Aw.

"Outlaw Bodies (for which we’re just finalising the reading now after having closed to submissions at the beginning of the month) is focussing on stories about trans* and queer issues, disability and health issues, gender, technology and a cyberpunk approach to the body. This includes questions and ways of looking at fiction that are new to me, and even if we weren’t going to have a wonderful collection of fiction at the end of it (which we are) I would be so grateful to Lori for having helped me to see and to think in this way. "

Interview: Some Thoughts on Post-Colonialism and Politics in SF with Djibril al-Ayad, Editor of “The Future Fire” Magazine

Lots of other tasty stuff too.

In Which I Am Just a Big Kid

Today I volunteered to accompany the girls on their preschool field trip to the local fire station.

And it was so much fun.

This was a walking field trip down to Station no. 10 on Santa Clara, around the corner from our house. In fact, we passed our house on the walk. Station 10, it turns out, is the oldest fire station in Oakland. We got to see the big picture window in the back looking out over the garage -- that used to be an open window for shoveling hay through for the horses that drew the engines.

I learned the difference between a fire engine and a fire truck. They told us their shift schedules and showed us the bunks, lockers, kitchen and lounge. The kids got to spray the hose and practice their "stop, drop and roll" routines. Simone got to try on a firefighter's boots, helmet and coat. The crew was very warm and welcoming all the way through.

There weren't any women on shift today but the chief made it a point to tell us not only that women could be firefighters, too, but that some of them worked regularly at this very station. As Simone currently aspires to be a firefighter when she grows up ("or a gardener"), I appreciated this.

Simone was disappointed she did not get to slide down the pole.