Maura's Illuminated Manuscript

I went out to the Unicorn last night in my pink & black latex skater dress to celebrate the seemingly delayed arrival of spring. Not much news there, you say, and you're right, but here's the interesting part: I met a (younger, inevitably) trans woman who's had facial feminization surgery, and she had some advice.

First, quarantine a couple of weeks before surgery and mask up. She caught COVID shortly before surgery and had to reschedule. She says she was lucky to get a date just a few months later. I, uh, think I'll take that advice.

Second, cannabis edibles are good for pain management. Honestly, that hadn't occurred to me. I feel like the only person in Seattle who doesn't have a favorite strain. I know the Sculptor forbids weed for several months beforehand, but I'll have to check what he says about post-op weed. If he says nothing, May will be brownie month, because the Sculptor is nothing if not thorough.

Dr. Liu, the good surgeon here in Seattle who has no availability? Did an excellent job on the young lady's face. Yes, she's a cutie, and yes, she has a girlfriend. Le sigh.

I seems that no matter what I do, I can't sleep past 0500 lately, even with the time change. This morning it was some seriously messed-up dreams that did the job at 0445. The good news is that I turned out the light at 2220, so I'm not completely out of it, but still. Fie.

A few days ago, somebody from Planned Parenthood came to my door asking for money. I'd given before, and since I am, as Good Sister puts it, "a soft touch", I donated. Like, a fair a mount. Since Comfy Lady works there in a fairly senior position, I texted her, natch.

She arranged dinner at Kedai Makan (Yum!) forthwith. That was last night. She reminded me that Trump and his lackeys have prevented Medicare & Medicaid* from buying services from Planned Parenthood, thereby depriving the organization of about 40% of its revenue. I feel better about donating now.

That wasn't the only shitty politics-related thing we talked about, but I wouldn't want to leave the impression that dinner was unpleasant. In fact, look for a locked entry right after the first weekend in April. Comfy Lady should make another appearance, even if minor.

But what's something else that's related to politics**? Global warming. The entire western half of North America has just had its warmest winter on record, but you'd never know that from recent weather in Seattle. It snowed yesterday, just enough to stick for a few hours, and today it sleeted. The sleet started while I was grocery shopping, miles from home, having gotten there on Miss Indigo Bike.

You want to know what sleet sounds like when you're wearing a bike helmet? Plastic popcorn. Bonus: I realized I'd forgotten something after riding maybe a quarter mile through the slush and hail. Yes, I went back and got it, because I needed it. Hey, at least I'm all set for any potential snow tomorrow.



*The US's health insurance schemes for the old and the poor, respectively.
**Everything is. If you don't like that, tough noogies.

How is it that I slept a rock solid 2100 to 0500 on the second night after the time change? I don't know, but gift horses.

I skipped a bike ride in favor of sleep, and on a perfect hair day I went on a first date with a lady I'll call Red. She's kind of introverted, which hardly seems like my type, right? But I found her really comfortable to talk to. I did mention that I've been to the CSPC & Folsom and that I have plans for Portland's KinkFest, and she barely reacted at all. She does advocacy for veterans; she is one. I admire that.

She's not into the bleepy music, but I'm pretty sure I can cope with that. The only really unfortunate thing about her is her physical resemblance to Evil Sister. Nevertheless, she seems like someone I'd like to get to know better.

Our date was long enough and my lunch was early enough that I was ready to faint by dinnertime, so I hit vegan joint Life On Mars. It's good, but not cheap. And since it was founded by longtime KEXP DJ John Richards, the tunes were of course right on; music is kind of their theme. Will eat fakemeat there again. Note that they're slammed later on weekend nights.

I did indeed make it to the women's (non-leather) munch at the 'Rose last night, stopping by Elliott Bay Books on the way. Much chat with B, who's about to stop being Washington State Ms. Leather and not a minute too soon, to hear her tell it. Damn kink community drama. And shame on me for assuming that anyone is too old to participate. But! It was a lovely time and I bought beers from queers.

When did Babeland, the venerable local sex shop, start closing at 2000 instead of 2200? They're hardly alone in reducing their hours, but still, I was hoping to pick up lube on the way home and didn't manage.

Taking the bus & train home at 2000 is so much faster than it is after midnight. The automatic train signaling that Sound Transit likes to brag about really does cut the wait times in about half. This technology stuff sometimes works. Who'd a thunk it?

I went to Lambert House for the trans group as usual last night, and it was a good group, if small: trans yoof youth talking about trans things. One thing that made it more pleasant than usual was that nobody connected to the online meeting; everyone was there in person. I just find it harder to divide my attention between the screen and the room, and the audio is always terrible. If the purveyors of online video hardware & software really want to take over the world, they're going to have to solve that second problem.

And while I'm complaining, I'm tired of the setup and teardown needed for the video calls. We can't just set it up and leave it up because we're still at St. Mark's, not in our own house. However, says Ken the director, we're moving back in July. I'm oh so ready, and the yoof youth are too, I found out last night.

Just two more trips to St. Marks for me, I think: I'll be in San Francisco in early May. It was pretty damn fantastic of St. Mark's to rent us that much space for that long, complete with use of a kitchen. Like many if not most queers I'm deeply suspicious of most conventional religious organizations* because they're full of people who crave being told that doing horrible things to queers is OK. Nevertheless, the Episcopal church in general and St. Mark's Cathedral in particular have won my grudging respect.



*Hence the popularity of woo among queers. If I could roll my eyes in writing right now, I would.

I knew when the news app on my phone chirped in the small hours of this morning that something bad had happened. The Wendling lost sleep last night about the brand new Iran war, and I find myself wondering if a 28-year-old with AuDHD is likely to get drafted. The Persian Princess, now living on the far side of the US from me, has mixed emotions to say the least.

And in a sign of approaching spring, the motorcycles are back on the highway near my place. Believe it or not, I like them, ss long as they're riding at reasonable hours as usual for the large groups.

I made it to the Blue Moon last night, having arranged to be there with Blue Moon Lady. Go me! It's a short bus ride for me, but for her it's a long drive. I appreciate it.

It was digital open decks night. Good: Hazel Zen for sure, and maybe Krystal? It took me a while to find the whiteboard on which Brit writes down the set times. Less to my taste: River, a young 'un who's about 90% limbs and 100% trans. River's hyperpop-flavored set was not what we olds wanted, and indeed, no one was dancing. I speculated that it was because the youth of today are doing the wrong drugs. BML's friend J concurs, saying that the increase in ketamine's popularity and the decline in MDMA's has led us to this pass.

Was it a date? Well, it didn't feel like a date. But! We agreed that we should keep each other notified if we're going to the Blue Moon or a north end munch. She runs the munch in West Seattle, if you'll recall. So, vict'ry?

I left at 2130 because I got paged for work. It was kind of a convenient excuse, though; remember, I get up at 0600.

Transphobia on the bus home. I don't think I was in any danger, because the bottle-throwing fool was getting off, but still, not fun. That's the second time I've had aggro at that stop. Some people's children.

But first, the leather dyke munch. Had an agreeable time talking with fellow trans folks. Yes, again. Finally asked B the organizatrix, "Where are all the people over fifty?" She said that she'd been considering throwing an event earlier in the evening for us elders. Sort of like the Hot Flash dance nights an Neighbours, she said, only freakier. Shoot, I'd go. I would have stayed later at B's fundraiser on the other side of CC's, but I had plans for today, namely...

...I took a bus route that was new to me a loooong way south to White Center for my first Burning Man camp meeting this year. In attendance were Burner R (not to be confused with any earlier R's) and leenerella. Neither of them are planning on going to the playa this year, but this wasn't just a meeting for planning for Burning Man; there are other Burner-flavored events various subsets of the crew are going to, some of which I'll be medically unable to attend due to surgery.

It's been eight years since I went, and unlike my last several trips to The Thing In The Desert, I don't have my own vehicle anymore. I've been worried about logistics because how could I not be? R put my transportation fears to rest: the gang is used to carpooling, and has a trailer for moving the vast quantities of gear and infrastructure that we haul into the desert.

As for my smaller worries – camp dues, if any, and gasoline for the inevitable generator, etc. – it's too soon to ask about those. I'll just have to do what doesn't come naturally and take care of those questions later.

But overall, it's an experienced group of people who know what they're doing and also have fun. Hell to the yes. I'm feeling even better about this crew – Astro Shack, by name – than I felt earlier.