Photo taken 29 August 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
What's Cookin'?
Actually I look a little terrified of what I see in there... perhaps I should have edited this one into creepier darker colours...
Photo taken 28 August 2011
Midnight Munchies- the Other Side
A few months ago, I put up a pic of midnight munchies. This is the sequel- the other side of the equation.
Photo taken 26 August 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
I don't even know what to say about this one...
This is sadly not a self portrait, but it totally won for today. I have to give credit to my co-worker for this one. When she told me her camera added a few pounds, she wasn't joking!
Photo taken 25 August 2011
Ok, so I also took a "real" photo. This one is indeed a self portrait.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Science and Gender (and gender transitioning)
Recently I read an article on how scientists are finding differences in the brain formations of transgendered people. While this type of research is important for scientifically legitimizing the plight of transgendered folks everywhere, it left me a little bit afraid. Why would I fear? This supports what folks have said for years- sometimes a man is simply born into a woman's body, and a woman is born into a man's body. Now there is proof that their brains are actually that of their genetic counterparts. Nothing for me to fear there. And yet... I am afraid. Or at the very least I am wary.
My fear is that this will segregate the transgender community into further and futher categories. Currently someone wishing to transition needs to PROVE to medical professionals that they really do need surgery by living as the other gender for a time, and often they need to be hyper-masculin to become a man, or hyper-feminin to become a female. This trend is beginning to change, and some doctors will do the surgery so long as it is informed consent on the patient's part. This new system allows for gender variants of all types to access surgery to help their body be more comfortable for them (as long as they have the money to pay for the surgery- I will admit my rant is biased regarding class stature). I'm afraid that this swing towards informed consent as opposed to "prove it to me," will move backwards, not forwards.
In the article there is a footnote for "late onset transexuality," and it outlines that only 38% of transgender folks KNOW by age 5 that they are in the wrong body, but just because this article does have the disclaimers that it doesn't 100% solve the problem, that doesn't mean that more bigotry won't happen because you can't prove you're *trans enough* to the doctor. All because of a brain scan.
And people like myself, who live in the grey areas of gender, playing with both masculin and feminin and blending them and knowing myself to be neutrois (hurrah for learning a new word) have little hope of "fitting in" with yet another cleavage line to divide us. This article, and the entire concept of this brain scan, seems to support the notion that there are only the two genders in this world: male and female. I know this to not be the case.
I know gender is real. And I do NOT want to diminish access for those who truly are male or female from access to services to help them match their bodies to their brains. I just hope that a move for them doesn't put everyone else back.
My fear is that this will segregate the transgender community into further and futher categories. Currently someone wishing to transition needs to PROVE to medical professionals that they really do need surgery by living as the other gender for a time, and often they need to be hyper-masculin to become a man, or hyper-feminin to become a female. This trend is beginning to change, and some doctors will do the surgery so long as it is informed consent on the patient's part. This new system allows for gender variants of all types to access surgery to help their body be more comfortable for them (as long as they have the money to pay for the surgery- I will admit my rant is biased regarding class stature). I'm afraid that this swing towards informed consent as opposed to "prove it to me," will move backwards, not forwards.
In the article there is a footnote for "late onset transexuality," and it outlines that only 38% of transgender folks KNOW by age 5 that they are in the wrong body, but just because this article does have the disclaimers that it doesn't 100% solve the problem, that doesn't mean that more bigotry won't happen because you can't prove you're *trans enough* to the doctor. All because of a brain scan.
And people like myself, who live in the grey areas of gender, playing with both masculin and feminin and blending them and knowing myself to be neutrois (hurrah for learning a new word) have little hope of "fitting in" with yet another cleavage line to divide us. This article, and the entire concept of this brain scan, seems to support the notion that there are only the two genders in this world: male and female. I know this to not be the case.
I know gender is real. And I do NOT want to diminish access for those who truly are male or female from access to services to help them match their bodies to their brains. I just hope that a move for them doesn't put everyone else back.
Yet another picture of my eyeball
What can I say- I'm fascinated by my eyes. That sounds really self absorbed, but it's not a "my eyes are so pretty" kind of thing, it's a "These are some of the most bizarre organs in the body," kinda thing. I'm just amazed at how light waves can create an electrical impulse in our brains which we interpret into pictures. So I tend to take a lot of pictures of my eyes.
That and I think they're pretty.
Photo taken 23 August 2011
Cold Hearted
Kind of steel- looking cold, empty hearted bitch.... or so I'm hearing are the rumours. Those that know me know it to be untrue...
Photo taken 21 August 2011
Bathroom Rockstar!
I bought a hairbrush last week. You know what that's used for, right? Bathroom Karaoke!!!!
Photo taken 20 August 2011
The Accidental Photo
Was carrying my camera on my shoulder as I normally do (for anyone who's seen me with my camera for any extended period of time, you'll know the pose), and I accidently took this shot. Figured I had no better plans for a 365, so here it is. The back of my right ear, lol!
Photo taken 19 August 2011
Thinky Face
This is me, staring intently at my camera trying to figure out what type of picture to take.
Photo taken 18 August 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
PIGTAILS
I bought new hair ties today. It means I finally have more than one, so I can do pigtails.
Wow my hair is getting long. It's been almost a year since I last cut it (last time it was cut I shaved off a mohawk... so it was pretty short).
Photo taken 17 August 2011
You know you need to update your blog more often when it takes over an hour to post all of the pictures necessary to bring things back up to date.
I losted
I had my ass handed to me at Muppet Monopoly. My own husband wouldn't even visit me in jail, because he had tickets to the Muppet show.
Photo taken 16 August 2011
looking up
After a weekend of camping, it's tough to feel inspired at home for interesting photos.
Photo taken 14 August 2011
Annual Beach Day
We're still working on a cheeky cute name for our annual beach day with my sister and her family...
Photo taken 13 August 2011
Camp Shower
Ok, not a shower- more like splashing a bit of the sweat off of me. This photo was taken with the help of my wonderful hubby acting as the tripod out in the river, lol.
Photo taken 12 August 2011
Perfection!!
I swear this is the best way to start a weekend. What you don't see is the drink in hand.
Photo taken 11 August 2011 at Englishman River Falls campground.
Monday, August 8, 2011
What goes Bump in the Night
Me, when I've forgotten to take my 365 photo.
Photo taken 3 August 2011- after I'd already gone to bed. Thanks to my hubby for reminding me I hadn't taken a pic yet.
Swirly
One of my favourite parts of my body. And one of the most painful memories. Elbow tattoos hurt.
Photo taken 2 August 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
My response to a Pastor's thoughts on Gay Pride
I've recently read an old blog post written by a Baptist pastor on homosexuality, and it struck a chord with me. The pastor was writing about his experiences during an outreach he did to the local gay community during their Pride festival in handing out bottled water to hot, thirsty celebrants. You can find the full story here.
In other posts he has made, he clearly states that he believes that sexual acts outside of the traditional male/female marriage is completely outside of God's will. Yet in his blog about handing out water, he laments when a woman asks him if his church is "pro-gay" or "anti-gay." He has no answer, as he has already stated he believes God is anti-gay, therefore his church (as he is a church-planter, so someone who founded the church) is anti-gay. The blog post is an after-thought, how he should have answered that question.
I was left feeling extremely unsettled by his well-thought out approach to the divide between the Christian church and the Queer community. His entire argument that "I don’t think I even know what gay fully means but I do know this: there are infinitely more important things about you than who you’re attracted to. I reject the idea in our culture that who we are is intrinsically tied to what we do with our genitals, and who we do it with" completely negates the entire Queer movement for recognition and respect for queer identities. It's true- there is much more to us than our sexual orientation- regardless of if you're straight, gay, bi, queer, asexual, or any other number of identities. And yet I know from my experienes (not being straight)- I'd at least like to have my sexual orientation and gender identity recognized and respected. For some it's a constant battle against homophobia and transphobia. The Pride celebration, while it may not be as politically motivated as the StoneWall Riots, is still a political movement for visibility and acceptance.
He tries to diminish the queer experience by saying "There are more important things about who you are than how you feel about penises." Very easy to say when your identity and feelings towards penises isn't the subject of debate, ridicule, political scrutiny, religious scrutiny, and fear. It's easy to dismiss a person's sexual orientation when speaking out of a place of privilege, isn't it? It's easy to look at something like a Pride celebration and say that really, there's more to you as a person, so why is all of this necessary, when your own identity has never been questioned. When you've never felt the fear of coming out of the closet to those you love. When you've never felt the judgement of hearing insults yelled at you while you walk down the street holding the hand of your partner. Of walking into a restaraunt and being refused service based on the company you are with and that it's clearly a date.
What frightens me most about this pastor's thoughts is that I question his motivations for reaching out to the queer community. Sure, Christ calls on his followers to act in love, treat others as they want to be treated, etc, yet this man is a church planter. His entire mission is to start and grow a church community. Yes, he is claiming he is merely trying to bridge the divide between the church and the queers, but to what end? Is he simply putting a kinder, gentler face on assimilation and destruction of queer identities? In his attempt to show us love, will he also show acceptance? Or will he show love by trying to "fix" us? His inability to truly support homosexuality by not being able to clearly state: "YES, we are a pro-gay church," makes me question all of his motives.
In other posts he has made, he clearly states that he believes that sexual acts outside of the traditional male/female marriage is completely outside of God's will. Yet in his blog about handing out water, he laments when a woman asks him if his church is "pro-gay" or "anti-gay." He has no answer, as he has already stated he believes God is anti-gay, therefore his church (as he is a church-planter, so someone who founded the church) is anti-gay. The blog post is an after-thought, how he should have answered that question.
I was left feeling extremely unsettled by his well-thought out approach to the divide between the Christian church and the Queer community. His entire argument that "I don’t think I even know what gay fully means but I do know this: there are infinitely more important things about you than who you’re attracted to. I reject the idea in our culture that who we are is intrinsically tied to what we do with our genitals, and who we do it with" completely negates the entire Queer movement for recognition and respect for queer identities. It's true- there is much more to us than our sexual orientation- regardless of if you're straight, gay, bi, queer, asexual, or any other number of identities. And yet I know from my experienes (not being straight)- I'd at least like to have my sexual orientation and gender identity recognized and respected. For some it's a constant battle against homophobia and transphobia. The Pride celebration, while it may not be as politically motivated as the StoneWall Riots, is still a political movement for visibility and acceptance.
He tries to diminish the queer experience by saying "There are more important things about who you are than how you feel about penises." Very easy to say when your identity and feelings towards penises isn't the subject of debate, ridicule, political scrutiny, religious scrutiny, and fear. It's easy to dismiss a person's sexual orientation when speaking out of a place of privilege, isn't it? It's easy to look at something like a Pride celebration and say that really, there's more to you as a person, so why is all of this necessary, when your own identity has never been questioned. When you've never felt the fear of coming out of the closet to those you love. When you've never felt the judgement of hearing insults yelled at you while you walk down the street holding the hand of your partner. Of walking into a restaraunt and being refused service based on the company you are with and that it's clearly a date.
What frightens me most about this pastor's thoughts is that I question his motivations for reaching out to the queer community. Sure, Christ calls on his followers to act in love, treat others as they want to be treated, etc, yet this man is a church planter. His entire mission is to start and grow a church community. Yes, he is claiming he is merely trying to bridge the divide between the church and the queers, but to what end? Is he simply putting a kinder, gentler face on assimilation and destruction of queer identities? In his attempt to show us love, will he also show acceptance? Or will he show love by trying to "fix" us? His inability to truly support homosexuality by not being able to clearly state: "YES, we are a pro-gay church," makes me question all of his motives.
Where I Hang my Hat
Bought a super cool super old jug yesterday at the Swap meet, so I had to use it in my pic today.
Photo taken 1 August 2011
Saturday night Drinks
That is a home-made Strawberry Daiquiri in a Lego sippy cup. Wild and crazy Saturday night's these days.
Photo taken 30 July 2011
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