FNC - Thanks Pōneke 😤😐
Hello! Happy Friday Night Chats! We made it through the week. And as you read this, I'll be celebrating my birthday, and I might just be a margarita deep already. Let's chat!
Feel free to skip to the comments if you read this already in your email!
Well, I lost a whole day this week when my eldest knocked his tooth out at school. We took him to ED, then to an emergency dentist, and it took the entire day. I've also had to deal with this absolute creep. And my little one has a cold. So, it hasn't been the best week.
That's also why there won't be a pod today, I'm sorry!
But tonight I'm celebrating my birthday with my friends. So it's not all bad. We're having a wee party at my bestie's house because my little one can't handle noise or, well, people in the house.
And I'm so excited to have a party! I am a real party gal. I love a party. And I especially love a birthday party.
Edit: There is literally poo running down the street by my house. Thank goodness the party isn't here, but absolutely people will bail because of the weather, and I'm not happy about it.
I am very sad that Saint Levant isn't coming to Te Whanganui a Tara anymore. I was hoping that would be my big birthday present to myself. Cancelling a week out really sucks.
But there are some other things to look forward to:
- I'll be reading a Letter to my libido at The Good Sex Project Season 3 Launch. It's free but register here.
- Queer Bookclub with Emily Writes at Masterton District Library! It's free but register here.
Not something to look forward to. But - June 13 is the National Day of Action to Unite for Trans Rights.
Come along to any of the events around the country. I'll be at the Civic Square event at midday, 13 June.
There's another protest at 1pm at the Bridge of Remembrance in Ōtautahi. And at Myers Park in Tāmaki Makaurau at midday. And a protest in Nelson at 1903 Square from 2pm to 4pm.
Make sure you sign if you haven't already!
What I'm reading:
I'm finishing the Kite Surfing Brothers Who Are Gay book series - Kings of Airlie by Casey Cox. Now, I've had a great recommendation from someone who listened to our podcast last week: The Shearing Gun by Renae Kaye. So, that's on my list!
If you want to read a really beautiful, wholesome little story about a real bear click here. Don't worry about the content warning - there is some bear-on-bear violence but it's brief (and to be honest, I don't expect bears to be nice to each other?!)
Ana Osorno
Aaron Smale
Maria Zorn
Editorial
Thien-Kim Lam
Peter Walker
tworuru
What I'm watching:
Tip Toe is out. And it's on TVNZ. Before you watch, here's what you need to know:
- There's a very, very graphic suicide scene in almost every episode. If you have lost someone to suicide, it may be very triggering for you. Either way, it's a very upsetting visual that they return to at the start of every episode.
- This show is about as far away from Queer Joy as you can get.
- If queer TV shows are a spectrum (which they are), it kinda (in my opinion) looks something like this (I've tried to only include very popular shows/movies):
Wholesome Queer Joy Happy Ever After
Heated Rivalry - Heart Stopper - Love, Simon - Overcompensating - Our Flag Means Death
Queer, but for straight people
Will and Grace - Transparent - Glee
Good adult queer TV that's both queer joy and deeply depressing
Pose - Special - Queer as Folk - Looking - Feel Good - Six Feet Under
So bad it makes queer people homophobic, but also it's ours, so we're mostly glad it exists...kinda
The L Word - RuPaul's Drag Race - Queer Eye (which could also go in Queer, but for straight people)
Devastating Queer Trauma drama
All of Us Strangers - Brookback Mountain - It's a Sin
And then Tip Toe sits under that somehow. But it's very relevant, and the acting is phenomenal.
So watch with caution, but oooosh, the acting is so so so good.
I hate-watched the rest of Euphoria on Neon, and it was so bad and pointless, and it's the worst show ever.
I will probably watch the new Cape Fear because I will watch anything with Amy Adams in it.
What I'm listening to:
I finished listening to The Names by Florence Knapp and I loved it so much. I don't think I've ever cried so much listening to an audiobook. I hope I can find another good one.
I have started the BBC Audio podcast, The Cows Are Mad, about Mad Cow Disease. I'm weirdly obsessed with Mad Cow Disease, and I don't know why.
I'm enjoying Fenian the new Kneecap album! I really like this line from a Guardian review:
The track Palestine, meanwhile, conflates west Belfast with the West Bank, stirs in a guest appearance from Ramallah-based rapper Fawzi and concludes “we won’t stop until everyone is free”.
Palestine is a great track and it's made me listen to Fawzi.
Alexis Petridis
I'm also thrashing Mob Ties by Miss Kaninna. She also supported Kneecap. She's a Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Kalkadoon and Yirandhali woman.
I hope you have a great weekend! OMG THIS WEATHER AGHHHHH I HATE IT, but hopefully you'll get some sunshine wherever you are. I will be working on a story about the David Seymour truancy bill that's starting to hit parents! And hopefully a nice story about my son and his journey to school....
Arohanui, thank you for your support! You're golden, and I'm grateful. Emily X
Still bored?
Kelly Grovier
Still, still bored?
Do some submissions!
