Another exciting weekend full of bruises and Awesome. I have the coolest friends.

Went to a Transhumanism meetup group, and only 2 other people showed. I will therefore be starting one up out here. Last Friday of the month (the 25th this time around), likely at 7 somewhere on C Hill. Depending on anticipated attendance, maybe even just my digs, but likely somewhere else. We’ll work it out. Let me know.

Also, my parents are visiting the weekend of Dragon*Con. I suppose it’s a good thing I held off on getting tickets, but I’m still super sad about this. Was going to see so many friends! Damnit.

Learning to take time for myself. It’s terribly important, I’m finding.

Gun/Back/Gammon

I went to the range in Bellevue yesterday with my friend Joshua. I had never been in a gun store before, at a range, or held a really truly loaded weapon in my hands before. I think it’s important to know how to work as many things as possible, at least on a basic level, both for the sake of simple competence but also for the Zombie/Singularity Apocalypse.

Home, Home on the Range..

prepositions and the back of my hand

You know when you spoon with a good friend or lover (or both), and you fall into a solid sleep? Not the hard sleep of exhaustion or the flighty sleep of anxiety, but the solid sleep that brings the most lucid of dreams and the freshest mornings? Your breathing matches, and no matter how one of you shifts, the other matches without waking, nestling into the hollows of bodies, unconsciously kissing the back of a neck, humming briefly to match frequencies. Your hair tangles with theirs, your dreams sometimes brush each other, and you know where to rest an arm so as not to harm them, not to wake them. Limbs wrapped around limbs, a complicated knot of comfort.

That is how I feel in this city. Walking the veins of streets, noting the celled bricks, exhaling with the wind. I blend with shadows, stepping with the city’s heartbeat, the BPM leaking out of clubs, the rise and fall of stories told on streets.

Being a child and swinging on your Dad. He grips your wrists and swings you up, you walk on his back, do flips into pools, never doubting his ability to keep you safe, to be prepared for a jump onto his back for a piggy-back ride.

That is how I feel in this city when I do Parkour. I am in and of and by this city. Prepositions explain relationships between two things, but how much love can you fit into two or three letters? Between? Within? Language – written or spoken is just lines and sounds shaped, trying to approximate life. Words poking holes in a curtain to let in points of light. Other cheesy metaphors that are as close as we can get to sharing an unsharable experience. Is my sky-blue your sky-blue? Do my synapses fire the same as yours?

This is me, just Being. This is me, Happy and Whole.

What do we want? BRAINS! When do we want ’em? BRAAAINNNNSS

Do you have a zombie plan?
my parkour friends and I do. You should too. Here is a quick (and hopefully fun) way to get started on yours. Just don’t get the brain juices flowing too much or you’ll attract them, just like sharks!


Image of the lovely Petra taken by the talented Libby Bulloff (HIRE HER) for Zombie Prom 2006. I hope when the zombipocalyse comes they’re this classy and easy on the eyes.

objectification

I made a post about homophobia and objectification that sparked a small debate/discussion. I’d like to be a bit more verbose now that I’m on a keyboard and have had some thinking time (as well as time to mull over your immediate and interesting feedback).

First of all, it’s important to explain my stance on the gender dichotomy. It’s not the Main Focus, but it was up for debate quite a bit and it does play into the question.
I believe the social situation of gender dichotomy is totally explicable, though not necessarily excusable. It’s not some great conspiracy, nor is it necessarily innate. The line of thought I’m about to take you on I picked up from reading Gregory’s book before its printing, and I encourage you to pick up a copy once it’s officially out.

Gender Dichotomies

on Pink Godzillas, Orange Chicken, and feeling welcome

Last night I double booked myself.

This is nothing new to me. Despite having a smart phone and programming .every.last.thing. into it, I get my timing incorrect fairly often. I think something will take 2 hours instead of 3 or 4, etc. Usually I look sheepish, make my apologies, and bow out of whatever situation I’m in.

Last night, I went to the International District with Tacopunch, Nim, and two of Tacopunch’s friends. We checked out old video games, Japanese horror movies, and contemplated bubble tea. We then decided on a place for dinner. As we were sitting down to eat, I realized I was meant to be visiting a different friend in a matter of minutes. Folding my menu, I said the usual Fail at Life, please excuse me, I’m sorry (which I truly was), and went to get up. They all looked at me. “We don’t want you to go,” said one. “You’re already with us. Why leave? Who the hell is this friend?” said another. “Make him come here,” was the final comment. We all ended up sharing milkshakes, stories of eels and coding and road trip exploits. A grand evening, and I felt totally welcomed.

Tonight I cook curry chicken for dear friends. Hooray!

This weekend was full.

Started on Thursday, when Libby, Nathan, and myself went to see Paul and Mel’s band Civita. Had good conversations with all those involved, plus the door guy and a few other individuals. Yay Seattle!
Friday after work I met with Bergen at Thingamajiggr. Basically a geek gathering, with DIY tutorials and speeches. Saw presentations on racing power tools, our inability to truly multitask, and saw Dan Savage talk about how bloggers ruined the really sweet gig of weekly writing (he also made the astute comment that “sex ed” is really reproductive biology and it’s the equivalent of teaching kids about an engine before handing them the keys and calling it driver’s ed). I had a blast.
Then I walked a bit until I could find a taxi and went to Heaven to see the same group from Thursday plus Kristen, whom I hadn’t seen in a bit. Dance dance dance (and they played “Sexual Eruption,” which just cracks me up).
Saturday went to Dayde’s (Bergen’s son) birthday to help set up a bit and socialize. Then hiked over to Gasworks for my first Parkour session.

And oh my god. So much fun. So sore. Still. But so good.

I was joined in my athletic endeavors by the lovely Kaleen, who then also joined Nathan, Libby, and myself for worm and fish shopping. I now am the proud keeper of two Jack Dempseys, an electric blue African chiclid, and an albino one. They are happily swimming around, picking at each other, awaiting names.
Saturday evening took Kaleen on a date at The Wild Ginger. It was fantastic, helped in no small part by being served by my own brother and being doted on by the staff. (and by doted on I mean teased and harassed).

Sunday filmed a short 1950’s style instructional video on how to write a passive aggressive letter with the hilarious Santos. I played Little Jimmy. Yes, that’s right. Little Jimmy. I’ll let you all know when it’s up.
Later I went to a smilecore/industrial/noise house show that rocked the fucking boots off my feet. Met TacoPunch from WhiteChapel, who is a very neat person and totally gets into his sets. There was also a man dressed as a bumble bee.

Today I arrived stupidly early at work so I might leave early to participate in a wine tasting and game night held by Seamus. My life rocks so much. Hooray!

bad jokes for bad coffee

To help maintain sanity, I have a joke exchange going on with the cool lawyers upstairs which takes place in the form of sticky notes on the coffee. I initally won them over with tales of pureed unicorns and gnomes, but lost them when I did a comic-style layout of the regular and decaf arguing over Trek v. Wars. I know, I know, way into geek waters. It’s been a slight battle to get their attention again (I’d rather fight these mini epic battles than worry about “actual” office drama).
Here is an example from a Wednesday past. I’m blue, clearly, and the two other participants are green and red.

Wed

Or without the clogged sinuses, wet.
Actually, it’s bwack

Which is pretty funny.

But today. Today I am particullarly pleased with myself.
Thur jokes are good

Behind every good joke is a strong coffee

I know my humor is retarded. But it’s spatial! And that makes it rad.

fractured identities

  • “be the change you wish to see in the world”
  • “tomorrow has to start somewhere”
  • “we’ve already won… we just have to start acting like it”
  • “I am becoming all that I am”
  • “bread before morals.”

That’s a lot of pressure.

I am a superhero.

At least that’s what I tell myself to get through some days.

a bit of background