On Proposition 8

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

My heart goes out to all of the newlyweds in California who have just been informed that they are no longer married.  I can't even express with words how I feel about this.  Last night was a bittersweet win, with one minority finally being accepted, and another being cast into the shadows again.  To quote Ellen DeGeneres:

This morning, when it was clear that Proposition 8 had passed in California, I can’t explain the feeling I had. I was saddened beyond belief. Here we just had a giant step toward equality and then on the very next day, we took a giant step away.

I can't even imagine what it must feel like, especially to all of those who celebrated their victory months ago, going out and getting married--finally seeing a change, only to have it taken away once again.

For many, the argument is that "we shouldn't have to explain it to our children."  Well, wake up!  It's there, and they are going to find out about it eventually; you can't keep your children ignorant forever.  Being gay isn't illegal--they are allowed to walk the streets holding hands, smooch in public, appear on TV and in books and in movies.  What do you do when they ask about that?  This way of thinking is horribly selfish.

Even more disgusting than that (okay, not really) is the fact that much of the money came from fucking Utah--from people that weren't even directly effected by the California law.  I don't know how anyone in their right mind can get together and decide that they are just fine with ruining thousands of other peoples' lives this way. 

Del Martin passed away just a couple of months ago, and now in her death it legally means nothing for Phyllis, her widow whose birthday is just a few days away.  Happy 84th Birthday, Phyllis Lyon.  Even after you've fought for decades, we aren't quite there yet.

Maybe one day--although probably not in my lifetime--there will be a celebration as the United States sees their first gay president as well.

Now that Obama has won

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

 Conversation with Brett (during Obama's speech where he praises McCain):

Me: I think he could find a good place for McCain in there somewhere. 
B: Oh, I know--he could be greeter for the White House.  That's what Wal Mart does with the old people!

In all seriousness, though, I commend McCain for his speech afterward.  I don't think he's a bad guy; I just think we had a better option for President.

Photoblog 3: Dog Park

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

Brett and I have been bringing Angel to the dog bark every once in a while, ever since we found out about it a month or so ago.  She and I used  to live with my parents, who owned some 5 or so dogs at any given time, so we thought maybe she missed having other dogs to play with and would appreciate having a big area to run around in.  Unfortunately, every time we bring her, this is where she stays for nearly the entire visit.  She hates when other dogs sniff her, or try to play with her, or generally come within 3 feet of her.  She is cool with small dogs (I'm pretty sure chihuahas are her favorite due to the fact that they are the tiniest type she's ever come across), but most of the dogs at the park aren't smaller than her, and I really feel kind of bad when they try to play and she stares at them like they're just stupid dogs who don't deserve her attention--and, even worse, when she growls at them to go away.

So here she sits, underneath our feet watching the other dogs, or wandering around behind the trees.  We have come to the conclusion that Angel thinks she is a person, and to play with the other dogs is beneath her.  Instead she would rather sit with all the humans and laugh at the other dogs beating each other up.  Today she even jumped onto the bench to sat next to us.

Still, we continue to bring her because we like hanging out with the other dogs and people who go there.

About Me

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Eventually there will be an "about me" section here, but since it still isn't here yet, I figured I would tell a little about myself for anyone who might be curious.

First off, my name is Dawn.  I live with my boyfriend Brett and our crazy, super-shedding, antisocial dog Angel in Southern Louisiana. At this point you may be envisioning the three of us living on the edge of some swamp, plagued by hurricanes, alligators, and mosquitos--at least, that's what used to come to my mind when I thought of Louisiana.  In any case, you'd be partially right, as those links would suggest.  Brett and I are the masterminds behind AnimeBug, where we design and sell geeky t-shirts, primarily anime-related.  We also sell stuff at the local flea market, and have begun a new blog which will be launched and revealed as soon as it is ready.

I'm a Fashion Design and Merchandising student, though I'd like to have been an English or Graphic Design major.  I graduate in May, so I suppose it's a little late for switching now!  But I have a love for art and fashion, and I'm happy to be involved in it.  I really have so many interests that no matter what I'd have "settled" with, I would always wonder what would have happened had I chosen another route.  I blame my grandmothers, who have both been a huge inspiration to me whether they realize it or not.  One of them was a seamstress, and helped me brush up on my sewing skills as well as provided me with more notions, pattern and material than I know what to do with; and the other was the one who taught me to paint, bake, and be handy with a gluegun.  

If I had any free time right now I would engage in such activities as: knitting, quilting, making sock monkeys, designing more of my own clothes, painting, drawing, costume design, jewelry-making, writing a novel that's been typed and re-typed and deleted many times, and other related crafts.  Like I said, I have way too many interests.

After graduation, I plan on moving to Southern California with Brett and Angel (preferably Long Beach or Huntington Beach), hopefully with my sister in tow.  Maybe there I will find my calling and decide just what exactly I should do with my life!  Until then, here I am.

Project Runway pre-finale

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

The top 3 contestants from Project Runway have finally been announced, and Jarrell is out!  I thought for sure Kenley would finnnnalllly be out, but no.  We've been saying it for probably the past 3-4 episodes.  At this point, though, I was kind of glad she got to stay--I'm excited to see her line on the runway (okay, so I snuck a peek at WWD.com...don't tell anyone), even if I don't feel it is entirely deserved.  I really think jerrell should have made it, but I'm not terribly bothered that he wasn't.  The top 5 all actually got to show lines anyway, since at the time of the runway show, PR still had 5 contestants.  This also means that, if you're curious, you can also see Suade's line--just not on the show.

edit:  Someone in the comments also pointed out that Joe was there.  Sorry about that, I forgot!

What upsets me, though, is Kenley's wedding dress.  Michael Kors and Nina Garcia compared it to an Alexander McQueen one that had just shown prior.  And...it is really really close.  Although she may not have intended to, Kenley totally jacked the design:

The feathered part of the McQueen dress is longer, and Kenley's dress obviously has more fluff at the bottom, but even the headdress is similar.  What got me was that Kenley didn't say that she hadn't seen the McQueen design...she said "there were no sillhouettes like that!" or something to that effect.  It also resembles this one quite a bit:

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the dress...but do you think it was fair that she got to advance on a design that was obviously highly influenced by a recent design of another (more famous) designer, while Jerrell got the boot?