Lending Voice to Thoughts

So the mexican restaurant across the street (the owner who sadly passed away last month) was celebrating his birthday today with $1.50 tacos. Elinor and I decided that this sounded tasty, and we'd go there for lunch.

We walk in, and there's balloons, cupcakes, Eegee's slushies, and loud disco music. We order, get some horchata to drink and rock out dancing to 'Stayin' Alive' (curse you Muppets).

And another song goes by. And another. I learned that the lyrics to 'Bad Moon' are 'A bad moon on the rise' and not 'A bad man on the right'.

It gets shoulder to shoulder packed crowded, I stepped outside and bop to some more music, then dance with a little kid and his Mom. About which point, I'm starting to worry about time. Elinor needs to clock in promptly, unlike myself, so she heads back and I wait some more, boogying to more disco. Apperantly someone had plaed a HUGE order before us, they were laying out food in giant foil to-go platters stacked across a table.

Finally, our name gets called, and the ladies at the counter thanked me repeatedly for not only our patience, but for dancing as well. They really liked that someone was dancing, since it was a party. I smiled awkwardly back and thanked them for the food before dashing back across the street.

I couldn't tell them that I didn't know if they had a bathroom, didn't wanna take my horchata to the bathroom, and I really, really, really needed to pee....

So one of the joys of riding the bus is that you start to recognise not only the fellow passengers, but the bus drivers. And they recognise you.

Twice in the past month, drivers have waited because they knew that I would be there. Which is awesome and love.

Two Saterdays ago, I caught the 8 from the far east side of town... And got the driver who I usually catch on the 34 route heading home. We ended up having a nice talk about hiking places around Tucson. I recommended Agua Caliente to him.

Then on Sunday, caught Logan, the guy who I catch on the 8 going to work in the mornings, on the 3 to go hang out with swordmage and reynier. Had a great time talking and laughing with him, when suddenly (randomly) we had to switch busses. Which is when this tiny skinny little elderly gentleman in a giant motorcycle helmet stopped to thank me for being 'vivacious'.
Which is the first time I've ever been called that, but really cool. #^^#
But Logan told me when his last run was and I told him I'd either be there... or I was homemade eating cinnamon rolls with friends and would catch a ride home. Ended up catching a ride home.

So last week was blistery cold, and I drove to work on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, I passed the bus... and Logan was driving. So after passing back-and-forth a few times, I waved and he spotted me.
And when I passed him the final time before the turn, he'd opened his driver's window and hand his hand out, fingers waggling in 'gimme'.

-Got to talk to him on the bus today. He wanted to know where his cinnamon roll was. ^__________^

It's amazing how much is going on.

Tonight is Planning Meeting for the Human Barricade at the Downtown Tucson Library. I was going to attend, until someone pointed out that one way to take out the Westies for a while was for all those coughing with the plague *raises hand* to go stand by them and cough in their general direction. Guaranteed lack of voice for at least two weeks. ^^;;

... Took that as a subtle hint not to take the chance of passing it on to the counter-protesters. There was also requests that this meeting is for PLANNING, and I'm not sure what I can do, (organising is not one of my skills) so I'm passing on tonight in exchange for sleep.

Tomorrow night is Buiding Angel Wings at BreakOut Studios for those interested in being a 'Action Angel' and part of the human barricade. They're also looking for donations of supplies, pvc pipe, connectors, safety pins and sheets.

People in Phoenix are also organising carpools, at least for the little girl's funeral on Thursday. I'm still waiting for more details on the other funerals.

Someone is a smart cookie and using Westboro's appearance to host a Phelps-a-Thon to raise money for Wingspan, a local non-violence group.

As far as bikers, The Patriot Guard Riders have said no, because they are for military, but the Sons of Liberty Riders will be gathering for Mourner Protection, as will be many other Tucson, Phoenix and Apache Junction Rider groups.

President Obama will be talking at 6 p.m. at McKale Memorial Center on the University of Arizona campus Wednesday night. "Together We Thrive: Tucson and America"

A listserve for events being organised has been started. It is http://groups.google.com/group/tucsonmemorial This will be the primary source of information from here on out.

The plan for Thursday has been posted on facebook, (non-fb mirror)
Basically: No Signs, Be Silent (and respectful). The WBC may not show up, if they do, do not react to them, no matter how tempting.

An FAQ has been set up here.

There is also now a website up for information: http://www.tucsonmemorial.org/

There is room for a MAXIMUM of 30 Angels due to safety and logistics. There will be training on Wednesday night 7-9pm at Hotel Congress (311 East Congress St)in use of non-violent, non-reactionary tactics for all Angels, Angel Handlers and anyone else who is interested in coming.
People who want to come to the funeral and line the streets are encouraged to wear all white.

... At this point, I think there might be a problem with too many people showing up, rather than too little. ^^;;

The State of Arizona has just passed a bill for Funeral Protection Zone. Protesters cannot come within 300 feet of the funeral.
-the bill was written and passed in under a day.

The police have issued a Zero-Tolerance policy for any kind of public disturbance on either side. Spread love, not hate. ♥

WBC has announced that it will not be picketing at the Christina Green's funeral, due to 2 radio shows offering air-time in exchange.
According to the WBC website, they're going to be picketing:
Tucson High Magnet School, 14 January 14 7:30-8:00am and Congress on the Corner, 14 January 10:15-10:45am.
Apparently Tucson High "is infested with faggots and run by perverts" (say what?)

And for anyone who needs a laugh, Best Way EVER to beat the WBC at their own game.

Information crossposted on tucson

The other fun graffiti spotted this weekend I didn't get a chance to take a pic of was a huge sticker on a 'Do Not Enter' sign with small text.
"Come and follow me."
Followed by a small sticker: "It will be OK."

Dunno, it just seemed kinda hopeful to me. ^^;;

Halloween was fun, went over to scribe_ari's house to pass out candy and draw. I was a fish-person this year. Cheap costume, under $2: white craft glue and sequins. Glued them to the left side my face and added green eyeshadows to make it look like I was mutating.
Liked the effect, but pics didn't turn out so well, sequins are SHINY.

Best quote of the night: "I'm not a Fairy! I'm Mother Nature!"

So I'm now on-call for Titanic, in case of emergency on the weekends, they can call me. So I technically haven't left, but I still have my weekends free. (slept until 2pm on Halloween, since I had the day off.^_________^ )

... Hmm... mebbe I should do Vegas for my birthday....

Since the end of the year is coming up, am making a resolution to finish one of two fics.
Beauty and the Beast: Narrative Causality Delayed or Sky High: 25 Years.
Opinions welcome!

Anyone know what kind of bird these came off of? That's a quarter up there for some scale.

Found in a back alley with some smaller ones that looked like they were all from the same bird. Hawk?

[edit: It's Turkey Feathers! ...what's a turkey doing wandering around Tucson? o.O ]