Alan Ross Pride Parade 2009, Dallas, TX

Yesterday was my first time attending a LGBT Pride event. I'd never lived in a place that had one before.

I supported the National Leather Association by being part of their float (walking a thin moral line for me, as a vegan who supports the Leather Lifestyle but not the fabric leather).

It was a good turn out and a lot of time out in the not-as-bad-as-it-could-be (by a long shot) Dallas heat.

The crowd was great: many, many people (thousands?) and all in pretty good cheer. And about 8-9 protesters lol. The ratio was heartwarming.

We tossed out candy and beads while walkers passed out cups and flyers.

All in all it was a good day with NLA.

The only minor unpleasantries were:

Having to hear some of the cattiness and meanness of some of the members talking, to include some focused on veg*ns. But they were folks who were being catty about other people different from them, in general.

Being a dumbass and overdoing the standing and walking. I can't do that much of those two things, and this was one of the days that I totally screwed myself on them. I *did* think ahead and brought prescription ibuprofen and took some after a while. I think it's the only reason I got home okay and can walk today so well. As hard as walking was by the time I went home yesterday (I had to stop for groceries and little-old-ladied my way around Whole Foods at .5/mph), the swelling today is not horrible and I'm getting around okay. Still feel it, but it looks like just taking it easy for a couple days will be all I need.

After yesterdays's experience at the grocery (almost didn't make it from my car to the store at first) and how bad I know today could've been, I think I'm going to talk to the VA some more about my feet and knees. I will Not let them operate again, especially not starting operations on my knees (5 ops on my feet were enough, thanks), but I would like to discuss other options and possibly getting an assistive device for the days I need one. They are rare, but they are random (They aren't always caused by over-doing... sometimes I just take a few steps and Bam!) and when I need one I need one. As much as I cringe at the word and thought, a walker would've been heaven sent at the end of yesterday to help me walk to do my shopping. Ugh.

In other news, the potential slave hasn't been good about keeping up on his daily updates... I'm at the point now of "giving him enough rope to hang himself with".

I'm in a pretty good mood today.

Bike, woohoo!

I bought my first non-department store bike today and brought it home. I had to make it in two payments, one last week and one today.

I'd wondered why the bikes were so much more expensive, and when I got to test ride it last weekend I finally knew... it is so light and gliding, so much smoother shifting and fits so much better. Worth every penny.

I ended up getting a Giant Rapid 2010 model... a "commuter" road bike style, 24 speed and I also bought a cushier seat. :D Perfect for riding around White Rock Lake and running to the store and such locally.

I also bought, of course, the odds and ends I needed with it: new helmet, bike lock, car carrier.

Took it out for my first real ride on it around the lake, went about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way and back. I need to adjust the seat a little more for using my regular biking shoes (I was in different shoes when I bought it), and want to buy a rear rack for it so I can use my panniers later (but that's for next month or so).

It was really nice to be back out bicycling.

On other news, I've lost about 4 pounds this week and met a potential tpe slave.

Good start of the month.