clear as day

Wow, I love the polls I keep putting up. I guess most of you are really into your jobs, which is great! Many of us wish we made more, which is not so great. But in this economy, at least we're employed, right?

The ghost poll is interesting too. Such diverging answers. Either totally yes (most of you) or totally no. I'm debating whether or not to tell my true-life ghost story. I don't want to be thought of as a crazy person though. But who cares. Maybe next time.

I got news today from my eye doctor that I have permanent corneal scarring from the ulcers in my left eye. I will always see a little blurry. Very sad news. I am going to go back in a week to get my eyes tested and they might be giving me a stronger prescription for the left eye (which used to be my "good" eye by the way, prescription-wise). That might make things easier. I guess everybody needs their eyes, but I think without sight, I couldn't really do my job. I often wonder how people cope with losing sight or hearing after knowing what it is to see and hear. I guess we all move on and adjust, but for me, it would probably be the end of my career. At least as a professor who specializes in popular culture and television. But I'm being dramatic, I can totally see and will be fine. I'm just glad I caught it when I did because I'd be looking at a pretty expensive corneal transplant surgery right now if it was any worse.

Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin, 1954

In other sad news, Del Martin (on the right in the above pic) passed away on August 27th. She was 87 years old. She, along with her partner Phyllis Lyon, founded the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian rights activist organization in the United States. Not in the late 60s or the 70s, but in 1955. They were also the first out lesbian couple to join the National Organization for Women, and the first same sex couple to get legally married in California this past June after being together for 56 years. San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsome had the flags in San Francisco at half mast in honor of her passing. Think of the guts it took to have an organization like that during the Cold War. I wish I had that kind of mental and moral fortitude. They didn't stop being activists or pioneers as they got older either. Amazing lady.