13/52: 52 Weeks of Happy!

 

Here in the USA, Easter means Peeps - little sugar-coated marshmallow chicks and/or bunnies. It's really not a holiday without them, they have quite the cult icon status, and yet can be polarizing...you either love them or not, and for those who love them, there are various methods of consumption. Some like to buy them, open the package, and let them "age" (i.e., dry out) for several days before eating; others like to eat them slowly, leaving the heads for last. I'm lobbying for these particular peeps to be skewered and roasted over the gas stove on Sunday - the sugary coating gets all crisp!

 Paper flowers! Made for no other reason than I Pin Too Many Things To Pinterest And Never Do Them And I Didn't Want To Fold Laundry So I Made Paper Flowers Instead. :o)

 My African Violet is blooming! It was a birthday gift last year from a dear friend in Portland, OR, and it made the cross-country drive tucked safely in a box on the passenger seat. So glad it didn't get too traumatized!

A record I found in a thrift store  - so appropriate for this week, don't you think? Up with Love!!

Not pictured: Shwarma sandwiches (I know, we have a problem); coconut flavored coffee; the Michfest worker community (well, most of it) affirming our love and support of each other despite some political differences; the sunshine making more appearances. I guess that last one is kinda in most of the pictures this week, though, huh?

...With Liberty and Justice For All

Today's a big day.

Tomorrow is also a big day.

The US Supreme Court is holding hearings on whether or not Proposition 8 (which bans same-sex marriage in California) and DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act, banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage since the 1990s) are constitutional.

Rejection of either would be a victory, but here in MI, where the state constitution has been amended to prohibit same-sex marriage, the possible repeal of DOMA is what really has our attention.

E and I could get married. Legally. In front of our families and friends, and in our home state - we wouldn't have to travel to another state or country to do so. No signing power of attorney papers for each other and just crossing our fingers, hoping they'll be honored when the time comes. If we wanted to start a family, there would be no need to worry about only one of us being the legal parent - we could both be listed on the birth certificate.

No more staying closeted for fear that we could lose a job. (We've been fairly lucky, as artists and healers - our employers are pro-equality. But I have lost a job due to bigotry in the past.)

We would be full citizens, with all the rights, responsibilities, and protections that status entails.

No more second-class citizens...

I grew up assuming that I was straight, that looking at girls was something all girls did. Easy assumption, when focusing/commenting on the appearance of other women is the cultural norm. It wasn't until high school that I recognized my feelings for what they were, and it wasn't until my junior year of college that I acknowledged and began to explore those feelings. So, I grew up assuming that I had the same rights as everyone else. I grew up believing in my own equality, and in the equality of all human beings. It's what we preach here in America, it's what's drummed into us from birth. Freedom. Equal protection under the law. The rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

And then one day, you discover the truth. That some rights are exclusive to heterosexuals. That, in the words of Orwell's "Animal Farm",

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."

Do you know what that's like?

If you're straight (especially if you're straight, and white, and male), do you realize your own privilege? Are you aware that you are more equal than others?

Tomorrow, E and I (and all the other gays and lesbians in the United States) could be granted full equality. Or, rather, our inherent full equality with every other human being could finally be recognized by law.

That silence? That's the collective, hearts-in-mouths, holding of breath...

12/52: 52 Weeks of Happy!

 Pretty stationery! I'm resolved to do much more letter-writing. Used to write them all the time in college, back when the internet was still new...

 I haven't been able to keep my hands off my juggling balls this week, lol! It's so meditative and calming. E wants to learn, too - it would be super awesome to be able to do partnered juggling!

The pre-game calm at Joe Louis Arena. We got there pretty early, with plenty of time to get settled and watch the crowds file in. It's a shame that we lost, but such a fun night anyway!

Not pictured: the yummy chocolate Texas sheet cake I made for E's birthday (why the hell didn't I take a picture of the cake?!it had sprinkles and everything!); the corned-beef-and-swiss topped burger I had for dinner on Friday; the roasted butternut squash chunks that are cooling, destined for squash/tuna/spinach/gouda quesadillas later; and all the laughter with friends on Saturday night. It was such a good week. :o)

Time to shower and get ready for the rest of the day - 4 clients and a good hard run! I've already worked on two clients this morning, done 35 pushups, and 9 flights of stairs. Still have tricep dips to do...the Warrior Dash isn't til July 28th, but July sure looks a lot closer from this side of February...

nuts

Another busy week here at Chez Dragon, full of work and fun. So far this week, I've worked every day (in fact, I have another client in an hour), stayed almost every night at E's, been to a Red Wings game (and out to dinner...and ice cream afterward...yeah date night!), and installed the Technicolor Blankie on E's bed. It still doesn't have a border, but I can't make up my mind on what to do, so for now, we use it as is. (E is anti-border. I'm still thinking.)

Today, we woke up under the blankie, far too early (in our opinion) and yet running late at the same time, lol. We showered, and E put on some delightfully cheesy 80's music, to which we danced around while slurping coffee. It made the day much easier to greet, and I'm still smiling. She is so much fun!!

So Far Today, I've:

Worked
Started laundry
De-cluttered my room
Bathed
Eaten
Wrapped E's birthday present
Started Little V's Christmas present


Still To Do:

Work again
Finish laundry
Buy cake ingredients/decorations
Make cake
Drive back to E's

Did I mention E's birthday is tomorrow? She's turning the big 3-5, and handling it very well so far. We both work all day tomorrow, and I work Saturday morning, so we're having people over Saturday afternoon/evening for hot dogs, potato salad, and cake. Nothing fancy, just hanging out. I got her the book she wanted (about boxer Mickey Ward), and she requested a massage. Easy wish to grant! My plan for tomorrow morning is to make her breakfast, and hang a Happy Birthday banner while she's in the shower. Let's hope that goes more smoothly than yesterday's attempt at backing her against a tree for some smooching...our feet got tangled and she nearly fell over backwards! Romantic skillz, I has dem.

11/52: 52 Weeks of Happy!

Avocado sandwiches and rainbow colors <3

Yarn bits, hung on branches for the birds to use in their nests <3

Some of our menagerie in the table jungle <3 (there are also a camel, a cow, and a donkey. And a pig, if you count the Chia Pig. Eventually we want a whole Chia forest!)

Not pictured: garlicky chicken shwarma sandwiches (again - I'm addicted), my new ipod Shuffle (to inspire me to amp up the running, lol - I am so sick of what passes for music at the gym), the new sheets in the washing machine (grey ticking stripes - ahhh, the fine art of compromise, lololol), and......E's new little niece, born a month early and weighing 5lbs 5oz! E is over the moon about her, and I can't wait to meet her tomorrow!

9 and 10/52: 52 Weeks of Happy!

 The scarf is finished! I've been wearing it all over town. It's very soft and luscious and warm and colorful, which are all Very Good Things.

 Look what else is almost finished!!! The ends still have to be woven in, and it needs a border, but we've been sleeping under it for a week now, and it's everything a blanket ought to be. Good weight, not too warm, and an absolute joy to wake up to!

 The delicious lamb and lentil soup I threw together. It also has garlic, onions, celery, carrots, tomato sauce, and lots of garam masala spice blend. I should've posted a pic of the spice jar, it's something I'm loving immensely right now - we've used it in the soup, on chicken fajitas, and on the lamb chops last weekend. Tasty tasty goodness!

 Fibonnacci, doing some rooftop grazing, and enjoying the company of his fishy friends.

 Look, in the center - there's a tiny bud, which means my African violet will be blooming again soon!

My birthday cards from sister and mom! There seems to be some kind of sixth sense in my family as far as cards and presents go...we often end up with unintentional themes, and I love that both my cards have bunting on them! They're still on display, they make me so happy!

Not pictured: the gorgeous sunny weather we've been having; the Integrated Positional Therapy exercises that have eliminated my wrist and hand pain; the progress I'm making on bills and debt; the Christmas gifts I'm working on; and the hot bath I'm sitting in right this minute. Hooray for wireless internet service!

Quiet Thursday

I owe you another 52 Weeks of Happy post, I know - so this weekend, I'll do two at once! There just wasn't time this past weekend, and I forgot to take pictures of things. Trying to do a little better this week.

*yawn*

*sips coffee*

*yawn*

I have the morning off today, and three clients in the afternoon. Hooray! That means I got to sleep in just a little bit, and have been fairly productive since waking up. Mom got me a remote starter for my Jeep as a birthday present, so we took it in to get installed. The dishwasher's been unloaded, laundry is underway, and now I'm having coffee while deciding what to do next.

I could do a quick pick-up of the room, and make the bed...

I could start weaving ends in on a few yarn-y projects...

I could start a new yarn-y project, or buy yarn that needs buying...

I could do all of the above, and start the Lentil Soup with Ground Lamb we're having for dinner...

We've been trying to eat a lot more unprocessed, homemade foods lately. Lots more fruits and veggies too, and as organic as possible. Every article about GMOs and their probable health risks, about the possibility of aspartame and sucralose being added to the milk supply; every label we read, every commercial for a new drug billed as a fantastic treatment for what ails you...and its list of side effects ranging from tuberculosis to suicidal thoughts to leukemia to, well, you name it; makes us want to just opt out of the whole mainstream. We want to live as healthy as we can, and as lightly as we can. We've already been using vinegar, water, and baking soda as nontoxic cleaners, and we've switched to milk from a small but thriving local dairy (that vat pasteurizes the milk the way it was done pre-WWII, puts it in recyclable glass bottles, and still offers home delivery). We've got organic heirloom seeds, and are intent on growing a fair amount of our own food in the small space we've got to work with this year. We even found a store in the area that sells local, free-range, humanely treated, pasture-raised meats!

You're thinking about the Twinkies, aren't you. Nothing wrong with treats now and then! :o) The point is to do what we can, what works for us, and generally move in the right direction. Baby steps.

Happy Thursday!