Processing Trauma of Childhood Hunger

Last week, my therapist and I picked up with EMDR to process more trauma. We intentionally defined a period of my childhood that was brutal, 1979-1983, or the years of 4th to 8th grade. Historically, EMDR has been quite helpful with my lesser traumas and anxiety. The hard stuff hasn’t cooperated and we’ve respected that. […]

The Time Where I Am Named One of 12 People of the Year By The Advocate Magazine

Blogging and activism have led me in many directions these past decades, but I never imagined they would lead me to a list of 12 ‘People of the Year’ alongside Beyoncé and Ukrainian President Zelensky. And that is exactly what just happened with the November issues of The Advocate. The Advocate, a prestigious national publication […]

Q&A With Trans Neighbor About TERF/Transphobic Stickering in Pittsburgh’s East End

TERF stickers Pittsburgh

Content Note: transphobia, TERF, fascism, harassment, images I went back and forth on whether or not we should do this Q&A because I was worried about 1) unnecessarily freaking out other trans people who have been blissfully unaware of these stickers 2) giving this terf the attention they want, potentially leading others to their cause. […]

Proud of My June

Well, it seems that I’ve arrived at the end of June without a significant depressive episode – a rarity for me. I don’t know why June is always a tough month for me, but the data tracks. A few days ago, I wasn’t sure I’d be standing in this moment today on June 30. I […]

Here’s What Happened When I Threw Out The First Pitch During Pride Night at PNC Park

Pride Night at PNC Park

The thing about anxiety is that it can be managed, especially if you have a plan and a support system. Managed, not cured or fixed. Throwing out the first pitch during a MLB game in front of many thousands of people during the official Pride Night is the sort of thing that generates some anxiety. […]

This Lesbian Blogger is Throwing Out the First Pitch for Pride Night at PNC Park June 2022

Pride Night at PNC Park

This is a story. After I won the 2022 Outstanding Blog award from the GLAAD awards earlier this month, the Pirates congratulated me and said that they would like to acknowledge this achievement in their upcoming plans for Pride Night at PNC Park. I was pleased, of course, assuming they would probably make a quick […]

Et tu, Hannah Gadsby? “Phone Free Experiences” and ADA Accommodations #MentalHealthAwareness

Mental health Awareness Month Anxiety

This won’t be the post you expect. Noted lesbian and creator Hannah Gadsby is coming to Pittsburgh this Thursday as part of her Body of Work tour. She’s performing at the noted Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland, part of the Carnegie Museums. A lovely venue. My first visit there was in the 1990s when I […]

And Spring Depression Cometh …

I’ve blogged many times about my reverse seasonal mood disorders – elevated in the fall, low in the spring. We are not so oldWe have miles to goWe will take it slowAs the years unfoldThat’s a lot to know. This past week, my mood began to dip. Some of this was due to increasing my […]

How long ’til my soul gets it right

I had an uncomfortable conversation with some folx today that left me a little shaken. The source of our difference of opinion isn’t so much a concern and being at odds while awkward is not the problem. The issue for me is something I’ve encountered over and over again – being accused of valuing cats […]

We’re on a Meal Train and We Love This Stuff

Casseroles when people are ill

Some lovely friends set up a Meal Train for us – it is a software/website resource that allows organizers to recruit folx to bring food to people in tough times – during a loss, an illness, a new baby, etc. Illness is our category. I’ve been writing a lot about that and the associated challenges. […]