Home Sweet Home

It's been so long since I've posted, and a lot has gone on.  Lots of good stuff!

#1:  We. have. a. house.
       Seriously.  :-)   Three years of looking, false starts, getting out-bid over and over...  We got a great little house, a total fixer-upper.  1 1/2 stories, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, .24 acre lot (about twice what lots usually are in Minneapolis), built in 1952, good bones, just needs lots of cosmetics!  It wasn't easy-- there were moments when GF and I thought, Maybe we're not supposed to get this house...!  But in our hearts, we knew it was supposed to be ours.  It's been neglected for a long time, and we are just the people to give it a facelift and to love the hell out of it.
       I do already.  Love it, that is.  I have such a soft spot for our ugly little house!

Update #2:  We are working on getting pregnant.  Eeee!  Any of you know this is a time-consuming and very expensive process for a lesbian couple.  We're currently in our 2nd round of insemination with donor sperm, waiting those agonizing 2 weeks before we can have a pregnancy test. 
           So far, things have generally been good with this process.  The clinic, here in Minneapolis, is wonderful and have given us great care.  My insurance is covering a lot of the procedures, although every time I go in, those bills really add up.  Plus the cost of donor sperm and delivery, and since we've decided to use medications to help us, the ridiculous costs of those medications.
           We'll see how this goes, and decide later if we want to alter our plans.

Lots of big changes, and we're doing two of the biggest changes you can make, at one time!  But we're adventurous and excited and happy to be making this journey.  <3

Candis Cayne

I'm catching up on Season 2 of "Drop Dead Diva." Today I'm watching the episode "Queen of Mean," which besides guest-starring the wonderful Cybil Shepard, also features a transgender character named Allison. The character began her life as a man, married a woman, and then transitioned to a woman. Her wife has recently died and the wife's parents are suing for her estate, saying that when Allison became a woman, she revoked her claim to being her wife's legal partner, under California family law. Allison is, of course, fighting this in court to be able to stay in the home she shared with her wife and keep her possessions.


First off, I'm really pleased with how this character is treated. One of the lawyers in the firm representing Allison had a subtle, yet visible disdain for her, at first. Yet, through the course of the trial, he comes around and realizes that Allison is simply fighting for something that everyone wants-- the right to love their partner and have their union respected by others. There is also a very touching scene with Allison and her father-in-law. *sniff!*

Secondly, the actress playing Allison immediately caught my eye. Must be the 'Dar. ;-)
Upon looking up this episode, I found out that Allison is played by actress Candis Cayne, who is herself a transgender woman. Born as a man in Hawaii, Candis was a drag queen and eventually transitioned, and is now a successful actress, appearing as a regular character in "Dirty Sexy Money."

Gorgeous!

Homemade Holiday Gifts

There were a few handmade gifts in my pile of loot this year during the holidays. I made a few items myself, too, for my loved ones.

This is one of my favorite gifts, lovingly made and given to me by my little sister. She made a matching one in blue for our mom, too. I love that she used organic cotton yarn, (Mom and I are both sensitive to wool), and in such a beautiful neutral color.


I also made a gift for my friend, which I'm excited about. I think it turned out well. A while back, we had somehow ended up talking about an organizer for earrings made from a frame and screen material. I said they could easily be found on etsy-- I've seen many that I thought were nice. Well I'm hoping that she didn't order one from etsy, because I made her one. I used a vintage frame that I bought at a thrift store last year. (I knew it would come in handy sometime!)
I asked my girlfriend to bring me home some screen, knowing that they replace windows all the time at her job. She brought me a big clean piece, so I had plenty to work with. Busted out my trusty staple gun and stapled the screen to the frame. Then I glued black felt to the back of the screen, covering up some blemishes in the frame from past staples, and giving it a soft backing so it won't mark up their walls at all.

Holiday Giving To Those Who Support Us

Having the day off tomorrow, I thought it might be a great day to go thrifting! Tonight I planned our route, doing a Google search of places near to the place we just moved into a month ago. In doing this, I stumbled upon some information about where to not give my money this holiday season.

I had somehow been thinking that Goodwill Industries were anti-gay. From what I could find, the company itself doesn't have anti-gay policies, but individual branches may have their own issues. I found reports of stores harassing or firing out, gay employees. But I also found reports of other locations hiring transgender employees and being very supportive of transgender and gay people in their community.

I did, however, find that the Salvation Army is very anti-gay. Their policy states they will help those in need regardless of their sexual orientation, but from what I've read, they are against having gay employees. Their position is clearly stated on their web page.

We are getting to that time of year when the Salvation Army's red kettles and bell ringers will be out in front of stores and public places. Boycotts of the Salvation Army have been encouraged by LGBT groups for years. Bell ringers are not allowed in front of Target stores, not specifically because of their anti-LGBT policy, but because they don't want any solicitors in front of their doors. So, if you want to avoid them altogether, going to Target is a way to start. Although, if you're still boycotting Target for their big donation to the pro-business organization, MN Forward, which supported the anti-gay gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota, you have other options for making a statement...

1) Talk to the bell ringer and explain why you won't donate. But realize that this is a volunteer who is trying to do a good deed, and please show them respect.

2) Write a note explaining why you won't donate to the Sal. Army and put that in the kettle. You could even print these up ahead of time to keep in your wallet or purse.

3) Print up a batch of these fantastic fake dollars to put into the kettle!

Give your holiday donations, instead, to a group that supports all people equally. Try Big Brothers, Big Sisters, The Trevor Project, The MN AIDS Project, or find an organization in your community that supports the well-being of ALL the members of the community.

120 Film Respooled = 620 Film!

When I was visiting my hometown this past weekend, my mom and I were talking about old cameras-- I was explaining to her how I'm planning to do some TTL experiments with my digital SLR and and old TLR camera. And she mentioned how much she'd like to actually shoot with her TLR camera. It's been probably 5 years since she did, and the thing worked really well then, surprisingly! Her boyfriend had procured some faux-620 film on ebay for her. It cost at least $10 a roll, I believe. As much as she wanted to experiment with that camera again, she couldn't justify that cost.

I told her I would try to track down some for her. Maybe since I work at a camera store, I'd be able to find somewhere to get it cheaper. After a couple minutes of researching, I realized that almost everything out there is actually respooled 120 film. Well, I have a pack of Kodak color 120 at home. If I could get my hands on a 120 spool or two, I might be able to make it work!

I found a great tutorial online at:
http://www.brownie-camera.com/respool/respool.shtml

Yes, they misspelled Congratulations, at the end... ;) But the step-by-step instructions and clear pictures gave me all the information I needed. After 2 read-throughs and a quick skim, I was pretty sure I had it down. I searched through a few of my store's display and recycle-bin oldie cameras and was able to come up with a few spools! Grabbed our dark-box, which we use to take film out of stuck cameras.


I had the first roll almost done, when I realized I had done it backwards. Oops! Don't know if it would've made a difference, but I started over anyway. I suppose this way the numbers on the paper backing will be in order! Sent a quick text to my mom to see if she'd like to have a roll of black & white along with the color roll, which she was really excited about. Bought a roll of Ilford 120 400-speed B&W film which can be processed C-41. That will enable me to take it to our store's lab for processing, instead of sending it out, and then I can make sure that I hang on to these somewhat-rare spools!


This is my finished product. The first 2 of maybe many! I know the processing and printing will run us a bit, but at least this part was pretty cheap and painless. Now she won't have to worry about being stingy with the film.

I need to take my own advice and get my Holgas out again!!

Ode To My Mom

Who would've ever thought...
Certainly not me at age 15, just realizing I was at least half gay and being terrified that my mother would find out. Knowing full well her thoughts on the matter, her having been raised with the Catholic belief that being gay was a horrible sin and that it was so wrong that she didn't want her children to even watch a television show with gay characters. Her attitude shocked me and made me feel like she would reject my real self, and so I hid huge parts of my life from her for 12 years. She was who I was most afraid to come out to. I couldn't even do it in person I was so afraid.

Who would've ever thought that 15 years later, my mother would be posting one of those goofy pre-written Facebook statuses (kind of like the modern equivalent of a chain letter!), updating her status with the same message as so many of my friends are doing today. --A message that starts out "‎1 of every 10 people born is gay" and goes on to decry the attitude toward gay people in this country, how it's causing a rash of suicides among gay teenagers. A poorly written, badly punctuated little paragraph that aims to spread the message to teens and closeted gays everywhere that life "will get better."

My mom posted this as her Facebook status 4 minutes ago.

I can't explain what that means to me, or even why it does mean so much to me. It's Facebook. Really, it's just silly. My mom has been so supportive of me and my girlfriend in the past 3 years since I came out to her, it's just been incredible. I've been so lucky.

Maybe it's because it's so public that I'm so touched?? A lot of her extended family is connected to her on Facebook, old friends, co-workers. It's a public acknowledgment to anyone who may read it, that her feelings have completely changed. She loves her gay daughter and no longer sees this trait, this "lifestyle," as a terrible sin. She knows I'm living my true life and it's helped to change her attitude. We gays are just regular people now.

She had a period of adjustment, for sure, and of course that's to be expected-- it was a shock to her because I'd tried very hard all those years to keep the truth from her. But now, it's just no thing. My girl and I are as valid a couple and as accepted in her home and at family events as my sister and her fiance. Actually, gf and I have been together longer, even. Every phone-call with Mom ends with a "Say hi to Kristy for me" and an "I love you."

I love you, too, Mom!!

June 2010 Playlist

My June 2010 playlist:

1) Kate Nash - Do-Wah Doo
2) Goldfrapp - Rocket
3) The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover
4) Cut Off Your Hands - Happy As Can Be
5) M.I.A. - Xxxo
6) Lissy Trullie - Don't To Do
7) The Big Pink - Velvet
8) Florence And The Machine - Cosmic Love
9) Dum Dum Girls - Lines Her Eyes
10) Bettie Serveert - Deny All
11) Gin Wigmore - Oh My
12) MGMT - It's Working
13) Goldfrapp - Alive
14) The Big Pink - Dominoes
15) Class Actress - Careful What You Say
16) Grace Potter And The Nocturnals - Tiny Light
17) White Rabbits - I Used To Complain Now I Don't
18) Vivian Girls - Lake House
19) Black Kids - Hurricane Jane
20) Telepathe - So Fine
21) The Big Pink - Stop The World

Greening our home, however temporary it may be...

So, my gf and I are still in our apartment, which both of us are definitely sick of. We're SO anxious to get a house and to make it ours, it's kind of hard to bear. Once we do have our place, we'll both be trying to save money, big time, and I believe that we'll also be doing a lot of things to save energy, which often go hand-in-hand.

I've been making a conscious effort, which is quickly becoming more and more unconscious, to use more "green," earth-friendly products, to spend my money more wisely on things that I hope will make a tiny impact on how much strain I add to the earth, while improving my own well-being. Once I got that baby gift together for my friend a couple months ago, that was really an inspiration to how much these things matter and how easily they can be done. Even just little steps.

So far, I've been buying as much organic food as possible, within my budget constraints. I'm buying only recycled napkins and TP, usually from Marcal Small Steps. Their napkins and TP are great! Very high quality, good strength and softness, 100% recycled, and not chlorine-bleached. They are sold at the chain grocery store near my work, and they're just about as cheap as the stuff made from virgin forests!

I've been printing coupons online, for organic brands, because they are rarely in the coupon books that come in the newspaper. I set up a gmail account to subscribe to the newsletters of all sorts of organic and eco-conscious brands, so that they wouldn't clog up my regular email and so they'd be all in one place!

Since researching all that baby stuff on the Cosmetics Database, I've switched some of my cosmetics to organic brands. My shampoo and conditioner are EO, and my body wash is Dr. Bronner's soap. I tell you, that shit cleans everything!! My skin feels great, and I've used the other scents to clean our grimy front stairs, and all over our house. I've ordered the Baby Mild kind, and I plan to use that exclusively in the shower, and keep the tingly Peppermint for cleaning the house! I also bought Seventh Generation's all-purpose spray cleaner, so that when my gf goes on her cleaning binges on Saturday mornings, she can use something not-scary!

My latest step, today, was starting to switch us over to compact fluorescent light bulbs. I had 4 bulbs, purchased from Big Lots and from Target, using a coupon for GE's Energy Smart bulbs. Today the forecast was for 90 degrees and humid. Time to turn our AC units on. And I figured, if these bulbs can help us save a little bit of money and energy, hopefully that will help us offset some of what we're using with our air conditioners! So I put them in the lights that we use most, and honestly, the light is really nice. Not gross and green-looking like I thought it might be. So as soon as I can, I plan to get more of these to replace even more in our home! And once we get a house, I want us to only use these bulbs. Sure they're more pricey at the beginning, but they're not terrible! And the Energy Smart bulbs are supposed to last for 8 years! Quite a smart investment, in my opinion.

I'm hoping that we'll see only a slight increase in next month's electric bills, despite having the AC turned on here and there. Here's hoping!

Shows I've been watching for inspiration:
Sundance Channel's:
Eco Trip: The Real Cost of Living
Big Ideas for a Small Planet
The Lazy Environmentalist

Everyone needs to see this movie:
Food, Inc. (It's available to stream on Netflix!)

A Basket of Safe Things To Welcome Baby

One of my dear friends will be having a baby in a month or so. Her shower was a few days ago, and I was so excited to give her the present I put together for her! Now, really, this is so nerdy, you're going to think I must have all the time in the world. Well, that's not true. I just thought about it well in advance, so I had the time to do researching (and also to spread out the cost)!

My friend is a lot like me, and I thought, "What would I want for my baby shower?" I quickly realized that articles I've read about toxic ingredients in food, BPA in baby bottles, pesticides being found in breast milk, etc.-- all that stuff had stayed filed away in my brain. I realized I would want the gifts my friend's give me to enable me to take good care of my baby, and to do that in as safe a way as possible. I just feel like babies and kids nowadays are exposed to a lot more dangerous chemicals than I was as a child, and a lot more early!

What tripped the whole machine in motion, was seeing a gorgeous, wooden baby rattle on etsy.com. Handmade, dyed with fruit juices, and treated with beeswax and flax seed oil. Incredible. I would feel safe letting my teething baby chomp on this!

And so, off I went, to research products for this big gift project. My main reference site was Skin Deep's Cosmetics Database, which rates commercial products on a scale of 0 to 9, with 9 being the worst for you, by looking at whether or not it contains harmful ingredients (i.e. ingredients which are known to be cancer-causing, or cause neurological and/or reproductive damage), and if so, in what concentration. My goal was to put together a basket of baby products that all scored 0 or 1, to give the mamma-to-be another option besides the normal Baby Magic that we all grew up with (which, btw, scores a 6 in the database!)

Some of the products with the best scores were harder to find. I was glad I had the time to deal with orders that were canceled due to no stock. I also had time to shop around for price. And, even though these particular products were obviously not rated by Skin Deep, I was able to find homemade products on etsy which contained the same ingredients as some of the best-scoring items on Skin Deep.

Here is the result:
Here is what the basket contained:

Aveeno Baby Soothing Bath Treatments (available at Target and lots of places)
Dr. Bronner's Castile Liquid Soap - Baby Mild
Poofy Organics Baby Poof Baby Lotion score: 0 And it actually has an expiration date! (UPDATE: Now that the baby is here, mama swears by this lotion to soothe her brand-new baby's peely skin.)
All Natural Creations Baby Bottom Salve score: 0 And cheap! I ordered two. ;)
Baby Powder from Rainwater Botanicals Talcum powder is really bad for baby's developing lungs!
Kiddopotamous Organic Cotton Swaddler (from Target)
Organic Cotton Crib Sheets (from Amazon)
Organic Cotton Receiving Blanket from Lovely Lou Organics
Pacifier Clips (3) from Bare Bebe (Gorgeous! And packaged so prettily!)
Book: "Organic Baby: Simple Steps For Healthy Living" (I found it, randomly, at Tuesday Morning! Bought one for myself, too.)

For the house:
Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Liquid Soap
Seventh Generation All-Purpose Cleaner, Free & Clear
All Free detergent (there was a definite consensus among the natural mommy blogs that this detergent was by far the best!)

For Mama:
Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm (I thought I was buying the kind for baby! Oops! Oh, well.)
Pregnancy Tea and Sitz Bath from Flying Bird Botanicals (UPDATE: The mama was amazed at the pregnancy tea. It had ALL of the herbs that her doula had recommended to her to help with the pregnancy.) (UPDATE: Now that the baby is here, mama told me that the sitz bath was just the thing to soothe her new baby and her own body, in the bath together.)

And the wood rattle, of course. :)

What Makes a Family

"What Makes a Family" is available to watch streaming on Netflix! Yay!
This 2001 Lifetime movie stars Brooke Shields and Cherry Jones as lesbian partners who eventually have a child together. But when the biological mother of the child becomes ill and dies, her grandparents take the child away from her remaining mother. That woman appeals the court decision, challenging Florida state law, in order to become the guardian of their child, as she and her partner intended.

The movie is "based on a true story," but while I couldn't find any specific story that would have been cited by the movie, I imagine there are thousands of similar stories across the U.S. and world-wide.

I watched the movie tonight, and of course it has gotten me thinking about the legal discrepancies for GLBT parents in the U.S. My partner and I are beginning to plan for a future that would include children - biological and adopted, hopefully. It's stunning, and frightening, to think that even if she and I were to write wills, draw up every legal document possible to provide for the future of our children, that those documents just might not matter-- at least not in every state. It varies so greatly! I know the woman in the movie didn't even have a will at all, but it still makes me question the validity and strength of our future wills and legal plans.

Same-sex marriage is a huge debate right now in the U.S., and I just can't even fathom why some people are so threatened by it. Providing structure and security for family units, no matter how many moms or dads are in that unit-- why is that so scary? And how the fuck is that your business anyway? When I have children, you had better believe I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure the stability and security of their future with their intended parents. Ahhh, and now I'm ranting on my soap-box. ;)

Anyway, the movie is just lovely. Watch it if you haven't seen it yet. Beautifully acted by Brooke Shields, Cherry Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, and a few other people you will recognize. Be sure to have a tissue nearby-- seeing Brooke lose her partner and then her daughter will break your heart!

Cougar Town Lesbian Dream

Wow, this made me laugh just now! I was catching up on the latest episode of "Cougar Town" online tonite... It's a cute show, there are usually a few moments that make me laugh, and it's just silly entertainment.

I can remember having similar conversations with friends, back when I still had boyfriends. ;)



I just love Ellie's reaction at the end! She SO wanted to see what was going to happen!!

Jamie Babbit's Short Films

This morning I watched an interview with director Jamie Babbit on Afterellen.com. Not sure if you've heard of her? I bet you have! She's the director of "But I'm A Cheerleader," "Itty Bitty Titty Committee," and episodes of "Gilmore Girls," "Nip/Tuck," "The L Word," and a dozen other TV series. She even directed a few episodes of "Swingtown," one of my favorites!

Last year, my gf and I discovered "Popular," a series that Jamie directed about 10 years ago. I remember when it was on and really wanting to watch it, but I was in the middle of college dorm life and watching TV wasn't much of a priority, or even a viable option in that concrete tower.

"Popular" is a totally fun and completely ridiculous show about high school, focusing on two girls from rival groups (the popular kids and the weirdos) who are basically at war with each other. The characters are unforgettable (ahem, Mary Cherry), the writing was alternately brilliant and cheesy. Sometimes it felt like a bad after-school special and sometimes it brought my gf and I to tears. Seriously. Among all the wackiness, it touched on issues of race, eating disorders, discrimination, and family relations. The show addressed gay and transgender issues in a respectful and serious tone. And the magnificent Alley Mills played a lesbian! What more could you ask for?! Oh, and Tammy Lynn Michaels, wife of Melissa Etheridge, was one of the main characters. Back then, I remember wanting to watch the show because she was in it... ;) Ryan Murphy was one of the two creators of the show, and he has gone on to be one of the creators of "GLEE."

A very great show, all in all. Rent it if you haven't seen it!

So anyway! In the interview I watched, Jamie mentioned a couple of her short films, "Sleeping Beauties" and "Stuck." It was easy to find them online, amazingly!
"Sleeping Beauties" is something she did shortly before "But I'm A Cheerleader," and you can sure tell that she's trying out the same visual style in this short! Lots of vivid and symbolic colors, sort of a dreamy feel to some parts. And LOTS of famous faces that you'll recognize! Clea DuVall, Leisha Hailey, Radha Mitchell, Rose McGowan, Nicole Eggert... Very cute!

I can't embed the first part of the video, but here is the 2nd part and you can easily find the 1st from there.



"Stuck," she said, was based in part on her great-aunt, who had a difficult relationship with a long-time partner. She didn't say whether or not they broke up in their 80's, as is the case with the characters in this film.




Okay, now for something lighter! Let's end with a little Bobbi Glass, Cherry Cherry, and the incomparable Mary Cherry.

"Making Do" Sometimes Leads to Creative Moments

Making the switch between jobs seems to always put you in money-limbo for a while... During the time you're training on the new job, you're probably not making the full wages you will be making eventually. And meanwhile, you're also not working at your old job much or even at all, so that paycheck is also not going to provide enough.

That's the situation I'm in currently. Got my first paycheck from my new job, but it's smaller than the future ones will be and not enough to cover much more than the essential bills.

Combined with the fact that I'm moving from working most of my days in a serving uniform, to a job where I need to be dressed in business-casual attire everyday, means I'm quickly running through all of my clothes and accessories and would really like to shop!! I'm finding myself wearing old clothes left over from old jobs just because I need something to wear, but I'd really prefer to wear things that actually suit my taste now!

Looking at catalogs during this time has been a kind of torture, but while drooling and folding corners of pages, I actually found some inspiration for things that I could make out of clothes and even jewelry that I have already. One project is an embellished shirt that I plan to make out of a shirt whose bell-shape and puffy sleeves are no longer appealing to me. But that's a bigger project.

The other night, I took on something smaller. A necklace pieced together from some broken vintage pieces.
I have a box full of broken vintage jewelry, which I got while at an auction a couple years ago. Lots of chains, rhinestone pins, clip-on earring, pieces of bracelets... This necklace is made up of 2 pieces of some unidentifiable jewelry item. I used individual gold chain links to connect the 2 pieces together. I replaced a few missing rhinestones and then attached a chain and clasp.

It turned out cute, if I do say so myself! I wore it to work the next day and a customer complimented me on it. Not a huge step to a fantastic work wardrobe, but at least I have something cute to wear with all these bland old sweaters!

Hannah Free

On Wednesday, my gf and I attended the Minneapolis opening of a new film, "Hannah Free."

AfterEllen had posted an interview last week with Sharon Gless, of "Cagney & Lacey" fame. Sharon was very complementary and appreciative of her lesbian fans and expressed that it was an honor to play this role. After reading the interview, I did a search for the movie and found that it was playing in Minneapolis on Nov. 4th, the only viewing here so far. I made plans right away to attend. :)
http://www.afterellen.com/blog/thelinster/sharon-gless-loves-being-free

"Hannah Free" is an independent film, financed by individuals and the film-makers themselves, as well as many people who put in their time and effort free of charge.

It is the story of 2 women, Hannah and Rachel, who grew up together, and from the time they were children they shared a closeness and attraction that led to a secret life-- which eventually came out into the open. Hannah is the "out" character, she is open about her love for Rachel, but is also an adventurous woman who spends long periods travelling the world and living on her own. Rachel stays in their hometown in Michigan, has children and becomes a young widow.

The past is told through flashbacks, while in the present both Hannah and Rachel are in a local nursing home. Hannah is there because she can't physically get around enough to take care of herself, and Rachel because she has suffered a stroke and is on life-support. The heartbreaking part is that although they have been in the same facility for many months, Hannah has not been allowed to see Rachel because she is not "family." This film illustrates how same-sex couples are unequal under the current laws in the U.S., and also touches on treatment of the elderly -- who may not be able-bodied, but are still very able-minded!

It is a beautiful film. Well-written, strong acting, funny, poignant, up-lifting, and always touching. You would never have any idea it was a "small-budget" film. It was the perfect boost to my mood that evening, when I had spent much of my day reading about Maine's voting results, feeling hurt and angry.

Being that this is an independently-made film, the filmmakers are still working very hard to get exposure for the film and to make enough money to pay back all their investors. Lesbian films generally don't make a lot of money, which is why so few are made. If they were money-makers, they would be made all the time! And certainly the quality of the film and the actors they would attract would improve, too! Please support "Hannah Free" in any way you can.

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Hannah-Free/76436188517?ref=ts

"Save" the movie in your Netflix queue! The more people that do this will let Netflix know that this is a film their customers are interested in renting-- and that will encourage them to buy more copies of the DVD.

And also, please BUY the DVD! Filmmakers make squat from the box-office and television showings. Most money is made through sales of DVDs-- to rental businesses and to individual customers. In order to keep getting beautiful movies like this made, it's really important to pay back those investors and encourage them to invest in lesbian films in the future!!

That Hotel Was A Goner

Thinking today about the hotel I worked at during the summer after I graduated high school, a resort place in Sister Bay, WI. My family had vacationed up there so much when I was younger, I was just about sick of it. But by the end of high school, the place seemed like freedom. A friend my age had worked there for a summer and I'd gotten to visit her. I couldn't believe the parties, the new people, the drinking and drugs, the beaches and music. My 18-year-old mind didn't notice the slummy living conditions or the low wages. ;)

My parents shocked me by helping me get set up for the summer of 1998 at a lovely place they had gone to on vacations a few times. It was made up of 6 buildings of various sizes, containing different styles of rooms. I lived in one of them along with 5 other girls, while we had jobs as housekeepers, waiters, and at the front desk. My high school crush also became my roommate there, after I told her all about the opportunity to be away from parents and home for a summer. At the end of 3+ months, we had had enough experiences, conversations, adventures, and romances to provide material for a slew of comedic movies, rom coms, indie films, and at least one soap opera. The photo albums contain many incriminating photos-- some didn't even make it into the albums.

Well, the point is that the place is now gone. A few years back, they razed "our" resort to make rooms for townhouses. Starting with the building we lived in, the one with the smallest rooms for rent. Then moving on to the 3 buildings of cabins, the waterfront building, the main building which contained the restaurant, the crumbling old boat house, the cobalt-tiled swimming pool, and much more of the woods behind.

When I drive up there now, I can hardly tell where it used to be. Just a long stretch of tall townhouses, each just like the one next to it.

Today I listened to "Falling Down," my favorite song from Scarlett Johansson's album Anywhere I Lay My Head. There's a section in the song that is the reason I'm thinking of this today:

"Go on down and see that wrecking ball
Come swinging on along
Everyone knew that hotel was a goner
They broke all the windows
They took all the door knobs
And they hauled it away in a couple of days"

Breaks my heart a bit, thinking of that place, our home for a bit, being destroyed and carted off to landfills. I know this kind of thing happens all the time, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. ;)
The most important things that came out of that time are the friends I made there who will be my friends forever, because of the things we shared that summer.

Thrifting Weekend With My Ma

Took a trip to Wisconsin this past weekend to spend some time with my mother. It seems we never get to hang out anymore-- every time I'm there it's because I have things to go to, and I'm busy the entire weekend. Well Mom and I were definitely busy, but this time with fun together stuff! Rummage sales, thrift shops, lots of photography, and cooking together.

Saturday was a dreary day. Very chilly for August, and the morning drizzle increased to rain by afternoon. But we were determined to go to lots of sales and find lots of cool vintage stuff!! I got a handful of records that I'm going to make into notebooks; a stack of vintage Life, Collier's, and McCall's sewing magazines-- they're heavy and they take up space, but I love them! A crazy orange plastic bathroom set that must have come out of the Brady girls' bathroom. Oh wait, the Brady girls shared with their brothers, so they probably didn't have final say over the decor... Laurie Partridge, then, maybe? Anyway, it's so gaudy it's adorable. Orange plastic in a pattern like cut crystal. It's hard to explain, I'll have to post pictures. Also, a worn deep-red hardcover book from1939 entitled "Tale Of The Witch Doll," some Fire King Azurite saucers and a creamer for my collection, some other miscellaneous fifties-looking saucers, and an aluminum cake-carrier for my best friend.

Also on Saturday, while driving all over town for rummage sales, I happened to spot an adorable old sign, through the rain. I really, really hoped to come back and photograph it. It's all alone in an area that has all either been redeveloped, or is just about to. I don't quite understand how this sign is still standing alone in the middle of all that, but I doubt it will be much longer. Well, on Sunday, the weather was just gorgeous-- blue sky, fluffy clouds, sun galore. My mom, sister and I were out doing various errands and they humored me by taking the drive back to the sign so I could take pictures of it. I think they were also curious to see what the hell the fuss was about! They agreed that it was a really cool find.



How cute is that?! It says Weddin on one side of the sign. Must have lost it's G sometime after the plexiglass got broken. Frickin' adorable. We were thinking there must have been a print shop there at some point... Maybe?

Newest Playlist - August 2009

This most recent playlist was a long time in the making! I was well on my way in the beginning of July, when my computer crashed. I left it in Wisconsin with a trusted fix-it guy, and he lent me a laptop to use in the meantime. But I was reluctant to put too many new programs onto the laptop, which left my girlfriend's computer as the only way I could get my new playlist done. But... *whining* her computer's kind of slow and it's all the way down the hall! ;) What a baby I am. Anyway, tonight I finally got it done.

1) Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
2) Metric - Gimme Sympathy
3) Dragonette - Take It Like A Man
4) Handsome Furs - Dead + Rural
5) The Noisettes - Never Forget You
6) Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van
7) Imogen Heap - Tidal
8) The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
9) Dragonette - Get Lucky
10) Mika - Love Today
11) Phoenix - 1901
12) The Cliks - Dirty King
13) Ladyhawke - Dusk Til Dawn
14) MGMT - Time To Pretend
15) Camera Obscura - Honey In The Sun
16) Olivia Broadfield - Don't Cry
17) Imogen Heap - Wait It Out
18) Adele - Right As Rain
19) Regina Spektor - Eet
20) Amazing Baby - Headdress
21) Handsome Furs - All We Want, Baby, Is Everything

The theme for this playlist was going to be sun/summer. But that was at the beginning of the summer when I just wanted to get something put together quickly. Once more time had passed, there were too many new songs I wanted to hear to just stick to the gimmick.

Sometimes Facebook Is Awesome.

I spend way too much time on my computer. That's very obvious to me. And to my girlfriend, who had to get used to how much time I spend in front of this thing. When my computer broke last month, I jumped at the chance to borrow a loaner from the guy who was fixing it, so I didn't have to change my routine at all. So, yes, I spend way to much time on Facebook, checking my email, updating my etsy, browsing etsy, reading blogs, etc.

But one week ago, a few minutes of my time on Facebook really paid off. Earlier in the evening, an old friend of mine popped into my head. We had been extremely close when I was in college, worked together, had a ton of classes together... but had eventually lost touch, sadly. I missed her greatly in the years that followed, but life goes on...

Believing I may have just been presented with a synchronistic opportunity, I did a search for her on Facebook as soon as I was able, when I got home that night. I found it hard to believe I had never done that before... She popped right up, my girl Genna. I could see from her hyphenated last name that she was now married. I sent her a "friend request" ASAP, and was able to browse her pictures and a few things because she didn't have them privacy-protected.

I was searching for the hubby, wanted to see who she had found, since I remembered that Genna had always had such bad luck with boyfriends. Searching... searching... Boy, that blonde woman sure is in her pictures a lot. Must be a new friend or maybe related to her hubby. Then, in a miscellaneous picture album, I find Genna's wedding pictures. The blonde woman is who she married!!! I'm shocked, truly (and happily!) shocked. Genna and I talked about everything back in the day, and she knew my preference for women, and surely she would have mentioned something if she had leaned that way at all!

I was shocked, elated, and hopeful. I might get my friend back, and now we had more in common than ever. I believe I ran downstairs, chattering to my girlfriend about all this, obviously conveying how excited I was!

Well, she answered my friend request pretty quickly, within the hour, and what followed for the next hour or so was a flurry of Wall posts, messages, and picture comments between Genna, her wife, and me. Total excitement coming from all sides. She had been updating on her page about her next participation in the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk, coming up the next Thursday. I asked her right away how I could donate, and we also made plans for gf and I to come to the ending ceremony in St. Paul, to reunite with her and to meet each other's partners.

And so, the day of the end of the 3-Day was today. Gf and I were running a little late, per usual, but we raced down to the capital grounds, me texting with Genna's wife to try and pinpoint their location within the massive sea of pink. I had a vague idea of where to look, and that was enough. Genna and I are both tall girls, so I found her right away. Hugs, crying all around, more hugs, and happy introductions, followed by dinner and a lot of catching up. So many stories to tell, most importantly, how we came to be in our current happy situations!! As in most times when getting to know a fellow GLBT, we had to tell the "when did you know" and "how was coming out for you" stories. And of course, just catching up on where our lives have taken us. Funny that after years of not being in contact, we have more in common than ever before. We are both thankful to have the other in our lives again.

Yes, all this social technology is a time-suck for sure. But it can also be a blessing when it helps you find a truly wonderful friend.

Etsy Store Progress and Pauses...

So, I've been trying to work very hard on my etsy store lately. Last week I went out with a friend and photographed her in all those tiny vintage clothes that I've been hanging on to for years, with the hopes of someday selling them. The pictures turned out fabulous, if I do say so myself!!

I got just about enough pictures to showcase the clothes themselves, but I do admit I got a little wrapped up in the arty aspects, as I tend to do, and got a few more artistic shots that I really love. Nothin' wrong with that, I suppose!

I've also been working on figuring out how to market my etsy store better. It's tricky!! There are thousands and thousands of fabulous stores on etsy, and that's a lot to compete with. Like, I just recently discovered the "Treasury" application, which is how those beautiful galleries end up on the front page of etsy. People take a lot of time and compile these gorgeous collections with the hopes that they'll be seen and promoted. But they're promoting other people's work, is the key! It's very collaborative.

Well, I've seen some of these Treasury collections that I feel my items/products could very well be a part of. Lists of cool "back to school" items -- my notebooks would be perfect in there. Lists of vintage items of particular colors -- I've got something that color! But how do I get my things seen?? I'm reading up on the forums more and more, and have also been renewing my items in my store in order to get them further in the front of search result lists.

Also, promoting on facebook, myspace, twitter... I keep hoping something will catch on! And I'll need to keep working on making more and better items, taking better pictures, maybe changing up my store banner and avatar... We'll see. Keep plugging away!!

Fun Flashback with Samantha Fox!

Anyone remember this song?

Samantha Fox - I Wanna Have Some Fun
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This song totally reminds me of being at the roller rink when I was growing up!

The outfits crack me up-- especially the chains on her jeans at the beginning, and ruffly top near the end.

But I DO love the suit!! Guess that could've been an early indication that Ms. Samantha plays for our team. :)