New Year's Eve: A Snapshot

G. and I step out of the building onto a sidewalk strewn with ribbons and multicolored condoms. The club downstairs from the party we're leaving is still open, and the burly doorman is chatting with a well-dressed and young-looking couple. One man, one woman, both slim. Her hair is short and carefully laquered, her makeup heavy and glittery. It makes her look a little waifish and starved.

When the doorman sees us, he asks us a question, clearly on behalf of the couple in front of him.

"Do you know where Otis Street is?"

I say to the couple, "Oh, you're looking for the Power Exchange." It's the only thing on Otis. "It's just a few blocks from here."

"Oh, the Power Exchange! You should have told me that's what you were looking for!" says the doorman. "Oh yeah, that's easy." He gesticulates.

The couple thank him and us nervously, and then walk in precisely the opposite direction. The doorman tries to tell them they're going the wrong way, but they just walk faster. We had spooked them. I was not supposed to know what establishment they were seeking, and saying the name out loud had scared them away. It was supposed to be a secret, and now they were ashamed. They ran away.

Away from the condoms on the street, the sex party winding down just upstairs, the doorman and the people standing on the street, trying to help.

Non-Resoultions For 2008: Goal Reassessment

Last year, I stated the following goals for 2007:

"*Get my shoulder fixed.
*Pitch another anthology.
*Roast a goose, and/or a suckling pig.
*More dancing!"

How did I do?

* I am now seeing a massage therapist regularly. It makes a big difference.
* I didn't do this. The (ongoing...) travails of the other anthology were enough.
* I didn't do this, though I thought about goose for Xmas. I did, however, cook goat for the first time, and then the second.
* I managed to achieve this one entirely :) I think I will try to keep it up this year.


2007 was really kind of a roller coaster. I'd like a less bumpy ride this year, please. That is my main, abiding goal. I could be more specific, but I think this year I'm going to roll with it all as it comes.

(no subject)

Two things noted while browsing through stock photo sets:

1. Sucking your own toes, if you are a female model, is apparently a striking skill in high demand. (P.S. as it happens, I can do this.)

2. It's weird to view the sets of models you know died in untimely and tragic circumstances.

(no subject)

Gender Biases of Language I Would Like To See Eliminated, A Continuing Series:

"Female-headed household." Because what they really mean is "single-parent household."*

ETA: manomano points out in the comments that one sociological definition of "female-headed household" is a household where a female adult makes more money than a male adult. This is probably actually the definition used in the article that set me off. It's still problematic, but worth noting nevertheless. See the comments for more detail.

* In theory, all-women households with more than one adult could count under the term "female-headed household," even given patriarchal assumptions, but that's never what they actually mean either.