Miz Moffatt's 24th: Attained

Here it is, kids -- I turned the Big 2-4 at 1:43 AM this morning. And, as I type this, I continue to be twenty-four-years-old.

Quite the mind job.

I tend to begrudge all birthdays. I like to lie low on the radar for the most part and avoid contact with the same people who want to celebrate my birth....? Yeah, I am a strange one like that.

It's not so much the getting older I mind. It's inevitable, so it's best not to fight it. The part I dislike is the whole rotating thought process I come across:

What have I accomplished in the past year? What is it I want? What has stopped me from attaining these goals? How will I know when I've found success?

In essence, I spend a few days agonizing over one thing: relevance. Am I relevant? Have a earned this new year of life, or did I waste the previous ones?

Not the healthiest birthday activity, I realize. Most folks in their twenties celebrate with friends, food, and endless strings of shots and pints.

I debate the existential.

And, I also take myself out to a mindless action flick for kicks.

I started that last tradition in May 2009 as an off-the-cuff, knee-jerkish reaction. I was alone on May 16th. Friends were overseas, out of town, or hectic with their schedules. The Moffatt clan were focused on lil' Brother's band and a gig of theirs at a local club and I was frustrated with them speeding through all birthday celebrations just to watch a band we've seen and heard about one trillion times (in public and from our basement).

Rambles, yes. So, I took myself out to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I was gifted with an action film and a potent bit of eye candy in the form of Lynn Collins as Kayla Silverfox. What started as a hurt, isolated gesture turned out to be a fun experience and an oddly liberating one, too.

This time around, I knew I was headed out for adventure. The Losers is still in theatres and I knew I had to celebrate the start of a new year with the ever-gorgeous, brutal beauty that is Zoe Saldana.

She kicked much ass, indeed. Granted, the film offered standard action film devices and villains and one-liners and explosions. But, see, that's the great part of the annual birthday action flick -- it's a time to shut the mind off and look at the pretty flames (and the pretty girls when they're on screen, guns blazin'.)

I am rather amazed with the stamina of the characters in The Losers. I mean, characters were shot in the arm or cut across major muscle groups, and yet, the fighting continued. Chris Evans' character gets shot at close range in the shoulder and he's scaling shipping crates and barbed wire fences in the next scene. Right on.

The Sister took me out to breakfast this morning at a local joint. I picked it out because the interior reminds me of Der Waffle Haus from Dead Like Me. It's not a dead ringer for the set, there's just something about the vibe of the place that matches. I half expect to hear the gang swearing and squabbling with each other as I take in a delicious Eggs Benedict each time I visit the place...

(L-R): Mandy Patinkin as Rube and Ellen Muth as Georgia "George" Lass in Dead Like Me

So, a rather sweet start to the 24th year, I do believe. And, I just heard the front door slam which means I have falafel waiting for me.

I best get myself in on that action.

Happy 1st Birthday, Blog!

Here it is, lovelies -- Cute, Queer, Canadian becomes a proud one-year-old today. What a shock to see it all typed out before me. It's been one year since I launched this project and I am thrilled to see the personal progress I've made and to see the unmistakable changes to take over this space.

I started this blog for three reasons: first, I was inspired by the fresh and delightful pop culture/lesbian-themed posts of one Dorothy Snarker at her blog Dorothy Surrenders; second, I wanted to create a space for myself where I could blog freely on all the queer topics I wanted and connect with other women like myself; and third, I had the odd impression there was a void when it came to queer Canadian content on the Web.

In the first years of reading queer and lesbian blogs, I struggled to find writers with a Canadian perspective. Perhaps I wasn't picking the proper SEO keywords while searching, but still. It motivated me to start in with my own stories which led me to the likes of Queer Canada Blogs with its diverse, eloquent collective of queer blogettes and bloggers (who just happened to be of the Canadian persuasion). From then on, it's been a great trip connecting with new writers and with an excellent group of readers across the Blogoverse.

For a taste of nostalgia, here's the first post I made to Cute, Queer, Canadian (then known as "Queer in Canada"). It was a brief introduction to future readers and offered a nice profile of the writer to develop therein.

Since then, I introduced readers to the detailed world of The Harem Proper, showcased a wide array of talented women through Tunes for Tuesdays (highlights include Laura Marling, Amanda Palmer, PJ Harvey, k.d. lang, and Metric to name a few) -- and I even had the gumption to warn online daters of the Major Archetypes and Minor Archetypes of the dreaded e-scene. (Just so generous and thorough, aren't I?)

However, I think the most golden of all posts are tied into the coming out successes I found in the last year. All the time spent concealed and nervous paid off with a new-found freedom when it comes to personal identity. It's impressive to see that inner confidence take root and strengthen with each person I came out to. Check it:

• In April 2009, I profiled where I was at in the coming out process (I'M OUT! I'M IN!)
• July 2009 -- I vowed to out myself on the home front and wrote up the Official Game Plan for that August.
• I came out to my lil' brother on July 30th, 2009.
• I got scooped by my sister's engagement announcement on Aug. 22nd, 2009. Oh, so close. The week afterward was a tight, stress-filled one even while I was thrilled for my sister's big news.
• SUCCESS!! Aug 29th, 2009 will continue to be a remarkable day in the life of Miz Moffatt as I finally had The Talk with Mom and Dad.
• I pondered the difference between Being Queer and Living Queer after The Talk.
• I came out to The Advocate after a rousing Nuit Blanche and then came out to Ship Sharp on an October Ladies' Night.

Astounding. I relate to myself in such a different sense after the marathon of coming out declarations between July and October in 2009. While I still need to push myself out into the scene more, I now have the support of family and friends alike. I can enter into a relationship without compromising myself or my girlfriend's identity. That in itself is a revelation.

And now, I will make some space for a round of special thanks:

• To the parents and the siblings for accepting me and respecting who I am. I needed that foundation and I am glad to have found it.
• To the first friends who knew. O'Neill found himself in an integral role for me. I talked to him about queer issues I'd never spoken of before. I like to think we protected one another in those coming out years. And Ms. Chantal who knew I was queer before I even came out to myself which I am still impressed with. She knew when we were in grade nine. I know! I think I need to borrow her Gaydar....
• To The Advocate and Ship Sharp for not even blinking in the face of my coming out. I can't express how helpful both these ladies have been for my confidence level. They epitomize the term "straight allies" and "wicked cool women." And heck, they've both encouraged me to get out on the town and flirt with the ladies, so, um.... awesome.
• To Kara and Jessica over at The Adventures of Kara & Jessica -- Ms. Kara was the first follower of this blog and she gave me the confidence to keep at it and write for other queer gals like us.
• To the fabulous bloggettes and bloggers over at Queer Canada Blogs who provide epic content with a delightful queer twist.

And last, though quite important, I thank you for reading this. Whomever you might be, of whatever persuasion, thank you for clicking over here and checking out the life of a gay gal in the Great White North. Here's to another year that's even brighter than the last.

Retro Shindig for The Advocate

All the cats and chicks got their kicks this weekend with The Advocate -- we travelled back through the 20th-century and crashed into the 50s to celebrate her birthday in style. Costumes were donned, drinks were free flowing, and the juke box kept close company with us for the night.

As a fan of Doctor Who and the potential for time travel, I would argue the experience was an express success.

So yes, The Advocate turned 24 on April 1st and we took to Toronto to celebrate on April 3rd. 50s dress code was in effect and I was impressed to see how folks interpreted their signature style. The Advocate and The Bruce bested all of us, natch -- the kids mastered a cool bit of spunk with matching rockabilly outfits. I admit, I felt underdressed in their presence. I opted for the backyard casual/tomboy look with a sporty pair of shoes, jeans, a white t-shirt, and a blue/white checked button-up. We took in a stellar dinner at the posh, yet quirk-filled, joint, 7 West Cafe. Gorgeous interior and delicious fare was welcomed by all. I mean, honey-glazed vegetables in sandwich form? Yes, please. E & I met up with us there for drinks and E was dazzling in a Mad Men inspired look. See? Diverse fashion for such a theme party.

We headed over to The Boat (158 Augusta Ave.) for 10 PM to meet up with the rest of the gang. Now, as The Advocate explained, The Boat has no website of its own. Its existence is almost secretive in a sense as it's located on a pocket of a street, hidden from the main roads of Toronto. And why "The Boat," you ask? Oh, maybe because the interior resembles the inner workings of a boat, portholes and all. It was kitch and classic all at once.

One night a month, the venue hosts a 50s-themed dance night and Saturday just happened to coincide with The Advocate's birthday. It was a small spot with an excellent, friendly staff and -- did I mention the kickin' soundtrack? The night started with big band standards and steadily progressed through juke box collections, disco hits, and even on to 80s tracks. There were other diehards out in full force with their slick costumes, too. The crowd was a fun one, full of nerds and liberal kids and artistic types -- definitely my kind of folk.

Hats off to The Advocate for such a fantastic idea for a night out. Ship Sharp arrived later (on account of work) and the two of us stunned the dance floor with our inventive new moves. I still think the machine-gun-pelvic-thrust is the single greatest creation I've been involved with. It was one of those nights where a gal could only take two pulls on a beer before she was called out to the floor for someone's favourite song. Ah, pure bliss in retro form.

I have another insight to share from the evening, but that's best saved for another post. It's more a call for advice from you, dear readers. As for this post, I'll leave you with a sock hop favourite. Pull on that poodle skirt or rock out in a James Dean jacket and have a pleasant Monday afternoon, all.

(I had to include this second clip once I found it. Such a character change from the way she speaks to the way she sings. Too awesome for words.)