felis_ultharus

I got back this morning from a small farm off the power grid in the regions of Ontario where the rural begins to bleed into wilderness. There was a gathering there of the Radical Faeries -- gay Neo-Pagans who work and sometimes live together communally on the land.

It was a marvellous weekend. The farm was beautiful -- most of its buildings were ancient, the land was overrun with green, and heated by wood stoves for which we had to prepare firewood -- and the hot water was also provided by a wood-burner. What little electricity there was, was provided by propane and solar cells. Water came from a hand-pump well.

At night, without the grid of streetlamps, all the stars were visible.

It was good practice for when ecological disaster destroys civilization and we all have to till the soil It was a wonderful experience for a city-boy like myself. I had a good time, and I collected all sorts of histories from the older gay hippies who ran the place, which was the main reason I went up there.

First, some news stuff:

1. Canada will soon have a new Governor General named Michaëlle Jean. Most people in English Canada have never heard of her, though she's well-known enough in French Canada. Most of the comments have been good, but a few of the letters at the CBC and The Globe and Mail show that racism and sexism are alive and well in this country, unfortunately (Madame Jean is Haitian). Apparently, the fact that Canada has had two women of colour in row for GG indicates some kind of pandering political correctness, according to some of these people. The post has been held for 126 out of 138 years by men, and 132 out of 138 years by white people.
   
   
2. And speaking of unloved minorities in high places, the Crown Prince of Qatar -- the man groomed to be the next Emir -- was caught in a barfight in a British gay bar with his boyfriend. Qatar, as I understand it, is an absolute monarchy, except that the monarches are required to follow Sharia law, which prescribes death for homosexuality. No word on whether the 25-year-old prince can return to Qatar and not be afraid for his life :/

And now, for personal stuff, which is a lot more cheerful:

1. First, congratulations are in order to snowdaemon for her permanent residency status. She'll make a great addition to the country.
   
   
2. My writing continues apace. I think I'm coming out of one of my worst slumps, now, and I'm working on far too many pieces at once.
   
   
3. I think everyone's a go for Gravitation tonight. Just so we're on the same page, 8pm tonight, at foi_nefaste's, and I'll be bringing the video (episodes 7, 8, and 9 tonight, I guess...?)

Pride was great last night. I think the NDP is the liveliest group I've ever marched with. montrealais and em_fish were there with us (a few pictures be here), and we ran into foi_nefaste in the crowd. ubergreenkat was marching behind us, somewhere near the country-western dancers dressed like cowboys, whose music was fortunately drowned out for us by the intervening cars.

One of our two cars was electric. We gave out oranges (the party colour, of course, being orange). Half the group were sympathetic straight people, though with sympathetic being a relative term. The gorgeous Mathieu, a straight Catholic, was holding a banner in front of our group, and seemed a little nervous about what would happen if friends and family saw him on TV. I promised him next year a t-shirt announcing his heterosexuality :D

Pride is always an interesting experience, particularly since every parade is like a sedimentary record of one's past romances, flings, and friendships. You meet people you haven't seen in almost a decade (one such person was marching with the NDP this year), and people you'd hoped you'd forgotten.

One of my past flings, a guy I'd always referred to as "the Closet Case" because he was afraid to tell anyone about his relationships with men and even went fundamentalist Christian for awhile -- well he was there, marching, where little else besides leather underwear.

I don't think he's in the closet anymore.