Joe's Journal

Flea Market for Fat Queers

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:03:47 GMT

Clean Out Your Closet for a Great Fat Cause!

Big Moves and Friends of NOLOSE have joined fundraising forces and are cosponsoring Cupcakes and Muffintops - a flabulous Fat Clothing Flea and Bakesale on August 9 in Oakland, California!

Right now we are asking you to dig deep and come joyously out of the closet with all the fat clothes that you don’t want anymore.

They say if you have not worn it in a year, it is time to get rid of it – but don’t send it to the landfill! We’ll help your fat clothes find a great new home. That outfit that did not look right on you will be perfect for someone else! And you are raising money for fat culture at the same time.

All you need to do is bag up your donations and email us at cindy@bigmoves.org , matilda@bigmoves.org or CupcakesandMuffintops@gmail.com - we will schedule a time to pick your clothes up in the next 10 days. (We will pick up pretty much anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area!)

We are taking wearable, non-stained clothes, shoes in good condition, scarves and accessories.

Only clothes size XL/men’s 38/women’s 14 and larger, please!!!

Donations accepted until July 26 only, so please act fast! Thank you in advance for cleaning out your closet!

(And if you want to volunteer at the Flea, let us know! We need help with set up, clothes presentation, personal shoppers, getting the word out, security and more. Email CupcakesandMuffintops@gmail.com to volunteer. )

Writer's Block: Fashion Forward

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:36:37 GMT

What do you think we'll be wearing twenty years from now?

Presented by Intel, Sponsors of Tomorrow.

View 500 Answers

UV blocking Denim Jeans
Recycled Shoes
Ironic-Iconic TShirt that has secret pockets for gadgets and is wired for luminescence

anxious-avoidance - dealt with

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:24:41 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, I got a handwritten letter in the mail addressed to my old name.

I carried it in my back pocket for a week or 10 days...then put it on my dresser, then in my sock drawer. I was inordinately worried that the letter would be hurtful or disturbing in some way. So worried, that I just avoided dealing with it all together.

then last night, i overheard the therapist on Obsessed talking to her anxious avoidant client...helping her to sit with "uncomfortable" feelings and the move through them. She talked about letting all of life in, the pain and the joy. the gears started shifting in my own head...I know I'm an avoider, but maybe I can change.

So this morning I got up and before I even got online I read the letter. It was nice. An old family friend who remembered when my mom and dad were together, who had only nice things to say. Who wanted to be in touch with me....that's all it was. She doesn't know who I am now, but that's ok, I can tell her if I want to...or not if I don't. Nothing even painful there....'cept maybe a little sadness that my brothers and mother got to enjoy my Dad when I was too young to do so...but that's all.

Actually come to think of it, I've had two people from that era in my life, reach out to me....maybe i'm not as alone/estranged as I thought.

anyway....click one for me...i'm getting stuff done, instead of worrying about it.

Done with another year, moving on

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:53:15 GMT

yesterday i cleaned out my classroom and said goodbye to my colleagues of the last two years.

i will miss them and i will miss working there...

something seemed to shift in me , once it was done, like a sliding block in one of those puzzles....i was able to talk with s* , to be heard and to listen to what she had to say...to talk about some of my old stuff, it reminds me of what a wonderful caring person she is, and how lucky am i to have her in my life.

while we were talking i came to understand that i want people around me to be infallible, to be completely formed, in control and to never show weakness. i want them to be perfect...and s* says if i were to allow people to have weakness and make mistakes and be human...then maybe i could allow myself to do the same....interesting food for thought.

Friday 5

Fri, 29 May 2009 13:48:08 GMT

1. What bad habits do you have?

I don't clean as I go. I fidget (toe tapping, pen clicking etc.) and procrastinate and sometimes talk too loud.

2. What bad habit would you most like to break?
Mostly the cleaning.

3. Have you ever overcome any bad habits? What were they?
I quit smoking about 5 years ago. I mostly stopped biting my nails.

4. Do you have any habits other people consider bad that you rather like about yourself? What are they?
people think my inappropriate loudness is difficult, but i think it makes things lively. most folks don't want to sit by me at meetings, but I say if I've started fidgeting then the meeting has gone on too long already :0

5. What habit annoys you most in other people?
not listening when I'm talking.

Letting it in

Sat, 09 May 2009 17:36:08 GMT

I'm just sitting for a minute letting it all in

I am really playing Basketball in the world, in the company of other sportsmen, I am holding my own. Really. At the Y and at Mosswood Park....

It's what I always wanted to do...

It's a part of my Dad that I wished I could've shared with him....

It seems like such a natural fit in my life, that I just really can't imagine how I got by without some regular sports in my life.

Bball good sweaty fun....and nice social interactions too

Winding down, looking forward

Fri, 08 May 2009 13:45:37 GMT

The school year is winding down. I am getting ready to start interviewing my butt off to get a new position for the fall. If everything goes well and I land a great job, I will continue my teaching career in a supportive environment in a district that does not crush the life out of it's new teachers.

Went to see live jazz last night at a little wine bar on Lakeshore. That was great!! Nxt Thursday around 8, any of you who are in the Yay Area....it's at Vine on Lakeshore.

Big Ben and Wee Beastie are great. Sondra's working very hard (as always). And I am more upbeat than I have felt in a while. Here's hoping it holds.

Writer's Block: Passing Time

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:41:29 GMT

I do math. Long Division, factoring, puzzles.

seriously.

that or word games, like I'll pick a word from the lecture/meeting and then try to make as many words as possible from it.

Writer's Block: Chatty

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:32:12 GMT

Do you prefer texting or talking on the phone?

View 502 Answers

txting!

Does this exchange confirm I'm a shoe freak or what!

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:05:29 GMT

Child, (in a Satiny Green Sean John Hoodie with faux fur lining and coordinating white and green sneakers.

He says to me, "Teacher when I was playing soccer and I was goalie and they kicked a goal and it hit me right here" pointing to a spot on his knee, "It hurt teacher"

I say "But look at your shoes!"

He says "What??"

"look at your shoes, they're great!!" while i'm thinking, if that was me and i had such great shoes, I'd just be glad I hadn't scuffed them while playing at recess and I would have been bouyed by the excellent-ness of my shoes!

So I say "Doesn't that do anything to make it better?"

and he says, "No" like he really can't get why I would tell him to look at his shoes when he was telling me about an owie.

I just checked in with him, did he need an ice pack and all or did he need a bandaid and he said no and i just chalked it up to me and my thing for shoes.

never ever

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 07:13:06 GMT

let any part of your fist graze your Mistress's face. Ever!

good morning from the dog park

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:52:34 GMT

and here we are big Ben , wee beastie and I enjoying the quiet empty dog park. Why aren't there any other dogs here? I can't be the only one with dogs who goes to work early. Anyway, soon we go home for breakfast and then it's off to school.

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:55:20 GMT

Your result for The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test ...
7 - the Adventurer

7 - the Adventurer
you chose AX - your Enneagram type is SEVEN (aka "The Enthusiast").

"I am happy and open to new things"

Adventurers are energetic, lively, and optimistic. They want to contribute to the world.

How to Get Along with Me

* Give me companionship, affection, and freedom.
* Engage with me in stimulating conversation and laughter.
* Appreciate my grand visions and listen to my stories.
* Don't try to change my style. Accept me the way I am.
* Be responsible for yourself. I dislike clingy or needy people.
* Don't tell me what to do.

What I Like About Being a SEVEN

* being optimistic and not letting life's troubles get me down
* being spontaneous and free-spirited
* being outspoken and outrageous. It's part of the fun.
* being generous and trying to make the world a better place
* having the guts to take risks and to try exciting adventures
* having such varied interests and abilities

What's Hard About Being a SEVEN

* not having enough time to do all the things I want
* not completing things I start
* not being able to profit from the benefits that come from specializing; not making a commitment to a career
* having a tendency to be ungrounded; getting lost in plans or fantasies
* feeling confined when I'm in a one-to-one relationship

SEVENs as Children Often

* are action oriented and adventuresome
* drum up excitement
* prefer being with other children to being alone
* finesse their way around adults
* dream of the freedom they'll have when they grow up

SEVENs as Parents

* are often enthusiastic and generous
* want their children to be exposed to many adventures in life
* may be too busy with their own activities to be attentive

You want to know, huh? well read on

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:04:04 GMT

First Name:
Joseph. Usually go by Joe.

Age:
35

Location:
Oakland, CA. 94611

Occupation:
I am a second grade teacher at a small public school in Oakland. All day I spend my time with slightly irrational, very moody, 7 and 8 year olds. 19 of them.

Partner?:
I am married to my lovely wife, cherrymidnight (don't know how to do the user name hyper link thing). We have been together for a decade. We have 1 cat, 1 dog and soon we are adopting a very large 1 year old puppy.

Kids:
None. Except the 20 I get every year at school.

Brothers/Sisters:
2 older brothers, though one is technically my cousin. Tom, from my mom's first marriage, chef, entreprenuer, currently putting his life back together. Rus, technically my cousin, adopted into the fold after his mom died, economist, father, music lover, family hub.

Pets:
1 cat, Batavia, 1 dog Beast and soon 1 more dog.

List the 3-5 biggest things going on in your life:
*I am in my second year of teaching
*We are adopting a great dane
*My mom is on the steep decline of alzheimers

School:
I took about 10 years off after high school. I finally went back to school and got my BA in Liberal Studies from SF State and my teaching credential from there too.

Parents:
My dad passed when I was 17. We weren't close. He only lived with us when I was around 1 or 2. My mom is living with Alzheimers at a facility in Vancouver.

Who are some of your closest friends?:
I have a few, and they know who they are.

Okay, so, your turn, if you're so inclined.

Oye Como Vas and Tito Puente

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:15:49 GMT

Wow!

I recommend that each and everyone of you has a listen to the original Party Music!

check out the wikipedia page on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oye_Como_Va

how can not dance, even a little bit when that saxophone comes in belting away while the flute is up and piping and the ritmo just keeps on rolling!

it's that time again

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:48:35 GMT

tomorrow marks the beginning of another school year

180 days to go!

i'm actually really looking forward to a whole nother year to do it right.

and i'm looking forward to seeing all my kids from last year...and to meeting the new kids this year.

also, i'm realizing that for teaching to really work I need to believe in what i'm teaching. like, i do think it's important that they learn how to write a complete sentence and how to measure things and add numbers together and take them apart again. i believe that's important and i won't be impeded in teaching them these important things.

also, this job requires a lot more counselling and nurturing than i thought it would...that part i'm still working on.

i really do like my co workers though and for that i feel profoundly grateful. when we came back for professional development work last week, i actually felt happy to be there and to be with them getting ready for another year. and i could tell they were happy i was there too. it's a nice feeling and a priviledge.

remind me of this, when i post complaining about my god-awful kids or my god-awful workmates.

The Meme

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:50:56 GMT

Click here.
Take the quiz.
Post your results.
1) If masculine_lady commanded an army, who would be his/her followers? Fat Queer Revolutionaries
2) Does drinkasyoupour drink? duh!
3) Has sir_lone_wolf dyed their hair? not that I know of
4) Did infamousaudey break up with you? no
5) If lonewolf_w_cub was a superhero, who would be his/her archnemesis? Bright and Early, Sunshine Army
6) What comic book character would pinkprincesszoe be? Super Thinker, Pink Streaker
7) What animal should drinkasyoupour be combined with? a cat
8) Are plaid_is_best and hhholiday married? no
9) What flavor of jello would queentushy be? rainbow? can that be a flavour?
10) Could you see capn_teem and mitchellatticus together? no
11) Is sir_lone_wolf related to you? not by blood
12) Has fattest been to your house/dorm? yes!
13) If alfonsox took over the world, who would be happy? his sister wives
14) Is fluffffy athletic? yes
15) Is leatherfish an emo? don't know
16) Is seyewailo related to cherry_midnight? no
17) What planet should wikkid_smaht be from? Thesauran
18) Does leatherfish do drugs? don't know
19) Is mitchellatticus friends with lil_hay_seed? not sure
20) Does stillwell have a big secret? maybe, maybe not
21) When did you last call cub_cake? 2+ yrs ago
22) How many monkeys could nerd_dog fight at once and win against? 10
23) Does bemoreshameless have a dog? don't know
24) What is infamousaudey's favorite game? Poker!
25) What would lovelikeyeast think of grrlkissgrrl? only good things

Music is in my veins

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:27:33 GMT

Recently, I transferred my music library from one hard to another.

Should have been so so so easy, right?

Not exactly. For some reason a portion of my music files did not make the move with the others. I had to go hunting for them. Anyway, the thought that I might lose some of my music made me so stressed out and sad....

then I found some of it, then some more and finally I found all of the necessary files.....and as I scrolled through my library, seeing familiar names easily resting there, no exclamation mark of doom (ITunes be damned!), my heart swelled like I was meeting a loved on as they got off the boat. It was really visceral, and I was reminded of how much I really need music in my life, to listen to and to make some too. Marching Band Pride 2009, here I come.

good vibrations

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:05:20 GMT

I'm just going to get right to the point ,

after being on T for a while, I believe that I hum at a different frequency now. Not humming like making a sound, but humming like, my whole self w emitting a different vibration in the world than the one I had been accustomed to. even if it sounds a little woo-woo, does it make any sense?

just bought these

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:07:44 GMT

how fly am I?

Queer Recreation

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:50:08 GMT

Hey friends,

does anyone in the bay area know about any kind of queer basketball? Like a pick up game or league or something?

I'm really into basketball these days and it would be nice to do sports with other queers.

Things I've done for $

Tue, 20 May 2008 13:49:45 GMT

Baby Sitter
Lawn Mower
Lemonade Hawker
Garage Sale Organizer
Peanuts, Popcorn and Crackerjack guy at the Stadium
Sandwich Maker
Fudge Shop Cashier
Market Researcher
Nanny
Summer Camp Teacher
Second Grade Teacher

One of those Homer Simpson Days

Thu, 08 May 2008 04:51:32 GMT

have you seen the episode where he's driving home from work, intently reading all the bill boards along the way and then dutifully buying or doing each thing they recommended (buy Duff, etc.)

Well today felt like my Homer Simpson Day at Target.

I found the jeans I wanted, in the ironic twist to the eighties Converse *One Star* Clothing line.

I actually considered for a moment buying Axe body wash, then thought better of it.

I couldn't resist 3 pack of new boxers,

and then, as I'm leaving the men's section, ready to go home I saw a CD that caught my eye. It was Tapes 'n Tapes new album! Right there at eye level, the album I'd been waiting for ready for me to purchase. It was like someone whispered in my ear to say buy it, it's the perfect music for those new jeans you just bought!

But hey, I'll be clean, good lookin' and dressed to kill.....so I don't have much to complain about, right!

from Mich

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:27:25 GMT

For the first three people that reply to this post, and who re-post this in your LJ you win!!!

I will send you a prize.

It will be something selected just for you...

Whatever it is, I promise I will get it to you in 365 days of your posted comment or less, and I will need your snail mail.

The only thing you need to do to receive your prize is PARTICIPATE.

Be one of the first three folks to reply to this, and post this very same thing in your journal, and YOU are the lucky prize winner

From Fattest a meme about Itunes & music in general

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:58:11 GMT

How many songs total: 4730
How many hours or days of music: 13 days

Most recently played: How I got Over - The Blind Boys of Alabama - Down in New Orleans
Most played: Such Great Heights - Postal Service & Somebody Told Me - The Killers
Most recently added: Blind Boys of Alabama - Down in New Orleans

Sort by song title
First Song: A) Able To Love - Benny Benassi ) B Boys Will Be B Boyz - Black Star C) C.I.A. - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Last Song: *** by Regina Spektor *Same as Fattest!*

Sort by time
Shortest Song: Things Fall Apart (Skit) - The Roots
Longest Song: Górecki: edIT - Certified AirRaid Material Megamix ~48 Minutes

Sort by album
First album: Abby Road
Last album: Maria Taylor 11:11

First song that comes up on Shuffle: The Little Willies - Love Me

Search the following and state how many songs come up:
Death - 38
Life - 64
Love - 260
Hate - 27
You - 475
Sex - 19