leaving the house
A friend asked me last month if I got excited about Pride, and I drew a blank. But now that the theoretical idea of leaving the house (ACK) is being replaced by actual things that I want to attend (joining a friend for
’s What is Queer Food? party at Oakland’s Bombera, speaking on a panel on Bay Area queer martial arts history), I'm getting excited about the chances for dialogue, connection, and honoring our loved ones (I will try to write something on Sarah Kirsch for the panel and for here—I wish she could be on the panel, and every day that she could be here as an elder in the trans and queer martial arts/self defense scene).Tomorrow will be my second time attending Bouquets to Art at the de Young and Legion of Honor with my ikebana teacher and classmates. We know I hate these museums and their collaborators, but the other half of me is very Little Mermaid “Part of Your World” about the whole thing. (Floral designers create installations based on museum artwork and architecture—gross! But also, kind of compelling to be around so many talented people.) Last year I was so moved by all the swagger, so many 70+ women in blazers and statement jewelry, and I resolved to at least not wear athleisure, even if coming straight from an overnight shift. This year I have a Talbots Petites linen blazer from Crossroads, and my most drippingly sex symbol orthopedic clogs. One of B’s most supportive partner qualities is his constant refrain of stuff like “get on the board,” so this is me getting on the “not in pajamas” board.
For your Pride month —
Harry James Hanson and Devin Antheus’s “Legends of San Francisco” and “The life & legacy of atlanta drag icon, Tina Devore.”
Antheus's Sapphomanteion: a lesbian oracle.
Martin Padgett’s “Your Fried Chicken Has Done Drag.”
eating
Breakfast with Tzintia… quesadillas with nopales from Monterey Market (I was excited to introduce her to some of the Bay’s better grocery store produce; she was pleased to see nopales sold with spines and avocadoes with edible skin).
’s tres leches, picked for being a good one to pull together in a friend's apartment. Accurate POV of me in the shirt I slept in on my overnight shift, shaking whipped cream in your apartment. The cake was to celebrate T passing her linguistics doctorate qualifying exam!flowers
My current favorite plant’s human said to take as much as I want! Here is Sogetsu lesson 2.12 with Matilija poppy and fennel, after critique—my instructor changed the angles to make it less two-dimensional (the flowers were too forward-facing). I hate a flat-looking photo or arrangement, but of course that doesn't mean I'm not guilty. And speaking of, getting the photo angles on these assignments is really a work in progress.
Sogetsu 2.13 (style to be viewed from all angles) post-critique, with Matilija poppy and neighborhood plum.
I love Bombera. Enjoy!