sundries

[rm]

unicursal has a hole between her inner ear and her brain that shouldn't be there. It's fucking up her health and her finances. Surgery is happening soon, but she needs financial help for related expenses.

I know I promised you all that charity list. I got derailed with the situation with Little, but I will put it up before we leave for the cruise.

I'm also going to post when we return from the cruise about what to do if you want me to boost the signal on things. I'm getting a lot of these requests lately, and I'm all for using the journal for good, but I'm going to be thinking about a formula for doing it and the best way for you to help me help you.

I got asked to do an event in Memphis. Any of you all in Memphis? Would it be cool? It's probably a logistical impossibility and I'll just donate a couple of books instead if they are interested, but I'm really enjoying this traveling and seeing places I'd never think of to go thing, and it's kinda cool. What's in Memphis?

I have just gotten confirmation that the tux will not be released from customs in time for the cruise. Assuming I get it in time, I will wear it to DoV or something, just so it has a run before Gally.

Are you in NYC? Are you gluten-free or have other specific health needs? If so, hurry over to Westside Health Food at 2569 Broadway -- they're going out of business and everything is 30% off. I just got two gluten-free frozen pizzas, two boxes of cookies, a box of brownies and a bos of crackers for under $24, which is EXTREMELY cheap for gluten-free stuff.

Dogboy & Justine information, now with flyer.

Speaking of dogs: on the floor below us lives a pit bull who barks through the door when his owner is not home. The people across the hall from this dog, have just acquired a new yipster, which now barks in return. The stairs are alive with the sound of dog arguments now.

Most Amazing Statistic EVAR: 1 in 5 divorces refer to Facebook.

Do you know what's back soon? My current favorite HBO show, Big Love.

People warned me this would happen: last night I kept thinking I saw Little out of the corner of my eye and then she bapped me with her tail. That's a little creepy. But you know, what else is she going to do but hang out on the couch?

I am fed up to here with fucking security theater. I am fed up with us throwing $$ at a big show designed to make the ignorant feel safer through humiliation. Now the TSA is subpoena'ing bloggers who are posting non-classified public information. I feel like I have to travel with a doctor's note in case I, god forbid, have a celiac reaction while on a flight and need to use the bathroom for more than five minutes. I am angry, angry, angry.

Tomorrow, when we are all no longer the Master, this icon will revert to previous.

I don't really make New Year's Resolutions, but in 2010 I'd like to book/sell more creative work, continue on the road of treating myself and those I care about better, reconnect with the LGBTQ community so that I can learn from other activists as opposed to just trying to teach allies and finish my novel. Probably lots of other stuff too.

Patty comes home TOMORROW.

Comments

[littlebelleblue.livejournal.com]

Memphis has many things (aside from the wonderful barbecue - try the dry ribs!- fried catfish, and Elvis/Graceland). Take Ida B. Wells, for example (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_B._Wells). And it can be fun for a few days! I actually have a list, entitled: Culturally Fun and Free (or pretty close to it) Things To Do in Memphis That Will Enlighten Your Day.

Most of the museums/stuff have free days or free to people with TN ID days, and most will let you piggyback in if you're with one person with a TN ID. If you like music, it's the place to come.

#1 free thing to do (Besides Beale Street): Shelby Farms! 4500 acre urban park in the middle of the city - largest one in the country. It is amazing - trails, horses, farmer's market, experimental farm, golf frisbee, place to rent paddleboats, fishing, deer, kite flying range, American Bison range.

If you like black gospel music, there are a ton of churches with amazing choirs.

National Civil Rights Museum, including the preserved room where Martin Luther King was staying when he was murdered, and many really good exhibits. www.civilrightsmuseum.org

Rock and Soul Museum (Smithsonian affiliated history of rock and roll and the blues) http://memphisrocknsoul.org/

Gibson Guitar Factory (get to see all of the guitars being made!) http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Locations/RetailCenters/Memphis/DiscoveriesOfGibson/

Stax Museum http://www.soulsvilleusa.com/

Sun Studio (where Elvis recorded his first hits) http://www.sunstudio.com/

A. Schwab Dry Goods Store on Beale Street - three floors of miscellany (often very very old) in the only remaining original store on Beale (since the 1870's). Their slogan: If you can't find it at A. Schwab, you're better off without it. http://www.tnvacation.com/vendors/a_schwab_dry_goods_store/

Brooks Museum http://www.brooksmuseum.org/ - mainly Italian Renaissance and Baroque, with an extensive African gallery, but they also have fascinating local stuff and a few really good traveling exhibits each year.

W.C. Handy Home and Museum http://www.mytravelguide.com/attractions/profile-78119405-United_States_Tennessee_Memphis_WC_Handys_Memphis_Home_Museum.html

Memphis Zoo - Pandas, and lots of really good, recently redone exhibits. www.memphiszoo.org

Peabody Ducks! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peabody_Hotel#The_Peabody_Ducks

Dixon (Impressionists + really good traveling exhibits; gorgeous gardens and greenhouses) www.dixon.org

National Ornamental Metal Museum - has a working forge, and is very very cool; people come here to do multi-year internships. Plus, they have kitties who live in the forge! "The National Ornamental Metal Museum is the only institution in the United States devoted exclusively to the preservation and promotion of fine metalwork." www.metalmuseum.org

Slave Haven - stop on the Underground Railroad http://www.tnvacation.com/vendors/slave_haven_underground_railroad_museum_burkle_estate/

U of Memphis Egyptology/Art Museum http://www.memphis.edu/egypt/

Center for Southern Folklore (very interesting and cool) http://www.southernfolklore.com/

Cotton Museum www.memphiscottonmuseum.org

Pink Palace - unfinished home of the founder of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain, the first self-serve grocery stores in existence! Now a very intriguing museum; one of the best parts is the miniature circus. Place to go to learn about Memphis history(there were growing pains - among other things, the city charter was revoked after the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1878, when over half of the population (25000+) fled and 5000+ died; interestingly, the ones who stayed behind to nurse the people who could not flee were the nuns and the brothel madam). http://www.memphismuseums.org/

Elmwood Cemetery - free, open to the public; stop by the visitor's center for tours.

Fire Museum; Mud Island; Botanic Gardens

WDIA was the first radio station with programming by blacks for blacks; it gave a lot of artists their breaks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDIA; http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1546/is_n4_v8/ai_13284541/

Aside from the museum-y things, there are a lot of good places to go and experience our very unique culture. Much of it is music and food based; some of it is very painful, and some of it is wonderful. :)

[littlebelleblue.livejournal.com]

Ooh, also, Memphis in May. Musicfest/international festival (Tunisia this year)/barbecue contest combined. For an entire month. http://www.memphisinmay.org/

[kadairk.livejournal.com]

Your list makes me want to spend more time in Memphis ... I drive through there generally twice a year, yet very rarely stop and see things. Thanks for sharing this!

[littlebelleblue.livejournal.com]

Yay! :)

There are a ton of "stop for an hour or two and have fun things to do" places. You should swing by and take a look! If nothing else, there are some really great hole-in-the-wall places to eat not too far off the interstate or right in downtown (they're all relatively easy to get to; Memphis pretends to be a big city, but most of the time acts more like a small/mid-size town), and Shelby Farms is a great place to stop for an hour or two and relax or have a picnic. There really is a lot of history in the city - musical, civil rights, agricultural, etc.