But well worth the wait for the Fall. At the end of August, I’ll be heading out to Los Angeles finally. I’ve begun the slow process of getting rid of what we don’t want/need any more. My forays into Craigslist proved to be without success. People expect goldmines for the price of a pack of bubble gum. So I’ve given up on selling it and decided to give it to charity. I figured if I have to give it up for pennies, it might as well go to helping someone truly in need. I think I might try them (likely Salvation Army since they are one of the few who will pick up in Queens — I know, I know; they have a nasty LGBTQ policy but poverty and helping those in need doesn’t) in a couple of weeks and see if they will come and get the sofa, my old desks, the bed frame (I’ll sleep on the mattresses fine), dining room table and about 6 bags of clothes.

So while I’m depressed at being alone (to a degree — whiny, old cat doesn’t count), I’ve had some good things happen. Work wise things are going well. I can’t get into details but there are some changes and it may mean an ok change or a wonderful change. We’ll see. In other work things, there’s a new visa in the works so that bodes well for the long term. So fingers crossed that in September or October I’ll have a new visa.

In other news, I succumbed to all the hype and went for the iPhone 4. I did need to get a new phone since my existing one died a horrible death (closing it caused it to shut down or crash — even on a full new battery). It’s a great phone and I’ve been enjoying it. I think I got the one that actually works compared to the news reports I’ve been reading. I am getting a case for it. The glass front and back make me very nervous. I’m a klutz when it comes to geek gear and this is why I have an Otter Box on my Blackberry. I so need to get one for this thing. Until I get a good case, I’m getting a decent one for now. I may get an armband case/carry as well. I’m going to start running in a couple of weeks to help improve my weight loss.

I got a Body Bugg a few weeks ago to help me track my calorie burned (if you’ve ever seen Biggest Loser, you know what a Body Bugg is). It’s been pretty awesome. I even know how well I sleep each night. It’s been pretty good at helping me keep on track for my caloric intake and output. I still have to record what I eat. I’ve plateaued a bit over the last couple of weeks so I figure running, even 3 times a week, will help break that a bit. Additionally, I’ll have to add push ups and pull ups to my daily routine to help me improve my chest muscles in prep for future plans.

Anyways, to say that life is good is an understatement albeit a bit lonely with K.

I started writing this entry after the CNN piece and got sidetracked with life. So I’m editing it and picking it up again with a bit of modification.

Too often we… enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. — John F. Kennedy.

So the CNN story is up and I have to say, it’s nice to see the different stories they highlighted. There is no single story that represents the trans community. And I’ll give credit to CNN for trying to present a variety of views equally. It’s nice to be seen in a light other than an object.

That said, the comments are just disturbing. JFK’s comment is very apropos as many are giving an opinion about trans “folx” without really understanding what’s involved. I can respect someone who says “I understand all that’s involved but personally, it’s not my cup of tea”. Ok, fine. I can totally get that. It’s the ones like the following that get me:

drag these idiots down the street. I’d rather have beheadings and 9/11 every friday than to listen to this slop.

Uh. What?? Apparently, many of the readers on CNN don’t like it when they are faced with things that make them think. Life is no longer compartmentalized for them into neat little blocks. I watch the MSM (Main Stream Media) and all I see is perfect little lives that are cut-outs and variations of the 1950s. The US seems determined to remain there and ensure that nothing changes from that point to now. It’s interesting that as I re-read this, I noticed an article on CNN today that talks about how that the Supreme Court of Justice (SCOTUS) even without any Protestants on it, will still get some Protestant views on it. Yes, it will be different and moderate comparative to others but the diversity is a good thing.

But for many (especially white Protestant Americans) this means learning to adapt with change. And for many, this is a scary thing. Change is viewed with apprehension and concern as it feels like we are losing something that we’ve known all our lives. So we react to it because the change is done at a pace that we have no control over. What we once know is no longer true. And what once made us unique and special is being divided amongst all these other people we don’t know or understand. It becomes, in the US, “un-American”. What’s curious is that my home country of Canada doesn’t seem to suffer the same kind of malaise. There is no “un-Canadian”. While this doesn’t eliminate discrimination, I wonder if the constant and regular exposure to things that were different allowed for a mellowing of Canadian society compared to the “separation” of US society.

I have a hard time understanding extreme polarization that occurs here in the US and wonder sometimes if it helps to have this. Certainly everyone has the right to their opinion but it doesn’t mean that one needs to voice it in a manner to demean or debase others. We all have the right to our opinions — and the right to live without fear.