Equality Torch Relay

Last Saturday, all across San Diego, was the San Diego Pride Torch Relay for Equality.  Two thousand participants helped commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. As an ally for the LGBT community, I was honored that Borias and I got to be one of those participants, and carried the torch through part of our community! 

We went by the Mayor's home in Kensington, and even cooler, at the end Borias and I strutted right past the restaurant where we were discriminated against recently. That felt good. 

The torch was pretty heavy, and I used a bungee to strap it to me, using my camera bag to prop it up in my lap. It was still fairly hard to wheel at times, especially going up inclines, where I had to prop the torch against my shoulder. Other times we hit a groove, and Borias pulled me along at a brisk pace, while I held the torch up high. 

Sweet. 

It was another memorable experience, that I'm proud to have shared with my dog. Whom I love so very much!

getting handed the torch at the beginning of my run.

.

handing off the torch, just past Kensington Vine restaurant.

Borias:Dog for Equality

The state of CA has been undergoing some turbulence of late, with the recent upholding of Prop 8, the ban on gay marriage. It's no secret that I feel quite strongly that ALL people are created equal, and that the majority should not take away rights of a minority in a vote. I mean, if parts of the ADA were put up to a vote, I'm pretty darn sure the majority of business owners would strike it down. Thankfully, I'm protected under the law. But my gay brothers and sisters have yet to gain the freedom to be equal under the law. To not be treated as a second class citizen. 

So, I feel a duty to lend my support in this civil rights struggle of our time. It's the right thing to do. I'm so grateful to have my wonderful dog as my "back up". As everyone's. Here's a breed that was once used to instill terror in certain oppressed people, and now one is lending his voice against oppressors! How cool is that? He barked like crazy in the rally the Day of Decision, almost in unison with the chants. He sat beside me for five hours at a sit-in at the County Clerk's office, where some gay couples attempted to get marriage licenses. We were practicing civil disobedience, and stayed past hours, until the police escorted us off. 

I think Borias has a calming influence, when emotions run high at these things. That's a good thing. Kind of a therapy dog for activists. I also think it's cool how he can be a catalyst to communicating with those on the opposing side. Today we were at a party that fundamentalist Christians put on to, well frankly, gloat over this decision. It's Pentecost Sunday, and they chose to go down the the Administration building, and rally. This pastor who has been in the news locally ran the show. 

I went among everyone, with my camera, and shot photos. I'll be honest, I had a very difficult time listening to what was being said. From my viewpoint, there was an awful lot of fear and ignorance, and downright intolerance being spread around. They certainly don't think so, and even claimed they are putting this forth out of love and compassion. Where they get that, I just don't know. And my goodness, did they bandy the word "natural" more times than I could even begin to count! They are "natural" marriages, "natural" relationships. 

Wow. 

Folks, I am not "natural", or "normal", a freak of nature. I can't walk. I didn't choose this, and neither does anyone choose their gender identity. It's who they are. Diversity is a wonderful thing!

So I'm proud that my dog was by my side..all our sides...when we were faced with arrest while politely demanding our rights. By our sides while we marched to the Hall of Justice. (Where I was denied justice same time last year, in my case against Service dog discrimination, ironically). By our sides, and barking loudly while PA systems projected the self-righteous gloating of religious folks. And together, we will continue to fight for justice and equality. We will persist until right wins. 

And it always does in the end. 

Entering the Photography Exhibition at the Fair

Oh why do I procrastinate? It causes so much grief, one would think that would be a cure. But alas, I continue. I entered some photography in the fair at the end of the month, just minutes shy of the deadline. Ended up entering 10 images, the limit. At $16 a pop, too! Plus thought I'd enter my painting of Borias for the art show. 

It's this one, my mama's boy. I called it "My Heart" : )

The photos I entered were all dogs but one image. A police horse. I would maybe have better chances of winning had I entered a broad range of categories, but it bummed me out that last year none of my dog images were picked to even be in the show, so I deluged them this year ha ha. 

But what a load of work! First, picking the images was not easy, and naming them. Then the last two days I have been slaving over my Epson R2400, having trouble with prints. My printer is temperamental to begin with. It's been leaving faint banding that you can barely see, but once you notice them, well, you see them. Then I was printing from psd. files, and so that was messing up the color. Lots of ink and paper later, I finally figured it out. 

Then there's mounting the images. I took them to a local framing shop, to have them dry mounted. Found out he just used spray, and the gator board is more an 'off black' than black. Oh well. Too late now! I sure hope it's ok, though. So now I just have to finish up with the few I'm putting mats on, and label them. Tomorrow is the last day to bring them in to the fairgrounds. 

Sure hope a lot get picked! And that I win something. It's super competitive. Thousands of entries. And dogs are a very popular subject material! So we shall see. Sure glad I'm almost done with the work part, though. 

I took a little break with my puppers, and took him to "his" Balboa Park for a bite to eat at the Tea Pavillion in the Japanese Friendship Garden. It's really funny that I've been going to this park for many, many, maaaanny moons, yet I had no idea there was a japanese cafe there! The food isn't bad, either. Very relaxing to sit out on their deck, overlooking a canyon, with black bamboo. Peaceful. And Borias can scan the landscape for squirrels. 

I let him chase one that went up a big tree when we were on our way. I think that did him some good mentally. Though I cringed when he lept up and put his paws on the tree. Worried for his back. He was so happy to be out on that kind of a walk, he started running with me in tow, like he adores. I let him for a little ways, he just looked so joyous. I'm so grateful he can still do that a little. Thanks to his acupuncturist and masseuse! And wonderful chiropractor. 

I don't know who's heart was singing more. His or mine :)

Shopping

Borias isn't all that thrilled with shopping, being a male after all. I think he must find the whole activity both boring and pointless. Wandering around a brightly lit place, staring at clothing and whatnot. I'm personally not into shopping much, either, but now and then the mood strikes me, and I head to the mall. Fashion Valley is an upscale mall, where there's a Cheesecake Factory (yum!), and movie theaters. So I can do more than shop. 

It's interesting the kinds of encounters that I can have with people during a shopping trip. I had just gone into Bloomingdale's, looking at some sunglasses, and the sales gal came over. So I made a comment about these Ray-Bans looking kind of funny, an odd shape. She never looked at me, but was marveling at Borias. She just started asking me about him. 

I said  it's funny how sometimes people don't hear a thing I'm saying, and just see the dog. She laughed, but not in a way that recognized what I had just said. She was still too busy looking at my dog. It was a token laugh. She didn't get it. 

Then there's some parents who are just really, really strange. There was this middle aged man with two young toddler aged boys, who came into the Gap with them while I was engaged with a sales clerk, and was  saying "you want to pet the dog, let's ask if you can pet the dog", only it wasn't directly to me. Just loudly saying it. I just moved a bit, avoiding them. Not to be rude, but I was talking and kind of busy, and didn't want the distraction at the moment. Well, ran into Mr. Dad again coming off an elevator towards the movie theaters on the second level. 

He was standing right in the way, little boy by his side, and a woman (mom?). Boy starts to cry and buries his face in dad as Borias goes to get off the elevator. I try to go with him, but they don't move, blocking my exit. So I say excuse me. 

Dad says "your dog's gonna bite my kid's face off".

HUH???? 

I said how absurd, he's my Service dog, not a vicious kid killer. 

"Well, my kid's afraid of him!"

I could see that he was mildly wigged out, but that's not my problem, I only wanted to go off the elevator. I had gotten past him, and said, indignant, that I had only said excuse me. Apparently he thought I was mocking his kid's crying or something. I shrugged and we went on to go see Wolverine. Seriously, parents can really be strange. 

Another little Asian boy followed us around in a department store, waving his arms, barking at Borias, and generally being hyper. Parents were jewelry shopping, engaged with the clerk, oblivious. When he started roaring at my dog, I had had enough, and said "Please stop. I'm not here for your entertainment!"

A woman going up the escalator gave me a thumbs up in approval. The kid gave me kind of a blank look, as if not many adults told him to knock it off before. 

It does seem more and more that people treat us as if we are there for their entertainment. It just gets a bit tiresome when the folks are rude, or obnoxious. Thankfully I have lots of cool interactions to make up for those. People that get a kick out of Borias' antics. 

Like he entertains himself while I wheel around in a store by doing a little mini-dance. I don't let him full out bounce and act the fool of course. But he still likes to get away with some playfullness. So he will hold his leash and shake his head walking in a prancy way. Gets a giggle out of the clerks. If there's loud music playing, he'll try to boogie a little more. My dancing fool. 

We both enjoyed Wolverine very much. Though Borias slept through most of it ha ha. I tried to get him to watch the trailer for Ice Age 2, with the animated squirrel things. He watched a while, then looked up at me, and turned around to go to sleep. 

RENT after party pics

I was sent these pics taken at the RENT after party that Borias and I went to. I had given up hope of getting them, since it's been a month, and figured the person lost my card. But tonight, opened my email to find them there! 

I think the photo of Anthony Rapp is when I was attempting the crack about Borias being a "dogstacle", that he thought I had said "popsicle". (What is this insane woman talking about ?? LOL). 

And boy, Adam is adorable in this shot, but i haaaate looking at myself! Ewww! I actually DO look a bit crazy in this. See, this is why I hate flash. So harsh! Borias looks a little demonic himself!

Well, here it is, for all to see. (Cringe.)

Access Challenges

obviously a Service dog...

I have an obvious, visible disability. Therefore, when out in the public with Borias, 99.9% of people assume he is my Assistance dog. Even when he's not working, people seem to know. So I don't put a vest on him that often anymore. A lot of people tend to disagree with this, thinking that that is just asking for trouble, and that it's a courtesy to the public to signify that your dog is working. 

OK, fair enough, I see the point. But again, being in a wheelchair, it's just generally a total non-issue. And if anyone is unsure, they ask, and are happy to take my word for it, especially after watching my dog, seeing how he's laying quietly by my side, and is trained. So it's always surprising when out of the blue, an access dispute happens. As did this past Friday, at a wine bar called Kensington Vine.

I was walking Borias from my house toward that area, which is a nice walk for us, and thought I'd find a place to grab a bite. There's not a lot to choose from, and I spotted this place after going to Starbucks, and thought I'd give it a whirl. Looked like a nice homey, neighborhood joint. I had a Sensation harness on Borias, while I continue to train with his excitement with cats. Plus, it's ergonomically better for him, with his back problems. There was a woman server outside, and she tried to stop me from going inside, saying something about Borias. I continued to go in, and looked at their happy hour menu.

Then a man came up, and I said I would like a table. He plainly looked hesitant, and I asked what the problem was. He said I could sit outside on the patio with the dog. I informed him he was my Service dog, and I can sit anywhere I choose. 

"Ummmm... well you'll have to give me some sort of demonstration".

Huh?? Was he really asking me to perform for him?? I looked at him in disbelief, and asked said that is really humiliating to ask, didn't he see that? 

Apparently not. He said usually these dogs have a vest on. Yes, I said, some do, but it's not required, and I have this walking harness on him right now. He clearly didn't believe me. He reiterated his offer to let us go out on the patio. So I said no, he is my Service dog, and allowed wherever I choose to go. I took off my backpack, and found my law card, and gave it to him. 

But he refused to read it. For the second time in one of these incidents, I was asked to read it to the person! More humiliation. I wasn't obligated to even show it to him! But I found myself reading it, (despite it being reaaaally tiny print, and wishing I had my reading glasses!) and pointed to where it said what I was explaining. Still no dice. 

So that left me with no choice but to call the police. I waited a few minutes, but it became obvious that I was just being ignored, like I was some crazy person being a pain in the ass. So I said I was going to call, and took out my cell phone. The woman employee said "This isn't right...he's trying to compromise with you".

I again tried to explain how this isn't a compromise, he's trying to segregate me on the belief that my dog is not legit. That it's my obligation to stand up for my rights. 

I went outside to make the call, and then called my attorney friend for some moral support. He's hilarious, and boosted my spirits. When I told him about his asking me to perform a task for him, he said "You want a trick? Here's one for you, it's called 'bite me'!" Ha ha! Well, that wouldn't be very professional. But it was funny. He told me to go inside, and try to explain that like my dog is an ambassador for owner trained dogs, I am also an ambassador for other handlers, and it's my duty to stick up for my rights for the next person in my situation. 

So I went in there, and attempted to say that, appealing to his sensibilities, and was met with a hand and "I don't have time for you". With that, he walked away. How unfortunate. I sat there in the entrance, and awaited the police.

That took about a half hour.

The officer was quite nice, and remarked how civil our dispute was, for being a dispute. He talked to us separately, and I went first. Gave him the facts. When the owner of the restaurant (yes, he was the owner! I also told him at one point that frankly, he should know the law on this) came back in, he had a big smirk on his face for some reason. Through the whole ordeal, he was exceedingly smug and patronizing. Which I found even more frustrating, with how much of an effort I was making at being diplomatic, and polite. 

Then we were talked to together, the cop making a second appeal to him (as he said). He had his Captain reassure the owner that the Health Department wouldn't shut him down if I was inside. So after all that, the guy said I could come in if I wanted. Though I didn't want to at this point. Would you? Plus, it was clear he still didn't believe me. I said that life might be easier if I had a vest on him, and he cut me off to say "Oh so you admit that he should have one on?"

Then he said he went online and saw that it is indeed a requirement of all Service dogs to wear one. Don't know where he read that, I said he probably pulled up some policy of a program out there. He was still giving me that smug, patronizing look. 

Yeah, I really want to eat there.  The neighborhood regulars staring at me, as if I'm another disabled person making trouble. 

I do feel a duty to fight this kind of discrimination and attitude. There's far too many people with disabilities who would back down, and leave in frustration. It's hard to stand firm, look the person in the eye, smile and demand your rights. (Thank you Harvey Milk).  So it's not over. I'm not sure yet exactly how I want to proceed. I can request a penalty, and injunctive relief, which would mean a change in policy, and something like a sign saying "Service dogs welcome". An apology would be the best. 

We'll see how it goes. 

I did find my tag from Animal Control, and put it on a clip to have on my keychain. It's hard to read, but it says CA Assistance Dog. Summer is coming, and at least that's identifying my dog in some way, that's not difficult to put on, or hot for him. I just don't like people to assume that I have this as some type of requirement, that I must show it to them. Unfortunately, there are some people who abuse the system, and are making it harder for us by trying to pass of pets as Assistance dogs. I'm afraid that will only make access challenges happen more and more. 

Party Animal

I heard about this great fundraiser opportunity for artists through a fellow dog photographer, Jill Beninato, and jumped in. This is for A Place to Bark, and animal rescue organization in Tennessee. We were to make a handmade art piece, 8X8", using whatever technique we choose, with the only requirement being that it have some handmade elements. The theme, Party Animal.

So I thought this would be cool to use an image of my party animal as my inspiration. In fact, I used three images, photos I shot of him 'dancing'. The project turned out to be quite challenging for me, and I had a couple foiled attempts. I decided to put the digitally manipulated image in the middle, and then paint on the outside. This is on gesso board. 

I hope I caught the spirit of the theme, and how much my boy fits in with it. Because truly, for him, life IS a party. Every day. 

These art pieces will be available to bid on sometime in the fall. Jill is working on a zine right now that will have all the images in it, plus info on A Place to Bark, and how you can get involved locally to help animals. All proceeds are for the charity. You can also check out her work, and updates on her blog here.