Site of the Month


It's no shock I lean to the more liberal side of politics, so it might be less of a shock to know that I follow Christopher's From the Left.

I follow him on Twitter and read his blog too.

For the most part, he makes rational points for what is going on (and going wrong) in the world - mostly of politics. Though I won't say I agree with him on every point - why should he be different than anyone else I know (or don't know, for that fact)?

He is very hard on Obama - mostly on gay issues. ...and if you've been reading me for the last few weeks, you know where I stand on that, at least for the moment. I just don't get what they think the left guys who are now seemingly against Obama think the alternative is.

McCain/Palin proves how much of a short term memory some people have - not that he's advocating that. I don't mean to put words in his mouth.

Still - it is an interesting site and he doesn't overdo it with dozens of posts per day. It is usually once per day - like mine.

It doesn't hurt that he's handsome (at least via his Twitter pic).

Are You Out There

No, it's not National Coming Out Day. Or is it? Or more precisely, isn't it always?

Time had an article this last week about coming out on Facebook. The article is very much a non-article. It is space filler for an already crappy magazine (or it was the last time I read a copy a decade ago).

Coming out used to be an exhausting process. It says.

News Flash: It still is. Or certainly can be.

You had to come out again and again and again to all your friends at different times. Nowadays, even with social networking, gays still have to come out, but one of the key differences between our pre-profile selves and our new online presentations is that now (finally!) the burden is also on our friends to discover and digest our identities. For the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, Facebook et al have finally leveled the identity field, and it's kinda nice.

You still have to come out again and again at different times to your friends. There is no real difference - as they are not all finding you on Facebook all at once. And I don't buy into that the burden is now on our (straight) friends. There certainly is no 'leveling'.

Yes, you can put 'I'm in a relationship. You can even fill in the next part: with......' (fill in the blank). Is the blank supposed to be a name? A gender? What? And what do I want Facebook telling others? I'll gladly tell you my music choices before I tell you of my religious affiliation. Why should my relationship status be different?

The thing is, social networking sites are not just social. If you think Human Resources is not Goooooogling every potential candidate they might make an offer too, you're nutso. And it is not that I think many HR folks aren't enlightened to the ways of homos. But really, why would I give them that potential ammo?

I tell who I want - and how I want to tell them.

Case in point have been a few old friends I left behind decades ago. Lester, Dann and Fred both reconnected with me and I have always liked them. I'm happy to be their friend. But of course, when you're playing 'catch-up' they start with their kids, (ex) wives, etc . You feel compelled to do the same - but then again, it has been two decades........

I don't want to say I framed it like a 'take it or leave it' scenario, as I have way too much respect for them - and clearly they did for me too. Dann's response was classic (and he meant it with good humour): "Well, looking at your friends, I kind of figured....." OUCH.

To be fair, Dann was an early FB friend when I only had gay friends on there. Now my straight friends outnumber the gay ones. Fred and Lester don't care either.

I'd say it is easier to come out in this day & age, mostly because as you mature, you just don't care as much about what people think. I would have been disappointed if either of those three reacted badly - but I wasn't basing my happiness on it. There was a time that might not have been the case.

The article actually ends with a 'Dos and Don'ts' of coming out on FB. Like I'm taking my advice from Time.

Song by: Dar Williams

The Sporting Life

Still catching up on our socialization opportunities for this year, we went out to dinner with our friend Todd (no, not the former porn adult film ingenue, Todd). It was a beautiful night so we went to a local place that had outdoor seating. The temps, the sky and the company were perfect.

...the service, not so much.

Our "server" was an incompetent boob. Let's start out that I can't actually spell out how he mispronounced the word 'noir' as in pinot noir. You'd think if he got any of it wrong it'd be the first part. Let's not start out that as he tried to rattle off the specials that there is probably nothing that is 'vegetable stuffed asparagus'. If they can stuff spears of asparagus, I'd like to see it. I was tempted to order it just to take a look-see. Water was asked for (and ignored) four to five times. Oh - and I got the wrong dish.

Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), Denton and Todd did not have me pay the bill. A 5% tip would have been generous in my book. I still think they gave him like 18%. I do not reward bad behaviour or service. Had that been my first time there, I never would go back - that's the kind of customer I am. But since normally I really like the place and have frequented them often, I will return - and just avoid "Dan".

...and speaking of Dans, Danny Ferry and his wife sat right next to us during dinner. Mr. Ferry is the current general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers - and a former player for that team. I thought he was attractive then and much more so now. No shock that Todd and Denton had zero idea who he was - but I knew the second he walked up the sidewalk, his almost seven foot frame aside.

We also ran into my friends Ken & Heather, who asked if I had given Danny a hard time (the Cav guy, not the waiter). You see, the Cavs had an incredible season only to lose in the playoffs last week. But I did not give him a hard time.

If I were to give anyone a hard time, I told them, it would have been Mark Shapiro (btw, the hyperlinked picture doesn't do him justice as he's not all that unattractive, just does not photograph well) who had also been at the restaurant before Ken & Heather arrived.

Mr. Shapiro, is the general manager of the Cleveland Indians. Why he was out to dinner, while his team was in Chicago losing yet another game is beyond me. For g-d's sake, he wasn't even watching the game on television.

The Indians, this year, suck beyond belief. It is like pre-1994 Indians, where we would often start and finish in last place. Maybe that's why Mark was not with the team - because they are cutting expenses in having him travel with them. And maybe, just maybe, they'll be cutting his job. (fingers crossed!)

...at least both Todd and Denton knew who Mark Shapiro was, by name and by sight, so they kind of butched it up a bit. Kind of.


Song by: the Decemberists

Shanti-Ashtangi

Kris has a great piece from the other day on her yoga history. And it is possible that 'yogini' isn't a real word. I could be way off base on this - as I still don't know the lingo.

And while I was going to write on yoga for the last few days, she kind of beat me to the punch - but what the hell. I'll still do my thing.

I started yoga a few weeks back to compensate my work-out time due to a bad shoulder. The shoulder is better, but I'm sticking with the yoga too. It's still beginner level and I expect to stay there for a bit which is tough. I'm the kind of guy who wants to jump to the end-result. I want to lift more weights, I want to fix the problem at work that no one has done for three decades. That thought process has usually left me a bit defeated in the long run.

So that I recognize I'm not going anywhere just yet is tough, yet the right thing.

I am no longer the worst one in my twice a week class. And it's not a class class. People come and go with each session. Except for one other guy, I have not seen anyone else as a constant besides myself, and the instructor. Barrie (the instructor) no longer singles me out constantly. Now and again, sure - but she's moved on to others. Score!

But Kris is right - I went into yoga thinking it was about relaxing and such. It's not. It is work. It is about focus and concentration, but it is physical work, make no mistake.

She says she has and likes the oms and the chants and the candles. We have none of that - and for that I am eternally grateful. It is a little too new age-y for me. I'm much more comfortable with the English / bastardized names of the poses we do. I can barely remember those - but them into another language and I'm lost and defeated.

This is why I can't move onto the next level. I'll assume that they assume you know these poses / name and can just get into them without re-describing what they are. I've got a ways to go.

The only one I got down by another name is savasana. ooops... I mean savasana. I won't say it's the best part of yoga, but it is the most relaxing - a total re-centering of yourself at the end of class. And of course, the bonus is I have not drifted off and started snoring.

As for the image and title of this post. It's Madonna - and I have no idea what it means or if it pertains to yoga. It's just the closest music selection I had that might somewhat incorporate into the practice.

The image.....apparently there are hot naked yoga classes. I haven't done hot yoga yet. But naked? I think I'm self-conscious doing yoga now? ...just wait until I drop my shorts! (as if!)

Namsate, indeed!


Song by: Madonna

Don't Stop the Music

I've always been an 'early adopter'. When it comes to music. Not children. Never children. Not that there's anything wrong with them.

My first portable music device was the Sony Walkman II. It was so much more portable than the original - so maybe I'm not a first generation adopter, but I was the first one I knew who had one. ...well...except Lori Silverstein. But we hung together my freshman year of college, so we'd be at the main liberry trying to study while tunes pushed through those headphones. It turns out most everyone else could hear whatever we played too.

But after that I died, I got other cassette players - and then of course a few portable CD players, which really weren't that easily portable. And then finally graduated to .mp3 players.

Steve Jobs has enough of my money to pay for all his alternative therapy treatments that won't extend his life one hour - but if he thinks it will, more power to him. Keep positive Steve - the Apple shareholders need you.

I am embarrassed to say (well....kind of) that I have a new iPod. Another iPod.

This house now has four, not including the iPhones. FOUR!

To be fair, we only really paid for two. Denton got me the 30 gig one for my birthday years back. It was the 2nd generation version before there was video. Big as a house, it is. It now resides in his car hooked up to his mocked up iPod dock. Way too much Chicane and Coldplay for my liking. Don't get me started on Lime, Cher and Teena Marie. As far as I'm concerned, that iPod can stay in that car - and when we go out together, I drive!

About five years back I got the first generation Nano. It was so cute - it still is. And it's a workhorse. Holding about 900 songs and their cover art, it has seen me through hundreds of work trips, work outs, bike rides - you name it. When it's at home, we have it hooked up through a Bose radio in the kitchen. It really has outlasted it's prime, I'm sure.

The other two are Shuffles. I got the 2nd generation one for Denton from a rebate I got because of the first iPods shoddy battery. It never went bad, but Apple paid up 'just in case'. He got it for the holidays two years ago. I think I dolled out about $19 for it. But it was good for his workouts.

And now, I have the new Shuffle. I got a MicroCenter gift certificate from my parents this last holiday season that I could not find thing to use it on. I don't need any more blank disks or firewires. We went to the store about six times and left empty-handed.

I didn't need the Shuffle, but I could not bare to go back to that store one more time to look around and leave with nothing. And you know, it's new, it holds as much as my Nano and it works better at the gym - when it comes to size.

Look. Look how small it is.

Yeah - I suppose it is bound to be misplaced. Hell, on day one I had trouble finding it in my gym bag. But it clips easily on my shirt and makes it nicer to use the machines and weights.

The headphones take a bit of work - as that is where all the controls are. One click for forward, another to pause, two to go skip a track and three to go back a track. Oy.

I'm using the Shuffle specifically for workouts. While it probably would behoove me to have music that is conducive for warm-up and cool-down, I haven't loaded that stuff onto it. Right now it is just music to get the blood flowing and to keep my adrenaline flowing.

But I think that's it for my Apple music playing devices. I'm good for another year.


Song by: the Michael Stanley Band

Altered State

It seems that Six by Twelve thing has been blown out of the water. In a good way.....in a good way.

With New Hampshire passing same-sex marriage yesterday (and governor approved!), they have now become the sixth state in the U.S. to allow gay marriage.

For those unaware, there has been an initiative to have six states pass gay marriage by 2012. Barring any grassroots appeals and voter repeals, we've more than made it - and with three years to spare. Or at least two and a half.

Who knows what other states could see the light before 2012. Can you imagine a presidential election cycle that doesn't have gay marriage as a talking point? g-d, it would be like heaven, if that even existed. Politicians and pundits would actually have to focus on real issues like education, economy and healthcare.....and somewhat pretend to mean it.

Live Free or Die. I fucking love that state motto - and now New Hampshire has finally lived up to it.

Ohio's is: With g-d, All Things are Possible.

Not Probable. ...just Possible.

It will take an act of g-d to even consider it in this state. We might be well behind Alabama for ever getting same-sex recognition. Sad Sad Sad.



Song by: Teddy Thompson

Tolerance

Have I mentioned I'm tired of Dick Cheney?

Actually, I think I have.

“People ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish, any kind of arrangement they wish." So says he.

I love the bloggers who say he's for gay marriage. He did not actually say that. I guess it is implied, but he didn't actually say that. To be pro-gay marriage would put him outside of the GOP's parameters. Even Michael Steele (not the bassist for the Bangles) has to bring up Barack Obama's name saying that he stands with him on the matter and Cheney's view is not that of the RNC.

Of course, my reaction is to do the complete opposite of what he says - so now I'm against any kind of gay union. Then I thought - maybe he's using reverse psychology and he's really just saying that to talk us out of this state by state march to repeal bans on same sex marriage. He's like Wallace Shawn's character in The Princess Bride.

"We ought to do everything we can to tolerate and accommodate whatever kind of relationships people want to enter into," he said back in 2000. Pundits say that his stance on gay marriage relationships has been steady. B.F.D.

Guess what? I don't want to be tolerated.

What do parents do when their kids act up in an unflattering way? They tolerate their behavior.

Let's define tolerate, shall we?

• to put up with something or somebody unpleasant
• To allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference
• Toleration and tolerance are terms used in social, cultural and religious contexts to describe attitudes and practices that prohibit
• a disposition to tolerate or accept people or situations
  

So we're unpleasant, disliked and prohibitive?? Yayyyy! I feel all warm and fuzzy. Thanks Dick. Mary must love coming home for the holidays. Actually, that bitch probably does.

The most laughable shit coming out of his mouth, and though tied to his gay speech, is hilarious on multiple levels:

"I think, you know, freedom means freedom for everyone."

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Valarie Plame. Scooter Libby. Waterboarding. Secret energy committee meetings and their rosters of attendees. Any documents having to do with anything in the government. Illegal wiretapping. Made up data on WMD ......shall I go on?

What he meant to say is, freedom means freedom for everyone I determine and when and where I say it's ok.

Once again, why won't he go away??


Song by: 10,000 Maniacs

dogs

I guess I could have done 'who let the dogs out' - but I don't own that song, nor have I really ever heard the entire thing either. Is there anything else to it but that g-d awful chorus?

I came home from workout Sunday to find this in our yard:

....two big mutts in our yard. Asleep. I'm taking these from about 100 yards away - so they're much bigger up closer. Not that I got that close.

this guy (?) is mostly Mastiff. Big feller - or lady. Especially when he/she stood up.

This one was of an unknown breed. I'd suspect 100% mutt. But it was one mean doggie.

I love dogs. I get in trouble by getting on their level, whether they like it or not. Normally they do, but now and again it comes back to bite me. Literally.

These dogs I knew better than to go, 'oh what a cuuuuuuuuute doggie!!!!!!'.

For the last few years we've had a pack of wild dogs roam the 'hood. Nasty dogs. Ones that kill every living animal they come across - smaller dogs, cats, bunnies and squirrels (say like Veruca Salt). I don't care about the squirrels, except that they leave part of the dead carcass in our yard somewhere.

Two years ago there were four dogs. Last year five. This year looks like two.

But when I got out of the car, they awoke. If you've seen Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - you might remember when Sirius Black showed up early on as a dog, growling and snarling? Remember that?

Sirius was a cute little puppy compared to this black dog. I can deal with barking. The growling and snarling was a bit disconcerting. The charging at me? I did not like one little bit.

I ran like a little girl into the garage and hit the button to shut the door.

All I could think of is that I'd get bitten and have to get the rabies shots, since they'd never catch these dogs.

Two years ago I complained to animal control. They knew all about them but can't do anything about them. They've set traps and can't catch them. Or when you call them, by the time get there the dogs are long gone.

Mr. Mastiff got up and ambled away and the black pooch followed....but not before taking a leak on some of our new plants.


Song by: damien rice

Wither, I'm a Flower

"Oh, I took a train, took a train to another state / The flora and the fauna I saw were really great....."

From that Schoolhouse Rock line (in a song about nouns), I think was first time I had heard the words 'flora' and 'fauna'. ....and that's about as far as my education went when it came to plants and flowers.

My mother is an avid gardener, though she couldn't keep a plant alive inside the house to save her life. But from March to November, she's outside making her yard prettier than the year before. You would have thought some of that rubbed off - but it didn't. You're looking at a guy who took the weed eater to dozens of her Hostas, because I thought they were skunk cabbage.

....but at least after that, I knew what a Hosta was. But save your petunia, tulip and a few others, I'm sort of clueless when it comes to flowers.

The way I see it, it's like art.......or porn. I don't know it, but I'll know it when I see it.

So we have now been in this house for four years (today, actually!). Some of the foliae we inherited, some we have planted....or had planted. When I look at the pictures, you'd think Prince or Apollonia live here, as there is a lot of purple.

But for a kick-off to the week and the month - I'll just leave you with some pictures of what's been opening up in the garden. We have worked with a lady who picked stuff so there will be some colour all spring, summer and autumn long. It will be staggered, so this is nice.

Anyway - enjoy. I'd label the stuff, but....well........you know............










Song by: Whiskeytown

Up!

I'm so on track for making the quest of one movie per month this year. I know it seems like a small goal - but so far, it is one that has not been achievable.

I guess it's really an average of one movie per month, considering we've seen three this month alone and I'm still falling one short year to date. But with Harry Potter and Julie & Julia on the way, I should make it.

Yesterday we saw Up. In 3D, no less.

Except for Honey, I Blew Up the Kids down at Animal Kingdom, I'm not sure I've ever seen a three dimensional movie.

Aren't the glasses fabu? Aren't I? I look so very European.

For all of Pixar's releases, we've made most of them on their opening weekend. Up has gotten rave reviews. And maybe it works on multiple levels, but I have to say, I didn't see it from a kid's perspective. I found it to be extremely kid-unfriendly for the first two-thirds. VERY.

Much like Wall-E, the first half-hour is a poignant movie on its own, but obviously goes on longer and with other or extended story lines. But still, I wondered (aloud) why the kids in the audience weren't in tears or scared. Again, Disney is the master of making movies work on multiple levels, so maybe I can't see it through a child's eyes.

The story is ok, but it didn't WOW me. As always, the visuals were great - though I can't say the scenery shots were better than Cars or the Incredibles. Those were outstanding. Some of the 3D stuff was good, but I'm not sure the movie wouldn't have worked without it. Visuals have always been Pixar's strong suit, so I'm not sure that 3D is necessary.

Up is a decent 90 minute or so flick. I wouldn't say you need to rush out to see it, but it's something to do on an uneventful afternoon.


Song by: Shania Twain

Lost

I've seen this the last few days on my way to work. I finally snapped a pic of it yesterday. All I could think was......

Oh No! Jody Whatley lost an earring.

Ok - that this was all mostly for my friend, Jon.



Song by: Sarah McLachlan (what??? I don't own any Jody Whatley!)

Is it a Crime?

This was in my email yesterday. It didn't even make it to my spam folder - which is how I saw it.

Granted I am always looking for new career opportunities, but I never thought anything I would do for cash would start out with a theme song done by the Who.

You know I'd be on some critical mission, but be the one given the walkie-talkie. I don't even see anyone carrying their special lights to identify semen stains in the dark. What's up with that? Maybe the specially trained don't need that light. Is that what you were going to say all so snidely????? IS IT???

Though I'm sure I can come up with worse career choices, this is still nothing I would ever consider doing. Unless of course, I get to work with George Eads.

And by "work", I means "sleep with". And by "sleep with", of course, I mean "have sex with". And by 'have sex with", of course I mean....... Oh you don't want specifics.



What? You were thinking I'd be wanting to hook up with Marg Helgenberger? Puh-Leese!!! (say like Squidward.)


Song by: Sade

Bigmouth Strikes Again

What the hell is up with Dick Cheney?

I know this is has been question that has plagued the U.S...no...no.. ..most of the world...for the last decade or so. But I'm talking more recently.

Actually so has he. That's all he's been doing. Yak yak yak yak. He's like a frickin' woman. Sorry girls. And he's worse than the H1N1 - and spreading himself around just as much.

I know there is a group probably for just about everything on Facebook and normally I just can't be bothered with that shit. But when this came up, I had to had to had to join. Had to.

That's right: Telling Dick Cheney to Shut the Hell Up.

Of course I would have changed one word in that title. I'm sure FB wouldn't have allowed it, so from now on you can just say it in your head. You know what I'm talkin' about.

Your time is over old man. Go sail off into the West - as if they'd even have you.

I cannot fathom how a man who left office with a 13% approval rating has become the mouthpiece for the GOP - especially when he almost refused to talk for the eight years he was in office. Like he was too good for his royal subjects.

Connie Schultz, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer (and wife of Democratic Senator, Sherrod Brown) had a good piece in yesterday's PD.

I guess the bigger question to me is, save for Fox....because, well.....they're Fox....why does anyone give this man the opportunity to speak? He can't be that much of a ratings draw - can he?

And what the fuck is up with that torture press conference that Obama gave last week and Cheney had his counter one at the same time??? Do you know how fast the GOP would have shut that down had it been the other way around? Where are the Dems balls?

One could say the Dems are just happy to watch Cheney & Co implode with this, but this has taken on a life of its own (this blog piece included). Not only is Dick going on and on and on and on....so it everyone else.

The last eight years can't go away fast enough. Why won't he let it? WHY?


Song by: the Smiths

Super Sugar Supreme

Believe it or not, I have no songs with the word, 'court', 'judge' or 'trial'. Who knew? I have like 14,000 songs in my liberry, how is this even possible?

Yesterday was a big day in the name of justice. Some good. Some bad. Both kind of expected. Let's start with the good.

Obama picked his first (and hopefully not last) Supreme Court Justice nominee - Sonia Sotomayor. His short list was reported to have been made up mostly of women, so it's not a huge surprise that his final pick was one. That she is hispanic is a plus. That court needs some diversity. Thomas doesn't count. He's as white as they come when it comes to matters of the law.

The Prop 8 decision was the bad. And again, not horribly unexpected.

And guess what, I'm going to be a seemingly bad apple here: Good for the California Supreme Court.

Before you berate me and start thinking of your flames, let me tell you why I say that:

If last November, Prop 8 had not passed and things gone our way and yesterday the court were to turn over that election, we (the gays and gay loving public), would say it was a travesty and an outrage that the court reversed something the public voted for.

So how is this different?

This is not 2000 where the courts were looking into voter fraud and election tampering. This was a population not happy with an election result.

But here is my positive take away on the result from yesterday. I feel there is a huge loophole in the court's decision. There is zero equality in allowing 18,000 gay couples to be married and recognized by the state and no others. It's a risk, but there could be thousands of lawsuits over this fact.

Of course I want there to be the ability for same-sex couples to marry. I am for all the rallies going on and I do think there will be another initiative in California - and soon. I also think more people are now aware of how election language is set forth and how to educate those around what is right and what is real.

Good and bad yesterday. You see the winds of change with a hispanic woman judge potentially being on the Supreme Court. It was unfathomable that it could even be a possibility a few years ago. The same will be true for gay marriage. Soon.


Song by: the Philosopher Kings

Up, Up & Away

You really have to click on the image to see what I saw. ...and even then it won't be that impressive. Unfortunately.

What is up in the sky are six hot air balloons.

In the town I grew up (as if I ever actually grew up!), they have hot air balloon races each Memorial Day weekend. On and above the horizon you can see the half dozen of which I spoke. A few minutes later there were an additional six.

For a good 30-40 minutes they would bob up and down, above and below the tree line. Or some of them did. About half kept their height.

The plan was to have them fly over and past my parents house, from where I took this picture. But neither the festival, nor the balloon pilots have much control of anything other than the amount of hot air they put into the balloon. They are kind of dependent on the wind, of which there was none. Nary a leaf was moving on any of the trees.

The balloons never made it over my parents house - this was as close as they got. They certainly never got to wherever their final destination was supposed to be.

I was hoping to have really cool close-up shots, but that was out of my hands. I love it when they fly right over - you can hear almost every word that is said in the gondolas. .....and they can hear everything that is said on the ground (or so I've been told - as I've never been up in one).

Maybe next year folks. Maybe next year.


Song by: the Fifth Dimension

Memory in the Making

I just love someecards.

I have no feeling for Memorial Day per se, other than it's my first absolutely scheduled day off since January 1. So for that I'm psyched.

Yes, folks in the healthcare industry rarely get off on MLK, President's Day, etc. Don't even get me started on Columbus or Veteran's Day. Damn sick people!

I mean, I guess back in the day for people who died fighting for freedom are to be honored is a noble thing. I have nothing against that, but let's face it - between Shrub and his father and their fake-ish wars, they've kind of cheapened what freedom is and how we go about achieving it. Atrocities just as big are happening in other parts of the world, but well......they have nothing we want, so we can't be bothered.

As for our 'black president', I have seen this rising ire from the gay community on what he is or isn't doing for us. Of course, that's assuming we all want the same thing. But those speaking out assume we do and yet I don't remember officially being asked by anyone.

Whether I want to get married is irrelevant. Yes, it should be a right, whether we opt to take up those vows after/when it's legal. But Obama pretty much made it clear what his stance on same-sex marriage is prior to the election. So if you voted for him and are bent out of shape on his inaction - suck it up.

DADT (and to a degree, DOMA) is another matter, as he implied it would be changed. But for g-d's sake, give the man a break. Yes, it's not done yet and who knows when or if it will be. Between a crappy economy, record foreclosures and unemployment (and all the things that go along with that), and a supreme court nominee to get through Congress - all within the first four months, I think he is ok in working with his timeline. Not necessarily "ours".

I believe change will come - sooner rather than later. Clearly it is not soon enough for some. With social change like this, I'm a patient man - go figure. I want it done right and without the potential for backlash. I keep thinking some of these outspoken folks have good intentions, but sometimes come across acting like Veruca Salt (the character, not the band).

All I'm saying is give the man a break. Or at least give him a chance. It's only been 120 days.

There are still worse things out there - like Dick Cheney.


Song by: John Kilzer

Star Me Kitten

One of my sisters, and her family, are the proud caretaker of a new family member. A kitten. Or another one. They've almost always had two cats and two dogs.....and two kids. Don't knock symmetry, there is a beauty to it.

They actually got one a few years back, but Marty disappeared two months back. He ran away, or someone took him. No one wants to say the other things that might have happened, but he liked to roam and they live on country roads.....and it is not unusual to see a fox or coyote on these roads now and again.

My sister kept telling me how upset the kids were. Her husband would tell me that it was my sister who'd go to the door three or four dozen times a day calling for him. That's my family - transfer your feelings and emotions to others while absolving yourself of them.

Anyway, they got X yesterday. X, you say? They have not come up with a name yet. I say their oldest, college-bound daughter doesn't get a way (she's picking the worst names) doesn't get a choice as she's leaving home.

It is a house full of male pets too. They had (well, have) one girl cat, but all the other cats and dogs have been male. X is a guy too.

He's got great markings. Better than show up on the iPhone. He's on high-alert as the two dogs who share the house are trying to familiarize themselves with him. But they're not allowed in the family room - something X will use to his advantage in the very very near future.

I'm loving the two little dots on his nose.

Here's me looking a little shlubby, but I completely attribute it to my posture, or lack of. I plopped down on the couch and the little guy curled up right next to me. I think he'll be a cuddler, but in reality I provided a save haven and warmth for him. Hey - it works for me.

I HATE his pic of me, but it's cute of him. I love how it shows how small he is (no, not how large I am).

Of course, all this makes me want another kitten, but deep down I know better. And Denton asked me if I even remember that stage: all energy, jumping, running, climbing and clawing?

My response, naturally was, 'you mean like Sophie now?'. Sophie turns three in a few weeks. She has yet to outgrow kittendom.

I'll let you know the chosen name when they get it. My brother-in-law said they had to have one by the end of Monday. He's so funny when he attempts to lay down the law in that house.


Song by: R.E.M.

Family

Well - my time away didn't last very long - did it?

I kind of suspected it wouldn't. You know - routine and/or OCD. Some habits are hard to break.

In this very left-of-center effort to make connections with some of my lesser know relatives, I had lunch again with my cousin Bill. This time he invited his nephew (also my cousin), David, to tag along.

David is two years younger than I am and I think it might be 30-35 years since I've seen him last. He didn't remember ever meeting me. Normally that would have shot my already low self-esteem even lower, but really, it's been three plus decades and not everyone is blessed cursed with a memory like mine.

I say this with the utmost affection (honestly): David is one big bag of crazy.

And I immediately connected with him.

Denton always asks me if I ever have an unverbalized thought. Normally I would said, 'no, no I don't', until I (re)met David. I absolutely loved it. In a matter of minutes he was talking about mulch, his sister, bath houses, high school reunions, San Francisco, volunteering and being a germaphobe. None of (or very few of) these subjects had to do with each other.

Just to be clear on the bath house and SF comments - I guess I should note that David is not gay. Clearly gay-friendly, but not gay. At least I'm 71% sure. He is married. To a woman.

He goes on to mention how absolute nuts everyone in his family - immediate and otherwise - are, then proceeds to ask me 'so, what's wrong with you?'. Without missing a beat I said, 'where would I even start......?' Then I think he asked what my credit card limit was.

At this point I honestly couldn't tell if Bill was enjoying himself or just tolerating us. I think he is genuinely fond and close to his nephew, so I think he was good with it all. Lunch lasted a good 90 minutes, and yes, it was a work day for me.

After lunch we walked over to the Western Reserve Historical Society. Bill had taken the liberty of calling ahead and pulling some strings and had achieved history of our family pulled out and waiting for us. Apparently we have at least 40 linear feet of documents and photographs chronicling our family here. They gave us little white cloth gloves if we were to touch anything.

There were pictures of at least part of one side of the family (paternal) here. We kind of chuckled over some that were there from a family reunion from 30 odd years ago and I got to relay my house hunting werido story.

We also got a special tour of the facility and where/how they achieve stuff. For some reason, WRHS has the (or one of the) largest collections of Civil War documents. Allegedly Ken Burns spent mucho time there for research when doing his PBS series. Who knew?

I'd love to do something with David again, as he just seems like a lot of fun. That he's family is a plus - and how many times can you really say that? But since getting reacquainted, he is someone I can see hanging out with just because he's smart and funny.

So anyway, it's 04:11 and I can't sleep. ....and I'm back. Or still here, to be more precise. Insomnia is a wonderful thing - isn't it?


Song by: Dar Williams

When You Say Nothing At All

OMG. I've got nothing.

I'm seemingly tired of talking about the gym, yoga and work. And let's face it - that's all I've got lately. And you're probably tired of hearing about it. I gotta mix it up. I gotta.

Am I really taking a break? Probably not - but I'm almost seven months in, without missing a day of posting. Who wouldn't need a day here or there?

It's a holiday weekend, so maybe I will. No one is going to be reading anyway - you all got stuff to do.

Of course, you can check in and see what there is to see - if anything.


Song by: Allison Krauss

You're the Top

I'll go out on a limb - that if you are the owner of this license plate, that you're the bottom.

Just a hunch.

This car was parked outside yesterday at a mexican restaurant on the way to my parking garage. I rolled my eyes and kept walking and thought, 'oh fuck it' and then walked back and took the pic. No doubt the queen owner had a window seat and wondered what the fuck I was doing.

This is where I lose my gay card. I'm a homo of a certain age...maybe off the cusp by a few years. Thankfully. I'm not one who does the gay inhale when they announce her super duper final farewell tour. I don't think she's a good actress or singer. I even loathe that she ingratiates herself in politics and I usually side with her party/candidate.

Though not in the movie, she was a running "joke" in "In & Out" - that shiteous gay movie with Kevin Kline and Tom Sellack. g-d, I can't believe I just typed that. One more reason to associate her with bad things.

She has done one thing that I like - What's Up Doc? And while she is decent in it, it really is because it is such an ensemble piece. If you look at the individual players you'd never think it could work, but it does. Ryan O'Neal? But Madeline Kahn in the best debut role ever!

Do prisoners still make license plates? (did they ever? really?) I wonder what that rapist who had to forge this thought when he had to make this one.

I have to get my registration renewed this year. I'll have to see if STACEYQ is taken.



Song by: Barbara Streisand (for the record, I normally put songs I own as the blog titles. I do not own this!)