Obligatory Pre-WisCon Post

[jesse_the_k]

I've been busy recently. Here's what I know

I'll be at WisCon – I'm even staying at the Concourse, which means I may be available after 8pm for short bursts. Looking forward to meeting up with all you virtual lovely folk. I'm especially interested in meeting first timers: don't hesitate to speak with me. I'm the well-nourished white woman with her name badge on her hat, zooming in my powerchair. FYI: if you touch my shoulders I will a) scream and b) may run over your feet.

I've enjoyed cooking up an Apocalypse Jeopardy game, 4pm on Friday right after the Gathering on floor 1.5 in Assembly. Three end-of-the-world wizards – J J Pionke, John Joseph Adams & Erin Cashier – will be competing for bragging rights. Come on down!

On Monday, 10am in Assembly, Juliana will wrangle me, Vylar Kaftan, Julie Andrews, & Jennifer Pelland as we address how to include disabled characters in your works – and how not to.

Particularly for sparkymonster, but I think everyone can benefit from a wee octopus:

see more cute baby animals at the Daily Squee

Today has been really, really, really, hard. Here's some of why:

The new-Rx-shrink I've waiting 3 months to see, in hopes of getting meds to help me function, called in sick. When I called to reschedule, they said "First opening is July." Yeah, no.

I filed a complaint about poor customer service with my bus company, and they sent back a commentary that skillfully blended offense and defense to the point where steam came out my ears. Called me a liar, too.

One of my heroes in the disability rights community died today, Barb Bechdol. She ran her own life, loved her own way, rallied many people for many causes, most recently the annual Disability Pride Parade in Chicago. She loved puns and SF. Before I met her, I would sometimes nod and pretend to understand people with speech impairments, because I was embarrassed with my limitations in comprehension. She taught me that it's always worth taking the time to understand what people have to communicate. She lived four years after her diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer (and deciding not to have chemo and radiation). A more complete obit will follow when I can think more clearly.

Comments

[sasha_feather]

I am so sorry about your friend Barb. I've heard you speak of her and how awesome she was.

I hope you know that you're one of my disability-rights heroes.

[jesse_the_k]

Aww, thanks sweetie <3

Barb taught me how much one person can do, and how much more we can accomplish when we work together. It's a thrill working with you!

[toft]

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend and hero, and for your hard day. *thinks good thoughts in your direction*. Here's a giant picspam of baby animals.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks!

* catches good thoughts as they ride the slipstream *

and that's an ahhhhhhhhhhssome post.

[opinion_rush]

So sorry about your friend. She sounds greatly to be missed.

Also much sympathy about meds and bus company (not surprising at all).

Yay! apocalypse jeopardy!

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks.

Yeah, the bus company? Can go suck rocks. Unfortunately for me, I know a lot about how decisions get made and funded and implemented. They coopted me once, but I'm done.

[littlebutfierce]

I'm really sorry about your friend. She sounds like an amazing person.

Also, how incredibly frustrating about the shrink--why can't they prioritize rescheduling people who were due to come in when the doctor called in sick?!?

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks.

Happily, my talking-shrink noticed the cancellation and nudged a couple people, so I got a resked for this coming Tuesday. Chalk up one for the doctors, this time!

[etana]

I didn't know you'll be at Wiscon!!! I wish I was going but I'm going to NOLOSE in CA instead.

[jesse_the_k]

After 20 years of avoidance, I've been assimilated by the WisCon juggernaut. I can't imagine not going.

I look forward to your NOLOSE reports, I'm sure you'll meet cool folks and learn new stuff!

[susanreads]

I'm sorry about your hard day, particularly the loss of your friend.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks.

I'm slowly getting more accustomed to the "death is part of life" reality. Don't know if I'll ever get comfortable with it, however.

[urocyon]

Sorry you had such a hard day, and lost a friend. :(

She taught me that it's always worth taking the time to understand what people have to communicate.

Excellent lesson! I know I could do better with that sometimes.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks.

Yeah, the hardest part for me was being willing to admit that a) I just don't know it and b) I wasn't clever enough to fill it in from the clues offered. I was concerned that if I didn't understand the first time, I was discounting the effort she'd taken to communicate. But making sure I got the whole message ends up honoring the communication and its intent.

[polemista]

*sending good vibes*
Sorry to hear about all the crap you have to deal with.
Also, WTF, Bus company?

[jesse_the_k]

* gathers up vibes with happy hands *

Unless you're Port Authority in NYC, which owns its system outright, you're basically screwed if you're a U.S. mass transit provider. You're chronically underfunded, ubiquitous, serving wildly various publics in a culture that equates mass transit with poverty and loss of control.

That's why the "customer service" people see their role as championing the bus drivers, as opposed to serving customers.

Yeah, I got insight. What I don't got is sympathy :,)