Made new art work made from felt (now if only I could figure out how to not write an exhibition submission) Carefully scoured down my old plum coloured metal glasses into foxy silver specs. And the lovely Kenny Fries gave me one of his books, which I would very
Continue readingAuthor: mae callen
School’s out forever: No more pencils / No more books
Today, I handed in the final requirement for my Master’s degree, a major (90 + plus page) research paper. As someone who finds reading and writing arduous, over-rated and shamefully over-valourized in my communities and social circles, I have decided, ever so happily, to stop reading and writing in my free
Continue readingWhite Supremacy and Quilting: Stupid things I say
My new years resolution is to quite writing in my free time and start doing, making and watching. But I had to just get this one out. As part of this doing, making, creating year, I wanted to start a new quilt. I started thinking about patterns and colours I
Continue readingI’ve started a food blog.
Seems as though I’m too happy to write here anymore. Nothing really to complain about, aside from my hammock branch getting cut down. I seem to have hung up the orgy-having, love-lust, wonder-struck dyke hat, for my – I can’t wait to clean my windows, bake a chicken pot pie and hold hands with my love apron. I’m changed. And what do I have to say about myself? – "oh hey another happy day. Jee
Continue readingJess McCormack: work = worth = innocence
I just wanted to take a quick opportunity to direct your gaze at the work of a friend of mine, Jess McCormack. Her recent work explores some of the interconnected threads between homelessness, employment, police violence, stigma and mental illnes…
Continue readingFor Mohamed Harkat
Security Certificates allow for detention of refugees and immigrants without charge or access to the evidence for national security reasons. Mohamed Harkat – Moe to his friends – is one of those men. As many of you may know, Mohamed Harkat lost in co…
Continue readingYour tree, my hammock, a love story
Dear City Forestry Department,
Recently the city pruned the branches off the trees in my neighbourhood, including the tree in my front law. Now I realize you are experts in such matters. I realize you make decisions based on many factors, such as …
Continue readingPolice seek help in locating Ottawa woman missing since July 4
Police seek help in locating Ottawa woman missing since July 4 Ottawa police are searching for Meredith Westlake who has been missing since July 4.Photograph by: Image supplied, Ottawa Police ServicesOTTAWA — Ottawa police are asking for the public
Continue readingThe streets of Philadelphia
Joy and I just got back from an amazing weekend visit to Philadelphia, and I was blown away by the city. I have been to many cities around the world – and I have never loved one as much as I love this one. I feel like I could go on and on – from the…
Continue readingAnd life is like a song (at last)
See figure 3.
Continue readingThen they come together again
In June of 2009, I wrote a post called ‘When things fall apart’. It’s the title of a Pema Chodron book, which Jamine lent me. Here is the quote I used:
"Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they&nb…
Continue readingMark. Your. Calendars.
"Ça fait 10 ans, ce soir, cette affaire"
On January 29, Venus Envy is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary. 10 years of sex positive workshops, sex toys, harnesses, binders, stuffers, pokers, and protectors;10 years of community organizing, with discussion panels, screenings, sex worker report launches, and erotic readings;10 years of guest speakers from around the world, including&nbs…
Continue readingNew York Times for January 4, 2011.
I am not "a reader". Fiction rarely catches me, websites and blogs too, and boring non-ficton, never. But there are a few things I do love reading. I loved harry potter. I love Foucault. I loved the girl with dragon tattoo series. I loved Jean Vanier. I love reading descriptions of learning disabilities. I love reading the comments after CBC news stories about gay people and I really love r…
Continue readingA single man
"you know the only thing that has made the whole thing worthwhile….it’s been those few times when I’ve been able to truly connect with another human being"
Recently, the Lively one emphatically insisted I watch the film, ‘a single man’. She knows me better than I thought. I loved this film, every single inch of it.
Now if only a lesbian love story could possess…
Continue readingBoarder control: Eyes wide shut
"Love, even old love nestles itself into the space that two people hold each other with their eyes."
These were my words, just a half dozen pages back, as I reflected on seeing HB again. reflected on what it felt like to feel love again, reflected on how I thought I had forgotten.
And I have.
~~~
"You’re heart is so closed M. you can’t even look at me" she said to me last …
Continue readingRe: my mother
Grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Continue reading