sundries

Patty and I are having a nice domestic morning. This is really the first one we've had since she's been back and really since she left for Cardiff, since it was too dark and cold in Cardiff for us to even putter about comfortably.

Plans for various things are shaping up. Patty has to make a post before I can tell you some of that (and there's still some info we don't quite have), but we do know I'll be joining Patty in Columbus on December 26th and we'll be returning on January 3. We don't drive, so are somewhat at the mercy of the schedules and graces of others, but if I've dropped you a note ever about us trying to meet up at some point, this is the timeframe.

We also know that in May we're doing a Regency weekend in Essex and a wedding in Pittsburgh at the end of that month. I suspect France will be in August.

I had the oddly nice experience of getting off my ass and sending NCIS my scholarly accomplishments for 2010 and it was actually sort of awesome. I did stuff! I have more stuff in the pipeline (OH GOD, I NEED TO WATCH ALL OF SJA)! I should update my CV.

I am very, very excited for Tron: Legacy. The score and the bleakness alone have me very excited, even if everyone is saying that the script is truly terrible. Unfortunately Patty has aggressive negative interest in seeing this one, so it's me on my own next week.

Now we are getting ready to go to the farmer's market and Eataly before we join a friend for her birthday and a night of 20s dancing.

Almost, Maine was a flop in New York. But it's having one hell of a healthy life elsewhere.

Can airports be fun? I had the horror recently of realizing I enjoy airport time. I suppose I'd have to (am assuming at least 6 RTs for me in the next 12 months, know that could easily go up to 9 or more -- I don't like being away from home for long stretches, but I love spending a bit of time on the road).

Urban forager: burdock.

So brilliant I wish I'd thought of it: Far from Heaven to be musical.

Last night we jumped back on the Angel bandwagon and watched "Harm's Way." There's only one thing you need to know: OH MY GOD I LOVE HARMONY SO MUCH. Also, I want a Harmony/Ianto bitching about their crappy jobs that take them for granted and their awful bosses with swoopy coats fic. Pleeeeeeease?

DADT repeal

As I am writing this DADT is about to be repealed, and that's fantastic. It's also not enough.

First, this didn't have to go on this long; Obama could have asserted himself in a much more efficient manner. And Obama still has to assert himself. This ONLY takes DADT off the books. Obama needs to issue a direct non-discrimination order to the military.

Second, this process has included a great deal of distaste for our judiciary. As a child, when I learned about the various branches of government, I learned that the courts were always, always, our last, best hope of a just a-political society. Of course, judges are not appointed and elected without politics, and judges are also imperfect, and god knows the Supreme Court makes me angry/nervous often enough. But I believe in the inherent good of the ideal of the judiciary. And our national politics are, at present, demonizing the judiciary from both the left and the right. I find this highly, HIGHLY problematic, and we need step the fuck back from this as a nation.

Third, repeal DOMA. Make sure the spouses and legal partners of LGBT people, and particularly of LGBT service people get the respect and benefits they are entitled to.

Fourth, multiple aspects of our marriage-centric society are problematic. Despite this, we still need marriage equality now.

Fifth, homophobia and misogyny run hand in hand. Rape, homophobia and misogyny run hand-in-hand. We need to look at how we treat women and theoretically feminine characteristics, both in and outside of the military, and get over our shit as a nation.

Sixth, pass ENDA. It is still legal to fire people for being queer in the majority of US states.


Meanwhile:

John McCain, what the fuck? Did you only support DADT repeal when you thought it would never happen? Are you just pandering to the increasing conservatism of your state? Or have your convictions changed? You've embarrassed yourself. Shamed yourself. Shamed our nation on this. Really.

Congress members who voted for this repeal, especially if you once held a different point of view or found this hard to vote for and voted for it anyway? Thank you. Thank you for your courage and self-examination.

People who think this doesn't matter -- this is the first time my national government is ACTIVELY saying I am human, equal, and worthy. You don't know what that's like until you haven't got it.