So, I return...
Yeah. Being in LA and having time out from my usual routine to really do what suited me was great. I was really hellishly nervous about seeing Naveen - sleeping and eating problems included - even to the point of running to the loo to vomit out of anxiety when my flight there was announced, but as soon as I landed everything was absolutely fine and relaxed and normal. Naveen's company and influence was really cathartic for me, she was good for me as she's always been. I rented a motorbike (pics on Facebook) for half the holiday and went trekking off to see beaches and mountains and towns and malls and Beverly Hills and Hollywood at night and stuff. I also hung out with Naveen and other Womens Studies and related PhD students, most of whom were doing really awesome stuff and I was a little bit envious and a little bit out of my depth at times, but relished the brain activity. I know that I want to do a work-relevant postgrad qualification with a project critiquing Kenneth Zucker with the social model of disability, backed up by Kate Bornstein and Julia Serano, it's just a matter of actually properly looking into what will be the best course/location/year to do it. I considered keeping a diary but decided against it cos even after the first day I knew I'd be coming back a lot more sorted than I was when I went there. Without meaning to dismiss my other friendships and connections with people as insignificant because they're not, I want the kind of understanding that I have with Naveen as a general rule to happen for me with other people more often. And yeah, I'm quite clearly going back to LA when I'm told to. I also did 24 hours in Chicago, mainly to see Cocksparrer and that was awesome and totally random.

In other news I'm clearly back at work and enjoying it especially as it's currently half term and we're doing stuff like pumpkin carving in parks :) I'm still peeved that youth centres are full of what I would call the wrong sort of people, frustrated that I don't get the same level of satisfaction out of that as I do with QYN/GYUK 'voluntary youth work', but it's paid so hey, and I'm also desensitising the mainstream to queers, which is maybe the best thing I can do at times. Though I did let a teenager dye my hair black and purple in a youth centre yesterday and it's turned out well so far. I also did medical trials a couple weeks ago and am invigilating a bit in the next couple weeks. I really have no plans about what I want to do or where I want to be when the playwork job I'm doing finishes in 18 months - the fact that my options are so wide really doesn't help. It'll sort itself I guess, I'll roll with whims like I have done so far.

Have done a couple games refereeing since I've been back and have also played a game and a bit for Oldham. They're technically not very good but they are a decent bunch and there's not like a massive sulk after a loss. We got hammered by Stockport at the weekend and I played the full 90 mins as an outfield player, right midfield then centre back. Haven't done that kind of exercise in years, especially as it was straight after refereeing 90 mins so I was tired before kick-off! I still ache a bit now but feel good for having done it, I feel good for enjoying shallow passions, 'the little things in life', like having a motorbike and going to gigs and stuff. StreetDogs on Halloween too at Academy 3 should be fun, saw them supporting Cocksparrer in Chicago too :)


MUSIC UPDATES
David Ford's tour dates aren't do-able this time.
Rachel Stamp return soon and I'll be seeing them again!
Star Fucking Hipsters new album is out and I must get it
The Casting Out SUCK for cancelling their Massachusetts show - I want to see them!
The Color Turning (sound like Placebo) are my latest fun find, saw their gig in LA

OK it's nearly 3am and I'd like to go to the gym and jacuzzi before 12noon work tomorrow so I better sleep.