The Late Edition
Happy Thursday, everyone! Did I almost forget? Yes, I did. I have not come up with any kind of “social media calendar” or whatever they call it. This ain’t a pro job.
Holistic Herbalism
I finished my herbalism class last night, scoring 97% on the final. If it weren’t open book I think I still would have passed, but barely. I’ve already signed up for the Fall session of the series. Do you want me to get all herbal on you?
Bird Update
Remember how I had to fight off squirrels trying to eat the babies in the mourning dove nest outside my window. One of them has returned a few times. I just had to shout at it a few times for it to leave them alone.
And the babies—two of them—look like they could be flying by next week. I’m really proud of them, but I hope those two doves never nest outside my window again. This has been too stressful for me.
Recent Posts
Understanding Aromanticism: Embracing Queer Identities
It’s Pride Month — a time to celebrate the full spectrum of queer identities. You’ve probably seen the acronym LGBTQ+, but what exactly lives in that “plus”? I want to shine a light on one of the lesser-known identities often overlooked in these conversations: aromanticism.
Let’s start with a basic definition:
aromanticism (noun)
Aromanticism is a romantic orientation, which most commonly describes people who experience little to no romantic attraction to others.
(Source: https://www.aromanticism.org/)
What is a romantic orientation?
“Romantic” is a very subjective term. Is it romantic to hold hands? How about kissing on the lips? Cuddling? Sex?
According to Plato, romantic love is the act of idealizing the target of our love. If I had romantic feelings toward Joe (a generic American name used for this discussion), I would see Joe as more than just Joe. I see an ideal of what I think is Joe. The problem with Plato’s notion is that it is naïve if not obsessive. I see Joe as I want him to be, not as who he really is. I may overlook the vat of acid in his bedroom and the human head in his freezer.
Hillsboro Pride Festival: A Celebration of Diversity
Jeff and I confirmed that they let gay people in Hillsboro when we went to the Pride Festival. The festival was small, but it had outgrown its old location, so it was moved to Shute Park this year. It was a pretty setting, and not too hot when they festival kicked off.
Poison Waters, famous drag queen, acted as emcee and kicked things off at noon. Mayor Beach Pace, our city’s first LGBTQ+ mayor, gave an opening address, and Jeff and I met her shortly after that while we waited for our food truck pizza.
There were around 40 booths with a wide selection of organizations and accoutrements for sale. I was drawn to the booth for the Westside Queer Resource Center and the H.A.R.T. Theatre (Hillsboro Artists’ Regional Theatre). I look forward to game night on the first Tuesday at the QRC, and will go support the local theatre.
I was also happy to see PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays). It has a special place in my heart. It’s a great organization for support and resources.
“Founded in 1973 by a mother and her gay son, PFLAG was born from the unified front of a family leading with love. An inspiring alliance of LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones continues to fuel PFLAG, fifty years later.” (PFLAG.org)
The first stage act introduced me to a genre of music I’d never heard of—Bollywood Rock. The band was called Dil Se Beats. You need to look the genre up on Spotify!
DK Publishing: Good Reference Books, but Lack of Narrative Flow
I recently picked up three books by DK Publishing to gain a broad overview of Islam, philosophy, and LGBTQ+ history. At first glance, the books were visually appealing, with vibrant spreads and engaging graphics. However, I soon found myself abandoning the idea of reading them cover to cover.
Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t find a rhythm with these books. Rather than following a traditional chapter structure, they read more like a series of encyclopedia entries. While not boring, they lacked narrative flow—something even nonfiction needs to maintain a reader’s interest. Without a cohesive sense of storytelling, the content felt disjointed.
That said, these books aren’t without value. They’ll earn a place on my shelf as useful reference tools—ideal for quick fact-checking or dipping into specific topics when needed.
The Philomath 
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