the yak occidental

Painting above: Coast road (c.1942) by Dorrit Black February Excursion: Pokemon Go Tour On Feb 20th we spent the day running around town for the Pokemon Go Kanto Tour! Well, my spouse did all the heavy lifting-- I don't play myself, but I joined him for the last stretch walking around for the exercise. It was fun to see just how many people were out playing, with their specific PoGo hunch over their phones. At least Pokemon Go is something we can do to get outside, and still stay distant from other folks. To celebrate the catch of the day (I caught a shiny bulbasaur which my spouse was highly coveting in the two minutes he asked me to take over his phone to tie his shoe), we had ice cream for dinner at Rocky Point, following our city's Rediscover New West campaign. P.S. Have you seen the Bulbasaur Propaganda instagram? Pretty damn funny. Most-liked Chore: Organizing our...chores with Asana We recently moved , and our current dwelling is completely different than the home we

  Above: some offerings from #WOCInRomance Maybe it's because its February, but rather coincidentally I have had a relatively high amount of friends pondering various questions about matters related to sex and sexual health. I'm taking it as a sign from the universe to put together a quick directory of sexual health resources we have found helpful over the years. Two caveats with this post: I haven't read quite everything I'm recommending here. I'm trusting that they were recommended by sources and websites I trust. Those which I haven't read I'm marking with an asterisk * Most of my friends are queer women and nonbinary folks. I don't have a lot of cis male friends, and I think these resources reflect that (i.e. this quick directory has a bias that is limited to my personal friendships and experiences) READ #IndianLovePoems by Tenille K. Campbell. Yes, I am asking you again to read this juicy book of poetry. Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling G

Here is a selection of memorable quotes from The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self, and Relationship b y David Whyte Loïs Mailou Jones, Self Portrait, 1940 A real work cannot be balanced with a marriage in a strategic way, a little bit on that side, a little bit on the other; it can only be put in conversation with that marriage, as an equal partner. All the strategies for making them work together will come from understanding that central conversation. p.80-81 Youthful innocence is, in effect, a way of paying a deep kind of attention to the world; a van Gogh-like courage, looking out at a potential canvas others have lost the ability to see. To lose your innocence is to rob yourself of a particular pair of eyes and a profoundly attentive set of ears. p.92 The first step toward the self is the step discerning what questions are our own, and what questions are our own, and what questions we have been bullied into by others seemingly taller, more adult or more educated than we are.

January often sees a lot of people looking for book recommendations to go with reading goals, etc. Here are a few popular/well-known series or writers and their underrated counterparts to get you started on a path of discovering new reads. If you like.... 50 Shades of Grey series by E. L. James Try.... Kushiel Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey, comprised of books Kushiel’s Dart , Kushiel’s Chosen , and Kushiel’s Avatar  Why:  The first three books of this historical fantasy series are focused on heroine Phèdre nó Delaunay, an anguisette, aka a masochist. The writing is very accessible, sex-positive, pro-sex work, and who would think to make a masochist the most powerful, clever, and compassionate woman in all the realm? BONUS: there are a TON of LGBT dalliances throughout the series If you like... Game of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin Try... The Outcast Chronicle series by Rowena Cory Daniells, c omprised of Books  Besieged , Exile , and Sanctuary Besieged is brutal and full

Here are some of my favourite, more upbeat indie love songs. There's such an abundance of love songs that are   sad and slow , but what about the happy parts of love? Here are a few songs to celebrate. Side note - Animal Collective are arguably the upbeat indie love song champions, they have so many that I haven't included on this playlist. The sound is euphoric and manic for some, but the feeling of their songs, well, it's like being in love. Indie Love Songs: Upbeat Track List Two of a Crime by Perma The Sweetest Thing by Camera Obscura Timothy by Tennis I'll Be With You by flora cash Fireworks by Animal Collective Old Old Fashioned by Frightened Rabbit I Love You Ugly by King Tuff Ivy & Gold by Bombay Bicycle Club This Tornado Loves You by Neko Case Kurt Vonnegut by Born Ruffians Mimizan by Beirut Battle of the Gods* by Tristen (not on this playlist) *I couldn't find the album version of this song on YouTube, but it's on bandcamp here . The album versio

Here are some of my fave makeout songs from the last five years or so. Just in time for Valentine's Day, aren't you lucky? Ironically, this playlist does not contain 2007 screamo classic "Let's Make Out" by Does It Offend You, Yeah? (but still listen to it for fun). let's make out Track List: SEiiZURE by BABii Set Fire by Born Days Kerosene by Mindchatter Me and the Devil by Adia Victoria Bad Apple by Gauntlet Hair My Head Is Into You by BRNS Bobby Wish by Hustle and Drone Weight in Gold by Gallant What's a Girl to Do? by So Sensitive Dim the Lights by Wild Ones Loaded by Francisco The Man LSD by The Gloomies Cut by TENDER Shabrang by Sevdaliza Make Out In My Car by Moses Sumney New Love Cassette by Angel Olsen agony (yung lean cover) by liv middleton Remember, if all else fails, put on anything by The Weeknd, Lana Del Rey, James Blake, or the The xx and have funnnn. More Makeout Playlists: Elaine Lui's classic 2016 piece for Elle Canada Lainey, For

 I read a fair bit . Here are my favourite love stories, just in time for Valentine's Day. 1. The short story "Eric Hermannson's Soul" by Willa Cather She could not meet Eric's eyes as she gave him her hand, but as he stood by the horses head, just as the carriage moved off, she gave him one swift glance that said, "I will not forget." In a moment the carriage was gone. from "Eric Hermannson's Soul" by Willa Cather The version I read was in the collection of Cather's short stories, The Bohemian Girl: Stories . 2. The short story "books and roses" by Helen Oyeyemi Image credit here . This short story is the first from Oyeyemi's collection What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours: Stories . It focuses on St. Jordi's Day , a Spanish holiday which is rather like Valentine's Day. The story reminds me a lot of Beauty and the Beast (library, roses, etc) but wayyy better cuz it's queer and mysterious. 3. Starless by Jacqueline

 Here are some of my favourite, slower, indie love songs. It's February and so there will be talk of Valentine's Day. Fun fact about me - I don't do Valentine's Day. My spouse and I have been together for thirteen years and we've never celebrated Valentine's Day by mutual agreement. There's no real political or social reason to it except laziness. Also I'm not a very romantic person. All this being said, for those of you who do celebrate love on the 14th,  I have some fun, celebratory things coming up this month on the blog. I'll be sharing some of my favourite indie love songs (which are NOT to be confused with make out music), and also an exxclusive makeout playlist as well (there we go). To kick things off, here are my favourite love songs that have a slower beat--who knew there was more to indie love songs than Sea of Love by Cat Power and Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs? I kid, kind of. Those are indie love song classics for a reason, but you already k