Not Okay, Not Okay, NOT OKAY

Not me- I'm coping.

I'm also furious.

I have, until recently, *really* enjoyed Dan Savage's column, podcast, and books. I've *bought* Dan's books, for heaven's sake.

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=1487886

And now this.

Can't handle it. I've listened to the podcasts in which he uses words like that, and I've always let it go as heat of the moment, doesn't know any better.

But another reader did what I didn't- Stepped forward, tried to educate, and was instead, mocked.

I can't support that anymore. I can't excuse that anymore. Maybe I should never have done.

I'm sorry I ever recommended him to anyone, I'm sorry I ever read his books, bought his books, listened to his podcast.

This is his fanpage on Facebook where I intend to voice my displeasure and then leave.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/DanSavage?ref=ts

This is NOT okay. Not by me.

*taptaptap*

Even though I feel so afraid and stupid right now, I'm still a really great gal...

Even though I feel so afraid and stupid right now, there will be brighter days ahead

Even though school isn't going so well right now, I have lots of other things to contribute to the world...


Oooooooh boy, I try not to post on Blogger unless I have something positive to say or funny to share. I don't. I'm done in...

Good choices?

Have been compliant on my new meds for over 2 weeks now- This is absolutely new for me... and as I do not like change, I'm having a little bit of difficulty with it. Weekends are probably most difficult, and I sulk once the purple thing is in my system... but at least it gets there.

Am getting ready for exams and break and gainful employment and for the parents (please God) to find a good deal on a Southern vacation and GO there...!

Anyway, just a brief update

Light, love and energy

Ashley

I got gnawed on by Torina's troll...

So just in case any of my real internet connections doubt the truth of my moderate claims at disability expertise, the following is a link to the first page of Google results which pop up from a search of my real name

Trolls inspire anxiety and hatred, and should be ashamed of themselves

Google

Keynote Address

It went well! I'm hoping that the rules of Open Space Technology I was trained in 2 years ago held true and that the people who were meant to be there were there, and that I started and ended at the right time.

The text is linked below, even though Google should be doing this a little more easily for me, for those of you who might be interested in reading. The statistics cited (though there are only a few) are Canadian numbers- I don't know what the American or North American numbers are.

Keynote

A Busy Week Ahead

Wow, it's shaping up to be quite a week. Thank God for some new meds (Well*butrin) which are helping me. Wish I had tried this particular drug family years ago! S-S-R-Is make me feel like my brain is jumping out of the top of my skull and make me sleep 16 hours per day- These don't!

Why is it shaping up to be quite a week? Well, I have a keynote address to give tonight for a project called All Abillities Welcome, and then on Thursday I'm off to Ottawa for a Strategic Planning meeting with the Active Living Alliance... And let's not forget that I'm still at university, too!

I want to leave you all with a final thought- Some of you will know immediately what I'm referring to when I say this.

The "disability community" and by this I mean all atypical folks, all folks who parent atypical folks, and all folks who work with and for atypical folks, has enough to deal with. Having an attack from what should be an ally or at least a silent visitor shakes all of us to the core and detracts from the progress we're trying to make.

I learned something from a video when I was little that maybe some "grown ups" need to go back and revisit. "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all."

Seatbelts

And this is why I will uncomplainingly wear a seatbelt for the rest of my life. It stopped me from getting up close and personal with the dash/windshield when I was rear-ended today