DIVANOVA's VISUAL DIARY 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2008-12-31T05:22:00.000-08:00

DIVANOVA's Visual Diary 2009 is being continued on http://www.divanova09.blogspot.com

Love, light, luck, and money to us all :-)

MILK

2008-12-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

Saw MILK - the movie - recently in Columbus, and can recommend it! Sean Penn does a great job (pic above i got here), and has this biiig ears... The piece is a bit lengthy maybe (2+ hrs), and I regretted that they did not bring the o-tone of the Harvey Milk tape which i once heard in one of several documentaries about the first openly gay politician in the U.S. who was shot. Impressive, huge, incredibly smart, historical personality. Good movie. Unfortunately and really, the best die young.

Again: Moving!

2008-12-29T08:11:00.000-08:00

A Luster Lustivious-networking in last minute helped me save my Greyhound ticket back to Akron, and dropped me as driver for another move with a sweet puppy-companion. Good! One more nice person +pets in the rubber city area. We carried and moved stuff until it was "beer thirty" (one of the best I've ever heard! could be from an Austrian construction site...), and after all that heading back "home."

Free pickle...

2008-12-29T08:08:00.000-08:00

...with any of the delic Katzinger subs (German descent: "Delicatessen"), and very wild meat sticks.

Columbus: The best angelic hosts ever...

2008-12-27T20:15:00.000-08:00

..lovely people...

2008-12-26T20:14:00.000-08:00

...and dogsitting.

2008-12-25T20:13:00.000-08:00

Merry X-mas Singletons!

2008-12-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

I had santaaaastic X mas with family S., my first eggnogg, and the best meatballs I have ever had in my life. What a blessing!

Merry X-mas, Mrs. Pine!

2008-12-23T20:08:00.000-08:00

Family-Christmas in Akron with Mrs. Pine, floating candles in nutshells (handmade by my mum), Buck and Dolly, and a wonderful dinner. We are preparing to leave: Hildee in direction "home", myself to Columbus.

Canvassing for Domestic Partner Registry

2008-12-22T19:33:00.000-08:00

After church yesterday I went to Cleveland, kinda unknowing what to expect, and found myself in an activism-meeting of the LGBT Center Cleveland. A bill creating a domestic partner registry for gay couples just passed by the city is being challenged by a group of conservative ministers who work on take ballot action to override or repeal the measure. This could happen as early as February, and people have to be mobilized to volunteer, to be prepared, and to vote. And this happens immediate and door to door, as the initiative Heights Families 2003 already role modeled. So we were sent out to canvass at about 3 pm -goddess thank- only for one hour. The real feel temperature was then -24 Celsius, and I -stupidly- was out there in my red Sunday mini skirty. My experienced colleague Sandy, which whom I was luckily paired up (one street side to be worked on by each of us), was insisting that I have to post a picture about this on my blog. Below I have to write: "People, I am freaking INSANE." I totally do it again in a couple of weeks. It was extremely interesting and positive! From 9 conversations I got 3 people with phone numbers and the promise to volunteer for further canvassing. Well, we started in a gay friendly neighborhood...let's see what else will be out there in the field.

Church service

2008-12-21T19:15:00.000-08:00

Having been raised catholic, Easter and Christmas would be the only times my family would (attempt) to go to church. I myself did not attend a church service in probably 15 years, except for funerals. It is new and interesting for me, that the Sunday church service, bible studies, Sunday school for kids, or things like liturgical dance are important parts in many of my friends' lives. So I made up my mind, and followed an invitation to the church service on the fourth Sunday of advent, in one of three dedicated "gay" = LGBT-churches in Akron. I know the place from a transgender support group already. Two friends of mine are playing in the fantastic music combo during the 2 hrs (!) ceremony this Sunday. I even take the communion, attempted to sing with the community, and enjoy being hugged a lot :-).

Moving Michelle and Dave

2008-12-20T19:50:00.000-08:00

Awesome, awesome, awesome -- moving day for Michelle and Dave, who come so close! In the trash I find Dave's humongous dreadlock-rests who will go to Hades' kingdom forever now.

A prayer by A.de Saint-Exupéry

2008-12-19T09:37:00.000-08:00

Got invited for Sunday church! And found the (supra-religious) prayer below - from the smart Antoine de Saint Exupéry (The Little Prince) - had no idea he ever wrote one! I freely translated a German version I found here as xmas & new years-gift to you and me:

We do not ask not for miracles and visions, God, but for power in everyday life!
Teach us the art of progressing in small steps. Make us resourceful and inventive in order to recognize our knowledge and experiences, to deal with the diversity and sundries we are concerned with.
Ensure we improve in organization of timing, and give us the tact to find out what is primary and what is secondary. Let us realize that dreams do not help, neither with the past nor with the future. Help us to do the next step as good as possible, and help us to see that the current hour is the most important to recognize.
Save us from the naive belief that everything in life has to go smoothly. Give us the sober realization that difficulties, defeats, failures, and setbacks are a natural addition to life, by which we grow and mature. Remind us that the heart often strikes against the mind. Send us someone in the right moment who has the courage to tell us the truth.
We want to listen to you and our fellow human beings. The truth one does not tell hirself, it is delivered by others. You know how much we need love. Give that we can cope and grow with this most beautiful, most difficult, most risky and most delicate business in our lives.

Bless us with the necessary imagination, to deliver a packet of kindness, in the right moment, with or without words, in the correct place. Make us to people who are similar to a ship with draft in order to reach out to those at the bottom. Save us from the fear that we might miss life.
Give us not what we want, God, but what we need!
Amen.

Presents from Austria

2008-12-18T19:53:00.000-08:00

Got presents from Austria! And a laugh-cramp: My mum has a beautiful kiwi-bush/tree in her garden, and also developed the habit to count her kiwi fruits yearly. She cracks me up! She had indeed sent me 4 from her 400+ kiwi-fruits 2008! This is so illegal as can be, and in case a custom-officer ever reads this post, I hope we can figure something out in peace :-). I also get amazing organic handmade Zotter chocolate, real good music etc.! Danke Mama und Berti, ich hab' mich sooo gefreut und hab Euch unendlich lieb!

The Exiles (1961)

2008-12-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

It has been yeeeeeeeeeeears since i was in a movie theater! What I was really doing lately is working, and (for the first time) grading papers. I was more than happy to spontaneously got to see the wonderful film "The Exiles" (by the way with real cool Native American activists and sweet friends). It is a piece of 1961 and chronicles one night in the life of a group of Native American immigrants to Los Angeles. Lotta alc and cigarettes, not always pretty scenes, but totally impressive and suuuuuper 60s (allthough I confess I only go about half of the language/lingo). The Washington Post loved the film. I loved the film AND the theater - the best alternative theater you can get in Cleveland: The Cinematheque.

Race

2008-12-13T16:34:00.000-08:00

Over 1 million people (including me) have viewed the RACE exhibit and website since January 2007, and it is absolutely great! RACE: Are We So Different? is part of a larger public education program developed by the American Anthropological Association. The program includes the 5,000 square foot RACE exhibition, an interactive website, and educational materials. The pics I chose are so not representative :-) I did not only enjoy the absolutely fabulous deconstructive contents of the exhibit - broken down for "the ordinary viewer" and even children. The architecture and utilization of IT (very interactive) and the "zoning" of the show are also absolutely cool. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, incorporated in 1920, is absolutely worth more visits...when you Austrian sweeties come around to visit me :-)))
Especially nice: The museum visit was a social event of my bro's from PACT Cleveland, of which I am proud member-so we were honored to see the exhibit with Dr. John Bush. He is a long time member of PACT and retired well known race-sociologist! So awesome, thank you Kevin!

Ethiopia in Ohio

2008-12-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

Found out about a Ethiopian restaurant, the Empress Taytu and joined a beautiful dinner with beautiful people there. Very interesting! No silverware, spicy sauces, and bread made from Ethiopian grain: T'ef, or Teff. Never had that before! It is a species of Lovegrass (how nice) and totally rich in proteins. The dinner wuld have been perfect if we would have been able to pay with seprated checks. The white and sweaty, slightly drunk, manager was insisting on 1 cheque (for 8 people). Very inflexible.

Moving!

2008-12-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

This is the light switch of a house. The house is a historic site. The house is around my corner. The house has new tenants. The new tenants are my best friends in Akron! HOOOORRAAYY! Niiiiice developments in the hood! Michelle and Dave are gonna live 1 minute away from me!!!!!! I am seeing a lot of long nights coming up....with very short ways home :-)

Disturbing

2008-12-08T03:43:00.000-08:00

Woooooooouuuuuw. This should not be.

"The" house

2008-12-07T11:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Hildee, I was at an awesome "We celebrate Obama" - party yesterday night, in a really really awesome house with beautiful, interesting, nice intellectuals! Behind the DJ is a pool (!) in the partyroom, taste, style & art everywhere (the emperor of the house being an artist himself, the empress being a wonderful feminist art historian), coooool!

"Armut macht erfinderisch"

2008-12-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

...(poverty makes creative) say the Austrians. So I made up my own necklace with Hildee's esteemed resources for an interesting party tonight, to which i was looking forward all (work-)week. Got quite some compliments here around :-)

Akron beyond parking lots

2008-12-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

Awww, just found this pic and think I never shared it. Dave showed me this super spot several weeks ago. More power to environmentalists!

Got tree!

2008-12-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

The Buck-miracle

2008-12-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

It was severe. It was awful. Beloved Buck had a total breakdown, and we spent a night in the pet emergency clinic, and the following day at the vet. We carried Buckyboy (80 pounds the "boy") in a sleeping bag, he was not able to even lift his paw. His gums were almost white, his eyes kinda milky. Within few hours all life energy seemed to leave his body. He was dying. All of sudden! He "probably has cancer," "three paws in the grave," the (awful) emergency vet did not give him another 24 hours. It was severe. Lotta tears, heavy decisions, sitting with the (nice) vet on the sleeping bag on the floor in a little examination room for hours...pondering. It was severe. And. Mrs. P. filed a decision: We take him home. No final shot yet.
And how right she was! Within 15 hours our Christmas-miracle happened: Buck resurrected! Against all odds and medical advice. We were like "look, he is standing! look, he ate a tiny piece of cheese! look, he pooped! look, he is playing with his New York baby-head again!" etc. :-) and by now - 5 days later - freaking super Buck is back to normal! Hahaha! Awesome! We love you, Buck!

Work, and Work Out!

2008-11-30T03:44:00.000-08:00

Behind the parking lot filled up with Donut-trucks we recently found the Balch Community Center, a mega cool fitness center with sauna (!). I mean, I love my hood, but that jewel around the block makes it "perf"! I enjoy the incredibly low prices and the fact that the center is predominantly Black. About the sauna I was especially happy, and had the weirdest "U.S.-moment" there so far: It was clear to me that - unlike Europeans - Americans would not go to the sauna naked, so I brought my bikini. But that was waaaaaay off too. The people I met in the Sauna there were wearing FULL dress from the neck to the tow including sneakers. I am speaking of full dress, sometimes even including jackets. I was baffled, and am bringing my bathing suit instead of the bikini now :-)
Yesterday we checked out Pat's "Body Sculpting", and oh Madonna! it was sooo fun! Pat was doing an awesome job, all the Black sistahs were dry as velvet, and I was dripping like a wash cloth. "Push it, ug ug ug ug ug, and squeeeeeeze it, and squeeeze, and squeeeeeze, gimme more, ug ug ug ug ug...," shouts Pat, before she's making a round through the class to give high fives couple of times during the sesssion. And then (right before Hildee and I were going to apply our natural avocado facial mask), a nice "hood"-surprise: meet my dearest beautiful family around, and map out strategical plans for finals week and class assigments in the hot tub...

Walkiiiiies!

2008-11-29T04:01:00.000-08:00

...make the dogs tired and satisfied recently.

Gobble Gobble

2008-11-27T03:32:00.000-08:00

Chef Pine and me decided to do vegan Thanksgiving at home, and save the life of one exploited turkey (for those who want to do the same, check this out). Lucky enough I had the chance to get stuff done, and the gorgeous chef was investing talent and love into a delightful pie with 10+ roasted vegetable-filling, a layered dream of rice, beans, spinach, sweet potatoes and some secrets. It was deliiiiiiiiic!...and we are eating left overs ever since...

Alllied Student Activist of the Year - Award

2008-11-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday , and basically during the whole last week the "Transgender Day of Remembrance" is being held throughout the U.S. to remember transgendered people who were victims of violence. I did report last year already about this event and went to Cleveland this year to take part in the ceremonies. I cried my eyes out when the fantastic Adam Apple gave a compelling personal performance which ripped not only my heart apart. Joe Santiago had come, the first openly gay city council member in Cleveland, and 8 illumination awards were given out to elected members of the greater Cleveland trans-community to honor the present and the future of transgender activism. And now comes the total surprise part: I got one! I got my first award! It is a beautiful glass-flame, and I am extremly humbled and honored!!! I feel I did not really work much for Transfamily of Cleveland so far. I rather feel thankful that the awesome people there are so generous with their knowledge and experience, and I feel Iam rather gratiously "taking" than "giving." But, I will stick around and my time to give back will come. Thank you Transfamily!

I love you, Mamsiza!

2008-11-23T07:33:00.000-08:00

Very much enjoy my essential Sunday-skype-talks with my gorgeous mum: very wise, very wonderful, very funny most important enlightening personality!

Learning with and from Kathy Charmaz

2008-11-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

When Kathy, my awesome advisor, first told me that Kathy Charmaz is going to give a workshop at UAkron, I could not believe it. But it was true, the grande dame of grounded theory, my choice of research strategy, came to town and I learnt awesomly much from her elaborated workshop. Her focus on flexibility of "guidelines" rather than "regulations" and her emphasizing the writing process in research thrilled me. I am excited again, about the place where I am at, a lot of cool people are surrounding me and I am happy! E.g. Sandra Spickard Prettyman is my methodology-prof this and next term (first pic with Kathy), she is awesome. I want to make her "my methodologist" on the dissertation committee. The Active Research Lab as a working structure and facilitator of workshops like the Charmaz-workshop: it is awesome! I could not wish for more right now, and I am starting to realize that again, and am being gratious.

I've got the rhytm!

2008-11-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

I've got music! I've got vibes again after a looong period of silence. It came from Michelle and Dave, as well as my beautiful, beloved flamingo - together they now form an altar for a special friendship. Thank you so much! Hildee has a huuuuge load of CDs and cassettes, but still I am focused on Akronite musics, such as Devo, Pretenders and stuff :-).

A Ton of Work

2008-11-20T10:23:00.000-08:00

So this week is gonna be crazy: Finals are coming up (so there is a lot to work on for classes), we have incoming job candidates, I have a workshop coming up, and we have to do "evals." Dr. Pendleton thought I should be documeted when I pick up the surveys which I am supposed to carry out with students of three classes this week.

XIX Dinner Party

2008-11-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

So Hildee and I were gettin' into dinner mood again, and found out that the checksum of the date 11/16/2008 is 21, which is equivalent for "The Sun" in a Tarot deck. The Sun stands for the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon's Diana. A positive card, it promises glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. It symbolizes discoveries made fully conscious and wide awake. This is science, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. And it very much worked out that way this evening! We pulled together new and old friends, Hildee did an awesome job cooking pork tenderloin and special veggie pasta, I still had some pumpkin seed oil for a pumkin soup, and Dana and Suzanne brought the most wonderful Amish chocolate cake.
John ans Stephanie contributed awesome music vibes to frame joyful philosophy, and finally we ended up admiring Grace Jones and her newest opus. Thank you, folks, this was such a nice heartwarming evening!

Sunday-paper

2008-11-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

Our second Sunday-paper, the New York Times, comes with the first snow today!

Queer U Up Show #1

2008-11-14T10:41:00.001-08:00

An piece of alternative TV (the first issue of the "queer u up-show") for magicgarden.mur.at, 2006, for the City of Woemn Festival in Ljubljana/Slovenia. Freshly cut by fabulous Peter and Yolanta! Thank you so much!...and uh...I hope my English got better meanwhile.... :-)

Quit Day

2008-11-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

I did not really quit smoking on Tuesday. In fact i badly needed a drag after Obama had won the election :-) But today is my the real scheduled quit day in my quitting class after significant nicotine reduction over the last days. It ain't easy :-) but i will not offer more food for Nicodemus, the mean monkey on my back. 72 hours, that is all I have to survive. No mo smell. No mo cough. No mo spending money - interested in how much you save without the cancersticks? Check out the quitmeter.

Our new (stinky) stadium

2008-11-05T16:26:00.000-08:00

The blimp over what will be the new football stadium of the University of Akron. Football is the golden cow giving golden milk to Universities here, so "we" did not care that the money and the name for the stadium comes from Infocision. Infocision id a telemarketing company, headquartered in Akron, which predominantly serves ultra right wing and conservative christian organizations."Jesus would be proud. They have 3800 employees and pay some of the lowest wages in the market." says an Akronite Blogger. No no no good.

Obama! Obama! Obamaaaa!

2008-11-04T16:09:00.000-08:00

We sat in front of hte Tv and we shouted and screamed: Barack Obama is indeed American president, an era of hope began, and i even cried in this historical moment I was privileged to spend in the U.S. with dear friends! What happened after the results have been published was just amazing: it was a huge deep joy, a calling family and friends, a texting, a buzz, like New Year. It is gladly several new years to come, and I am very proud that particularly Ohio went blue this time! Wanna know more: The NYT offers a great map of election results.

I quit for BARACK OBAMA!

2008-11-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

I quit smoking for Barack Obama on this historical day. If I quit today, then Obama will be president, that is my deal with higher powers. So I did my medidation practise this morning instead of smoking (establishing alternative habits!), even some yoga, lit several incense sticks, and sent my prayers out in the world that the U.S. show its real face today. I quit smoking for Barack Obama, and the liberal portion of U.S. democrats.

GOBAMA IV

2008-11-03T13:35:00.000-08:00

This is the real "America" - awesomly creative and cool!

GOBAMA III

2008-11-02T13:34:00.000-08:00

My favorite costume of yesterday!

Mambo Muerto - Spaces Gallery

2008-11-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

What a night of the dead! The annual fundraiser of spaces gallery in Cleveland/OH ist rated the best party in the area since years. Indeed, it was. Turning in an artwork brought two tickets for my dead bride and me, and eventually we went to Cleveland with Putts, the motherfucking clown, a board member of spaces and "friend of the house." My artwork sold (phewww) for a ridiculous price (why did I name it! An "untitled" might have brought $20 more), but I had to digest the disappointment that I lost the fight for the (awesome) artwork I was bidding on. More pics on http://www.facebook.com/.

Für Robert: DEVO - Mongoloid

2008-10-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

Had nooooooooooooo idea that the Popchor Berlin Song I was listening to all summer 08 originated in Akron!!! This is the legend. They played for Obama 2 weeks ago in town (allthough they do not really play anymore). This, signore i signori e tutto altro, is DEVO, für meine allerliebste Herzens-Latexdrohne :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWmf7r_37eA

"I put a spell on you!"....

2008-10-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

was my morning greeting, Happy Halloween! :-)

The red, the red...

2008-10-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

...i love it!

Finally online again!

2008-10-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

After 2 1/2 weeks without laptop I am finally (!) online again, and able to work! That is why there are new pics on www.sws-akron-kent.blogspot.com. Toni Maroni, thanks for your pc care -- I love your healing hands, thanks so much!

Tool Time

2008-10-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

Home Improvement with Hildee - f*ckin' handy! - Pine.

GOBAMA II

2008-10-26T17:07:00.001-07:00

1st non smoking class & the "boxes-issue"

2008-10-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

Note 10/31/2008: I had quite a thinking process after posting this pic. It is my survey from the non smoking class. I developed this little sport: Whenever i have to fill out a survey i make up 'more boxes' for gender - such as trans, genderqueer, don't know, other etc... I do that as a little intervention everyone of us can do to make at least one person think. More generally the critique is directed towards survey design, my colleagues, in fact,which cement categories which are not valid empirically. I also produce more boxes (of paper) in art performances. Here is how.
However, I got a critical comment on this pic from a transsexual person, which I took quite serious. I revisited my "strategy" with the help of the wisdom of Transfamily's listserv, and came up with some preliminary conclusions:

It makes no sense to just post a pic, I should have written a little commentary why I do this to avoid misunderstandings
If somebody was offended beause I crossed “trans” the person was not familar with my dragkinging which qualifies as “trans” & I should be able to define myself however I want, as everybody elses practise – trans or not – to box themselves (or not) should be respected
I should indeed revisit my "sport," since the people handing out surveyscould not count my answers at all or just ‘box’ me somewhere inappropriatly
Last not least: I re-read the wonderful “Suggested Rules forNon-Transsexuals Writing about Transsexuals, Transsexuality,Transsexualism, or Trans ____. by Jacob Hale, published on http://sandystone.com/hale.rules.html. Rule Nr. 15 applies in this, mycase: “If we attend to your work closely enough to engage in angry,detailed criticism, don't take this as a rejection, crankiness, disorderedranting and raving, or the effects of testosterone poisoning. It's a*gift*.”

Of course we bought cigarettes before our first non smoking class, of course we saw pics of cancer, of course we are motivated! We've got a huge folder with material, some homework, and faith. Quitting day is November 8th.

GOBAMA

2008-10-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

I will admit that compared to our neighbor around the corner our "liberal-patriotic" Gobama-installation might seem tiny, but it still has aura.

On the road to freedom

2008-10-22T08:31:00.001-07:00

My dear bro Dave and me are enrolled. We confirmed today. We are gonna do it. We are gonna do it with the support of Summa Health Care Systesms, and attend a free stop smoking class. Be free of cancersticks, smell like peaches, enjoying extra $$$ in times of economic crisis, having beautiful baby skin again....

IDKE X - Columbus

2008-10-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

VIEW MORE PICS
on www.facebook.com
CHECK OUT ARTICLE
in the christmas issue of www.fibrig.net!

IDKE X - Columbus

2008-10-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

VIEW MORE PICS
on www.facebook.com
CHECK OUT ARTICLE
in the christmas issue of www.fibrig.net!

IDKE X - Columbus

2008-10-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

VIEW MORE PICS
on www.facebook.com
CHECK OUT ARTICLE
in the christmas issue of www.fibrig.net!

IDKE X - Columbus

2008-10-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

...it freakin' blew my mind!

Bowling with Conservatives

2008-10-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

...this is about similar to Austria's "Zeltfest-" camapaigns of the brown stained folks in a more "student-shape," isn't it?

Debate II Watch Party

2008-10-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

We do what millions and millions of Americans do tonight: have some friends over and watch "the debate." Palin was better as expected said the Austrian media (was she?), ORF also told that a porn film with a Palin lookalike is released this days by Larry Flynt. The word most often used in this debate by both (!) of the candidates: GOD.

The sucker, Warhol, and a little goddess

2008-09-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

Take a 1 - day trip to Columbus, the city I increasingly love. With me the guys you already know from the Open Door Coffee House. In times of economic crisis carpooling and bringing own snacks is a good thing, allthough I would not consider Liam's huuuuge bag filled with baked potatotes, chicken etc etc a "snack."

Economy-wise: people are hit. Several colleagues of mine have no access to their accounts, and respectively their money. Gas prices fall. Believe it or not, the Bush quote on the situation was "This sucker could go down" (he did mean world economy).

We divert ourselves in this "sucking times" with a visit to the wonderful Andy Warhol exhibit in the Wexner Center though (free for students). Not only did I love the architecture of the exhibit space, the exhibition itself was great. very video-centered, but featuring e.g. original letters of Valerie Solanas (the woman who shot Andy and wrote the Scum Manifesto), and pieces they loan from the Akron Art Museum (Brillo Boxes, and the Elvis).

A feeling of Obama is in the streets (and hell, I gotta cool "Buckeyes for Obama"-pin), and people are now not only registered for voting all over the streets but also accopanied to the early voting option. A great thing, given teh fact, that thousands of people stood in line for hours (!) on the elction day, could not vote, or their votes were counted "falsely" due to intransparent electronic voting systems. The free online documentary Hacking Democracy was my first info-infusion on this -- I watch more TV now, so I saw more of the same in the interesting documentary "Swing State Ohio." For a most amusing short take on these issues: Watch Homer Simpson on election day.

Finally, the day had a happy end, when little goddes Eden, IDKE-sprout, took me to groceries with her truck :-)

...

2008-09-29T18:54:00.001-07:00

What the %"$§?

2008-09-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

Austria, what did you do? This is not "my" country!
(Elections yesterday strongly substantiate a right swing and a new right coalition).

Fitness Kick Off: Akron Roadrunner Marathon 2008

2008-09-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

So this was my only my second race in my life - and I survived my 5k leg at the Akron Marathon! It was an amazing experience with close to 5000 people, my fabulous Hildee Pine, and the Rubber City Roller Girls (which I missed rocking in August unfortunately!). I had a hell of a lungpain after running and really, craving a cigarette in this very moment, i did not smoke since race day. I also wonder who is responsible that instead of with my name I ran as "3am Loser" *lol*

Katherine Switzer: 1st woman running the Boston Marathon

2008-09-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Registration at the Expo - 1 day before the race! Hildee and me get total input from Kathryn Switzer ("Running for sanity and vanity!"), the first woman to run the Boston Marathon 1967. Famous photodocuments show how the guys attempted to push her from the road, check her website for more info.

"Me and ma bitches"...

2008-09-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

...Shanibaby wanted me to title our photograh above! T-Bone-Baby-Mama, her and me had lotta fun tonight, and I learned a lotta slang too! You are the most gorgeous bitches I ever met, gals, it's going down down down! :-)

Open Door Coffee House...with special guests

2008-09-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

First time to visit the Open Door Coffee House of the First Grace Church in Akron (said to be one of two real liberal and inclusive churches around). I originally came to see the gender-comedian Liam (very funny, interesting mix of comedy and education) and the writer Nick, who brilliantly performed parts of his piece "The Grandfather." Nick got me started with tears, which fully broke out when a Black woman sang "The greatest love of all." Bottom line: Nice, touching, interesting evening - safe inclusive space.
PS: Received my new cam now and need to rtfm (!), totally not satisfied with photo quality so far!

I vote!

2008-09-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

Nearly overlooked the deadline to turn in my vote for Austrian legislative election 2008. Still hoping for this huge push from the left. Finally! This humongous dynamic push from the left! :-)

I suffered - and ordered.

2008-09-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

I know it was by no means intelligent, I know I'll eat rice only for the next weeks, but I could not survive one day longer without a camera. I cannot believe that I survived two months now without my very wonderful best pink cybershot, which was "taken from me" in Austria!!! So I ordered this cute red piece above. Just now. And probably again start bloggin' more. In any case pain and loss have an end now, and doors are wide open for pics, joy and satisfaction.

Powerless - Remnants of "IKE"

2008-09-15T19:40:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah, it was a heavy storm going on in Akron yesterday downing electric lines in large parts of the city. A very "Renè Magritte"-feeling in the very dark streets with still a light polluted heaven above. A tree rests on a house on Akron's Greenwood Avenue after high winds whipped through the area, photograph from the Akron Beacon Journal.

Fourth Dodge Block Party & The Misery Jackals

2008-09-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

Feel very blessed to know Piratejenny, who for the 4th time organized a neighborhood-party @Dodge. Tremendous impressive soul, filmmaker, musician, community organizer, networker, and friend! I saw several familar faces, imagine! It really feels "homy" or so, and it is in fact a kind of community thing which is very rare. Actually I met a couple who said they deliberately moved back to Highland Square, our hood, from another location, because it is so community-oriented and also very "gay." Loooved to hear the fabulous Misery Jackals again, am getting a real fan of this extra-nice pirate'n boys :-)

Art in the Park - Kent

2008-09-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

Dieser Eintrag ist für die fabelhafte Künstlerin Samara Peddle, die auch Deutsch spricht und bei "Art in the Park" in Kent heute eine grandiose Fotografie-Verkaufausstellung gestaltet hat. Auch ein Österreich Foto dabei! und ich bin völlig Deiner Meinung, Samara, in Wirklichkeit sind wir echt alle eins!!!

Running & Life

2008-09-04T05:21:00.000-07:00

...said John today morning at 6.30 on the Towpath trail while our little neighborhood-running-group gathered together. We talked about my smoking - I actually am forced to quit now, I need a "turbo boost" for the Akron Roadrunner Marathon, Sept 27th: Am running with my neighbors for the "Perfect Strangers", but only 5 k. Yea, what a great quote, actually fitting for many of my current life situations :-) Thank you, John.

Fantasto-feminist SWS Kick Off Meeting

2008-08-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

SWS Kick Off meeting in my house...what should i say? More photographs on our blog, we have rrrrreally cool plans, and I have the freakyfreshfulfillingfemi-energy of 14 rrrrrreally smart and hot women in my humble environment...could not wish for better right now :)

TransOhio-Symposium, Columbus/OH

2008-08-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

Took a ton of notes at the TransOhio symposium 2008, the first transgender conference in Ohio! Was amazing, insightful, amusing and personally totally enriching! I met many new people (for example this indescribably enlightening little persons Eden and Meridian above :). I was blewn away by the performance of Sile P. Singleton (who also co-founded the International Dragking Community Extravaganza - a MUST SEE/PARTICIPATE in October in "our" wonderful capital :-))). Could not beliiiiieve that the humongo-gender-rockstar Kate Bornstein was really hanging out there all weekend...she's like really "wo-ow"! Summa summarum: Great, I loved it.

Akron Idyll

2008-08-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

...dig the upsidedown-tomato of Mrs. Hipocket hanging down from the basil-pot --> stress-free smart urban gardening!

2008-08-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

A necessary PS from my Graz-photos:
* Most fabulous colleague ever, Christian "Dirty" Dayè, is soon father!!! Yippie!! Congrats! Joy!
* Mrs Frau Von Noeten, designer&checkerlady, in front of some of her art-pieces...one already reserved for Hildee!!! :)

2008-08-17T04:30:00.000-07:00

W o r k z o n e, draft #1.

I cannot think of a time in which I neglected this blog as long as I did in the past weeks. I try to fill the holes today, but also reflected upon the ongoing of this small, photographic, private-public webproject. For exactly one year, since 08/13/2007 (interestingly I arrived in Akron the very same day as I did this year), I was posting at least one photo for each day in my life.
In the very Fulbright-sense (cultural exchange!) I attempted to share the U.S. with Austrian friends, and bring Schnitzel and mountains back to Akron. I love photographing, I love sharing. Most of all I love you, my friends, who are reading the blog, connecting with me through it, commenting on it, emailing me about it or just silently smile :).
But: Around the corner there is my second year in the Ph.D.-program, I will work at the department for 20 hours now with the fantastic feminist ethnographer Sarah Swider (!!!), will do 3 classes, was elected president of SWS Akron and will be student representative on the IRB board. Well, sweeties...you know...wow...that's a lot...you understand what I mean...?!
To tell the truth: I will not stop to blog, but it is time to change the format. I will not be able to update the blog as often as I did, and I will better concentrate on working than on photographing. Thank you all for being and bearing with me. Thank you for being this heartful, delightening, enriching friends. I am looking forward to be and stay in touch with you.

2008-08-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

Neighbor Patrick. (Always have fun times with the "the asshole of the neigborhood," as he tends to call himself, haha).

2008-08-15T05:21:00.000-07:00

Buck just loves the Lederhosen-bear I brought for him, and I am first time using my new kitchen and my new pans. I smuggled a little bit of pumpkin seed oil, so I have an original "Kernöl-Eierspeis" as my initiation-menu. Later in the evening I test my TV for the first time and...hello! The (young) King of the Kings gave a concert for me! What a debut!

2008-08-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

Mr. Matthias Revers, suuupernice and smart colleague from Graz, arrived in Albany as a Soc-PH.D.-Fulbrighter (here: talking about his budget :)! Hooray! I really hope, we will be able to do the Quentin-Tarantino-roadtrip to North Mexico, we are talking about since yeeeeaaars. Definitly check out his Blog.

2008-08-13T05:14:00.000-07:00

Hildee! Hildee! Hildee! Mrs. Pine picked me up at the airport, and had prepared iced champaign with rose petals as welcome drink for me! I mean, that is really, that is just, that is....I am speechless....WOW!

2008-08-12T05:11:00.000-07:00

Back in the U.S. having a fabulous stop-over in New York City. Gorgeous times (without cam) walking through Chelsea with Dot, and deeply enjoying the exhibitions at the Chelsea Art Museum, and the hundreds of galleries around (in one of which I even encountered a Martin Kippenberger :).

2008-08-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

SAY GOOD BYE's.

2008-08-09T06:22:00.000-07:00

It was an exuberant, long, joyful, happy get together - our BBQ extravaganza with extra-chromosome! I was extremely happy to see all of you (especially our most beautiful guests - above - who came from Belrade/Serbia to see us!), I did not take photographs but enjoyed my time with you, beloved family!
PS: Am happy to be (virtually and actually) still near you, babes.
PPS: The photos look really neat and well-behaved. Whoever attented the party knows, that this is no appropriate description of the evening, hahaha

2008-08-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

Robert shows me the cool "Muraufweitung" in Oberschwarza, south of Styria. We intended to make a little boat ride, but the weather is obviously not all too wonderful. Eventually we visit my mum who already prepared a bunch of veggies and herbs for our party tomorrow. Yummie.

2008-08-07T06:12:00.000-07:00

Uaaaahhh. While Austria and Germany have laws against the reanimation of Nazi-thinking, Italy seemingly has a different gameplan. "Führerwein" has the widest selection of images, and is sitting in the shelf with holy wine, and pope-wine.

2008-08-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

Got fresh mushrooms from Renato, an Italian neighbor who is most familiar with the woods around. This then is the absolutely fantastic "Schwammerl mit Ei" of my mother: onions, mushrooms, eggs, spices, and herbs come together for the ultimative taste-experience.

2008-08-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

Family Mörth and we do a fantastic trip to the pilgrimage-church of Montesanto di Lussari, which is a frequented place since 14th century. Interestingly catholics can do their confession in three languages here (Slovensko, Deutsch, Italiano), and also the regular church service is trilingual. I lit a candle for my American friends, too :)
Quote of the day: Santa Maria di Lussari. Regina d'Europa. Prega per noi!

2008-08-04T05:42:00.000-07:00

Precious guest arrive in Tarvisio! Benvenuti "Pete & Parents!"

2008-08-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

OMG! My first real tomato/pepper salad with pumkin seed oil! You wanna bath in it!

2008-08-01T05:43:00.000-07:00

Mama does not like the cookie :)

2008-07-31T06:37:00.000-07:00

Friends: Jenna, Renate (in our new meditation room in Graz), Erna and BELOVED princess Nina. Thank you, Nina-Schatzi, for the wonderful photos of us you printed and decorated for me! I actually have them here in Akron, and enjoy them every day! Much love and kisses to you!

2008-07-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

Features of Graz: Kayaking in the Mur - the river through Graz, La Strada - the annual street theater festival, and a sign you do not want to see. A "schlagende Burschenschaft." Right wing fraternities (there are a hell lot of them here!): White boys from upper middle class backgrounds having fun drinking and fencing while being racist and sexist. The fencing part is indicated with the "!" in the logo I learned when I lived above (and observed) such a thing for several years in Graz.

2008-07-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

Grounding wheat for homemade bread. Love it. Making bread is deeply relaxing for me. Thank goddess a wonderful stove awaits me in Akron, too.

2008-07-28T03:52:00.000-07:00

Most important women of my life: Mamsiza and Marianza, my dear auntie who supported not only my education, but also my party life with a sleeping place as a teenager...& the first woman in my family I was allowed to smoke a cigarette with when I was 15...
By the way: the quitting poroject is still ongoing but not completed, yet.
Most definitly it is in positive progress. Very positive.

2008-07-27T04:06:00.000-07:00

Lust for gas-math?
1 liter gas = minimally € 1.294
1 gallon= 3,78541178 liter
1 € = 1,5759 $
1 gallon gas in Austria costs now € 4.90, which is $ 7.72.

2008-07-26T04:01:00.000-07:00

Seeing and enjoying Damian immediatly enhances the sound of my biological watch: I want exactly SUCH a wonderful, beauteous, handsome, friendly, intelligent, educated, humorous son! No wonder he is so cool, actually --> mother! ***

2008-07-25T03:57:00.000-07:00

Had a gorgeous roomer for 3 days: Sykia, tiny gorgeous goddess imported from Greece (with tiny sharp teeth :), new child of family Sumpfhahn.

2008-07-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

My favourite Jesus right on my jogging route. The first day of being 34 now, and totally motivated for a new (free) life. Free of all kinda drugs such as nicotine and alc e.g. That is not only a plan, I already started, and keep ya posted about my proceedings :)

PS: Thanks for the comment below, sharing that the artist is Werner Hofmeister!

2008-07-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! M., ma belle! THANK YOU! This is an interesting day.....

2008-07-23T03:56:00.000-07:00

2008-07-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Since several years Graz has a street-magazine, called Megaphon. It helps especially African Austrians to earn few €€€. Very cool event planner.