What do We Think – Bookish Butch

A picture…

While my thoughts on,

Persistence: All Ways Butch And Femme,

are marinating,

lots to take in,

to reflect on,

especially in the heat:-)

I thought I would share,

some Gay pride,

and,

some thoughtful,

thought provoking,

occasionally,

anger inducing,

feminist,

leftist,

commentary,

of the visual kind,

as in art,

and,

graffiti,

and,

signs.

Tell me what you think.

I like that:-)

Nice needle work.

Succinct, isn’t it?

Yeah, it’s not one of my favourite words either, still…

Again, speaks for itself.

Yep.

Come out, show the world we don’t have horns!

Not that there is anything wrong with that…some of my best friends have horns:-P

It does, some people!!???,

that’s the hard part.

Hello, 1 per cent? You listening?

and most important of all…

Always, take important things, seriously, be involved, try to change your world, if not the world, spread to word, care.

Later girls,

**all pictures, quotes etc, via face book and Pinterest, see it’s not all drunken co-eds, baby pictures and people behaving badly, or is it??**

(WINK)

I wouldn’t put it that way, but…

Well, it’s hot again,

will it never end:-)

The sidewalk sale was good,

not great,

not horrendous,

good.

For the last few days,

I’ve been thinking,

about,

words,

in particular,

certain words,

that shock,

excite,

enrage,

scandalise.

It all stemmed from this quote,

by Henry Rollins,

I like Rollins,

he’s an,

‘in your face’,

kind of guy,

funny, shocking,

and,

well,

deep.

He is a musician,

a writer,

a teller of tales.

So, here’s the quote,

Now, to some,

that might seem,

crude,

maybe even,

macho,

I don’t see it that way.

The word fuck,

is a loaded one,

in your teenage years,

it’s the word you use,

to punctuate sentences,

everything is fuck.

In Montreal,

where English,

is the second language,

of the majority,

it has a less,

scandalous connotation,

I’ve never figured out,

if that is because,

the Quebecois are less,

hung up,

on sex,

(all Quebecois, I’m not one of those people who think Quebecois=French)

or if they unconsciously say things,

without the full measure,

of their meaning,

in English at least.

Fuck can mean so many things,

it’s clear however,

what Rollins means.

Would it have the same,

impact if he said,

You are who you sleep with,

or,

You are who you make love with

I doubt it,

fuck,

is one of those words,

it demands,

that you pay attention,

good or bad,

negative or positive,

imagery,

you’re listening,

maybe with your,

fighting stance,

maybe with your ear,

titillated,

but,

attention,

is given.

So what does this quote mean?

That you should respect,

yourself enough,

to not just ‘fuck’ anybody?

Yeah.

That if the person you ‘fuck’,

is amazing,

by extension,

so are you?

Yeah, maybe.

Both I think:-)

See,

the thing is,

I wouldn’t have put it,

as forcefully,

or in such a ‘balls to the wall’ way,

I would have said,

‘show me your friends…’

or,

‘you are what you read’

or,

I know I’m golden ’cause,

my baby loves me:-)

the butch way,

is smoother,

more romantic,

more subtle,

but,

I think Rollins,

speaks some truth,

nonetheless.

It has clarity,

and,

brevity,

and,

succinctness,

on it’s side.

What do you think?

Have a great Sunday.

Later girls,

Writing is sexy?

Looks like a nice day,

not too cold,

not too hot,

baby bear:-)

Been in a bit of a,

lethargy,

sluggish.

This week,

had some problems,

with my email,

which pissed me off.

who are these people,

who hack your email,

spam your blog,

and,

don’t they desperately,

need to get a life,

for real!!!

Ok, Ok,

I’ll take a deep cleansing breath,

now,

inhale 12345, exhale 12345.

Yep,

better:-)

I’ve been thinking about,

something,

a friend said to me,

a few days ago.

I was elaborating,

on my belly reduction,

scheme,

we must, we must, we must reduce the gut, rah, rah, rah

and,

she said you know,

BB,

you have to do this,

for you,

no other reason.

I am,

but,

as I pointed out,

if I can be sexy,

for my girl,

well,

that is what’s,

known,

as,

Incentive

(wink).

My friend,

who I have never met,

pointed out,

that I am sexy,

and that,

my blog is,

sexy.

Now, I don’t see it myself,

but,

some,

writing is,

in my very humble opinion,

sexy.

I don’t mean purposely sexy,

or even,

overtly,

sexy.

I thought,

how does one illustrate,

writing is sexy?

So,

I did what,

I always do when,

I think,

illustrate,

ilustrate??

I turned to Google images,

and,

this is what I came up,

with,

Works for me:-)

I like brainy women,

swoon

lucky for me,

some of them like me,

ex=brainiac,

my girl?

wow,

smart,

double wow,

I’ll stop now she doesn’t like me to ‘go on’ on how smart she is, being smart is not an accomplishment, which I suppose is true, but, darn it’s Sexy:-)

To me sexy,

is in the mind of the beholder,

so,

I suppose,

writing is sexy,

it’s a mind thing.

My friend ,

another razor sharp woman

Informal boot survey

Another gorgeous day,

it’s the full moon,

I’m feeling weird,

but,

in a,

happy,

whimsical,

sort of,

way:-)

The weekend of,

October 21 st.

I will be visiting,

some good friends,

in Toronto.

As part of my trip,

I will be moseying down,

to,

The Australian Boot Company store,

and,

yes,

getting another,

pair of Blundstones!!

Of course,

we have Blundstones,

in Montreal!

I just want to get them,

in Toronto,

it’s a thing,

don’t ask.

So,

I’m hesitating,

in regards to,

style,

and,

colour,

So,

I’m asking you girls,

what do you think?

First choice,

Walnut brown leather lined 550’s,

slightly lighter colour,

than my current,

Stout brown 500 originals.

I don’t know,

not much,

pizazz:-)

Second choice,

and,

just so you know,

my current personal fave,

Chisel toe leather lined,

in crazy horse brown,

I’m thinking casual,

sort of elegant,

in a flannel butch,

sort of way.

In a pinch,

I could even wear them

to a job interview,

or,

a funeral,

the only two instances,

wear I would never,

wear,

blue jeans,

plus,

who can resist that,

name?

Third choice,

Same as second,

only in Suede.

They’re nice,

but,

harder to,

keep clean,

and,

not practical,

in our climate.

A totally wild choice,

rounds out the group,

Again chisel toe,

leather lined,

but,

in red.

I think if you plan,

on three pairs or more,

you get the,

red,

but,

as your second pair?

I don’t know,

think job interview,

really?

So, you see my problem,

help me out,

of my sartorial conundrum,

please:-)

So, this post is a combo,

elements of butch style,

and,

what do we think?

Both of which,

we haven’t had in a while.

I told you,

I was feeling,

whimsical,

and,

yeah,

a little cheeky,

BB is happy.

So, girls,

tell me what you think,

and thanks.

Later girls,

Cutting ourselves some slack

Another beautiful day,

mild,

no nip,

no crisp,

just blue skies,

enough to make,

an optimist,

out of,

the hardest of cases.

I’m feeling good,

about myself,

I mean body image,

amazing,

what a haircut,

and,

a new shirt will do,

all of a sudden,

you look in the mirror,

and,

think,

‘who is that handsome, butch?’

All tongue and cheekedness,

aside,

little changes,

help shake you up,

as one of my friends would,

say,

‘baby steps’

and she’s right,

little changes,

add up to big changes,

in the long run.

I know, I know, you are shaking your collective heads and saying-‘Duh??!!’

But,

it’s not always,

easy,

to remember that.

‘Speaking for myself’,

I often have to control my,

Freddie Mercury-ish,

philosophical stance,

‘I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now’

Change is a long process,

and,

patience,

ain’t easy,

neither are work outs,

not eating crap,

and,

waiting.

I don’t mean,

sitting idly by,

I mean waiting,

for,

the seeds to sprout,

for,

the fruit to rippen,

for,

the waistline,

to re-emerge.

But, I figure if,

Bill Clinton,

can become a vegan!!!

I should be patient with,

myself,

my body,

my quest,

my futur,

Rome wasn’t built in a day,

and neither was,

my gut,

my doubts,

my fears,

so,

the futur is about patience,

as well as,

hard work,

optimism,

and self-esteem.

My rapidly graying hair,

doesn’t make me look old,

it makes me look,

a little wiser,

a little more,

faded,

worse for wear,

like your favourite,

pair of jeans,

but,

more and more,

dashing

<wink>

So,

let’s,

Take care of ourselves,

but,

cut ourselves,

some slack.

We are works,

in progress,

and sometimes,

the work goes smoothly,

and,

sometimes the ground,

is frozen.

So,

let’s be kinder,

to each other,

and,

to ourselves.

Love,

each other,

love,

ourselves,

and,

there is,

absolutely,

nothing wrong,

with an occasional,

heartfelt,

sing a long,

Kumba Ya,

anyone?

Tell me because,

you know,

I want to know,

What do you think?

Later girls,

Hunter or Prey?? :-)

Bit of a muggy day,

so far,

but,

I don’t care,

it’s Labour Day weekend,

and,

for the first time,

in seven years,

it is neither,

the sidewalk sale,

nor a work weekend.

I took the weekend off,

yes, yes, yes.

butchy jigg:-))

I’m excited,

I never get,

long weekends.

My mom,

is gone for the weekend,

and it is blissfully,

quiet.

Don’t get me wrong I love my mother, but, she’s a noisy little thing:-)

I’m sure,

she’s having a good time,

shoe shopping,

with my aunt.

This is my 300 hundreth post,

a milestone,

I can’t tell you all,

how much,

my silly little blog,

means to me,

but, I’ll try

<wink>

It gives me a voice,

for my opinions,

my rants,

my searching.

It has given me,

camaraderie,

virtual,

and,

otherwise.

It has helped me,

spread my wings.

I appreciate your,

comments,

feedback,

and I would like even more.

Feel free to tell me,

what you think,

and feel,

if you think,

I’m dead wrong about something,

let me know.

This brings me to,

what I wanted to,

write about,

today.

It’s been bouncing,

around my brain,

for days,

not sure if it’s,

fully formed yet,

but,

what the hey.

On Thursday night,

I went out for a beer,

with a good friend of mine,

I like her,

a lot,

we don’t get together often,

but,

we get along,

maybe,

it’s a butch bonding thing:-)

Anyway,

we were talking about,

this anthology,

I was reviewing,

pretty good stuff,

and I was saying,

although,

stilettos and fishnet stockings,

aren’t my thing,

I get how they are,

for many butches.

Then we drifted off,

into a discussion,

of,

how,

some butches,

like to chase,

and,

some like,

to be chased,

It goes without saying, that this isn’t a strictly butch thing, right??

and then she called me,

a player, a hunter,

she meant it as a compliment,

I think?

or actually,

knowing my friend,

she was simply stating,

a fact,

as she knew it.

I’ve got to say,

I was a little taken,

aback,

did she think me a ‘predator’?

and then,

I thought,

of course not,

she thinks,

you’re a flirt,

and let’s face it,

BB,

you are:-)

Odd,

because you know,

I’m shy,

and it doesn’t show,

I come off,

as confident,

friendly,

I am:-)

sometimes,

flirtatious,

sometimes,

brazen,

sometimes,

maybe even,

naughty,

and yet,

I am a shy,

sincere,

bookish,

butch.

I want to chase,

I want to be chased,

I want to lead,

I want to be led,

and when,

things,

get serious,

I’m totally confused,

you all know,

I like my labels,

I embrace them,

and yet…

So, I wanted to ask,

you girls,

something,

Do you like to pursue?

Do you like to be pursued?

Does it change as the encounter evolves?

Does it depend on the situation?

Does it depend on the partner?

is the ‘courtship’,

different from the relationship?

Are these notions,

of courtship and such,

hopelessly,

old-fashioned?

Is there still room for,

seduction in the 21 st century?

That’s what,

I’ve been thinking about,

and I’d like to know,

what you think,

please,

for my 300 th

🙂

Later girls,

and,

thanks for reading,

Open relationships?

Well,

it’s Monday,

one of my days off,

still hot,

but,

I think,

it may be,

breaking:-)

My body is sore,

and my mind,

is restless.

I was reading,

Butch wonder,

I like this blog,

cool, smart,

anyway,

the latest post,

which you can read,

here

http://www.butchwonders.com/1/post/2011/07/open-relationship.html,

poses a question,

about,

open relationships.

I answered the question.

Ten years ago,

my answer would have,

been,

I believe in monogamy,

five years ago,

my answer would have,

been,

I believe in monogamy,

two years ago,

well,

you get the picture,

right?

But,

when I answered,

yesterday,

my answer was,

I’m not sure.

I was raised,

to believe,

in monogamy,

more than that,

I was raised,

to believe,

in,

’til death do us part,

it was never a,

religious thing,

more a,

that’s what people do,

they get married,

and,

then,

they spend,

the rest of their lives,

together,

for better,

for worse,

and there is,

more,

better than worse.

That love is about,

fidelity,

and commitment.

Strange,

that I,

would apply,

such an old-fashioned,

model,

to my own life,

I’ve never been,

married,

and as I’ve written,

here before,

I’m not sure,

what I think,

of marriage,

but,

commitment,

and,

monogamy,

I’ve always believed in,

but,

as I get older,

my vision,

of possible,

relationship,

models,

has evolved.

Love is,

not only,

a many splendored thing,

it may be,

the most complex,

sentiment,

that exists.

So, being in favour,

of monogamy,

is that selfish?

is it reductive?

is it turning away,

from possibilities?

I don’t know.

But, I have seen,

many,

shall we say,

unorthodox ways,

of doing,

and,

they can work.

Would they work,

for me,

the self proclaimed,

old-fashioned butch?

Maybe,

old-fashioned means,

different things,

to different people.

To me I think it,

means,

devoted,

and hopefully,

gentlemanly,

and I wonder,

if that precludes,

an open relationship?

Hmm,

much to think,

about,

and after all,

it is pretty much,

abstract:-)

But,

the question had me thinking.

I wonder,

what do the girls think?

Later girls,

Childhood Heroes

Today was quiet,

at the bookstore,

vacations,

have started.

July is,

vacation,

month,

in Quebec,

traditionally,

the hottest month,

of the year,

for people who,

spend months,

in subzero temperatures,

sun worship,

is important,

read,

essential.

Not me, I’m a butch and we all know what season is butch season, right?

Quiet time,

is reading time,

I had a copy of,

Malcolm Gladwell’s,

The Tipping Point,

lying around,

so I figured,

here’s my chance,

to read it.

Used book dealers rarely read the most recent and talked about books -well, we can read parts, but, we need to sell them, before their popularity declines, it is the nature of the business, it’s ok, I prefer older more obscure books, anyway:-)

I’ve been reading,

Gladwell,

in The New Yorker,

for a few years,

now,

and I’ve seen him,

interviewed on,

Charlie Rose,

a few times,

Charlie Rose on PBS or online, without a doubt, the best interviewer around, he has the essential elements, he is a gentleman possessing insatiable curiosity, if you have never seen him, you must.

I’m sure many of you,

have read Gladwell,

and I’m not going to,

review his book,

I just wanted to say,

that reading it,

brought to mind,

the best of discussions,

the best of college lectures,

I was riveted,

and,

engaged,

his work,

made me want to,

Reflections on royals and power

It’s one of those,

hot humid days,

my hair feels,

like it might,

curl,

and,

trust me girls,

my hair is straight,

the straightest,

part of me:-)

The long weekend,

is coming to an end,

and,

I have a few things,

on my mind.

They are in no way,

personal,

they are reflections,

on what’s been,

going on,

in the news.

Prince William,

and his lovely new bride,

Kate,

the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,

have been visiting,

Canada.

It is their first,

foreign visit,

as a newly married couple.

Their visit has been,

a great success,

people want to get,

a look at them,

the beautiful people.

At this point I should,

confess,

I have a thing,

for Royals,

and,

fairy tale,

love stories,

so I like,

Will and Kate.

I know it’s silly,

but,

I can’t help myself:-)

Here in Québec,

they have been,

met with protests,

and,

a little controversy,

an opportunity,

to show,

once again,

that we are a,

distinct society.

I respect,

people’s right to,

protest,

it is,

a basic democratic right,

but,

I wish they would,

protest about,

corruption in municipal government,

or the state,

of,

health care,

the environment,

the rights of,

the poor,

the homeless,

the sorry ass state,

of our education system,

you know,

important stuff.

I realise,

the royal family,

are seen,

as a symbol,

of colonial oppression,

and aristocratic domination,

but,

personally,

I like Kate and Will,

they’re cute,

and smart.

Enough said.

What do you all think?

Another story,

that has been,

on my mind,

is much more,

disturbing.

The Dominique Strauss-Kahn affair.

When he was first arrested,

for sexual assault,

on a hotel maid,

in New York City.

It looked at first glance,

like a clear cut case,

of a powerful man,

abusing of that power,

wouldn’t be the first time,

nor the last.

Turns out,

it’s more complicated,

usually is!!!

The woman who accused him,

might not be so credible.

What buggs me most,

about the whole thing,

once again,

many women,

will not come forward,

when raped or abused.

Either,

because of fear,

of not being believed,

or of being,

humiliated.

The more things change,

the more they stay the same.

Gloria Steinem was right,

it takes at least,

a hundred years,

for real changes to occur,

one day maybe,

women will not be victimised,

by the judicial system,

and people,

will not feel compelled,

to make things up,

for whatever reason.

I’m an idealist,

what can I say.

I don’t know,

if this woman lied,

but,

I don’t think,

that’s the point.

The point is,

the power struggle,

and iniquity,

goes on.

So that’s been on my mind.

What do my girls think?

Later girls,

Drag King Dreams

Yesterday,

being so bloody,

hot,

and the,

air conditioning,

at the bookstore,

not really,

working,

I wasn’t very busy,

but,

you know,

enough.

I finished,

Leslie Feinberg’s,

Drag King Dreams.

I was going to,

write about it,

last night,

but,

I had to let it,

marinate,

seep in.

Anyone,

who has read,

this blog,

more than,

once,

knows,

I have much,

respect,

and,

admiration,

for Feinberg.

Hir life,

hir struggle,

hir politics,

and most,

of all,

for hir work.

Transgender Warriors,

is an important,

contribution,

to furthering,

our collective,

understanding,

of,

transgender,

and in fact,

the whole notion,

of gender.

Stone Butch Blues,

is a work,

of such power,

that it shook me to,

my core,

I hardly have,

words to express,

what a,

moving experience,

reading that book,

was,

for me.

So,

I very much,

wanted to like,

Drag King Dreams,

I didn’t expect ,

to like it as much,

Stone Butch,

the bar being,

as high,

as it is.

Well,

I have to say,

I’m glad I read it,

and I read it,

all of it,

but,

I am disapointed.

I didn’t hate it,

I woudn’t have,

finished it,

if that was the case,

but,

it left me,

wanting more,

or maybe less?

I know,

that’s a strange,

thing to write,

but,

that’s how I feel.

Some of the characters,

were fascinating,

and I wanted,

to know more,

and yet,

there are,

too many.

Some of,

the plot directions,

are very interesting,

and it seemed to me,

they could have been,

a novel in of themselves.

For instance,

Max and Ruby’s past activism,

Max’s growing up,

the relationship with hir Aunt Raisa,

before and after,

the death of hir mother.

The cyber connection,

she makes,

and what could,

come of that,

perhaps,

finally a love,

to call hir own.

So many threads,

not spun.

And yet,

I really liked,

Max,

hir sadness,

hir loneliness,

but,

also,

how she lives hir life,

with pride and honour,

principles.

They are all of them,

beautiful brave people.

I think,

too much was attempted,

in one novel,

maybe it’s the sophomore jinx,

how can you top,

a grand slam,

like,

Stone Butch Blues?

If you read one Feinberg,

let it be Stone Butch,

if you are interested,

in all hir work,

check this one out.

I don’t regret reading it,

for any number of reasons,

but,

I wish she had written,

a series instead.

I’d like to know,

what you girls think.

Later girls,