26 years ago today, I arrived in DC after spending the previous 9 months walking from LA.

Over the years here, I've shared Peace March stories. It was, without question, the most incredible experience of my life. From it, I received an amazing family of friends, who daily support my life.

Last year, on this day, _this_ community's generosity and support made it possible to do what I thought was the best I could for my beloved Bartleby.

I can never, ever fully express the depth of my gratitude for your willingness to help me materially and emotionally through one of the most difficult periods of my life.

"Thank you" is supremely inadequate.

I am eternally grateful to all of you for giving me something I could never truly deserve...a _second_ community on which I can rely and, by which, I am daily enriched.

I have a new piece up at Hilobrow on the fascinating multimedia artist Bruce Conner.

Conner was a Beat-era artist in SF during the 50s, became one of the most important experimental filmmakers of the sixties, did light shows at the Fillmore and was still hip enough to hang out at the Mabuhay and shoot SF's mid-70s punk scene.

He also did Devo's groundbreaking "Mongoloid" video in 1976.

In the comments I talk about his collaborations with Toni Basil and have all kinds of cool clips to things like the Monkees movie Head and Soul Train. Check it out and see how it all hangs together. (In my fevered brain anyway.)

Have you been thinking to yourself, I wonder what Ryan's been up to lo these past few months? Wonder no longer! New photos start here: [link]

Cruising at the Zoo: [link]

Stylin' up: [link]

Leveraging his public profile: [link]

Weighing his options: [link]

Stylin' up (again): [link]

Kicking it (very) old school: [link]

Giving back to the community: [link]

Rocking out! [link]

Getting in touch with his roots: [link]

Learning from the older generation: [link]

Stylin' up (still): [link]

Being a role model: [link]

Party time! [link]

And now you know.

Could I have some ~ma for today?

I am going to have to have an unpleasant conversation at work about something that I - through unthinking neglect on my part - allowed to happen. It's not entirely my responsibility, but I could catch some major flack for it. Plus, because it is partially my responsibility, I feel like a major failure.

In desperate need of calm, good vibes, etc. I haven't been this shaky or upset about anything in a long, long time.

Update: everything went well - thank you all.

The appeal paperwork gets faxed out today. Can I get some vibes for it?

Headed to UCLA for yet another of Grace's surgeries. Are we on two years of this yet? Any good thoughts would be appreciated.

My boyfriend D has ankle surgery scheduled first thing tomorrow. Some surgery~ and healing~ma would be muchly appreciated - he's super active and I don't think he realizes how long a road he has ahead.

This is the puppy we are fostering: [link]

He was rescued from a furniture factory where some of his siblings had already died from neglect. His three surviving siblings were rescued a month before him because the factory owner wouldn't let them take him for no good reason. Then he escaped, got hit by a car, and finally made it to Westside German Shepherd Rescue last week. We brought him home on Sunday, and he is already a different dog. He is friendly, loves to play, and has the sweetest disposition you can imagine. If you know anyone in the LA area who would like an addition to the family, have them apply to adopt on Westside's site.

We have no doubt he will be adopted, and it's going to be very hard for me to let him go. We will keep him until he has his forever home and then bring home another pup who needs a little love. ND keeps reminding me that we do more good fostering multiple dogs than we would just adopting this one. Hard to remember!

[link]

Pictures of the devastation to my aunt's house and neighborhood.

So that puppy we were fostering? Yeah. We may have adopted him. Here is the link to his page on the rescue site. [link]

I'm so happy!