Poppy Z. Brite's Blog, page 87

You Go, Arnie Fielkow!

Preach it, Arnie!

I've liked this guy since, as executive VP of the Saints in 2006, he fought Tom Benson to keep the team in New Orleans. (Benson was talking a lot of crap about moving to San Antonio post-K. He didn't move the team, but he did fire Fielkow for speaking out against the idea.) I sent him a nice e-mail about this column today and he took the time to write back thanking me. I wouldn't be surprised if one day he became our first Jewish mayor.

Extreme Gardening TV Star

I prepped the eggplant bed yesterday, which inevitably involved some lifting and spreading of soil and manure. I wanted to get the eggplant seedlings in the ground today, but was so sore as to be physically unable. Tomorrow a new local food magazine (I disremember the name; will edit to correct) is coming to take a picture of me and Chris in the garden. My first public appearance as a farmer, I guess. Possibly not my last, if txtriffidranch actually manages to put together his reality extreme...

Discomfort

Attending Mass at OLGC was wonderful. I myself was not so wonderful. I'm at that point I've seen a few other transgender/gender-experimenting people go through where I feel I have no viable clothes. Day-to-day stuff doesn't present much problem -- all those Saints T-shirts are coming in handy -- but for dressing up? Practically zilch. I looked at my rack of nice dresses and thought about how airy and light they would be, but I couldn't bring myself to put one on. Instead I was hot and uncomfo...

Binding Problem

I'm discouraged and somewhat worried. Last night, not going out or anything but just for the hell of it, I tried chest binding with a wide Ace bandage. I didn't pull it super-tight, but my back started hurting before I'd even finished wrapping. I took off the bandage right away, but my back kept hurting and still hurts this morning. OK, so my back pretty much always hurts, but this is in a different area. The pain is usually centered in my lower to middle back (the dreaded L5). This is in my ...

Inventory

Things currently growing on our 100' x 30' lot (most of which is covered by a house):

Aloe vera
Assorted bromeliads
Assorted cacti
Assorted succulents
Banana trees
Basil (2 kinds)
Bee balm
Begonias
Cannas
Catnip
Celosias
Chives
Confederate jasmine
Cucumbers (3 kinds)
Curry plant
Eggplants (4 kinds)
Elephant ears
Esperanza
Foxgloves
Gazanias
Ginger (2 kinds)
Hibiscus
Kalanchoes
Lantanas (3 kinds)
Lemon balm
Lemongrass
Lettuce (2 kinds)
Lion's Tail
Mesquite
Milkweed
Million Bells
Mint (5 kinds)
Nepenthes (pitcher plant)
Oregano...

Weather

Jesus. I didn't know the tornadoes in Mississippi were so devastating until I read the paper this morning. (My mom is fine; she lives farther south.) Oh, weather, weather, weather, how I hate you sometimes. You make me want to channel the People's Poet:

Weather
Stinking, fascist weather
Sometimes I'd rather
Look at Thatcher's naughty bits than endure you
O weather!

Seriously, though. Ten dead, towns destroyed, may God watch and keep them. And this bit from the AP story:

[T:]he roof was gone, a tree l...

Mass at OLGC!!! (& Ramblings on Pride)

I've been awake since the ungodly hour of 7:30 AM because the devil possessed my radio. No, really. I awoke to it blaring draft picks. When I stumbled blearily into the living room, the radio was switched off (I double-checked this after a cup of coffee) but still blaring. I was only able to shut it up by removing the batteries. I guess if we're going to be haunted, it could be by something worse than the NFL draft.

Tried to go back to sleep but could not. I needed to be up anyway (though not ...

A Change Is Gonna Come

So some things have been changing for me lately. Or I've been changing some things. Maybe both.

Over the past few years I quit using makeup on a daily basis, and in the last year or so I stopped altogether. Over that same year I wore fewer dresses and skirts, and now seem to have abandoned them entirely. I stopped shaving my legs this winter and, when spring came, didn't start again. That last was harder than you might think, because my legs are very pale and the hair is dark and I think it lo...

Gideon Pic

Gideon (at right), 1996-2010. The most love packed into the biggest cat.

Lion's Tail?

Didn't someone leave a comment about growing Lion's Tail? I can't find it, and I wanted to ask you a question if you're out there: how's the yield? I only started six seedlings; will they provide lots of flowers or should I start more?

Thanks so much for all the good wishes about Gideon. There's a big vacancy in the house today.