Why there are no news links tonight.
Oct. 27th, 2018 12:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwydionSo I had to go out at too early in the morning to help a friend give a trans talk to young people. It was very worth it. There was even good parking and I could sit the whole time. The audience were late teens and very engaged. We had lots of audience questions, no hecklers and a small line of folks wanting to talk to us after. Seriously, screw all that "kids these days" grumpery. Kids these days are amazing! So much more open to difference and interested really learning about the world than my generation and those before. When I was teaching, I was so proud of how progressive and fundamentally decent my millennial students were. The more I see of Gen Z coming up now, the more stoked I am that my future will one day be in their hands and those of Millenials. We'll be so much better off. It was really fun and I hope I can do it again in future.
I had a two hour nap before I went and a two hour nap after I dropped my friend off after a few hours of socializing, and then it was back into clothes and out to pick my friend up so we could go to... get this: A REAL PROPER SPOOK HOUSE! It was for a local no kill animal rescue charity and Amazingly well staffed with what looked like a mix of adults and high school students. They held it at this park where they have hauled various log cabins and other similar type late 19th Century buildings like a barn and church and filled them with stuff to make a really neat museum that Skye, my Mother, and I liked, though I haven't been in years. (Costs money. no one to go with). So basically they have a whole little village of these 100+ year old wood buildings connected by boardwalk for safety and when the weather is wet.
The spook house itself was first rate. They used the modern building associated with the historial park and made a first rate twisty maze that made best use of limited space. Lots of cool scenes and people in costumes. Really nice stuff like missing posters for what I assumed were some of the teen actors and an excellent collection of props. There was a wall of masks and things. I can startle, but I don't really scare, but I love the Aesthetics. I'm that person who likes to go through slow and just enjoy the costumes and props and set designs. It was the best one I've seen on those scores in Decades. They do have a children's child friendly version earlier in the night tomorrow, but we were late night and that version really did deserve all the warning signs they'd posted. Terrified young teens were fleeing out the entry end when we arrived.
Bonus? The whole thing could be navigated in the wheelchair and they gave me a warning before entering about potential issues that might endanger someone with fragile balance. Wheelchair accessible fright attractions are hens teeth really, so serious props to the folks running this. On exciting there was the inevitable chain saw guy intended to chaise people out onto the boardwalk, but I literally don't run. It's not just the not afraid thing, but the best I can manage on a good day is a sort of ground covering shamble across well lit flat terrain and that's still dangerous and painful on those rare occasions that I can manage it. When they still had the haunted forest walk thing out at the bird sanctuary, we used to time arrival to just before open, which would allow me to approach chainsaw guy before they headed ou to their positions so I could give him a heads up that me running by fairy lights at night across a clearing with broken ground in the forest wasn't going to happen. It is kinder as chain saw guys standing about waving a power saw and making the occasional darting movement about while I carefully amble feeling for invisible holes with my crutch is just awkward for everyone. That Chainsaw guy handled it by starting really far back an shambling at me zombie slow so as to maintain a plausible illusion. Obviously we couldn't give the heads up here, so I yelled "I don't run!" over the sound of the chainsaw while the poor young man stood in a baffled posture with his saw, then turned it ff and stepped back into his niche.
They had edged the boardwalk through the Pioneer Village with caution tape to funnel people through the museum and decorated the exteriors of the buildings with cool displays. There was one with clowns and skeletons, a zombie quarantine building, etc.. They had put in a whole wee spooky graveyard next to the church. Really, the idea is brilliant because of those real weathered buildings from another time looked so perfect with the trappings of hauntings. It was all extra effective because the moon was nearly full and there was just enough fog up high to turn the moon orange and send picturesque clouds across it's face. I think if I'd designed it, I would have dressed a couple of kids up as zombies and had them shambled out of the impenetrable shadows between buildings before the exit, but even absent live actors, it was a really pleasant moonlight walk through a ghost town. Seriously, this is the best haunted anything I've been to in decades.
This was, of course nearly all the spoons and I shall pay for it tomorrows, but it was such a good day and almost like being well.
Unfortunately, I'm back on street parking since Monday, which was fine until I had to leave for the spook house, since there were like a million college kids walking down the street in costume, obviously headed for a massive party in the new complex across the street from us. There was no parking for at least three city blocks either direction. (I am using city blocks as a measurement, though the blocks on my street are mostly nothing close to that shape because of things like creeks and rivers, part of the big ridge that is between us and the bay, and things like a small 2 or 3 acre farm that sells fresh organic vegetables that the residential area grew up around. So like literally only one block on either side of the street for a mile or two is actually normal block sized and the rest is irregular as fuck.) I can't possibly have managed a four city block length walk from the nearest place I could even theoretically park, since my legs are pretty much done and the serious pain and stiffness from all that shuffling about. I can't afford to get towed, which would be completely justified for someone to do if I stole their spot.
I did an incredibly obnoxious thing, Gentle Readers. The shared spot waas free and I parked there even though it isn't or month. If there had been anything in a three block radius, I'd had lumped it and no saved any legs for things like feeding and hydrating myself, feeding cats, bathroom trips, getting ready for bed. After all, crawling is unpleasant and painful, but I've done it before when my legs went out before I cold make it to bed. Four blocks is pushing it. It's one thing to crawl around my apartment in an emergency. It's another thing to do it publicly cross cement and macadam with the bonus of a large audience of young adults. My hope is that I can stay up long enough that the party will wind down and I can either move the car or get Squirrel to move it in the wee hours before dawn. It still means that if the poor bastards who were also lied to that they had a parking space will have to find parking somewhere whenever they get home from whatever fun they are having tonight will have to walk four or five blocks, which is why this is a dick maneuver on my park. II HATE being that asshole. I just.... No way could I handle a four lock walk complete with a super steep hill that I have trouble managing when I'm not tired and at the end of my legs in daylight. My lungs could barely do it last time I had to and I just couldn't face it while not being sure my legs could manage it or manage it plus the long walk home. What happens if they stop working and I fall on pavement and have to crawl all the rest of the way? What happens if I fuck up a ligament again or break something falling and have to shoot at party goers to get one to summon and ambulance?
So I chose to be asshole instead. That is on me and I accept that my choice to go out has consequences I should by rights have experienced by hobbling home regardless from distant parking. I will apologize profusely if they call to complain, but I couldn't see any way around it. They also either stay out late or are gone for whole weekends fairly frequently, so there actually is a reasonable chance they won't even notice it if I move it say 3ish. I just hate doing this to someone else and they actually are really decent people. I can't take the good pain meds nor go back to bed if I'm moving the car later and if it is any consolation that is a punishment all it's own given how bad things already were at not quite 11PM when I wrote this.
Addendum: I just barely made it to the kitchen and back to get water because the weaker leg is pretty much done for the night. I flat out couldn’t have made it fourish blocks home with a hill. I am not convinced I can safely move the car myself even if close street parking opens up. I shall beg Squirrel when he gets back from game.
*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.
* Naral https://actnow.prochoiceamerica.org/donate/supportnaral/#.W7nPzmNRfIU
* Planned Paranthood: https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/onlineactions/hkv0R7LN0E-Q-U5mXFaXRA2?sourceid=1004272&ms=4NALz1800K1N1A&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4I2IxID03QIVA7bACh3CCwHWEAAYASAAEgKlD_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
* "Resources for Male Victims of Abuse:" http://butlerbookbinding.tumblr.com/post/178933672694/resources-for-male-victims-of-abuse
* Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is doing a fundraiser for legal defense of refugee children in ICE detention. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/activism/deliver-them-from-the-hands-of-the-wicked/
* Want to contribute directly to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services fund? "Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services:" https://www.raicestexas.org/
* Support Kids at the Border: http://brigdh.tumblr.com/post/175022384240/support-the-kids-at-the-border
* How to help Rohingya refugees: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/world/asia/rohingya-aid-myanmar-bangladesh.html?emc=edit_nn_20171012&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=50784086&te=1&_r=0
* I was asked for a list of important races one might donate money to if one had money to donate.
Beto O'Rourke, Senate Race, Texas: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/betofortexas-ads-ms-gl?refcode=ads_180705_dd_google_search_ad001_tc_kw&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3L3mh-3_3QIVgXp-Ch2FXAyoEAAYASAAEgL-zfD_BwE
Kyrsten Sinema, Senate Race, Arizona: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ks-gen-search?refcode=gs_postpri_1808_ks&amount=25.00&recurring=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsP3yp-3_3QIVAqvsCh1U7AYTEAAYASAAEgKAUvD_BwE
Bill Nelson, Senate Race, Florida: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/nelson_search?refcode=ads_google_nat_search
Jacky Rosen, Senate Race, Nevada: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jr-ads2?refcode=ads_google_d2d_nat&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2_L3zu3_3QIVgYd-Ch2JDQ_wEAAYASAAEgJAlvD_BwE
Heidi Heitkamp, Senate, is currently losing in North Dakota and can for sure use the money: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hh4nd?refcode=ads_google_nat_d2d&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwbHtxu7_3QIVBNbACh0RZQmNEAAYASAAEgLnrvD_BwE
Abigail Spanberger, House of Reps, Virginia: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/spanberger_website?refcode=landing
Ammar Campa-Najjar, House of Reps, California: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/campacampaign
Stacey Abrams, Governor Race, Georgia: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ads-stacey-searchdtd?refcode=ads-180625-gs-natl-sdtd-search-ad2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhZXw3e3_3QIViONkCh0XoguaEAAYASAAEgIdIfD_BwE
Andrew Gillum, Governor Race, Florida: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/gillum-primary-win?refcode=website&_ga=2.10258421.1582336703.1539312722-966284395.1539312722
Tony Evers, Governor Race, Wisconsin: https://tonyevers.com/
If you have more close race or endangered Candidates you think should be on the master list, please let me know.
* A list of organizations to help you run for office: http://lovingmyselfishard.tumblr.com/post/167330144634/psst-hey
* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.
* This App phones your rep for you: http://takeastance.us/
* Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resistbot.io/
* This is a cool person and the swimsuits are being made from an ethical source. LGBTQIA+ swimsuits: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NerdyKeppie?ref=l2-shopheader-name§ion_id=24021616
* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com or paypal.me/Gwydion
* Birthday/Solstice master list: https://gwydion.dreamwidth.org/1925021.html
* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.comn
I had a two hour nap before I went and a two hour nap after I dropped my friend off after a few hours of socializing, and then it was back into clothes and out to pick my friend up so we could go to... get this: A REAL PROPER SPOOK HOUSE! It was for a local no kill animal rescue charity and Amazingly well staffed with what looked like a mix of adults and high school students. They held it at this park where they have hauled various log cabins and other similar type late 19th Century buildings like a barn and church and filled them with stuff to make a really neat museum that Skye, my Mother, and I liked, though I haven't been in years. (Costs money. no one to go with). So basically they have a whole little village of these 100+ year old wood buildings connected by boardwalk for safety and when the weather is wet.
The spook house itself was first rate. They used the modern building associated with the historial park and made a first rate twisty maze that made best use of limited space. Lots of cool scenes and people in costumes. Really nice stuff like missing posters for what I assumed were some of the teen actors and an excellent collection of props. There was a wall of masks and things. I can startle, but I don't really scare, but I love the Aesthetics. I'm that person who likes to go through slow and just enjoy the costumes and props and set designs. It was the best one I've seen on those scores in Decades. They do have a children's child friendly version earlier in the night tomorrow, but we were late night and that version really did deserve all the warning signs they'd posted. Terrified young teens were fleeing out the entry end when we arrived.
Bonus? The whole thing could be navigated in the wheelchair and they gave me a warning before entering about potential issues that might endanger someone with fragile balance. Wheelchair accessible fright attractions are hens teeth really, so serious props to the folks running this. On exciting there was the inevitable chain saw guy intended to chaise people out onto the boardwalk, but I literally don't run. It's not just the not afraid thing, but the best I can manage on a good day is a sort of ground covering shamble across well lit flat terrain and that's still dangerous and painful on those rare occasions that I can manage it. When they still had the haunted forest walk thing out at the bird sanctuary, we used to time arrival to just before open, which would allow me to approach chainsaw guy before they headed ou to their positions so I could give him a heads up that me running by fairy lights at night across a clearing with broken ground in the forest wasn't going to happen. It is kinder as chain saw guys standing about waving a power saw and making the occasional darting movement about while I carefully amble feeling for invisible holes with my crutch is just awkward for everyone. That Chainsaw guy handled it by starting really far back an shambling at me zombie slow so as to maintain a plausible illusion. Obviously we couldn't give the heads up here, so I yelled "I don't run!" over the sound of the chainsaw while the poor young man stood in a baffled posture with his saw, then turned it ff and stepped back into his niche.
They had edged the boardwalk through the Pioneer Village with caution tape to funnel people through the museum and decorated the exteriors of the buildings with cool displays. There was one with clowns and skeletons, a zombie quarantine building, etc.. They had put in a whole wee spooky graveyard next to the church. Really, the idea is brilliant because of those real weathered buildings from another time looked so perfect with the trappings of hauntings. It was all extra effective because the moon was nearly full and there was just enough fog up high to turn the moon orange and send picturesque clouds across it's face. I think if I'd designed it, I would have dressed a couple of kids up as zombies and had them shambled out of the impenetrable shadows between buildings before the exit, but even absent live actors, it was a really pleasant moonlight walk through a ghost town. Seriously, this is the best haunted anything I've been to in decades.
This was, of course nearly all the spoons and I shall pay for it tomorrows, but it was such a good day and almost like being well.
Unfortunately, I'm back on street parking since Monday, which was fine until I had to leave for the spook house, since there were like a million college kids walking down the street in costume, obviously headed for a massive party in the new complex across the street from us. There was no parking for at least three city blocks either direction. (I am using city blocks as a measurement, though the blocks on my street are mostly nothing close to that shape because of things like creeks and rivers, part of the big ridge that is between us and the bay, and things like a small 2 or 3 acre farm that sells fresh organic vegetables that the residential area grew up around. So like literally only one block on either side of the street for a mile or two is actually normal block sized and the rest is irregular as fuck.) I can't possibly have managed a four city block length walk from the nearest place I could even theoretically park, since my legs are pretty much done and the serious pain and stiffness from all that shuffling about. I can't afford to get towed, which would be completely justified for someone to do if I stole their spot.
I did an incredibly obnoxious thing, Gentle Readers. The shared spot waas free and I parked there even though it isn't or month. If there had been anything in a three block radius, I'd had lumped it and no saved any legs for things like feeding and hydrating myself, feeding cats, bathroom trips, getting ready for bed. After all, crawling is unpleasant and painful, but I've done it before when my legs went out before I cold make it to bed. Four blocks is pushing it. It's one thing to crawl around my apartment in an emergency. It's another thing to do it publicly cross cement and macadam with the bonus of a large audience of young adults. My hope is that I can stay up long enough that the party will wind down and I can either move the car or get Squirrel to move it in the wee hours before dawn. It still means that if the poor bastards who were also lied to that they had a parking space will have to find parking somewhere whenever they get home from whatever fun they are having tonight will have to walk four or five blocks, which is why this is a dick maneuver on my park. II HATE being that asshole. I just.... No way could I handle a four lock walk complete with a super steep hill that I have trouble managing when I'm not tired and at the end of my legs in daylight. My lungs could barely do it last time I had to and I just couldn't face it while not being sure my legs could manage it or manage it plus the long walk home. What happens if they stop working and I fall on pavement and have to crawl all the rest of the way? What happens if I fuck up a ligament again or break something falling and have to shoot at party goers to get one to summon and ambulance?
So I chose to be asshole instead. That is on me and I accept that my choice to go out has consequences I should by rights have experienced by hobbling home regardless from distant parking. I will apologize profusely if they call to complain, but I couldn't see any way around it. They also either stay out late or are gone for whole weekends fairly frequently, so there actually is a reasonable chance they won't even notice it if I move it say 3ish. I just hate doing this to someone else and they actually are really decent people. I can't take the good pain meds nor go back to bed if I'm moving the car later and if it is any consolation that is a punishment all it's own given how bad things already were at not quite 11PM when I wrote this.
Addendum: I just barely made it to the kitchen and back to get water because the weaker leg is pretty much done for the night. I flat out couldn’t have made it fourish blocks home with a hill. I am not convinced I can safely move the car myself even if close street parking opens up. I shall beg Squirrel when he gets back from game.
*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.
* Naral https://actnow.prochoiceamerica.org/donate/supportnaral/#.W7nPzmNRfIU
* Planned Paranthood: https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/onlineactions/hkv0R7LN0E-Q-U5mXFaXRA2?sourceid=1004272&ms=4NALz1800K1N1A&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4I2IxID03QIVA7bACh3CCwHWEAAYASAAEgKlD_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
* "Resources for Male Victims of Abuse:" http://butlerbookbinding.tumblr.com/post/178933672694/resources-for-male-victims-of-abuse
* Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is doing a fundraiser for legal defense of refugee children in ICE detention. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/activism/deliver-them-from-the-hands-of-the-wicked/
* Want to contribute directly to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services fund? "Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services:" https://www.raicestexas.org/
* Support Kids at the Border: http://brigdh.tumblr.com/post/175022384240/support-the-kids-at-the-border
* How to help Rohingya refugees: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/world/asia/rohingya-aid-myanmar-bangladesh.html?emc=edit_nn_20171012&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=50784086&te=1&_r=0
* I was asked for a list of important races one might donate money to if one had money to donate.
Beto O'Rourke, Senate Race, Texas: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/betofortexas-ads-ms-gl?refcode=ads_180705_dd_google_search_ad001_tc_kw&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3L3mh-3_3QIVgXp-Ch2FXAyoEAAYASAAEgL-zfD_BwE
Kyrsten Sinema, Senate Race, Arizona: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ks-gen-search?refcode=gs_postpri_1808_ks&amount=25.00&recurring=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsP3yp-3_3QIVAqvsCh1U7AYTEAAYASAAEgKAUvD_BwE
Bill Nelson, Senate Race, Florida: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/nelson_search?refcode=ads_google_nat_search
Jacky Rosen, Senate Race, Nevada: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jr-ads2?refcode=ads_google_d2d_nat&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2_L3zu3_3QIVgYd-Ch2JDQ_wEAAYASAAEgJAlvD_BwE
Heidi Heitkamp, Senate, is currently losing in North Dakota and can for sure use the money: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hh4nd?refcode=ads_google_nat_d2d&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwbHtxu7_3QIVBNbACh0RZQmNEAAYASAAEgLnrvD_BwE
Abigail Spanberger, House of Reps, Virginia: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/spanberger_website?refcode=landing
Ammar Campa-Najjar, House of Reps, California: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/campacampaign
Stacey Abrams, Governor Race, Georgia: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ads-stacey-searchdtd?refcode=ads-180625-gs-natl-sdtd-search-ad2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhZXw3e3_3QIViONkCh0XoguaEAAYASAAEgIdIfD_BwE
Andrew Gillum, Governor Race, Florida: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/gillum-primary-win?refcode=website&_ga=2.10258421.1582336703.1539312722-966284395.1539312722
Tony Evers, Governor Race, Wisconsin: https://tonyevers.com/
If you have more close race or endangered Candidates you think should be on the master list, please let me know.
* A list of organizations to help you run for office: http://lovingmyselfishard.tumblr.com/post/167330144634/psst-hey
* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.
* This App phones your rep for you: http://takeastance.us/
* Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resistbot.io/
* This is a cool person and the swimsuits are being made from an ethical source. LGBTQIA+ swimsuits: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NerdyKeppie?ref=l2-shopheader-name§ion_id=24021616
* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com or paypal.me/Gwydion
* Birthday/Solstice master list: https://gwydion.dreamwidth.org/1925021.html
* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.comn
(no subject)
Date: 2018-10-28 05:39 am (UTC)Ryan and I also used to have fun going to the Halloween stuff at Magic Mountain. And while I will startle, neither of us really ended up scared by the creepy, so I was a lot more likely to respond to creepy make-up, by staring while I tried to figure out what techniques had been used. Some of the performers were amused by that, but some were either really disconcerted or even somewhat grumpy about it. Though we did have one guy who figured out that if he sat with Ryan and I at a table and sort of chatted, then turned around and jumped at people going by that actually startled/scared them far more than him coming out of the dark, because they were /expecting/ things from the dark. They weren't expecting what seemed to be another patron suddenly turning to a monster.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-10-28 12:54 pm (UTC)The person with me has a harder time with jump scares, so I took to saying "Hello" to the monsters, since I was in the lead and that gave them an extra second to prepare for the jump. I also kept complimenting them on sets and costumes, much to their bemusement. The last monster before the chainsaw guy started to jump, but was thrown off by the smile and friendly greeting and stepped back into the shadows where I couldn't see properly. i beckoned them out asking very politely could they come into the light so I could see the mask, which they did with rather bemused body language. I complimented them and they stepped back into the niche for the next one.
The clever monsters, on having me partially spoil the jump took to creeping silently after us right behind my friend and then doing a surprise yell while I was busy looking at a lab set up or whatever.
I like the image of you two chasing chain saw clowns and chatting with monsters. It's very you and lovely. :)