It's June 1st, which means Pride month begins today. It's my 7th Pride as myself, and I find myself realizing something this year. Everything beautiful survived something to get here. I muse about Pride, picking up birding, and what we have been through. Happy Pride.

Pride, Birds, And The Beauty Of Survival

Everything beautiful survived something to get here.

erininthemorning.com

When I say my dad is the coolest, this is precisely what I mean. “Duppy Doug Wendt”’s mixtapes for Mandela. 💖💖💖

Livicated Reggae Documentary@livicated.bsky.social · 5mo ago

In this clip, reggae historian Roger Steffens shares an incredible story about how reggae records and cassette tapes carrying messages of support for Nelson Mandela were secretly sent to Robben Island during his imprisonment #bobmarley #rogersteffens #NelsonMandela #reggae #livicated #musichistory

Me: Hmm, do I have handwashing OCD? My partner: Remember how when we had a guinea pig I'd pet her and then touch the remote and then you touched the remote and then you touched your face, and you'd break out in hives and start wheezing? Anyway, you have ALLERGIES. Here's some hand cream.

2025 recapped

That’s not how this works.

It’s the 16th and THE ELVES got everything wrapped early. THEY like to make sure my partner has a lot to open and go a little ham with the tags. Examples: 1) To: Mark, Love: Cat 2) TO: SHINY GLASSES, FROM: SANTAS CROW (Contd)

Today my “good” knee hurts because 1) it hyperextended for no reason at all as I took a step with my other leg. 2) I was sitting still and suddenly a tendon on the inside of it twitched?! Anyway, it’s stiff and achy now and I’m working on the emotional energy needed to hobble to an ice pack.

I'm hoping to raise $100 to get bus fare, food, and a pair of pants that don't have a hole in the seat

Kivan@kivanbay.bsky.social · last yr.

Hi, I have spent literally the very last of my money on rent. If you can help me survive to the end of the month with a share or donation, I would be very grateful. Thank you so much. paypal.me/kivabay cashapp $kivabay ko-fi.com/kivabay

Too many losses this year. I hope she’s reunited with Jennell.

Oh hey guess who had undiagnosed SLEEP APNEA.

It’s the 10 year anniversary of terrifying my friends with my rad photo editing skills. Might be time to plan another karaoke birthday, too.

*Huge crash from the direction of my partner’s office* My partner: (quietly) “That was not ideal.”

My partner accidentally kind of sort of became my personal animes to-watch curator recently. Anyway, first it was Ascendance of a Bookworm, then Apothecary Diaries, now Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and... well... 3 for 3.

Somewhere along the way, Ollie appointed himself our Chief Health Officer. He: - Enforces mental health breaks 1x/ hour. - Paws at me to note when I’m working past 5 pm. - Denotes bedtime with a pillow and a whimper. - Notices every sigh and sniffle, and immediately races over to offer comfort.

Pretty rare (and awesome) opportunity here. Come work with me!

Games Curator and Writer - Jobs - Careers at Apple

Apply for a Games Curator and Writer job at Apple. Read about the role and find out if it’s right for you.

jobs.apple.com

The hardest part of getting older is collecting diagnoses like Pokémon.

Alright everyone, one last push. If you or anyone you know is: - LGBTQ+ - 13-24 years old - In the US Trevor Project is recruiting responses for their survey on LGBTQ+ mental health. It has HUGE impacts on policy, please take it and share widely if you can :) trvr.org/survey2025

To proceed to the survey, please check off the box and click the button below.

trvr.org

Took a useful screenshot

Where's the best place to get a Pride flag -- where proceeds go to an especially spectacular org?

a drawing of a cat holding a rainbow flag with the name bluvelvet art written below it

Alt: A lovely line drawing of a grey with dark grey striped cat waving a rainbow flag with the name bluvelvet art written below it. The background is a solid pinkish purple.

media.tenor.com

A beautiful portrait of a truly lovely human under the worst possible circumstances. I’d had the pleasure of working with Leif the last few years and he was talented, invariably eager to help others, and incredibly kind. Been a hell of a rough week. He’ll be missed.

Wes Fenlon@wes.readonlymemo.com · last yr.

I wrote a tribute to Leif Johnson, a former writer for many gaming publications, and my friend, who died last weekend. The world is poorer without him in it.

Birthdaying hard for my partner today. 14 hours making French onion soup from scratch over a few days (including the beef stock). Homemade lasagna. Also made caprese bites. And there was an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. Not a bad dinner/day in an otherwise challenging week. 🥳

What actor's expression in a movie will stay with you the rest of your life?

Louie Stowell@louiestowell.bsky.social · last yr.

What actor's expression in a movie will stay with you the rest of your life?

I woke up, wanted to make myself some flapjacks, and then got waylaid by a thousand different chores screaming for attention. I tidied the sink, worked on a grocery list, researched some recipes for my partner's upcoming birthday (and their mother's impending stay with us), cleared out the pantry...

I try not to listen in on my partner's therapy appointments, but they just trotted by my office while ranting about Plato and I have questions. 😅

It was one of those rare Caturdays where I managed to do most of the things I wanted to do. I shouldn't think about how much I could accomplish if I had more than one day a month with this particular intoxicating combo of time + energy + minimal ouchiness... but alas.

Upon waking, I was presented with this: a most elegant and graceful and wildly uncomfortable and neglected critter.

He wasn't giving advice for you follow your whole life but lessons for kids to be able then become the adults who would act like him

Currently disassociating by listening to Coconut Mall on repeat for 78 minutes ... and counting.

jupiter wishes you a very happy trans day of visibility 🏳️‍⚧️