Photoblog of my trip to another state park today, including some audio recordings of the reverb on the “Devil's Bathtub,” and of an interesting bird call

https://reillyspitzfaden.com/notes/2025/03/mendon-ponds-park/

I've been taking more pictures lately — I didn't used to do it much, but I'm enjoying my new camera phone — and I've started photoblogging on my /notes page

Here's a cute trip I took with my partner:

https://reillyspitzfaden.com/notes/2025/03/watkins-seneca-daytrip/

Protest In Ithaca, NY
Indivisible Tompkins

https://indivisibletompkins.org/

Hey so I don't know how many people might be seeking a relatively low-paid job* at a very inclusive library in a mildly welcoming town, but my local library is expanding its physical premises and is now also hiring a new library clerk. This position is full time, doesn't require advanced degrees, and comes with good benefits and, if it's like my civil service job, also comes with a guaranteed pay raise of 2-3% every year.

*a bit less than 35K per year

Anyway my upstate NY people please spread this around!

#Hiring #GetFediHired #FediJobs #Classifieds #NYS #UpstateNY

https://hmloneonta.org/

Damn. A struggling small town newspaper. In print for 150+ years. But tariffs on Canadian products meant their paper costs 25% more now. That was the final nail in the coffin. The Cortland Standard, one of the 5 oldest family-owned newspapers in the USA, is shuttering.

#news #breaking #NYS #upstateNY

https://www.cortlandstandard.com/stories/goodbye-cortland-and-godspeed,133575

Omg so someone wrote a musical about bigots trying to cancel Drag Queen Story Hour, and it's debuting in Glens Falls NY! On June 6. On account of the story is about the Rockwell Falls Public Library in Lake Luzerne, NY, and will star Scarlett Sagamore, the original cancelled drag queen. I think this is a great way to deal with the confusion and trauma of such a series of events.

Indeed, they're still casting so spread the word, thespians!

#NY #upstateNY #Drag #DragQueens #theater #CommunityTheater #LGBTQIA #QueerCulture #DragQueenStoryHour #MusicalTheater #satire

https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/controversial-library-closure-inspires-new-musical-in-upstate-new-york

We will not be silent

I love my little town.
I saw this at the supermarket I frequent and smiled so big.
Go home ICE.
No one wants you here.
The people have spoken!

Writing about the Mohawk National Bank's great wig giveaway of 1970 made me dig into the history of the bank itself, which was established in 1807 as one of New York State's first four banks. It had about a 195-year run, then was merged into the usual non-local banking conglomeration.

Much more, including instructions on how to use the sidewalk teller, at the link:

https://hoxsie.org/.../mohawk-national-bank-of-schenectady/

Seeing women gather for a picnic at the park made me both happy and sad. Sad because I lost touch with so many people when I deleted most of my social media. I wish I had more female energies around me.
If there is anyone in Ithaca who wants to go for a picnic at the park, talk about art, make art, share stories, do comment on this post.
I need time with my kind.
#UpstateNY #Ithaca

This handsome #bluebird was back to visit us again this morning. May he bring you happiness.
#birds #BirdsOfMastodon #UpstateNY

Trans people are finding safe haven in an unexpected place: upstate New York—Rochester, Albany and other cities offer refuge from anti-trans laws in other states and ballooning costs in big cities | The Guardian

#News #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #News #NewYork #Rochester #Rochester #RochesterNY #UpstateNY #GoodNews #UpliftingNews

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/18/trans-americans-upstate-new-york-rochester

#Bookstodon #LGBTQstodon Coming up on 8/20! Join author Dee Holloway and cover artist Cailtin Cadieux for the bookstore launch of Dee’s novella #LITTLE NOTHING at The Open Door Bookstore in Schenectady, NY! #bookstore #upstateNY #authorevent
https://www.opendoor-bookstore.com/event/dee-holloway-and-caitlin-cadieux-signing-little-nothing

New #introduction.

I’m Nikki.

I’m an #academic living in #UpstateNY. Love #teaching, need to do more #research.

I’m #transgender, and #transitioning.

I’m a #geek. I love #reading, need to get to #writing again (both academic and non), love #scifi and #anime and pretty much anything to do with #learning. (For some reason, on a #philosophy kick right now.)

For exercise, I love #cycling, in particular distance cycling.

Everything else right now is nebulous.

New #Introduction, due to a couple of changes.

I’m Nikki; I live in #UpstateNY.

I’m #trans, and #transitioning.

I’m a #business #academic that specializes in #operations and #supplychain, but starting to make a pivot towards #transgender DEI issues in the workplace.

I just stepped down from #administration work, so I’m in this strange time where I’m weighing what to do going forward with regard to #research and #writing. That said, I love #teaching; it’s the students that make everything worth it.

I love #reading a lot. I basically turned the living room in my house in my own little #library.

I love #scifi and #anime.

For exercise, I prefer #cycling. I’m a slow cyclist, but like going long distances if able.

I love #singing, and am part of an all-trans #choir.

As for religion… it’s complicated. Was raised #Catholic. Currently having a crisis of institutional faith, for reasons. Debating my options right now.

Hello! Excited to be here, meet new people and share my passion of photography.

This image is from my series "Shipping Lane".