Here’s what happens when you insert your side supports that have been sitting in the sun for too long:

Fucking paralyzed triceps. I’m ready for the cure now. Really, God.

- Tiff

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

Tomas Young is 28 years old, sexy, well-spoken, from Kansas City, MO, and unfortunately, a T4 paraplegic. 

In 2003, he was shot and paralyzed by enemy fire (”Instantly dropping my AK 47,” he describes, after getting shot) after only 5 days in Iraq. Body of War is an amazing documentary that EVERYONE should see. Co-directed by the legendary Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro, this film premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in March and is currently touring the country.

To learn more about this anti-war film, visit the it’s site, BodyofWar.com. Make sure to watch the trailer and to peruse it’s screening schedule; it may be coming to a city near you. I’m hoping that SOON it’ll be available on Netflix (I have the 3-disc unlimited plan), and I REALLY need to see this film in it’s entirety, instead of through dozens of various YouTube clips.

I almost had the opportunity to see it the first weekend of June here in Minneapolis at the National Free Press Conference, but due to PCA scheduling issues and my own damn fault, I couldn’t see the screening (or go to the awesome Q&A session afterwards with Phil Donahue). I’m still kicking myself over that.

ANYWAYS, Eddie Vedder (lead singer of Pearl Jam) wrote/performed a song for the film called, “No More.” It’s beautiful, poignant, and it makes me very happy to see such a high-profile musician affiliated with such an important film.

But yes, this film is great. It shows how brutal life with a SCI really is, how the VA has let Tomas down in re: to proper benefits to fully rehabilitate a paraplegic. and more importantly, how Iraq was a terrible mistake.

- Tiff

Stylish, sassy, chic … disabled?

Britain is airing a brand new model search reality show in July, specifically looking for models with disabilities. On a awful creative note, it’ll be called Britain’s Missing Top Model. They get no w00t from me for that lame show name.

Here’s the show’s tagline:

Eight young disabled women discover what it takes to be a model - but which of them will win a photo shoot and appear in a top fashion magazine?

Is this a marketing ploy? Is it a serious competition? My Brit friends will have to share their opinion with me after it airs, because unfortunately it’s damn near impossible to get BBC Three in Minnesota, unless you’e Stanley Hubbard.

Oh, and there’s one American on the show too. Her name is Jenny and she’s 22!

- Tiff

PS. I do give the show props for shedding light on the disparity of able-bodied vs. disabled models in the media though. Ok, that deserves a w00t…..”w00t.”

Here’s a pretty sweet tattoo a friend of mine with CP got recently:

It’s says “Ingenuity,” with the word being built into the universal “handicapped” symbol.

- Tiff

Enjoy my sage, awesome wisdom, my friends.

- Tiff

Ever heard of these aerosol dandies? If not, it’s probably because you were either A) Born after 1970 or B) You live in the USA (apparently people all over Europe are more than aware of this easy-breezy way to “refresh” your hair).

Anyways here’s the dealio: There are some really nice (and expensive) dry shampoos that are on the market right now, and not only do they work (just spray it all over, comb through, let dry, and it’s clean/”refereshed”), but they’re perfect for ladies with disabilities who need help washing their hair the “water way.”

Your grandma probably used dry shampoo back in her younger days, and hippies at week-long music fests like Bonaroo? Oh you bet your mud-caked Teva’s they know about this most excellente way to wash their hair.

Check out the dry shampoo I bought myself last month and am totally in LOVE with:

Ojon Rub-Out Dry Shampoo (it smells like baby powder!)

- 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

You gotta thank the wars our country has had for something: They’ve always helped disability rights. Why? Because disabled vets are a force to be reckoned with, and are once again changing the way society looks at disability. They’re bull-headed men/women who still want to live!

Look at WWII: It was because of those vets that adapted sports, better wheelchairs, the idea of independent living, etc, came to being. And in this fantastic article by FOX News (I can’t believe I’m pimping FOX News out. Help me God), Iraq vets are specifically making sexuality AND disability intertwined and a subject that has got the media talking. Check it out:

FOXSexpert: Can Disability Be Sexy? You Bet!

I specifically like this quote: “When most people think ’sexy,’ they don’t think disabled. Yet people with disabilities can be very sexual — much more than we give them credit for. Consider, for example, that some women with complete spinal cord injury experience orgasm.”

So, does this finally mean that AB guys no longer need to feel like they’re a perv if they find me sexy?

- Tiff