Thursday, August 19, 2021

Baby Reesa Accepts the Challenge

 

I've been trying to sort out how to talk about why this is such an important thing for me to do - why it feels more like coming home than any other charity event I've ever done. And I feel like I can't without telling part of someone else's story. I hope he'll forgive me. (and no, I won't confirm or deny who it is, it's his story, not mine – though some of you from high school will know, or guess – I would ask you to not name names as again, it’s not my story) 

 This part will surprise some people, but not others. But I started high school in 1993/1994 in Houston Texas (yes, I am that old for those who didn’t know). 

 I guess I should tell you what 1994 in Houston Texas was like before I go any further. My private social justice based all girls high school had never had more than one out girl per year ever, some years didn’t even have one. My year was the first to have several (there were 5/6 of them, and yes, it was one of my main groups of friends). But in 1994, that group of friends didn’t exist and certainly weren’t out yet. Ellen wouldn’t come out on TV for another 3 years (1997). 

 Philadelphia came out the year before (1993). Reba Macintyre’s “She Thinks His Name Was John” was released that year – I had friends who were not allowed to listen to it. Also in 1993, the US Congress votes overwhelmingly to retain the ban on entry for those who with living with HIV. Rent opened in 1994, but it wouldn’t hit Houston for many MANY more years yet. AIDS was whispered about, as was the mere act of being gay. And of course, the absolute perception was that AIDS meant you were gay. I knew people at the time that voiced that AIDS was God’s punishment for gay people. 

But also, I was a freshman in high school. And as ignorant of the world around me as most teenagers – no matter what I thought at the time. Still trying to figure out who I was and what I believed – in braces with bad skin and a brain and body that never quite stopped moving. Into this world came a teacher who challenged me in ways that I had never had before, a class I loved so much that I would race to it every day, excited about learning about a subject that had literally never interested me in the slightest before. 

 One day, I raced to class only to discover that he was out, and would be for a time, because one of his good friend’s had died of AIDS. (I will never not be thankful to have gone to a school in the early 90s that said it not in a whisper or lied about it – they just matter of a fact told us as if it was no big deal. And so it wasn’t a big deal.) 

 When my mom picked me up from school, we had a long talk. I knew I wanted to do something for him, but I didn’t know what. I didn’t know how to help in this situation. My mom told me that when loved ones died of diseases, people often donated money to an organization that helped fund research and outreach for that disease. I spent the night (pre-internet, remember) looking through the yellow pages to find a non-profit that fit the bill. Eventually I found AIDS Foundation Houston, figure out how to donate to them, and figured out how to do it all. By the time I got back to class the next day, I was ready with a plan to tell the class about. From there, I organized a small fundraiser of mostly our class. The night before he was due back, I got everything together – and also decided that we should all have red ribbons to wear. My patient mom took me to the craft store right before it closed to get safety pins and ribbon. I worked on them all night to make enough for the 27 girls in my class and anyone else who wanted them. As luck would have it, we were first period on his first day back (we had a rotating schedule, that wasn’t guaranteed). The photo tax here is from that year. I kept the ribbon on my backpack all year and was esp proud of it for this photo. 

 I pause here to mention some things. It was very important to me at the time to not “take credit”. I made sure everyone had ribbons and the cards where on his podium before he came in the room. And I said nothing. Because it wasn’t about me or for me, it was for him. …. Guess the cats out of that bag now. 

Fast forward to the first time I saw him after high school, some 6 or 7 years after graduation. I was honestly surprised he still knew my name, much less have strong memories of me – and I told him so. And then he told me the story of that day from his side. He recalled coming into the classroom that first day, to a group of students all wearing red ribbons, silently supporting him. I reminded him that I hadn’t ever taken credit for it.  And he told me he had always known, that it was so perfectly in character for me that it had to have been me - who else would it have been?

I continued to donate to AIDS Foundation Houston for many more years without telling anyone. This was the first time I ever did something larger than myself. And it set the tone for the work I have done since. 

Many years later, in grad school, when I was doing an applied theatre project about Act Up and doing the research for it, I watched the documentary How To Survive A Plague (side note, it’s on Netflix, you should watch it, it’s great). I understood in that moment how my teacher had known it was me. I hadn’t realized until that moment, many years and a half a country away, what it meant to support and advocate for those living with HIV/AIDS and those who loved them in the early/mid 90s. Esp in red state. It's weird to look back on my life and the patterns that form are patterns that started when I was young that run threads throughout, colors I don’t recognize until later. The AIDS red ribbon is one of those threads. I’ve told you about two of the strands today, two of the reasons this challenge feels like coming home, but there are others. Maybe I’ll go into them over the course of this challenge. Maybe I won’t. Why don’t you come along and find out? 

Follow my journey here and on my social media channels. 


#275challenge #cycleforacause #creatorchallenge 

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

275 Cycle for the Cause Creator Challange

 


HI all!  Long time no post!

I have some exciting things to talk to you about.  (Also, incoming wall of text, but I’m SO EXCITED I want everyone to know everything!)
 
 As many of you know, I’ve felt pretty creatively stifled for a little while, and wasn’t sure how exactly to fix it – ESP during Covid.  AND THEN!   I had an incredibly cool opportunity fall in my lap.  What is that – you ask?  (Don’t worry, it’s not an MLM)

 It’s the 275 Creator Challenge as part of the Cycle for the Cause – the North East AIDS Ride.  (which, like, for those who have known me since high school – does this surprise any of you? I’m pretty sure the first real service work I did was for Aids Foundation Houston many many moons ago)

I'm so excited I don't even  know which part to tell you about first!  Just kidding, of course I'm going to tell you about my part first - lol.

The 275 Challenge 2021 starts August 29 and ends September 25.  And as part of the creator challenge, I get to choose my own challenge (based on the numbers 27.5 or 275),
 
 So – I’m going back to my old school roots.   I’m going back to short story writing!   I am aiming for 27.5 stories, each around 2750 words.  (that half story will be about 1000 words)

And, just for this, I’m reviving my years dead blog so you can follow on my journey – and keep me honest!   Don’t forget to check back here for updates and story publishing during the challenge!

 

How can you help?  It’s easy!  There’s a donate button here!  

For a limited time, I have perks!
 
 Everyone who donates $100 or more gets their own story a full week before it airs on my blog!  (Plus you can send me multiple story points you want in your story!) 

Everyone who donates $20 of more gets to send me one story point that I will do my best to use (story points include character names, places, plot point, even just a word you want in the story!)   

 

But Reesa – where is this money going to?
 
I’m so glad you asked. My team is raising money for The Center in NYC.
 
 The Center has been caring for the LGBTQ community since the very beginning of the AIDS crisis in the early 1980s. New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (aka “The Center”) is a one-of-a-kind organization that empowers community members to lead healthy, successful lives. We proudly celebrate our community’s diversity and advocate for justice and opportunity.

What they do:

  • Health and wellness programs
  • Arts, entertainment and cultural events
  • Parenthood and family support services
  • Connection to community and resources
  • And so much more!

Not convinced yet?  Look at how much good you could do!  Every little but helps!  

I'll post more as I know more on my social media, on this blog, and on my fundraising page - including the story of why I am doing *this* project and why both the organization we are supporting and the ride itself mean so much to me in the days ahead.  Hope you'll come along an join me!


Thursday, November 16, 2017

http://writtenkitten.net/

Image result for kitten


Ya'll.  I didn't know I needed this in my life.  And now I have it.

This post will be added to every so often.  Short form, I found this website that "rewards" you with fresh kitten pictures every time you write 100 words.  ...  We all know there is a lot of shit going on right now.  We can all use some extra kitten loves.  And so, I started wrtiting a story for pictures.


Here's today's 100 words:

One day, I was walking to school and I saw a unicorn.  It was my first unicorn, and honestly, I was a little surprised, because I thought unicorns only appeared to girls younger than me.

My surprise must have shown on my face, because the unicorn calmly looked at me and said "Come on now, you know we exist.  What's the big deal here?"

I blinked slowly, twice.

Now, not only was I seeing a unicorn, I was seeing a talking unicorn?!?!?!

I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew they existed, sure.  But nothing could have prepared me for the fact they talked! 

One day, I was walking to school and I saw a unicorn.  It was my first unicorn, and honestly, I was a little surprised, because I thought unicorns only appeared to girls younger than me.

My surprise must have shown on my face, because the unicorn calmly looked at me and said "Come on now, you know we exist.  What's the big deal here?"

I blinked slowly, twice.

Now, not only was I seeing a unicorn, I was seeing a talking unicorn?!?!?!

I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew they existed, sure.  But nothing could have prepared me for the fact they talked!

Friday, May 12, 2017

Secret Cancer Awareness Nonsense



I have been made aware that it's the time of year when people on social media play some coy tee-hee "just for the laydeez" nonsensical breast cancer "awareness" game. So let me rant out how I feel about this before it gets started:

1) FFS. It's not for breast cancer awareness if you don't tell people it's for awareness. "Secret" awareness campaigns are literally not a thing. I HATE this shit so bad.

2) MEN CAN GET BREAST CANCER, TOO. MEN CAN GET BREAST CANCER, TOO. MEN CAN GET BREAST CANCER, TOO

3) Hey here's an idea, let's talk about PANCREATIC CANCER which is almost ALWAYS FATAL Pancreases aren't as sexy as tits, are they? What about thyroid cancer? Or liver cancer? Oh, nope. Of course not, they are not as sexy as breast cancer.

4) And let's "raise awareness" for it instead of donating to an actual fucking research institution? NOPE. Big ole NOPE.

Look, you want to help? Donate time, money, or resources. Donate blood for blood cancer patients.

Here, I’ll even get you started with some places:



Pancreatic Cancer:
https://www.pancan.org/

Blood Cancers:
https://www.lls.org/

Children’s Cancer:
http://pcrf-kids.org/

So you want to help? Then help. But don't think playing a secret game on fb helps anyone. It doesn't. It doesn't even give anyone any actual info on how to help. Can we please just not?

~post written and researched by Reesa GrahamBecky Courington and Whitney Rowlett. And yes, it is shareable.

Know your unemployment rights!




Hey every pony! I want to have a quick talk about unemployment of all things, sparked by this article about the fiasco that was/is the Fyre Festival:

There is a lot of assumptions going on both within the article and within the commentary of it that assumes that because he is not firing these people, they are not eligible for unemployment. 

This is the important part in a know your rights kind of way.

That is incorrect. If you have "good cause" or "just cause" for quitting, you can still receive unemployment. There is a list of common "good causes" and guess what's on the top? Yep! Non-payment! 


Do NOT stay in a job that isn't paying you. Just don't do it. Quit. Explain to the unemployment board you weren't being paid. You will be eligible for unemployment.

Don't believe me? Here's more info from an HR person. 

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Wombat Day!

Today is World Hairy-Nosed Wombat Day! So I present to you, Wombats, A primer!

Wombats!

They are the BEST!

Some fun facts: Wombats are marsupials! But unlike most marsupials, wombats pouch opens in the back. (more on that in a sec). For the moment, click this link to see hilarious pics of baby wombats in their pouches framed by their mama’s bums: https://goo.gl/8KW0gx

Speaking of babies: Wombats are pregnant for less than a month! 20-21 days (they have really won that game). Joeys are born at around 2 grams, and as with most marsupials, are VERY underdeveloped. Thus the pouch. They are born hairless, blind, and hearing-less (oh, or deaf, that word is deaf). The sniffer works though, and that gets them through for a while. After birth, they wonder into Mama’s pouch, where they find a nipple and start eating. Mama’s nipple swells, and sorta locks it into babies mouth. This keeps them fed AND keeps them in Mama’s pouch. Once there, they develop for another 4-10 months, depending on the joey, but normally about 8 months. They are fully weaned around 11-15 months. Wombats stay with their mother’s for about two years, before being fully grown and ready to move on. The average life span of a Wombat is around 5 years, though there are tales of wombats up to 30 years old. (And Patrick the Wombat, who was the world’s oldest wombat who living wombat, died April 18 at 32 years old).

There are three kinds of wombats:

The hairy nosed wombat has a snout like a pig or a bat. (https://goo.gl/qmwtpj ) They are separated into the Northern Hairy Nose and the Southern Hairy nose. The Northern Hairy Nose wombat is an endangered species – with only around 200 left in the wild. (more info on that here http://www.wombatfoundation.com.au/ ) The Northern Hairy Nose is the largest of the species. The Southern Hairy Nose is the middle, and can still weight up to 68 lbs!

And while I do donate to place like Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary to help with the Northern Hairy Nose Wombat, they aren’t my favorite wombats.

My favorites are the Common Wombat or Bare Nosed Wombat (Pics here:https://goo.gl/BOR7zs ) I love them bc they are adorable and ridiculous!

Wombats are an Australian animal that has one thing in mind to do: Dig. Wombats live in burrows that they make with their strong paws (with crazy claws). Their stout and heavy body helps them dig in the ground. (Also, this digging is why their pouches are back facing. Then they can dig without filling the pouch with dirt. What a great design!) They prefer to live in forested areas with slopes because it’s easier to dig. They have up to 12 burrows in their home, with 3-4 main burrows. A main burrow can house a network of sub-tunnels and sleeping areas.

Wombats short squat body not only helps them dig, but also helps them butt things and push things around as a defense. If you've ever seen a billy goat push other goats around, it's sorta like that.

Wombats are nocturnal. (I mean, they live in dark burrows, of course they don’t like the sun – duh).

Wombats are crazy smart! They also have crazy slow metabolisms – it takes about 2 weeks for them to fully digest their food! They are designed to eat grass and roots, but are also known to steal carrots and other vegetables from humans and their gardens.

Speaking of food and digestion: one of the cooler facts about wombat is that they poop square! They use the square poop to mark their territory from other wombats. (pics here: https://goo.gl/y7pFrq ) As of yet, no one is really sure how their poop comes out square, with various idea poised by different scientists.

Contrary to popular belief, wombat’s are not rodents. Their closest living relative are kangaroos, wallabies, and opossums.

October 22 is officially World Wombat Day. May 11 is Hairy-Nose Wombat Day through the Wombat Foundation. (http://www.wombatfoundation.com.au/hairy-nosed-day.html )

Wombat even have their own comic! http://diggercomic.com/

One day, I will go to Australia and meet a wombat (or 12) and I will have a panic attack of joy and it will be miraculous. Until then, I visit Lily the wombat at the Houston Zoo on my b-day. The Houston Zoo is one of only 5 zoos in North America to have a wombat at all, so I feel pretty lucky to have access to one.

There are lots of adorable youtube videos on wombat, including this one of the most angry corn eating on the face of the planet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GUisuU6xzo

And this one, which is just adorable wombats being adorable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ5M98JpJ2Y

I hope you have enjoyed this primer on my favorite animals: WOMBATS! Let me know if you have any questions!

Friday, April 28, 2017

Fuel Friday - Earth Week with Activist Alliance

Fuel Friday: Let’s talk petroleum – easily the most commonly used fossil fuel currently on the market (though not the only). About 76% of petroleum is in some form of fuel: gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil and others. That leaves about 24% that becomes other things: plastic, asphalt, tar, paraffin wax, and others – even elemental sulfur can be produced during the refining process.
That means oil is everywhere and in everything we do. It’s estimated that, barring new technology, we have enough fossil fuels to support current consumption through 2040. 2040 – that’s 23 years from now.

We have to find more sustainable energy sources. And we have to do it for several reasons.

1) We will run out. And that deadline is coming very soon.

2) What we’re doing is already wreaking environmental havoc in the form of pollution with long term real repercussions in terms of the our health and the planet’s health. (Fun fact: air pollution from the burning and refining of fossil fuels kills 200,000 American a year.)

3) Sustainable energy isn't just better for the environment, it's also better for pocket books and the economy. Currently, there are twice as many jobs in the solar energy field than in coal. And coal is not as economically viable as solar - it costs more money to make less energy. Also, places like Georgetown and Fort Hood have become green cities/bases solely because it is cheaper to be so. Going green can save you money!

4) The United States is losing the sustainability race. Currently, China is the world leader in clean energy, and is poised to be the leader in climate plans as well. (Currently, China holds 3.5 million of the 8.5 million jobs in clean energy worldwide (that's about 41%), The United States holds 769,000 (that's 9%)) 

Don’t worry though, you can help:

1) As has been mentioned throughout the week – limit plastic intake and use. And recycle what you do use. Plastic is pretty toxic to the environment and every little bit that doesn’t go into our oceans helps here.

2) Find ways to limit fuel consumption – can you commit to riding public transit for at least a day a week? No public transit where you live? Can you commit to car-pooling and having one less car on the road? (And bonus! Public transit and/or car-pooling is cheaper than driving!)

3) Write to your congressman. Lobby for sustainable plans and alternative energy. Ask them what they are doing to help move the country away from fossil fuels.

4) Spend your money in places that have a low carbon footprint and are actively looking for ways to step away from fossil fuels. (Here’s a list: https://environmental-tracking.etindex.com/… ) 

5) Find a carbon calculator online and find out what your carbon footprint is the largest - is it travel, food, commuting. Make a commitment to shrink that footprint by even 1%. (Here's one: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx )

6) Talk about it. Did you know that around 75% of people talk about climate change less than 3 times a year? Make a commitment to make that 6 times a year, or even once a month, for yourself and increase those numbers. 

Happy Earth Week with Activists Alliance! Post by Activists Alliance member Reesa Graham.