Happy Coming Out Day!

Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!

Happy (Belated) Columbus Day to my American friends who celebrate the day!

Car show was yesterday and it was amazingly successful. Lots of raffle tickets sold and attendance continues to increase. FedEx was a new sponsor this year (they have a branch that does things like move cars) and they're excited to increase their involvement for next year. That's crucial because it's a new show and getting spectacular cars from around the country is easier when transport of some multi-million dollar car is no cost to the owner. I wasn't certain I'd make the show when I woke up with a headache bad enough to provoke vomiting but I managed to make it and I'm so glad. Joe works really hard on the show and it shows. The car owners love him and the show -- and I know he's passionate about cars.

I'm glad he has that show because he's not sanguine on the chances of getting Black Tie and Boots again this next go-round. I'm sorry for that because it's a huge, high profile event and pays well but there are some good reasons to forgo it. And I'll be happy if he doesn't disappear for - literally - the entire month of January 2009. We'll see.

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I worry that I'm becoming a paranoid hypochondriac but I have this sinking feeling that Sunday's difficulties might be due to Saturday night's party, where I met and shook hands with dozens of people who'd been gnoshing on shrimp cocktail. That level/type of blinding headache is something I associate with my response to seafood so I'm wondering if that's the cause. I wish I knew for certain because it may be that I need to look into some sort of medically supervised desensitization just for my own safety. Or peace of mind. Something to add to my research list.

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LIMS competitions are fabulous for icon makers looking for real feedback. I made it through Round 3 of the lantis_lims (whew!) but the feedback is invaluable. Not everyone is as lucky as I am to have had paddies take the time to dissect and discuss one's work so if you're looking for a place to discuss icons and get honest feedback, I recommend checking out a LIMS community. I really wish there were one for SG-1.

After the winners and losers are announced each time, there's a post where people can show their alternates. This is my favorite part because people who are interested in getting/giving feedback hang out there. I've gotten some invaluable advice and been given new things to think about.

I didn't set out wanting to "win" this competition - my goal was the more modest one of not being eliminated in the first round - but now I find I want to stay in for as long as possible because the feedback is addictive. Knowing what someone likes -- but more importantly what they *don't* like -- is instructive and helps me develop an eye.

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I've missed a metric ton of stuff on LJ. I'll be delving back into my flist as soon as possible.

(Maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of my pictures are posted here. Standard disclaimers about lighting, people jumping on the bench while I was trying to take a pic, and so on.)

Crowd estimate = 250,000. If that's true, we had 1 in 8 Houstonians show up at the Pride Festival and Parade. Houston has a lot to be proud of and our elected officials as well as the citizenry showed up for the parade. No fewer than one dozen - that's 12! - local politicos marched in the parade. Obviously, we need more of them but this was more than I expected at a time of 75% votes to ban gay marriage in Texas.

I already loved our mayor for the impressive job he did handling the influx of Katrina victims and the way he led the Houston response so our fellow Americans finally got the help and welcome they had every right to expect. He didn't just ride in a car in this parade - he marched. Way to go, Bill!

We have not one but two openly gay elected officials, Controller Annise Parker and At Large City Councilwoman Sue Lovell. Yes, they are both elected by the entirety of our city; these are not candidates elected in niche districts. Never once in the election did I hear the sort of slander I'd expect when a candidate is a lesbian. I'm so proud of our city.

Also marching were our city departments: police, fire, Health & Human Services...all the way down to the Houston Humane Society. The big corporations were present; I'm adding to my list of businesses I want to support. Wish that British Petroleum sold gas here in town as they were singled out for mention as earning a 100% rating on GLBT issues. Shell, JP Morgan Chase, and UT Medical Branch also had huge presence in the parade. We are close to the Bible Belt and I admit to being surprised at the number of churches and faiths represented. My favorite was the priest who had chosen not to conduct any hetero weddings until the ban on gay marriage is lifted.

We may not be San Francisco or WeHo, but this city proved itself as diverse and tolerant as I'd grown up thinking we were.

ETA: Obviously, I had a blast. That was due in large part to the company I kept: msjudi & her husband, vibrant_daphne, and my friend of mumble-dy years, Amy. Thanks for making my Saturday fabulous!