i think that if we, as progressives, are going to shy away from slang that is discriminatory this should include that of the mental illness persuasion.
by this, i mean it is no more funny to call some neurosis or mood swing "skitzophrenic" or "bipolar" than it is funny to call something "gay" or to say "woman" in a derogatory sense.
i am not offended by any of this, i just want to bring awareness to something i find important. there is too much stigma surrounding mental illness and i want to do what i can to change that.
for me, being diagnosed has been helpful because the medication has been helpful, but in many other ways it is harmful. it is hard not to think of myself as broken or not whole, when really i am complete, beautiful, productive and valuable but simply have different chemicals in my brain that need special caution and attention.
and it is not just me, more and more people are being treated for this sort of thing (whether or not the drs are in the right). shit's getting tough and that brings out whatever we might be predisposed to struggle with and makes it harder.
disappointing pizza words words words are starting to get so meaningless to me, maybe we don't need as many? maybe i am a tired brain and want to spend my days whittling aspen flutes. or study linguistics. one or the opposite.
i'm so excited for tour. i've been finishing all these songs i've been too swamped to finish until last july. and there were lots!
also, the dates look really good so far:
Oct 31 2007 8:00P tba Provo, Utah w/ a Misfits cover band Nov 1 2007 8:00P The Flying M Nampa, Idaho Nov 2 2007 7:00P American Legion Post 13 Lewiston, Idaho Nov 3 2007 8:00P Dearborn at Woodland w/ Johanna Kunin & Cock and Swan & Alicia Amiri Seattle, Washington Nov 4 2007 12:00P Cassette Release Mini Fest tba Vancouver, British Columbia Nov 5 2007 8:00P The Ghost House w Alicia Amiri Bellingham, Washington Nov 6 2007 8:00P The Boiler Room Port Townsend, Washington Nov 7 2007 8:00P tba Olympia, Washington Nov 8 2007 7:00P Rererato w Flaspar & The Watery Graves Portland, Oregon Nov 9 2007 8:00P tba (need help here!) Eugene, OR / Arcata, California Nov 10 2007 8:00P Delta of Venus Davis, CA, California Nov 11 2007 8:00P tba (need help here!) Sacramento / Bay Area, California Nov 12 2007 8:00P tba San Fransisco, California Nov 13 2007 8:00P ? Oakland / San Luis Obisbo, California Nov 14 2007 8:00P Muddy Waters Santa Barbara, California Nov 15 2007 8:00P House of FIVE Bibles w/ Mandarin Dynasty and Friendship Hurricane Long Beach, California Nov 16 2007 8:00P Che Cafe with Calvin Johnson and Monotonix San Diego, California Nov 17 2007 8:00P Velouria Mexicali, Baja California Nov 18 2007 8:00P tba Tucson ?, Arizona Nov 19 2007 8:00P The Trunk Space Phoenix, Arizona Nov 20 2007 7:00P Macy’s Coffee Flagstaff, Arizona Nov 21 2007 8:00P tba w Morgansorange and A Crowd of Small Adventures
here's what the cool kids listen to: (ps some in live recordings of mine, adam lipman and ronn benway (morgansorange) will be broadcast at some point..)
