Spring awakening June 5, 2006 ~ 11:33 am
Posted by Julie in : Deep Thoughts , comments closed
Bear torture ~ W. 44th St.
There are so many things tumbling through my head lately. Posts, half-posts, partial-posts, non-posts. Thoughts about my future, my career, what the hell I’m doing with my life (or not doing, as the case may be). If we’ve been given talents (and I do believe I’ve been given several, call me vain), then isn’t it our responsibility to use them? It’s so easy to drift through life and just let things happen to you - that’s how I’ve gotten this far in life. Opportunities seem to drop in my lap when I need them, and although I do work to make things happen I have this nagging feeling that I don’t work hard enough. It’s something that I think about often, my coasting through life.
I was listening to Queen this weekend and it hit me: two months after Freddie Mercury turned 29, Queen released A Night At the Opera. That means when he was my age, he was composing and recording “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Can you fucking imagine that, bringing that masterpiece into being at age 28? And by that point, Queen had already released three other albums. It’s inspiring, and it sets a high bar for anyone who wants to do something with their talent. And here I sit at a desk, graduating students who don’t understand what a diploma means. That’s sobering.
I had a dream shortly before my 22nd birthday, in which I was in a limo with Joe Elliott and Freddie Mercury, and we were talking about careers. Right before I woke up, Joe said to me “There will be plenty of time to sit still later. Now’s the time to excel.” I got the tattoo I have, a merging of Def Leppard cover art, to remind me of that dream. Now I have to act on it.
Happy Solstice December 21, 2005 ~ 3:28 pm
Posted by Julie in : Deep Thoughts , comments closedWell, I planned to write this at the exact moment of the Solstice, which according to my Queer Eye For the Straight Guy daily calendar was 1:35 PM, but at that moment I was working on knitting my first sock. So, plan B. I write this as it starts to get dark.
It’s the Winter Solstice, ladies and gents. It is the shortest day of the year, the longest night of the year. Rick wished me a “Happy First Day of Winter” earlier, but given how much I hate winter, I corrected him. I told him to wish me a Happy Solstice or a Happy Yule. Because those two words mean that it’s always darkest before the dawn. No matter how cold it gets from here on out, tomorrow starts the return of the light. Each day will get a little longer. And while the cold irritates me to no end, I think the real reason my temper is on a short leash is the lack of daylight. I am stuck in an office while the sun shines, and I resent coming home in the dark. But after today, minute by minute, my friend the light will return.
Blessed be.
Imagine December 9, 2005 ~ 10:14 am
Posted by Julie in : Daily Grind, Deep Thoughts, In Da Hood , comments closed
Strawberry Fields, Central Park, NYC
Yesterday I was just not meant to post. Our new supreme overlord (Big Big Boss) was touring the offices yesterday morning, and there was no way I was getting on the net when he could walk by at any moment. His tour took up the entire morning. Then it was lunch time, a staff meeting, Queen + Paul Rodgers tickets to buy, and the College President’s Christmas party, which is not to be missed. Free food and wine? I’m in.
And then last night, a trip into Manhattan to visit Strawberry Fields. The picture above is from last year’s vigil since my camera is spazzing at the moment and I couldn’t get this year’s pictures off of it. I’ve gone to the Lennon vigil at Strawberry Fields every December 8 since I moved to this city, and not even the police barriers and cops could keep me out of this one (oh yes, the cops tried to control a vigil. Probably because this was the 25th anniversary of John’s murder and fans came out of the woodwork to attend). Rick and I stayed for a little more than an hour in the freezing cold, then went off to find food before I went home. Piss Crusaders to shoot up with insulin, ya know.
Despite the hassle of the police barriers and the feeling that the cops had turned this into a tourist trap/press spectacle, I did find what I was looking for at the vigil. No amount of klieg lights could keep the fans from singing, dancing, and raising positive energy. It’s generally the most peaceful place in the city (although there was a fight last night, which we helped stop by singing “Give Peace a Chance”), and I relish that feeling. Surrounded by people celebrating a man’s life and vision, looking across the street to the Dakota to see that Yoko has lit candles for John - there’s the sadness of wondering what he could have done if he had lived longer, but there’s also a lot of joy. It’s a great wake for a great man. I just wish we could get our acts together and live up to what he imagined.
Thank you, Rosa December 1, 2005 ~ 9:46 am
Posted by Julie in : Deep Thoughts , comments closedFifty years ago today, American history changed when one woman refused to give up her seat to a white man. Sometimes I wonder what that white man, who obviously felt entitled to the seat, thought when it happened. Probably rage. How dare this black woman take away something that was his right? He probably felt more rage later on when the right to that seat belonged to whoever got it first, regardless of skin color, but there was nothing he could do about it. The world changed when Rosa Parks said she wasn’t going to get up.
All those rights that we take for granted today came to us because somewhere, someone stood up for it (or refused to stand up for it, as the case may be). Someone fought to get that right. They fought, suffered, and sometimes died to make the world a little better so that their children and their children’s children wouldn’t have to. And many times we forget all the struggle that came before us. We take for granted that everyone gets an equal opportunity at a bus seat, or a vote, or a job.
New York City and other large cities have declared today Rosa Parks day so that we will be reminded. The seat behind the driver is reserved for Rosa on all city busses today, and the motto of the day is “No business as usual” to remind us that we can make a difference by a simple action.
I wonder today which white men with entitlement issues I could shake up by telling them that no, I’m not going to stand for their bullshit any longer. President Asshat comes to mind. But no, today is a day for simple actions, not grand gestures. What can I do to make a difference? Ask yourselves that, too. Let’s get the bus moving, people.
A moment November 11, 2005 ~ 11:04 am
Posted by Julie in : Deep Thoughts , comments closed
Pastoral. Lake George, NY.
It’s November 11, the great unmentioned holiday in New York City. I kid you not, this city takes Columbus Day off but Veteran’s Day goes by with barely a mention. This pisses me off to no end.
Where I grew up, we had the day off school for Veteran’s Day. Those of us in the band would go to various places around the county and play in a Veteran’s Day parade, and our band director would tell us each year about how at the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Armistice was signed, and how we were damned sure going to observe a moment of silence at that minute, no matter where in the parade we were. And at 11:11, we would always stop playing and marching and observe that moment of silence, in respect for those who had served and sometimes died for freedom.
Men like my father, my uncle, and my grandfather, all of whom served in World War II and came home afterwards. Men like my father’s college roommate, Dick Drury, who didn’t get to come home alive - he’s buried in Arlington. There are those who served honorably during peacetime, like my boyfriend and Vince. And there are those who didn’t get to serve in a “good war,” but have put their lives on the line like my cousin Matt, who served in Iraq, and like Lori’s brother Ryan, who is on his way over there right now.
At some point today, whether your town comes to a standstill for Veteran’s Day or barely acknowledges it, take some time to think about all of these people. People you know or may not know, who have served to keep us safe. No matter what you think of the current war (and we all know what I think), the men and women over there are putting their lives on the line daily. That takes a kind of courage most of us will never have.
And if you see a Veteran today, thank them.
AIDSWalk New York April 22, 2004 ~ 12:05 pm
Posted by Julie in : Deep Thoughts , comments closedThis is me asking for money for a good cause. In a few weeks, I’m going to be doing AIDS Walk New York, a massive fund-raising walk benefitting the Gay Mens’ Health Clinic. This organization helps men, women, and children who are living with AIDS. Despite the fact that we don’t see a lot in the media about AIDS anymore, it’s still a huge problem. There have been some medicines developed that can help those living with AIDS, but there is still no cure for the disease. The money raised will be used to help those living with AIDS, and be used to do more research for a cure. So…I’m asking anyone who wants to help to click here, which will take you to my homepage where you can make a donation. Thanks in advance!
