tuneage
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Changes
I checked my email yesterday and what did my eyes fall upon but an email from the last person on earth I ever expected to here from again. I won’t get into boring details but suffice to say and old friend who I had a bad falling out with, very bad. I never wanted to hear from her again and, to be honest, I never wanted to set eyes on her again.
I had to walk around the block a couple times to clear my head, and we are talking big blocks here. I got all kinds of advice on what to do and finally decided to ignore the letter. But I did feel a bit sad, thinking maybe she had changed and at the same time thinking I really don’t care if she did.
So what am I getting at here? I was eating dinner last night and Ash’s girlfriend pulled out her handy little netbook (I want !!) and showed me what I am going to share here. Its not a perfect fit to my situation yet it is in some ways and I just had to smile.
“….Maybe it is real! But I just don’t know that people can change—permanently or just temporarily, conveniently, in your presence. And even if someone has changed, it doesn’t mean they can shed their former self like a layer of skin and just slither away. That skin is your baggage, man. You must carry that shit. And in acknowledging all of your layers of skin, you become real.”
Failing to Keep it Real
Maybe she has changed and maybe not, but I’m not at the point in my life where I need or want to find out. Maybe I never will be.
tuneage
I had to walk around the block a couple times to clear my head, and we are talking big blocks here. I got all kinds of advice on what to do and finally decided to ignore the letter. But I did feel a bit sad, thinking maybe she had changed and at the same time thinking I really don’t care if she did.
So what am I getting at here? I was eating dinner last night and Ash’s girlfriend pulled out her handy little netbook (I want !!) and showed me what I am going to share here. Its not a perfect fit to my situation yet it is in some ways and I just had to smile.
“….Maybe it is real! But I just don’t know that people can change—permanently or just temporarily, conveniently, in your presence. And even if someone has changed, it doesn’t mean they can shed their former self like a layer of skin and just slither away. That skin is your baggage, man. You must carry that shit. And in acknowledging all of your layers of skin, you become real.”
Failing to Keep it Real
Maybe she has changed and maybe not, but I’m not at the point in my life where I need or want to find out. Maybe I never will be.
tuneage
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Some Personal Thoughts on Health Care
Let me start with cudos to Joe Biden. Yes this is a ‘big f&#$ing deal!
But I’ll give a raised middle finger to members of that other party and their strategy of hate and fear. And both middle fingers to their tard lapdog Limbaugh for having the audacity to compare President Obama to Adolf Hitler. As for Sara Palin, I don’t have enough middle fingers for you. Are you insane? To put out a hit list of democrats to target in the next election, complete with a map with crosshairs over the targeted districts. And this is a woman that wants to be president. Maybe you could be president of the Iditarod Trail Committee but than again they already know you too.
But enough, some personal thoughts ….
Neither my roommate nor her girlfriend has health insurance and it doesn’t seem to bother either one of them. Myself, well for personal reasons, I need to get some soon. I have been shopping around but I already have run into can't cover you for this and can't cover you for that responses. Or I get rate quotes that are just astronomical. It’s that boogieman called ‘preexisting conditions.’ So I am currently at the point where I throw up my hands and give up.
I never had to look for insurance before. I was either on my dad’s as a dependent student (something the new bill does away with in that children can remain on their parent’s policies until they turn 26. raised from the current 18. good for you bro!) or I had insurance at work. Maybe this reform will help maybe not. As with anything time will tell.
If it were up to me there would be no insurance companies involved at all. I know that isn’t an option but it just seems to me they shouldn’t be making massive profits while people go with out care. They along with litigators, malpractice lawyers, and the lobbyists are all, for the most part, after their dime and nothing else. Maybe if we leave the health care ‘industry’ to the health care providers it would work.
In all this I can't help but remember when my mom had cancer. They tried so many things and so many drugs but nothing seemed to work for any length of time. But there were some drugs they didn’t try. Deep down I know, and I knew than, that they wouldn’t make a difference. Karma. But I’ll never truly know.
The insurance company said that the drugs were too expensive and wouldn’t pay for them.
tuneage
But I’ll give a raised middle finger to members of that other party and their strategy of hate and fear. And both middle fingers to their tard lapdog Limbaugh for having the audacity to compare President Obama to Adolf Hitler. As for Sara Palin, I don’t have enough middle fingers for you. Are you insane? To put out a hit list of democrats to target in the next election, complete with a map with crosshairs over the targeted districts. And this is a woman that wants to be president. Maybe you could be president of the Iditarod Trail Committee but than again they already know you too.
But enough, some personal thoughts ….
Neither my roommate nor her girlfriend has health insurance and it doesn’t seem to bother either one of them. Myself, well for personal reasons, I need to get some soon. I have been shopping around but I already have run into can't cover you for this and can't cover you for that responses. Or I get rate quotes that are just astronomical. It’s that boogieman called ‘preexisting conditions.’ So I am currently at the point where I throw up my hands and give up.
I never had to look for insurance before. I was either on my dad’s as a dependent student (something the new bill does away with in that children can remain on their parent’s policies until they turn 26. raised from the current 18. good for you bro!) or I had insurance at work. Maybe this reform will help maybe not. As with anything time will tell.
If it were up to me there would be no insurance companies involved at all. I know that isn’t an option but it just seems to me they shouldn’t be making massive profits while people go with out care. They along with litigators, malpractice lawyers, and the lobbyists are all, for the most part, after their dime and nothing else. Maybe if we leave the health care ‘industry’ to the health care providers it would work.
In all this I can't help but remember when my mom had cancer. They tried so many things and so many drugs but nothing seemed to work for any length of time. But there were some drugs they didn’t try. Deep down I know, and I knew than, that they wouldn’t make a difference. Karma. But I’ll never truly know.
The insurance company said that the drugs were too expensive and wouldn’t pay for them.
tuneage
Monday, March 22, 2010
Observations from the Window
'So we follow our wandering paths, and the very darkness acts as our guide and our doubts serve to reassure us'
Jean Pierre de Caussade
A grey foggy day in the city, it seems everybody just waiting for the rain to fall. The mood on the street so different from what it was these past few days. So much for the long awaited return of spring, even the umbrella vendor dude is in hiding today. Of all things I have jazz playing, it seems to fit with my mood and the coming rain. Plus it is Jazz Fest time back at home and I always enjoyed working those weeks.
I always seem to call my dad’s home. Sometimes I’m not so sure where my home is now. State College got to the point it felt like home, or at least an extension of it. I don’t get that feeling in the Village, not yet anyway. It has the feel of an extended working vacation. As if I was at the beach house and bartending at Fred’s while I was there. Now the beach house is a place I could call home but somehow I don’t think the owner has that in mind.
I guess I just don’t feel attached to any one place at the moment. I feel like I’m floating above it all, just watching my own life unfold and waiting to see how it turns out. It’s not the first time I have felt this way and I have no idea what it means to feel this way. Really I don’t want to know because it can’t be good.
tuneage
Jean Pierre de Caussade
A grey foggy day in the city, it seems everybody just waiting for the rain to fall. The mood on the street so different from what it was these past few days. So much for the long awaited return of spring, even the umbrella vendor dude is in hiding today. Of all things I have jazz playing, it seems to fit with my mood and the coming rain. Plus it is Jazz Fest time back at home and I always enjoyed working those weeks.
I always seem to call my dad’s home. Sometimes I’m not so sure where my home is now. State College got to the point it felt like home, or at least an extension of it. I don’t get that feeling in the Village, not yet anyway. It has the feel of an extended working vacation. As if I was at the beach house and bartending at Fred’s while I was there. Now the beach house is a place I could call home but somehow I don’t think the owner has that in mind.
I guess I just don’t feel attached to any one place at the moment. I feel like I’m floating above it all, just watching my own life unfold and waiting to see how it turns out. It’s not the first time I have felt this way and I have no idea what it means to feel this way. Really I don’t want to know because it can’t be good.
tuneage
Constance McMillen Update
I had written about the sad case of Constance McMillen a bit ago. She is the student in Mississippi whose high school canceled the prom rather than allow her to take her girlfriend to it. A friend of mine sent me this and I wanted to pass it on so I just reposted it from Dan Savage to save all your innocent eyes the trouble of looking for it.
Thanks for reading ….
“CONFIDENTIAL TO SAVAGE LOVERS: I need to ask you to do something. Not for me, but for a teenage lesbian in a small town. Constance McMillen is a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi. When she asked if she could attend prom with her girlfriend, she was told no. When Constance pressed her case, the Itawamba County School Board canceled prom rather than allow Constance to attend with her girlfriend. The school board had to know what would happen next: The other students blamed Constance for getting prom canceled and "ruining senior year." Constance is now being harassed and bullied.
The school board claims it canceled prom to avoid "distractions." Now it's up to us—to decent people everywhere—to make sure that bigotry and discrimination are a much bigger distraction for the Itawamba County School District than inclusion and tolerance ever could've been.
E-mail, call, and fax Itawamba Schools superintendent Teresa McNeece (Send Mail, phone 662-862-2159 ext. 14, fax 662-862-4713) and Itawamba Agricultural principal Trae Wiygul (Send Mail, 662-862-3104). Then join the Facebook page "Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom." And, finally, make donations to the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition , which is organizing an alternate prom that will welcome all students, and make a larger donation to the ACLU LGBT Project.
Call, write, fax, donate. Constance needs to know that there are people all over the world who are on her side. And, more importantly, Itawamba County Schools needs to know that we're not going to let them get away with this. Be respectful, but be relentless. Let's show these bigots what a real distraction looks like. Get 'em.”
Dan Savage
Thanks for reading ….
“CONFIDENTIAL TO SAVAGE LOVERS: I need to ask you to do something. Not for me, but for a teenage lesbian in a small town. Constance McMillen is a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi. When she asked if she could attend prom with her girlfriend, she was told no. When Constance pressed her case, the Itawamba County School Board canceled prom rather than allow Constance to attend with her girlfriend. The school board had to know what would happen next: The other students blamed Constance for getting prom canceled and "ruining senior year." Constance is now being harassed and bullied.
The school board claims it canceled prom to avoid "distractions." Now it's up to us—to decent people everywhere—to make sure that bigotry and discrimination are a much bigger distraction for the Itawamba County School District than inclusion and tolerance ever could've been.
E-mail, call, and fax Itawamba Schools superintendent Teresa McNeece (Send Mail, phone 662-862-2159 ext. 14, fax 662-862-4713) and Itawamba Agricultural principal Trae Wiygul (Send Mail, 662-862-3104). Then join the Facebook page "Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom." And, finally, make donations to the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition , which is organizing an alternate prom that will welcome all students, and make a larger donation to the ACLU LGBT Project.
Call, write, fax, donate. Constance needs to know that there are people all over the world who are on her side. And, more importantly, Itawamba County Schools needs to know that we're not going to let them get away with this. Be respectful, but be relentless. Let's show these bigots what a real distraction looks like. Get 'em.”
Dan Savage
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Observations from the Window
Total Randomness
What your brain thinks when it has been awake for 43 of 48 hours, ‘why the f^%# cant I sleep?’
Bartender - ‘so, emmm, what’s in that?’
Drinker - ‘vodka, triple sec, and red bull’
Bartender - ‘really? You drink that?’
Goth and swing are just two words that don’t seem to belong in the same sentence, but it takes all kinds. This is how it is described on their website ‘Swing Goth is what happens when rock-a-billy meets goth, and is peppered with a little blues, waltzing and a healthy portion of dirty dancing... all to modern music.’
I have learned to hate the words ‘network connection unavailable’
Random tweet ‘sittin in fitzroy square.infront theres a bench in a sea of daffodils, thats wher imma take my next girlf fo sho.’ Of course proper spellin and grammer are optional when tweeting.
Sleep deprivation seems to allow many in-depth observations and an ability to understand complex concepts. However it doesn’t seem to afford an appreciation of goth swing music.
And so it goes ….
tuneage
What your brain thinks when it has been awake for 43 of 48 hours, ‘why the f^%# cant I sleep?’
Bartender - ‘so, emmm, what’s in that?’
Drinker - ‘vodka, triple sec, and red bull’
Bartender - ‘really? You drink that?’
Goth and swing are just two words that don’t seem to belong in the same sentence, but it takes all kinds. This is how it is described on their website ‘Swing Goth is what happens when rock-a-billy meets goth, and is peppered with a little blues, waltzing and a healthy portion of dirty dancing... all to modern music.’
I have learned to hate the words ‘network connection unavailable’
Random tweet ‘sittin in fitzroy square.infront theres a bench in a sea of daffodils, thats wher imma take my next girlf fo sho.’ Of course proper spellin and grammer are optional when tweeting.
Sleep deprivation seems to allow many in-depth observations and an ability to understand complex concepts. However it doesn’t seem to afford an appreciation of goth swing music.
And so it goes ….
tuneage
Saturday, March 20, 2010
ten Weeks in
Just a quick ‘you gotta be kidding me’ kind of story. I’m sitting behind the bar last night, well this morning, taking my final break, sipping the last dregs from a can of Red Bull, and writing on a tablet. Guy walks up to the bar and looks at me, smiles, and says ‘writing?’ I looked up from under my glasses for a minute and finally I couldn’t help myself and just said ‘doh!’ I do not lie. Sometimes people are just hard to believe.
I was having a conversation with somebody a couple days ago and she brought to my attention it’s been ten weeks since I moved here. I really find that stunning. Time has flown by so fast. This all had me thinking last night. I’m still not sure this is what I’m looking for. What I mean is I love it here, I’m happy enough here, but at the same time I sometimes get the feeling I stepped into a round the clock part that starts to spin out of control if I let it.
I really wonder if I have passed the point of no return. I could still go back to Penn State but there are fewer and fewer reasons to do it. And if I did I would miss so many things I have here. I just don’t know.
In ways I feel lonely here which totally amazes me. How can I be surrounded by people everyday yet feel lonelier than I did when I was alone in the mountains? And my family seems a world away. They aren’t much farther from here than they were from State but I have only been home once or twice since I moved. I used to jump in my car and race home at the drop of a hat with hardly a reason too and it always seems like I had only just left. I miss that. Now, when I do get home, my sis looks at me like I have been gone for years.
So ten weeks in do I know anymore than I did ten weeks ago? I guess it depends on the question, and I’m not so sure what the question is.
tuneage
I was having a conversation with somebody a couple days ago and she brought to my attention it’s been ten weeks since I moved here. I really find that stunning. Time has flown by so fast. This all had me thinking last night. I’m still not sure this is what I’m looking for. What I mean is I love it here, I’m happy enough here, but at the same time I sometimes get the feeling I stepped into a round the clock part that starts to spin out of control if I let it.
I really wonder if I have passed the point of no return. I could still go back to Penn State but there are fewer and fewer reasons to do it. And if I did I would miss so many things I have here. I just don’t know.
In ways I feel lonely here which totally amazes me. How can I be surrounded by people everyday yet feel lonelier than I did when I was alone in the mountains? And my family seems a world away. They aren’t much farther from here than they were from State but I have only been home once or twice since I moved. I used to jump in my car and race home at the drop of a hat with hardly a reason too and it always seems like I had only just left. I miss that. Now, when I do get home, my sis looks at me like I have been gone for years.
So ten weeks in do I know anymore than I did ten weeks ago? I guess it depends on the question, and I’m not so sure what the question is.
tuneage
Friday, March 19, 2010
Sometimes
Sometimes no matter what happens you just have to walk around with a smile on your face all day long.
Sometimes you have a really good meal, preferably seafood, which tastes so much better because the boss paid for it.
Sometimes you find a band and love it so much they can do know wrong. Everything they play sounds new and totally amazing. In the last couple months I have found two. Sick Puppies and Blue October. Lady Gaga be damned.
Sometimes the city seems so much clearer, the air cleaner, and the sky blue. The people seem happier, polite (now that’s amazing), and smiling. I suppose spring works wonders.
Sometimes the cabbie is being honest and he really can’t speak good English. And he has no idea where the hell he is going.
Sometimes painting seems like a natural extension of my brain. The colors are vibrant, the canvas smooth, the paints mix perfectly. At times like that I feel like I feel like I can literally think what I see onto the canvas.
Sometimes you have an orgasm so amazing it grabs you by the arms and seems to shake you than leaves you stunned, breathless, and just a limp mess in a tangled bed. See the first one above.
It was a good day
tuneage
Sometimes you have a really good meal, preferably seafood, which tastes so much better because the boss paid for it.
Sometimes you find a band and love it so much they can do know wrong. Everything they play sounds new and totally amazing. In the last couple months I have found two. Sick Puppies and Blue October. Lady Gaga be damned.
Sometimes the city seems so much clearer, the air cleaner, and the sky blue. The people seem happier, polite (now that’s amazing), and smiling. I suppose spring works wonders.
Sometimes the cabbie is being honest and he really can’t speak good English. And he has no idea where the hell he is going.
Sometimes painting seems like a natural extension of my brain. The colors are vibrant, the canvas smooth, the paints mix perfectly. At times like that I feel like I feel like I can literally think what I see onto the canvas.
Sometimes you have an orgasm so amazing it grabs you by the arms and seems to shake you than leaves you stunned, breathless, and just a limp mess in a tangled bed. See the first one above.
It was a good day
tuneage
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)