Embracing the eccentricity of my life.

This morning was spent listening to Bach cello suites, eating toast with cream cheese and olives and reading numerous articles for a class... one of which was entitled, "The Catacombs: A Temple of the Butthole." I feel as if my life has become quite odd, to say the least.

Actually, that article in particular was quite fascinating. It was about a group of primarily gay men who formed a community in San Fransico in an, "Underground establishment where twentieth-century sexual heretics could practice their own rites and rituals in a situation that was insulated, as much as possible, from the curious and hostile." The article explained that of course not only was their community shunned and feared but that if studied, could and can reveal a great deal about not only the gay subculture and its emergence in San Fransisco but also about AIDS and the tremendous stories of so many people whose lives had to be kept secret. It was actually extremely moving, especially this quote, "Many of the men who frequented the Catacombs found relationships there that have sustained them through time, nurtured them with affection, cared for them in sickness, and buried them in sorrow." It reminded me a lot of the end of Angels in America when Prior Walter says, "This disease will be the end of many of us, but not nearly all. And the dead will be commemorated and will struggle on with the living. And we are not going away. We won’t die secret deaths anymore. The world only spins forward. We are citizens. The time has come.” I really need to bring that play back with me to Amsterdam... or the movie, or both... I miss reading/watching it. Some people have the Bible, I have Angels in America.

The past three days have been spent doing endless amounts of work. It hasn't been annoying work, though. The only thing that was a bit painful to write was an essay about different types of abortions. I'm completely pro-choice but reading about the different kinds of abortions, specifically the ones that are performed during the third trimester... it was scary. Really scary. I feel terrible for my teacher that he has to read it. Haha. The class is Contemporary Dutch Social Policy and we are told to write a paper about something having to do with the topic at hand (which is abortion and/or euthanasia), either relating it to the Netherlands or not. I really wish I hadn't chose what I chose, given that it's more scientific in nature than anything, and I'm honestly afraid of getting a bad grade because it's a disgusting paper to read.

But, aside from the nauseating abortion paper, I'm actually enjoying the seclusion and time indoors. A good amount of my friends are in Paris this weekend and although I wish I could spend time with them... it's quite nice to have an extended period of time just for myself.

Oh, right... and two days ago I got a tattoo. I love it. It is still healing and doesn't look all that great right now, so I am going to wait to take a picture of it until it's healed.

Until next time...