I'm exceptionally busy, but great. In addition to my fulltime job (back to serving, out of management because who needs that stress and crap pay), I'm on the executive for a nonprofit that specializes in assisting and providing resources for Gay Straight Alliances around the rural outskirts of Edmonton. The province recently amended a bill that made GSAs very hard to form so now our workload has doubled. We're even closing in on a deal with the local Catholic and French school boards to facilitate GSAs in their schools. The foundation just secured funding for the next fifteen months, so right now we're gearing up for Pride and looking at our fundraising options to make us financially secure and all but guarantee us our annual grants from the county as well as the city. so a very busy, exciting time for me.
OMG what's next? Soon they'll be demanding one man be able to marry multiple partners!!!
Just as God intended.
But that's actually a good point. The state is like 60% Mormon and as much as they value polygamy, my perception is that they're no lovers of the gays. How did this sneak by? Are Mormons suddenly more tolerant of LGBT people (and given that I've seen movies specifically about how they're not, I doubt it)?
Woah guys, Utah was the 18th State to legalize same sex marriage. The ruling may not stick, but still. Utah. Are conservative states finally coming around?
I really doubt the IOC will do anything. They only value the safety of participants insofar as it'd create a PR nightmare if anything should happen to one during the games. And even then, because it'd jeopardize the money. The IOC is all about the money and I don't believe for a second they'd do anything to stand against Russia's LGBT policies.
Even the Olympic sponsors have responded with "yeah, Russia's policies are ass, but we gotsta get paid, y'all!". Anyone waiting for the Olympics to change anything in Russia are hanging on a pipedream.
But I'm still proud of Wentworth. Classiest coming out I've seen in a celebrity. I mostly adore it because it doubles as a middle finger to Russia, but still. Werk it, boo.
Guys. Former HGOtW was recently invited to the St Petersburg Film Festival and declined via a letter:
Dear Ms. Averbakh:
Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes.
However, as a gay man, I must decline.
I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.
Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice.
Until then.
Wentworth Miller
Member, HRC
Member, GLAAD
Member, The ManKind Project
Blindsided me.
But what a powerful "screw you" to Russia, and a positive show of support for Russian LGBT people.
So, yeah, I narrowly avoided being evacuated due to flooding this past weekend. Go me!
Tell me about it. Alberta is currently experiencing the Aquacalypse. Calgary, FortMac, Red Deer, Canmore/Banff. Edmonton saw a bit of evacuations, but luckily our river valley is really deep. I crunched the numbers and there's virtually no way for the downtown/Strathcona core to flood the same way Calgary did. And, incidentally, all the polar ice could melt and the city would still likely be just fine.
But as much as Edmonton dodged a bullet, the rest of the province got slapped hard. Almost every major population centre was under flood watch in at least one district. Terrifying.
Mikey! We haven't seen you in forever! How are YOU?
Busy. Very busy. My restaurant is short two managers so I work 6 days a week including at least one double. On the plus side, I'm getting a promotion to Assistant Outlets Manager and my manager has confided in me that she plans to apply for a promotion as well and her ultimate goal is to run the catering department and groom me to replace her in running the outlets. So I could be running three departments within a year of making the move to Edmonton.
On the personal life front, one of my exes contacted me after a year of radio silence to admit that he made a huge mistake in letting me go and that he was sorry he couldn't have told me how he really felt when it mattered. I'd always left the door open for him in a manner of speaking, I knew what his issues were (he had only recently begun exploring being gay when we got together and he was terrified that if his family found out, his ex would keep his son from him and our relationship suffered for it) and always kept the option there to reopen the possibility of us getting back together if he sorted through his stuff. Well he has, and he put it out there that he wants to move to Edmonton in a couple years once his sons are older. I don't trust that happening and I'm not going to put life on hold to wait for him, but it's a nice sentiment.
What is WCT and what kind of support would that offer?
WCT is a forum here (Water Cooler Talk) and you could get support by talking about your ideas, getting encouragement, talking through writers' block, getting help with editing if need be, etc.
It might also be able to go in the Personal Writing section of the forums, but I'm not sure. I'd probably go with WCT.
Anyone in here a writer/likes writing? And is anyone participating in Nanowrimo this year? i have ideas floating in my hair and I'm ready to start but i'm a little nervous (I know that I could start any time but the structure of nanowrimo helps me focus a little better)
I'm a writer, but 65 hours a week doesn't leave me enough time to participate in NaNoWriMo. Good luck to though, Micah.
Maybe start a thread in WCT for NaNoWriMo support?
When I think about future relationships, I become concerned that porn is making reality too mundane.
Oddly enough, I think real life makes porn seem bland. There's so many awesome things that porn rarely, if ever, touches on that it's easy to lose interest in it. Porn is so mechanical and forced that it loses a lot of impact, especially when it's by the book.
It's Time (the viral ad in my sig) is trying to make its way from Australia (where it launched last year in an effort to fight for marriage equality) to the USA. The team that put the original together has already edited it down to one minute in preparation for airtime on US stations leading up to the elections as well as critical same-sex marriage votes in some states, they just need donations to help get them there.
The HuffPo article I linked to isn't a donation page, but it's pretty easy to find that online if you're inclined. I'm lucky enough to have legalized same-sex marriage in my country and I still donated. I think this is an amazing cause and may help open some eyes in the middle of the political spectrum, so please donate if you'd care to. I thought that of anyone on this site, this clan would be the most interested. I know a lot of us were moved by the original ad when it was posted last year.
I'm exceptionally busy, but great. In addition to my fulltime job (back to serving, out of management because who needs that stress and crap pay), I'm on the executive for a nonprofit that specializes in assisting and providing resources for Gay Straight Alliances around the rural outskirts of Edmonton. The province recently amended a bill that made GSAs very hard to form so now our workload has doubled. We're even closing in on a deal with the local Catholic and French school boards to facilitate GSAs in their schools. The foundation just secured funding for the next fifteen months, so right now we're gearing up for Pride and looking at our fundraising options to make us financially secure and all but guarantee us our annual grants from the county as well as the city. so a very busy, exciting time for me.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Just as God intended.
But that's actually a good point. The state is like 60% Mormon and as much as they value polygamy, my perception is that they're no lovers of the gays. How did this sneak by? Are Mormons suddenly more tolerant of LGBT people (and given that I've seen movies specifically about how they're not, I doubt it)?
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
So how was your birthday?
And how insane has Chicago been this week after the marriage equality thing in Illinois?
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Even the Olympic sponsors have responded with "yeah, Russia's policies are ass, but we gotsta get paid, y'all!". Anyone waiting for the Olympics to change anything in Russia are hanging on a pipedream.
But I'm still proud of Wentworth. Classiest coming out I've seen in a celebrity. I mostly adore it because it doubles as a middle finger to Russia, but still. Werk it, boo.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Blindsided me.
But what a powerful "screw you" to Russia, and a positive show of support for Russian LGBT people.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Tell me about it. Alberta is currently experiencing the Aquacalypse. Calgary, FortMac, Red Deer, Canmore/Banff. Edmonton saw a bit of evacuations, but luckily our river valley is really deep. I crunched the numbers and there's virtually no way for the downtown/Strathcona core to flood the same way Calgary did. And, incidentally, all the polar ice could melt and the city would still likely be just fine.
But as much as Edmonton dodged a bullet, the rest of the province got slapped hard. Almost every major population centre was under flood watch in at least one district. Terrifying.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Busy. Very busy. My restaurant is short two managers so I work 6 days a week including at least one double. On the plus side, I'm getting a promotion to Assistant Outlets Manager and my manager has confided in me that she plans to apply for a promotion as well and her ultimate goal is to run the catering department and groom me to replace her in running the outlets. So I could be running three departments within a year of making the move to Edmonton.
On the personal life front, one of my exes contacted me after a year of radio silence to admit that he made a huge mistake in letting me go and that he was sorry he couldn't have told me how he really felt when it mattered. I'd always left the door open for him in a manner of speaking, I knew what his issues were (he had only recently begun exploring being gay when we got together and he was terrified that if his family found out, his ex would keep his son from him and our relationship suffered for it) and always kept the option there to reopen the possibility of us getting back together if he sorted through his stuff. Well he has, and he put it out there that he wants to move to Edmonton in a couple years once his sons are older. I don't trust that happening and I'm not going to put life on hold to wait for him, but it's a nice sentiment.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Hey you! What's up?
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
WCT is a forum here (Water Cooler Talk) and you could get support by talking about your ideas, getting encouragement, talking through writers' block, getting help with editing if need be, etc.
It might also be able to go in the Personal Writing section of the forums, but I'm not sure. I'd probably go with WCT.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
I'm a writer, but 65 hours a week doesn't leave me enough time to participate in NaNoWriMo. Good luck to though, Micah.
Maybe start a thread in WCT for NaNoWriMo support?
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Oddly enough, I think real life makes porn seem bland. There's so many awesome things that porn rarely, if ever, touches on that it's easy to lose interest in it. Porn is so mechanical and forced that it loses a lot of impact, especially when it's by the book.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
The HuffPo article I linked to isn't a donation page, but it's pretty easy to find that online if you're inclined. I'm lucky enough to have legalized same-sex marriage in my country and I still donated. I think this is an amazing cause and may help open some eyes in the middle of the political spectrum, so please donate if you'd care to. I thought that of anyone on this site, this clan would be the most interested. I know a lot of us were moved by the original ad when it was posted last year.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Good for you. How do you feel?
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains