sundries

[rm]

Good morning world. No, really, GOOD MORNING, WORLD. It is a very good morning, indeed.
 

First Inception: the Musical rehearsal last night. I was shakier vocally than I expected to be, but I also handled my shit better than I expected, and it will be fine, because I'm a hard worker, and when it comes, it comes. Also, I have no voice after eating brie, not sleeping and being on the rag (does anyone else have this, where you totally lose your range when you're menstruating?)

Also, Megan is the fuck HILARIOUS as Eames, although I confess to possibly finding all of that funnier since she's my ex-roommate AND because there's a whole long sequence in which she hits on the The Mark by doing all this "Well, helloooooo, Mr. Director" stuff, that's funny even if you aren't Megan and I, but is stupidly funny if you are.

And, most importantly, perhaps, things are afoot.
 

No, no, things are really afoot. Dogboy & Justine is totally happening. And last night, I, in thinking about something that got said in the Luhrmann masterclass and how I was actually applying that to something else, somewhere else, had an inspiration for what this project is and how it should perhaps be tonally. The other party involved totally gets my ideas, is running around with her own awesome ideas and can compose the fuck out of anything. Which is to say, er, hey, now we're naming our production company.
 

And, there was a Friends of the Text meeting that was AWESOME. In part because we are all awesome, in part because thank god Kali can keep people focused. In part because we are closing in one some great ideas for 2011. In part because, OH SHIT, everything I'm doing totally related to everything else I'm doing, and if this goes the direction I think it is, I know exactly the abstract I'm writing up for this thing and it's SO GOOD. And so about my sweet spot of fixation. And I am SO EXCITED.
 

On the other hand, I've slept way, way too much today. So the schedule of things I must do today, is perhaps different than I thought it was going to be last night. But that's okay, I needed the sleep, and the important thing is no fucking off. I've things to do! Both in terms of art and grocery shopping and Cleaning All the Things and such-like.
 

Tomorrow, Patty and I have a date!
 

Right now, it's not raining. IT'S NOT RAINING. I've decided, among other things, to go out and take a walk. Soho is calling to me. I don't know why. But I listen when called.
 

Got a birthday card from my parent, which in all its birthday card sentiment was really and truly sweet and really and truly moved me. In short, the translation could be "You're a queer artist and we actually think that's kinda awesome." Seriously, the card is that good.
 

Weirdly, I still have no plan for my birthday and still feel okay about that. Is it crazy that I think something's going to come, or that my own work ethic is plenty to keep me entertained?
 

Am I being too intense lately? I feel so jazzed, but like this all must be really tiring to read.
 

The legal debate around the suicide of Tyler Clementi. Lots of people have been talking about "well, no matter how bad it is, you don't kill yourself if there isn't an underlying problem, and you can't blame cruelty for that." Cruelty is cruelty. Abuse is abuse. Any person can be vulnerable. Any act of casual maliciousness can be fatal. Tyler Clementi killed himself because Tyler Clementi killed himself. Tyler Clementi also killed himself because he was ridiculed, harassed and had his privacy invaded because of his sexual orientation. All these things can be true at once. And are.
 

There will be a vigil in Washington Square Park in NYC on Sunday October 3rd at 9pm related to the recent suicides of gay teens. Yes, this is not a new phenomenon. Yes, it is disgusting that it is only being acknowledged now by the mainstream media like it's this year's shark attack, but it is vitally important than we keep the story alive, in hopes that that can engender change which will help keep kids alive.
 

Michigan ADA who bullied, stalked and harassed campus leader, now on leave.

For October, Mud Brick is focusing on the archaeology of death.

Comments

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

"you don't kill yourself if there isn't an underlying problem"

Oh, but they're right. There is an underlying problem.

Societal homophobia.

[mithrigil.livejournal.com]

Note to self, no brie next time. But there does have to be protein. Hm...

Can I just say, everything is coming up DAFFODILS right now. Seriously. Well, at least as far as creative endeavors go. The real world, not as much.

[norda.livejournal.com]

On the other than, I've slept way, way too much today. So the schedule of things I must do today, is perhaps different than I thought it was going to be last night. But that's okay, I needed the sleep, and the important thing is no fucking off. I've things to do! Both in terms of art and grocery shopping and Cleaning All the Things and such-like.

Starting my "day" in much the same way, but am beating myself up much less than usual for it.

Right now, it's not raining. IT'S NOT RAINING. I've decided, among other things, to go out and take a walk. Soho is calling to me. I don't know why. But I listen when called.

::::nods::::: Yup, yup, yup. While I can't currently get to Soho, I *can* and will get to Highland Street and Elm Park here in Wormtown and *will* make myself leave the house. It is always good to listen when those voices call.

Am I being too intense lately? I feel so jazzed, but like this all must be really tiring to read.

Nah.

Yes, this is not a new phenomenon. Yes, it is disgusting that it is only being acknowledged now by the mainstream media like it's this year's shark attack, but it is vitally important than we keep the story alive, in hopes that that can engender change which will help keep kids alive.

And so much synchronicity with conversations I've had with my semi-daughter, who has actually finally vocalized at age 28 the thought that she does not know how she kept going in grammar school and high school, because she couldn't imagine at age 13 that she would EVER meet other people like her. [She met me at age 14 and started hanging out with Michael and me when she was in college.]

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Regarding Dogboy & Justine, this is something I'm very excited about as a fan musical theatre and sexual dynamics... so YAY! My BFF and I would definitely pay good money for that one.

I read an interesting piece regarding Tyler Clementi over on Sepia Mutiny (http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/006341.html) which I really didn't know how to take. It irritated me that there was any kind of search for justification on the people who committed cyber-bullying and the other, is the social background of bullies something we need to take into account?
I'm inclined to say yes, but I still think the book should be thrown at them.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it's not raining!

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

I'm going to the vigil. Thank you for boosting the signal.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

So glad it was such a great Friends of the Text meeting. I'll watch the blog for updates!

[meirion.livejournal.com]

well, no matter how bad it is, you don't kill yourself if there isn't an underlying problem, and you can't blame cruelty for that

Dear everybody who said that, maybe you need to wake up and actually be bullied just for being yourself. Although, actually, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy because it's completely awful, and I'm only just realising now that I should have reported what happened to me to my tutor and probably to the police. 17 years later.

Comment might be triggery re suicide

[forest-rose.livejournal.com]

Lots of people have been talking about "well, no matter how bad it is, you don't kill yourself if there isn't an underlying problem, and you can't blame cruelty for that."

I have just had this debate with my consultant! She reckons that people can't withhold consent to be treated after an overdose, because once they lose consciousness they no longer have capacity to make that decision. I think that if they've made a statement to you that they don't want to be resuscitated, you have to abide by that. Suicide does not necessarily equal mental impairment, however much we as doctors might like to claim it does so we can stop people dying. Having to let someone die is awful, but I think if that really is their decision we really don't have any other option.
In practice, it won't be my decision for several years, and even then I would ring the Medical Protection Society and go 'aaargh' at them for legal/ethical guidance. But the conversation was good to have! It was one of those good debates where people listen to the other person's side.

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

The other thing that just torques me about comments in regard to the Clementi story: "None of this would have happened if he'd been with a girl!"

OK, first? You don't know that. The roommate STILL could have taped him. Because it's not like straight 18 y.o. guys aren't possibly, oh I dunno, *shy and awkward* their first time having sex.

Second? Ah, so Clementi brought this on himself by being queer? Really?

[tacky-tramp.livejournal.com]

There was just a thread on vaginapagina about hormonal fluctuations affecting women's singing, so yes, this totally happens to people. :)

[citrinesunset.livejournal.com]

Lots of people have been talking about "well, no matter how bad it is, you don't kill yourself if there isn't an underlying problem, and you can't blame cruelty for that."

Yeah, I've been seeing that, too. I have to wonder if people who make that argument have never had anything seriously traumatic or upsetting happen to them, or just can't empathize with how others might react to something like that. I've had people whom I see as being very stable, who have never been diagnosed with depression or another mental illness, tell me that they wanted to die during especially upsetting times in their lives. It's not uncommon.

But even if Clementi did have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, I don't see why that matters. If you mug someone who happens to have a weak heart, and they have a heart attack from the stress, you're not absolved just because they had an underlying condition. We have to accept the consequences of our actions.

I guess some people see suicide as a reaction people choose freely. I don't think that's always the case.

[abnormal-apathy.livejournal.com]

Re: Tyler Clementi...I spent the better part of the morning (uselessly) arguing with someone who basically told me on FB that he should have "fought back". With what, I asked. Because I mean, really...when you're that depressed and you feel like you have no allies, how exactly are you supposed to fight against something like that? This person then proceeded to tell me how they raised their kids to fight back, implicitly physically. Apparently I am a Bad Person for (a) not advocating this behavior as solution-oriented and (b) for choosing not to have children. Also, apparently (b) meant that I was not entitled to have an opinion about her opinion since I haven't raised a child myself.

Uhm. My head is spinning.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Go parents!

And not tiring - energizing.

[glinda-w.livejournal.com]

Am staying out of discussions with idiots about Clementi, and not reading about it now, because it has me so upset and angry, and my blood pressure, on two meds, is 160/93, and last Thursday my (new) doctor gave me the lecture about avoidable stress. *sigh* I just... my first college semester was at a music school, where I first met people who were openly gay, and... I could've known him, 40+ years ago. All that talent, all that potential. And not just him. And... *backs carefully away from soapbox*

Am I being too intense lately? I feel so jazzed, but like this all must be really tiring to read.

No, not tiring, encouraging. Good to see. Several people I know are going through really rough things, and it's good to have something to balance it.

[ladypeculiar.livejournal.com]

Can I play a drag queen in D&J? (only half kidding)

Rehearsal was all kinds of awesome, seriously.

[gwyd.livejournal.com]

Please tell me someone is going to film that Inception thing you are doing.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

I've been ruminating hard on the Michigan ADA and the rash of suicides, albeit mostly in separate boxes.

The suicides are difficult, and I am angry about them, and I am frustrated with myself because "better" for me doesn't feel good enough for an It Gets Better right now. A lot of it is too close in some quiet places, if that makes sense. Spirit Day and some things the Ekklesia are doing help my own peace of mind, but there's a part of me that just wants permission to punch a lot of people in the teeth.

Re: the ADA, I think a lot of people are failing to parse where it's a Freedom of Speech issue (i.e. the blog) v. slander and/or defamation, and where it's a stalking and harassment issue (some of the things the ADA is doing in addition to the blog). I'm finding the lack of depth happening in that conversation really frustrating because it's got ramifications for anyone (not just bigoted douchebags) who blog and also work.