You hear me blab enough enough being a geek, loving it, and the awesomeness that is CONvergence. Here is finally some photographic evidence to support how right I am.
For more pics of our geeky weekend escapade, tell your computer to get it’s ass moving and visit this hyperlink.
- Tiff
This weekend is the widely anticipated CONvergence Spectacular, Spectacular! (10th anniversay) It’s a girnormus comic book convention geek-fest in Minneapolis, and yes, your crippled chick extrordinaire goes in full costume each night.
I’ll be going as “Oracle” from Birds of Prey, a member of the MN Zissou Society, and “Six” from Battlestar Galactica. I’ll pretty much be drinking straight starting tomorrow - late Saturday night.
On that lovely note, have a Happy 4th, everyone! Expect pics from my geek-fest adventure early next week.
- Tiff
Last night was one of those special nights that make you feel like Santa Claus.
My concert/musician conoisseur friend Allison, a 38 year old with mild Cerebral Palsy (she can push herself in a manual wheelchair), has literally been stuck in the hospital the last 3 months with these mysterious stomach abscesses that had to be surgically removed.
And since she’s been in bed for 3 months trying to heal, she’s not surprisingly gotten weaker. So now, unfortunately, she’s at a stage where she can’t transfer herself anymore from the floor back into her chair for example (in her studio condo she just has a mattress on the floor…yeah she’s emo like that). So now she’s found herself in the nationally renowned Courage Center: A residential rehab center with PT, OT, and everything else disability-related under the sun. I myself lived there 10 years ago from ‘97 - ‘98, then moved out into an on-campus dorm.
So long story short, Allison has been seriously jonesing for some “medication” that involves a stage, live music, and some sexy guitar players. And being that’s she’s finally better to leave the hospital for short spurts at a time, and being that she had two FREE (woo!) tickets to see Billy Bragg last night, I was needless to say a more than willing chaperone. So off I went at 5:30pm last night to cross town to pick her up in my hoopdee - my modified, with ramp, lowered-floor 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan - and there was Allison in a freakin’ powerchair (her first time ever in one). She wobbled very unsteadily up my ramp, but blessedly made it inside in one piece, and within 20 mins we were at the venue.
We got the stellar, rock-star esque “gimpy gimp” seats, right by to the stage; far left. And we got a great view of da man himself, Billy Bragg. As per his usual (so says Allison; she’s seen him 12 times), he was great. His set involved a lot of political talk regarding Obama, Gitmo Bay, and then he blabbed about Bob Dylan for awhile too. And after the set, we rushed her back to the rehab center before midnight.
It was a great night. Allison got her much needed concert-fix, I broke her outta rehab and felt like Super Woman, and we got to see a famous musician up-close. What more could two disabled gals ask for?
- Tiff
PS. Billy likes to drink tea during his set. So very adorably British.
PPS. Allison cannot under ANY circumstance keep her eyes open when a camera flashes. lol. Silly CP.
Here’s a slice of Tiff’s life from a sunny June Saturday morning; 6/7/08 to be exact:
Tiff driving the “Silver Bullet,” with teh friends, to PANNEKOEKEN for the best breakfast in the city (that’s right, yo. I drive from my freaking wheelchair):
After arriving at Pannekoken, Tiff opening her straw so this tired quad can get caffienated:
And finally (yumz), eating the delicioso Eggs Benedict w/ a side of hashbrowns (Tiff’s fav):
Note: I’m wearing a button that reads, “Media Reform Begins With ME,” in preparation for attending the National Free Press Conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center, which I had the ultimate pleasure of attending over the weekend.
Oh and btw, f$%! you, Bill O’Reilly!
- Tiff
So, last night was Minneapolis’ annual “Rebel, Rebel Rock for Pussy” event. Have I mentioned I’m a Bowie fan recently? *smirk*
So yes, last night was a Bowie Tribute night with all the proceeds going to area no-kill cat shelters. It was an amazing time as usual (’cause Bowie tunes played live are undeniably orgasmic), AND….*drum roll please….*
I went as the famous, lightening bolt-across-the-face Bowie persona, “acted” during 1973: Aladdin Sane
I really love the makeup effects used for this look, and yup…despite having frelling PARALYZED fingers, I did my online homework and did this look myself. Not bad for a C6 quad, heh? Yep, I’ve become really 
adept at using my wrists, biceps and shoulders to do/hold things with my hands (right hand specifically). I used red eyeshadow, blue eyeshadow, Stila Smudge Pot eyeliner in “Black,” a gel-based clear glitter solution to put over the red shadow, and of course, a very pasty white foundation.
Despite the lightening bolt being on the wrong side of my face (d’oh!), I have to say I’m very pleased with myself.
For all the pics I took from this fantabulous Bowie tribute affair, visit my Flickr account @ Bowie Tribute at First Ave!
So last Monday my BFF and I went to Minneapolis’ annual awesome gothy-goth get-together: Goth Prom!
It was so kick-ass, my peoples. The theme was “Steampunk.” (Think “Van Helsing”).
So with that, I tore up an old bridesmaid dress, put a black corset on over it, wore a fitted black velvet jacket over that, wore my big/stretchy black fishnets underneath with my knee-high black boots, then finished the look off with a gold chain spy/eyeglass, a cameo necklace, a black pearl necklace, a faux nose ring (got a real one now though), and had DARKENED HAIR.
My sis last Sunday royally screwed-up my hair, turning it grey/white, but it was perfect for Goth Prom. I got it fixed on Tues so it’s now red/brown/blonde (very weird, but cute). I’ve had crazy hair issues all week….bleh (that’s another blog altogether).
So anyways, back to Goth Prom. It was HYSTERICAL. A 40 something year old submissive guy kept kissing my boots and even discreetly put a note in my boot (a very naughty one I might add), which I found when I got home whilst undressing, I won a fee piercing, ran into a bunch of old friends, and drank some TASTY UV Vanilla and Cokes. Oh and saw Ron, this local semi-celebrity guy with no legs who has a fetish for chics walking on him in heels (he doesn’t like wheels though…yes I asked).
He refuses to use a wheelchair and the club was so flippin’ dark that I nearly ran him over. Oops :/ So yeah, the guy is like 2 feet tall! Annoying!
Anyways….here are the rest of our Goth Prom piccies!
- Tiff
Mattresses say a lot about us, and if they could talk, girl, they’d be dangerous. I’d have a knife to my mattress’ tongue in seconds; permanently rendering it mute.
Here’s a perfect song that encapsulates this very idea:
- Tiff
PS. Atmosphere is a great hip-hop group out of Minneapolis. LOVE them.
Watch out Victoria’s Secret! You finally have a worthy competitor!
This year, Abercrombie & Fitch launched their new lingerie store called Gilly Hicks/Sydney. It’s casual, young lingerie, targeted towards women in their late teens/early twenties…and even though there are only 4 currently open in the US, one very well may be opening soon near you.
I’m lucky, a Gilly just opened earlier this month at the Mall of America (right by my house). I checked it out today because some of my girlfriends told me it wasn’t wheelchair accessible (the store has steps in the front and multiple levels), but luckily, they were wrong. There are hidden ramps placed strategically throughout the store.
After my excursion there today, I mut confess I’m in love with this place. The lighting in the store was moody and hella sexy, there were paintings of hot/semi-nude men on the walls (finally!), and the entire store was made up of separate rooms as if you were meandering through a quaint, richy-rich home on the Australian coast. Architecturally very cool.
Anyways, I’m only posting this blog because the store endeared me for two reasons. Reason #1: They have an extensive bra line where each bra is named after a female first name (”Courtney,” “Ashley,” “Miranda,”etc). I don’t know if you remember this or not, but way back in the day Victoria’s Secret did the same thing, but now only their “Ashley” and “Emma” bras remain :/ I’ve missed this bra-naming technique for years because it’s so girly and fun, so it’s nice to see this naming-idea brought back!
Reason #2: Their signature lilac-scented perfume, La Perouse. It’s OMG divine and if you go into the store, you’ll instantly smell it. I bought their tiniest bottle for $44.00. My beau isn’t really into floral perfumes, but I don’t care. Lilacs are my fav flower hand-down.
As it stands, you can’t buy any of their stuff online (yet), but in the meantime, check-out their website to view their sexy black & white movie featuring topless chics and bare-assed men.
Hmm-hmm-tasty.
- Tiff