(no subject)

[pantryslut]

I had a day pass to Butch Voices yesterday, and it was all sorts of goodness. In some ways I wish I could have stayed longer, and in some ways it was just the right size dose.

What did I do? I had a great conversation with a new friend at the lunch break. I bounced around happily in the lobby with old friends and new acquaintances. I attended a presentation on "Butch Burlesque" led by my old friend Morningstar aka PaPa Dino, with more than able assistance from BC Cliver. Let me tell you how good this workshop was: it inspired me to think about it, in the "yeah, I could do this" way. In other words, PaPa Dino is so inspiring, so welcoming and encouraging, that he might just get me up on stage someday. Yeah. Like that. Four stars.

The other workshop I attended was "Butches Having Babies," and it was a very moving and valuable conversation, and the time just flew by. I think we all felt we could have sat and talked for another hour or more. Hopefully we will all connect again post-conference.

Proof that I do have twin-related flakitude is the fact that I brought neither pen and paper, nor cards with me. But hey! I got out of the house on my own! Without even (much of) a butch fashion crisis.

I will admit, though, that reading everyone's bios in the back of the program book made me feel a little slackerly. I know that if I wrote up my own bio in the proper form, it too would sound very impressive and muscular and accomplished-like. But still. It's there. I think this is at least partly a symptom of approaching forty. And maybe I need to batten down and focus a bit more.

On the other hand, I am also considering volunteering in a high-level capacity for next year, because hey, I've got the experience via WisCon and other such activities, and while overall I think the conference was handled well, I also saw places where they could use my kind of help. And I want it to happen again. I really, really enjoyed my few hours at the conference. I never once felt like I didn't belong, and believe me, I worried about that before I stepped into the lobby. But once I was in the Marriott, my worries disappeared. And seriously, that in and of itself was a wonderful gift.

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

That sounds fabulous. I'd love to attend something like that one day.

[hhholiday.livejournal.com]

i was really blown away by the diversity and inclusivity and plain old warmth at Butch Voices... and i say none of that lightly. wowed. great to see you there, and that you had such a good time! do let us know if you take the stage w morningstar!

[ginoushka.livejournal.com]

YAY! I'm so glad you had a good time! :) The bit of conference I went to on Friday was pretty good, too. There was some hella painful butch/ftm border wars discussion that kinda made me wanna claw my eyes out (can tell you about it at length at some other point), but I connected and kvetched and flirted with some lovely people. It was really nice to feel welcome as a femme, and not just as eye-candy, which is what I'd been worried about, you know? They did a good job.

[fattest.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw you walk out during that discussion. Painful stuff. I was a little dumbstruck myself. I wish you'd come back to hear Bear's talk the next day, wherein he really addressed it with skill and love.

[goodbadgirl.livejournal.com]

"And seriously, that in and of itself was a wonderful gift."

It is. And it makes me very happy. :)