Grunge

I recall arguing with a friend about the current state of music at the time. I remarked that I had been listening to albums from the 70s and 80s and could enjoy songs with long arrangements, an instrumental section, or synthesizers adding another layer of texture. At the time I was complaining that some of the so-called "Grunge" music was actually terrible.

I was told "Fuck you" at that point and "I like alternative music"; I made my point about how I liked alternative music too, but GOOD music, where it felt like the artist made an effort to craft something. Then I explained how Grunge was a just response to corporate AOR and popular music, just like Punk was, only this time Vivianne Westwood wasn't around to give style advice and everyone just went fucking flannel all the time.

Become

The Disability Pride Flag features a black field with green, blue, white, yellow and red striping which runs diagonally across the field from top left to bottom right.

 

“Aging is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been.”

― David Bowie

I want to talk about how I no longer consider myself "deaf first", but Autistic first. See, I was mainstreamed in education and never really got to socialize with Deaf peers who were signing. The deaf school in the area however was rife with stories of abuse and other horrors - I never attended there. Despite the fact I was able to pick up sign language, I never really felt like I belonged anywhere.

However, it is part of my identity. While I was marching in a Pride parade last week in the rain, signing with my left hand and holding an umbrella in the other, something in my "deaf brain" switched on and suddenly, I wasn't struggling to recall vocabulary. 

July 31st is the last day of Disability Pride Month. Perhaps being part of the 2SLGBTQ++ community is enough to feel like I belong somewhere.  

 

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario driving his red Kart, with glowing blue anti-gravity wheels.

Just finished playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online VS my 10-year-old niece. We went through several tracks I hadn't played before.

She kicked my ass.

Festivals

Concert Venue photo by: Anthony Delanoix.

Good morning. I've got a lot on my mind.

Signing one-handed in the rain last week was enough to kick-start my Deaf brain into gear again. I'm recalling signs I haven't used in YEARS! 

*PAH* (that means success!) 

This has given me ideas - festival interpreting. Up on the stage, with the band, interpreting the songs for the Deaf folx in the crowds.  I used to do this in Karaoke bars for crying out loud.

♪ It's all coming
Back to me now ♫ 
 

Be awesome to someone today, even if it's just yourself. 🤟

ASL Vocbulary: Autism

I defer to Bill Vicars' definition for the ASL sign, as I do not get the opportunity to sign very often: "Autistic" ASL Sign Lifeprint Page

Font

"Jake Verda: Our hand size determines the size of our sign language font"