weekend frustrations

Frustration #1: I checked two comics stores and a regular bookstore, and none of them had Sex Criminals vol. 6, the last volume of the series that was my gateway to comics fandom. I happened to be on Capitol Hill for the third strike, so I placed an order at Phoenix.

Frustration #2: Vegan "ice cream" at Frankie & Jo's, while delicious, is mysteriously more expensive than the regular, moo-based kind at Sweet Alchemy around the corner. The portion sizes are... about the same? I may have to compare some more. F&J's was shockingly empty of customers on a cold night and I thought I'd give them some love. Favorite flavor there? California Cabin. One of the staff said that California Cabin fans always seem to know exactly what they want.

Frustration #3: When I was about to start my bike ride this morning, I took one look at the slush all over the streets and noped out. If it wasn't good on the streets of upper Fremont, I reasoned, it was bound to be worse on Phinney Ridge. So for exercise I trudged down the slope to buy cleaning supplies. Lower Fremont? Free of slush, even around 0830. What a difference about 100' of elevation makes! The day has been sunny, so the slush is now gone and the streets are dry. Gonna ride the hell out of them tomorrow.

postscript: plans for Griselda's successor

I said after the next prototype that I'd be ready for production. Well, that's not quite true. I'd still like to do some market research, which means I need to give other women, preferably both cis* and trans, copies to try so I can get feedback that will guide my marketing at the very least, and possibly further design changes.

But here's the (ha ha) rub: I don't expect to use more than a single-digit number of copies for market research. The limitations of manufacturing processes mean that 3-D printed nylon is much cheaper for that number than polyurethane. Now, nylon is used for medical devices that go into people, but polyurethane is used specifically for dilators, i.e. the thing I stick up my hoohah every night. So I have more confidence in the safety of polyurethane. I suppose I could instruct the folks to whom I give copies to put a condom on their toy, which is a good idea regardless.



*I've already had one cis woman, Tacoma Girl, say she just has no interest in something hard that's meant to mash one's girl bits. I don't take that personally, having never had cis girl bits attached to me. A certain group of "sex nerds" expressed confidence in the trans market. We shall see.