It's Time for 5 Random Things
Testing the theory that five random things make an actual coherent post. Yes, I'm alive and thinking and...writing. I've got far more on my plate from housework to life work to bike work to work work and writing work than I can possibly handle. Here's a snippet or five of what's up these days.
1. I don't mind riding in the rain, as long as the rain does not also coincide with beach sand. See, riding in the rain means that the road water washes into your bike shoes and continues to slosh around, because the stiff sole that accommodates efficient pedaling also traps water like a capsized boat. I sill wear my cycling glasses, because I know what's on the roads in the EL Lay area, and I don't want that shit splashing into my eyes. As it is, I'm wondering whether I have caught a case of pink eye (or two cases). Still, riding in the wet with glasses means you have to wipe the dropsaway at the lights and wait for the fog to clear the lenses as you cross the intersection. The most interesting part? The water off your back tire always splashes up your backside--I don't think Jay cared for that much--but the thing is, once you get wet you don't really feel it anymore. The part that was interesting for me tho, was after splashing through the puddles at the beach, I visited the potty. My shorts looked pretty clean up the back and I was kind of disappointed, I wanted a road stripe worthy of a facebook post. When I pulled them down to relieve myself, I discovered the stripe had permeated the dry weave fabric of my shorts and stuck instead to my skin. Yes. I had road sand all down my crack and deep in my nethers from riding in the rain. Memo to self: wear different shorts when there is to be road splash.
2. The raffle of the iPad2 seems to be pretty well received and I'm looking forward to getting the actual tickets so I can start harassing all general passersby. I think having something to hock makes it a little easier for me to approach people and actually ask them for money. We'll see how that goes, but so far people have been pretty receptive of the whole thing.
3. I realized talking with Jay last week that I need to organize an event on campus, and that it needs to be about the reduction of the stigma of HIV/AIDS. According to the CDC, incidents in the population are declining in almost all populations, but incidents of diagnosis and death are actually climbing among heterosexual women. Climbing. In this day and age. And I have a lot to say about that, but I'm not going to beat on it here and now. I just think that a lot of that statistical fact can be blamed on stigma and ignorance. Folks, this isn't a gay disease, it's sexually transmitted and although certain behaviors might greatly increase your exposure risk, the fact is, if you do it you're at risk. Don't. Spare. The Latex. And don't count on your monogamous, heterosexual relationship to protect you from exposure. PERIOD. Everyone always thinks these things won't happen to them, they always think they are safe or the exception to the rule. It's time to take the blinders off and I realized I can do my part to help with that.
4. Research. It's been a bit of a dirty word for me for a couple years. I just can't see work in my field actually doing any damn bit of good to change the world. It was disheartening and unexpected. I realized, watching Madison's drama unfold and wishing I was there, that my interests in power, politics, legitimacy and justice haven't really evaporated, they were laying dormant waiting for an appropriate outlet. I'm not sure what that is yet, but I've seen myself re-reading Machiavelli of late, and poring over Aristotle and contemplating Durkheim and sending longing glances to the spine of "Crimes of Obedience" on my bookshelf. There is too much grading and tenure packet bull shit to get me on that right now, but soon...soon...there will be progress in that direction. I'm not sure what my product will be. I have the feeling these will not be traditional research papers, published in the standard acceptable outlets for me field. But fuck it. That isn't why I spend my time on that work. It's either of merit to the world or it's complete bull shit done to tick boxes so I can keep my job. I have to say, I won't do the latter for any prize, but I will burn a lot of midnight oil and lose sleep and train half-exhausted to accomplish for the former.
5. One of my therapists (yes, I have more than one...nice, eh?), the one who leads my Asperger's women's group said I had a lot to write about...she hinted that she wants me to write a Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance told from the perspective of my ASD and my bike. I think she might be onto something. I've started about three different attempts at a memoir of my experiences over the last few years, but I think this one might just be the idea I can finish. Wish me luck. 6k so far and a lot more to say. Here's hoping it ends up interesting.
So that's it...the haps here in my tiny world. Time to get on the bike now, this white kitty fur is making my black kit thoroughly unpresentable!
1. I don't mind riding in the rain, as long as the rain does not also coincide with beach sand. See, riding in the rain means that the road water washes into your bike shoes and continues to slosh around, because the stiff sole that accommodates efficient pedaling also traps water like a capsized boat. I sill wear my cycling glasses, because I know what's on the roads in the EL Lay area, and I don't want that shit splashing into my eyes. As it is, I'm wondering whether I have caught a case of pink eye (or two cases). Still, riding in the wet with glasses means you have to wipe the dropsaway at the lights and wait for the fog to clear the lenses as you cross the intersection. The most interesting part? The water off your back tire always splashes up your backside--I don't think Jay cared for that much--but the thing is, once you get wet you don't really feel it anymore. The part that was interesting for me tho, was after splashing through the puddles at the beach, I visited the potty. My shorts looked pretty clean up the back and I was kind of disappointed, I wanted a road stripe worthy of a facebook post. When I pulled them down to relieve myself, I discovered the stripe had permeated the dry weave fabric of my shorts and stuck instead to my skin. Yes. I had road sand all down my crack and deep in my nethers from riding in the rain. Memo to self: wear different shorts when there is to be road splash.
2. The raffle of the iPad2 seems to be pretty well received and I'm looking forward to getting the actual tickets so I can start harassing all general passersby. I think having something to hock makes it a little easier for me to approach people and actually ask them for money. We'll see how that goes, but so far people have been pretty receptive of the whole thing.
3. I realized talking with Jay last week that I need to organize an event on campus, and that it needs to be about the reduction of the stigma of HIV/AIDS. According to the CDC, incidents in the population are declining in almost all populations, but incidents of diagnosis and death are actually climbing among heterosexual women. Climbing. In this day and age. And I have a lot to say about that, but I'm not going to beat on it here and now. I just think that a lot of that statistical fact can be blamed on stigma and ignorance. Folks, this isn't a gay disease, it's sexually transmitted and although certain behaviors might greatly increase your exposure risk, the fact is, if you do it you're at risk. Don't. Spare. The Latex. And don't count on your monogamous, heterosexual relationship to protect you from exposure. PERIOD. Everyone always thinks these things won't happen to them, they always think they are safe or the exception to the rule. It's time to take the blinders off and I realized I can do my part to help with that.
4. Research. It's been a bit of a dirty word for me for a couple years. I just can't see work in my field actually doing any damn bit of good to change the world. It was disheartening and unexpected. I realized, watching Madison's drama unfold and wishing I was there, that my interests in power, politics, legitimacy and justice haven't really evaporated, they were laying dormant waiting for an appropriate outlet. I'm not sure what that is yet, but I've seen myself re-reading Machiavelli of late, and poring over Aristotle and contemplating Durkheim and sending longing glances to the spine of "Crimes of Obedience" on my bookshelf. There is too much grading and tenure packet bull shit to get me on that right now, but soon...soon...there will be progress in that direction. I'm not sure what my product will be. I have the feeling these will not be traditional research papers, published in the standard acceptable outlets for me field. But fuck it. That isn't why I spend my time on that work. It's either of merit to the world or it's complete bull shit done to tick boxes so I can keep my job. I have to say, I won't do the latter for any prize, but I will burn a lot of midnight oil and lose sleep and train half-exhausted to accomplish for the former.
5. One of my therapists (yes, I have more than one...nice, eh?), the one who leads my Asperger's women's group said I had a lot to write about...she hinted that she wants me to write a Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance told from the perspective of my ASD and my bike. I think she might be onto something. I've started about three different attempts at a memoir of my experiences over the last few years, but I think this one might just be the idea I can finish. Wish me luck. 6k so far and a lot more to say. Here's hoping it ends up interesting.
So that's it...the haps here in my tiny world. Time to get on the bike now, this white kitty fur is making my black kit thoroughly unpresentable!