I am so very fortunate. And so very queer.

[First I have to mention that when aliandra and juliann came to visit on Tuesday night, juliann slept in my bed and she is so hot. And she got in my pants. If I didn't mention it soon, I think she would kick my butt. AND I got smooches from juliann, aliandra, mightywombat, and thespian all in one day. WHOO!]

I have had SO. MUCH. FUN. today. It's the sort of day I could write about for a long time, but won't. It started when doulamel came over at around 11am and we walked over to Goodale Park. We sat in the shade and watched the parade floats line up, and I kept seeing people that I know. I saw Brett and Andy Creamer and Leon and Patty Daniels and her partner Peg and their children (who are getting so big!) and some KYC youth and then my friend Rob met us there and THEN we ran into Missy Goodtimes. I swear I should be getting a kitchen appliance soon with her.

To think that two nights ago I had her here and tipsy, and today I had her marching in the Pride parade! I called her boyfriend and left a message on his answering machine telling him that I had taken her hostage and brought her to Pride, and if he wanted her back he'd have to call me. He did. I hope he doesn't hate me. I'm totally joking.

So after watching some floats go by, a chick commented on my "i lie to girls" tshirt (by yelling from a float) and then Melissa, Missy, Robby and I went to walk in the parade. We just mashed in with a bunch of people and handed out fliers for the Melissa Etheridge concert (Brett gave Melissa and Rob free tickets for passing out fliers. I was offered one but I'll be out of town.). We got a little sunbaked and it was a nice walk but the sweaty hotness gave all of us blisters. I ameliorated mine by sticking my feet in the fountain.

Pride was wonderful. This is the first year I've ever gone without being with A., and it was an entirely different experience. But, as always, it was lovely to see so many people, so many different people, all gathering together. It was beautiful. I kept running into people: Bucky and Patience and Erica and Shannon and Jack and Stephanie and Danielle and Coworker Velma and Paul and Beth and Josh, etc., AND I got to see Melissa and Beck with their new three-week-old daughter who was the most adorable baby! We bused back with the Kaleidoscope stuff and chilled for a bit, and then Rob and Hope and Megan came over and we (plus Mel) walked to the Indigo Girls concert. It was amazing - better than the one in Atlanta, even - mostly because "Go" was the last song they sang (I love that song!) and because they sang "Midnight Train to Georgia." That's still hard for me to listen to. I left "Power of Two" on Jennifer's cell phone voicemail. I hope she could hear it okay. And we got to see grrlpower and dina - they look just like their userpics and that is pretty cool. We totally spotted them because we're eagle eyes!

I've spent a lot of quality time with doulamel this weekend. That's been really nice. She should have moved to Victorian Village instead of my old stomping grounds. Aah well.

I got the cutest little necklace that spells D-Y-K-E in metal blocks. I [heart] it very much. It was doula approved! :)

I didn't get a funnel cake. Must rectify at ComFest tomorrow.

Proud to be, proud to be me.

Between all of the events of this weekend, Pride, and watching the HBO version of The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman, I am feeling very blessed, very fortunate, and I don't think I can explain any of it in words.

I love who I am, and I'm thankful to everyone who has touched my life, because they are all a part of everything I am. Thanks so much to my wonderful father, the best big brother in the universe, a number of amazing friends, and every person I've ever shared my heart with.

I was contemplating in the shower that I don't know if I would be where I am right now if I hadn't come to Columbus. They say that Coming Out is a process, but mine would have continued to be academic if I hadn't come here and gotten as hands on as I did (and I mean by work and volunteering, not... other things), and I don't know that I would have done so as rapidly if I'd stayed in New England. Coming so far away and having to learn a whole new place and meet all different people was exactly what I needed.

I'm thankful to A. for taking me on this journey. Even though he probably looks back a year or two and thinks, "What the fuck happened?"

I love me. And I love you.

~//~

Dad: What did you do today?
Me: I went to Pride.
Dad: Oh. The Queer Parade.
Me: Yep.
Dad: Did you see where there's a group that wants to reclaim the word "gay"?
Me: No. You mean make it only mean "happy"?
Dad: Must be some Right Wing bullshit.
Me: I'm glad there's no other definition for "lesbian."

Mysterious noise.

There is a weird and loud noise coming from the other side of my basement wall. I don't know what it is. It just sort of started on its own. It sounds like a water heater or a furnace gone haywire. I'm not quite sure what to do. I want it to stop as suddenly as it started, because I don't think I'll be able to sleep. And I'm a bock bock chicken about calling the landlord, because I have that second cat they don't know about.

I need to get to sleep. I have to take that licensing exam in the morning. Gah.

Oh wait. It just stopped. How totally odd. Please don't start again. Please.

On a happier note, it's nice to get to know you.

~//~

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, dear awl!
Happy birthday to you!