My Cardboard Balcony

Okay, so I'm technically writing this past midnight on the 22nd, but that's only because I was out for several hours for my birthday celebration. So, the deets: - I turned thirty years old today. - I got lovely gifts from my parents, in-laws, wife, siblings, and friends. - I got Starbucks with the wifey and enjoyed the weather. - I met up with my brother and a friend, and we played Cards Against Humanity and watched Youtube videos. - We then went to Scandia to play arcade games and miniature golf - my team's name was the Party Dudes. - Afterwards, we made it to Buffalo Wild Wings, and I felt so bad that there was confusion with our reservation, but it all worked out. Good food, good drinks, good company. - Binx was annoyed that we were gone for so long, but hey, we fed him and cuddled with him, so yeah. I don't feel any different, obviously. But I am grateful for seeing so many amazing friends, especially ones I haven't hung out with in a while, in one pla...

Early Start by Belinda Roddie I'm thirty years old. Why does my back suddenly hurt?

Let's hold hands when it gets dark enough, and let's kiss under fragrant moonlight; it glows like a white peach and smells like one too. I wrap you carefully in blankets of shadow. They cast a violet tint across your curly hair. You giggle and press into me, and before we both realize it, we are sailing together on a ship of mist across the bay. The Golden Gate is gorgeous this time of night.

The Non-Binary Winery by Belinda Roddie The non-binary winery boasted of reds and whites and pinks, and all those in between - all that mattered was that you wed the bodies, smells, and tastes of Cabs and Zins and Pinot Grigios lined in a row. The owner did not fit as simply male or female, so they wore a tuxedo, yet also a slick skirt, as they prevailed to give the best tastings to patrons. Yes, the queers were in full force as they each poured a glass to every Frank and Paul and Bess who frequented their establishment. More and more, the wine was drunk and then reviewed as, "magnificent, rainbows all imbued."

Ideal Day by Belinda Roddie After quesadillas and chocolate kisses, I found myself skipping thirty steps to the creek, just so I could skip stones as flat as a mesa across cool, glassy lips. Then I remembered that there was no creek, and there were no stones, and there were no chocolate kisses. But there were kisses, over thirty of them.