Hey Maine!!!

Leviticus 11:9-12 says:

⁹ These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
¹⁰ And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
¹¹ They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.
¹² Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Deuteronomy 14:9-10 says:
⁹ These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:
¹⁰ And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.

Hey, just F to the YI and all. Your lobster industry...it's an abomination. Just like the homos. Same book. So...I'm waiting for the petitions to begin soon, right?

On a personal note.

Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. - Robert Heinlein

February 6, 2000

To be loved in the difficult times -- To be comforted and listened to, enshrouded in security - it is the greatest gift I have ever received. Michael is my safety and comfort, my confidante and best friend, my cheerleader, fan and pep squad. He is inspirational and optimistic and gives me perspective when I lose my own. He is generous and kind beyond my wildest dreams.

Happy Anniversary babe. Here's to new challenges and new adventures.




Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The "So Queer" Year in Review

I'm not a big fan of resolutions. I believe that if I want to change something, I should do it NOW. Now, now, now. On the other hand, I think the end of a year, the passing of a milestone is a good time to look back and look forward. Today, we look back.

Back:

I rented a sod cutter and utterly failed motorcycle class. No seriously, I was actually asked to leave the class. Why, yes, it was humiliating! I also presented a couple of papers which fed my academic ego.

I did some amazing design and party planning work including the Oedipus Coronation, the Oedipus 50th anniversary and I spent the second half of the year designing a friend's mid-century modern condo in Palm Springs. It was an awesome experience and if, when growing up I hadn't decided that I needed to be all smart and academic and shit, I might have given myself an opportunity to do design....wev.

(BTW - please don't send that into Cake Wrecks, ok? That is our patch, it's a 16 in. round cake in two layers and it was a lot of work! and it tasted like a pound of Valrhona in cake form.)

Sometime in the summer the ban on queer marriage was overturned and in November, I had the great honor to perform Frank and his partner's wedding which was utterly fabulous! and then we had to get out the vote. While Obama did, unfortunately Prop 8 did too.

2008 was my 10th year in my book group. Unfreakinbelievable. We've read some good books, some great books and some books that if I couldn't get my money back for them, I'd have shredded them so no one else would have to suffer.

This was a year of some family health issues. Hasn't been a great year in that respect and the health problems, as they are wont to do, colored a lot of the year a fine shade of charcoal gray.

I interviewed but didn't get one really amazing job. It did, however, make me realize that there are jobs out there that use my skills without necessarily doing the same exact thing I'm doing now.

Also, in November, I became a full and voting member of Oedipus Motorcycle Club. I am the first female voting member in the 50 year history of the club and I was voted in unanimously. I am so proud to be a member and I look forward to all of the rides this year!

So that was 2008. To be followed, of course, by a look forward!

Urban Outfitters/Anthropologie SUCK redux

I tried and tried. I love these two stores and yet ever since CEO Richard Hayne donated to Rick (gays = bestiality and pedophilia) Santorum, I can't shop there. Won't.

But honestly, I haven't convinced many people to follow. Despite them ripping off designs from indie designers.

Now, can I have your attention.

Urban Outfitters, home of Jesus is My Homeboy and Reefer Madness t-shirts has stopped selling the I Support Same Sex Marriage t-shirt. Hmmm. So, I guess to them, pot is cool but support for two guys or girls getting married is an unacceptable message.

So I ask you, once again, no matter how cute something is, could you please, please stop shopping at these stores?


Thanks!

Marriage vs. Civil Union

I have received a couple of emails about the fight for marriage equality and the issue with civil unions. This is my attempt to address the issues.

There are two issues here. One is semantics and the other is rights. Rights is the easiest of them, honestly, so I'll deal with that first.

RIGHTS
When I want to make decisions on behalf of my husband with regard to medical care, I am his wife and I have rights. Because we went to Vegas, paid $70 bucks and had Pat the County Commissioner declare us husband and wife, no one has the right or the responsibility that I do for my husband and vice versa. Only I can pull the plug on Michael. Our parents, no matter how much they yell and fight and try to sue, can't.

Whatever it is called, everyone, throughout the entire U.S., needs to have the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else. Until the Federal government passes completely non-negotiably equal marriage rights for everyone, this will continue to be a problem because if Jane and Jackie leave the state of Connecticut and drive to Maine and get into a car accident -- or Maude forbid, they get a job offer in another state, their rights do not extend. In addition, they do not have the federal tax advantages, or disadvantages that straight couples do.

SEMANTICS
As a religious studies scholar, it is very attractive to consider changing all secular "marriages" whether gay or straight, as civil unions as twinsetellen has suggested in a number of comments. Aside from all of the commentary that this is impossible given our society, etc., this "solution" leaves out the queers who are "joined" in a religious environment. Who gets to decide what consists of a religious marriage? Only fundamentalists get to define marriage? Does it mean that if Adam and Steve want to get married at All-Saints Episcopal and the officiating Reverend is more than happy to join them in holy matrimony, are they considered married? or just civilly unionized? If Rabbi Brian wants to join Tova and Elisheva as a married couple, will he be allowed or will only the Rabbinical Council be allowed to confer that title. If so, I know how that will turn out.

I am not religious, however, I would like to allow those couples who want to be joined in marriage to be so joined and while I like the idea of noting that, in fact all marriages that occurred in a non-religious environment are, civil unions, getting the federal government to change the wording to reflect that... well, I have too much to do to fight for the right to not be seen through this antiquated lens right now.

I have other fights to fight. As I mentioned a long time ago (2 1/2 years!!), I have to choose my battles. I recycle but I can't sleep in a park to save a tree. I do self-exams, but as yet I haven't walked 100 miles to raise money to fight cancer. I have to trust that someone else feels so strongly about these things that they will choose that issue, pick up their teaspoon and fight. I choose HIV, I choose rape and sexual assault, I choose marriage equality. If you feel strongly, trust that I am doing my part, pick up your own teaspoon and fight away!

Civil Rights and Boycotts

I feel the need to make some points.

1. Free speech:

Free speech is our right in this country. The 52% of Californians who voted yes on 8 had every right to do that were within their rights to cast a vote given that the amendment was legally placed on the ballot. I don't deny that they have this right, nor do I wish for that right to be taken away from them. The legality of the amendment in itself is the issue here.

I also have the right to not economically participate in the economy that gave them the money to win that vote. In addition, their right to boycott any companies that spent money on the No on 8 side is free to them. In fact, here's a link. Feel free to boycott all Apple products, throw away your Levi's, all films by Brad Pitt. I am entirely serious. Our money is our vote as is yours.

Meanwhile, I will continue to boycott the two companies that affect me, El Pollo Loco (those owned by WKS Restaurant Corp.), the Manchester Hotels and HiTorque publications.

2. Separate but equal

From a comment on Eater L.A.

"Even Elton John stated and rightly so that you have the same rights under a civil union as you do under marriage. Perhaps there are some nuances-not a bid [sic] deal. Why do you want marriage so badly--why?? Why do you so badly need the approval of society[?]"

I've been reading a lot of this in comments on posts about Prop 8. Usually the comments involve references to recruiting children, assholes, limp wrists and purses. This comment did, I just chose to snip those parts out. I know I'm mostly preaching to a choir here, but I have to point out that the same rights are actually not granted under a civil union. Also, the approval of society is not important. If it was, marching in the streets wouldn't be the way to get it. Conforming would be -- and no one is doing that. What queers want is not to conform but to have EQUAL RIGHTS. No more. No less.

Here's what happens when we're not granted EQUALITY. Please read this first hand account.

Also, just because Elton says something, doesn't mean it is so. He's a song writer. He's great at raising money to fight HIV. He may not be the most politically savvy or best spokesperson for teh gayz.

Just sayin'.

Oh, no she didn't

Long ago, when I frequented El Coyote (mid-90's), I used to say it was the only restaurant in L.A. that you could flip over your plate and all the food would stay put. I haven't been in about 10 years and so my boycott won't amount to much, but if you go...don't.

Marjorie Christoffersen, part owner and manager of El Coyote gave $100 to Yes on 8 group ProtectMarriage.com.

She now says she regrets her decision.

Ms. Christoffersen said on one blog advocating a boycott of El Coyote.

I love you guys, I would never do anything to hurt you, I wish I hadn't done it.

So do I. But now there is a call to boycott the restaurant, which has been owned by a branch of Marjorie's family since it opened in 1931. To try to make nice, Marjorie says that she's holding "an open breakfast Wednesday at 11am to speak to the community."

Brunch started about 15 minutes ago. Anyone there to make nice?

Via Huffington Post

An Eye for An Eye

I believe strongly in Gandhi's quote, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." However, when Gandhi said that quote, he was talking about his practice of Satyagraha or nonviolent resistance which is specifically what this movement is practicing. We are, in fact, by boycotting, "achieving socio-political goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, and other methods, without using violence.

Do not lecture to me about Gandhi if you have no idea what he advocated.

BTW - it looks like WKS only owns Corner Bakeries in Arizona and coming to Utah (of course).

More to come about protests and boycotts. Of course.

By the way, there's a huge protest tonight at the Mormon Temple in NYC. If you're on that side of the country, get out there and hold a sign. In addition, there's another protest this afternoon at the Mormon Temple at Santa Monica and Selby.

What:           PROTEST & RALLY against the Mormon Temple (W. LA) Over the
              Church's Backing and Financial Support of Proposition #8
When:           Wednesday, November 12th
              5:00pm - 7:00pm
Where:          Mormon Temple (Los Angeles California Temple of the Mormon
              Church)
              10777 Santa Monica Blvd. @ Overland
              West Los Angeles, CA 90025
Who:            endH8now organizers, protesters and community leaders
CONTACT:        Michael Sanchez, endH8now
              310-940-6886
              axistalent@gmail.com


               www.endH8now.com

TNNA and Proposition 8

This winter, The National NeedleArts Association will be holding its Winter 2009 Trade Show at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. I won't be attending and I'll be letting TNNA know the reason.

Developer Doug Manchester has given significant financial support to Proposition 8. Manchester’s $125,000 donation has prompted activists to boycott the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the Grand Del Mar and the Manchester-owned San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina. So far, the San Diego County retirement board and the Association of American Law Schools have canceled events at the Manchester Hyatt.

Sorry, TNNA - I'm not spending one dime to support Doug Manchester.

If you want to send a message to TNNA - let them know why here:

Address: 1100-H Brandywine Blvd.
Zanesville, OH 43701
Phone: 800-889-8662
Fax: 740-452-2552
Email: TNNA.info@Offinger.com

(This man's money was used to rob us of our civil rights.)

El Pollo Loco/Proposition 8

The franchise owner of the following El Pollo Locos in California donated money in support of Proposition 8. As one of my stand-by restaurants for any occasion, I will be boycotting the following locations owned by WKS Restaurant Corporation, owned by Roland Spongberg.

Also -- If anyone out there knows someone at either CSULA or CSULB, there are Pollo Locos on those campuses owned by WKS. The campus communities should be made aware.


(by Area Code)

(818)
El Pollo Loco #3525 16940 Nordhoff St. Northridge, CA 91343-3526 (818) 895-1680
El Pollo Loco #3532 10651 Balboa Blvd. Granada Hills, CA 91344 phone: (818) 831-4044
El Pollo Loco #3467 4544 Saugus Ave. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 (818) 990-7655

(323)
El Pollo Loco #3526 3925 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90029(323) 665-1333
El Pollo Loco #3504 5151 State University Dr. CSULA Golden Eagle Bldg. Los Angeles, CA 90032 (323) 343-6728
El Pollo Loco #3507 1360 W. Imperial Hwy. Los Angeles, CA 90029 (323) 757-8229
El Pollo Loco #3528 6929 Eastern Av. Bell Gardens, CA 90201

(310)
El Pollo Loco #3531 3008 Sepulveda Blvd. W. Los Angeles, CA 90034 (310) 444-0010
El Pollo Loco #3461 7639 Garvey Ave. Rosemead, CA 91770 (626) 307-4394


(562)
El Pollo Loco #3457 2727 Carson St. Lakewood, CA 90712 (562) 496-1664
El Pollo Loco #3455 1212 S. Bellflower Blvd. CSULB-Student Union Bldg. Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 985-2361
El Pollo Loco #3448 16707 Pioneer Blvd. Artesia, CA 90701 (562) 924-6918
El Pollo Loco #3392 2200 Clark Ave. Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 494-9691
El Pollo Loco #3322 3502 Cerritos Ave. Los Alamitos, CA 90720 (562) 626-8388
El Pollo Loco #3545 3425 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 494-1343
El Pollo Loco #3488 11601 Carson St. Lakewood, CA 90712 (562) 924-2250

(951)
El Pollo Loco #3494 40468 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. Murrieta, CA 92562 (951) 304-7082
El Pollo Loco #3521 32451 State Hwy 79. Temecula, CA 92592 (951)302-2611
El Pollo Loco #3495 117 W. Nuevo Road. Perris, CA 92571 (951) 943-4626
El Pollo Loco #3477 31550 Grape St. Lake Elsinore, CA 92532 (951) 245-1542

(949)
El Pollo Loco #3458 2232 S. Bristol St. Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 474-2120
El Pollo Loco #3490 21212 Bake Pkwy. Lake Forest, CA 92630 (949) 454-8312

(714)
El Pollo Loco #3453 120 No. Euclid. Fullerton, CA 92832

(661)
El Pollo Loco #3371 8200 Stockdale Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93311 (661) 831-9443
El Pollo Loco #3476 2000 White Lane. Bakersfield, CA 93304 (661) 396-7639
El Pollo Loco #3475 3701 California Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 322-4887

(909)
El Pollo Loco #3506 1090 S. Mt. Vernon. Colton, CA 92324 (909) 777-0045

(858)
El Pollo Loco #3565 4330 Genessee Ave. San Diego, CA 92117 (858) 278-0355
El Pollo Loco #3564 8349 Mira Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92126 (858) 578-7553

(619)
El Pollo Loco #3563 3444 Midway Dr. San Diego, CA 92110 (619) 523-9904
El Pollo Loco #3562 494 Broadway. El Cajon, CA 92021 (619) 588-6034

And WKS owns this Denny's in Fontana
Denny's 17009 Valley Blvd. Fontana, CA 92335 (909) 822-8550

ETA: This is a complete list of all of the California El Pollo Locos and Dennys owned by WKS.
Also, you can verify that Roland Spongberg (or anyone else) has donated in support of (or against) Prop 8 here.

Laguna Beach Rally against Prop 8

Outraged by the passage of Prop 8, our community and our allies are fighting back. As some of our best legal minds have filed three separate lawsuits with the California Supreme Court, tens of thousands of outraged residents are organizing throughout California with one purpose and resolve. We MUST show the world that we will not have our rights voted away by the forces of homophobia and bigotry! This injustice cannot stand!!

We call on all who believe in Equality for All to head for Laguna Beach Saturday evening, Nov 8, for a Rally and March. We will gather at 5:30pm at Laguna Beach City Hall, 505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach CA 92651. From this location we will march to Main Beach where we will hold a Rally and Candlelight (or flashlight) Vigil before returning to City Hall.

We urge everyone to arrive early and park in the Act V Parking Lot @ 1900 Laguna Canyon Road (About 1 mile from PCH on Laguna Canyon Rd.) Shuttle busses will be running every 15 mins., beginning at 4:30pm until 10pm. After this lot fills up you can park on Laguna Canyon Rd. (bring quarters). No On Prop 8 and hand made signs, American, Rainbow and California flags, candles and whistles. Bring a flashlight, since it may be too windy for candles. DRESS for a cool evening.

Please forward this e-mail to your lists with requests to do the same!!

Audrey Prosser
Harvey Liss
Jeff LeTourneau
No On Prop 8 OC

We urgently need up to 25 volunteer monitors to help insure a safe and peaceful event. If you can volunteer, please respond to this e-mail and plan to arrive at 4:30 PM for training.

Hat tip to Lizard OC

The Boycotts Begin - Damnit!!!

Roland Spongberg, Long Beach, CA
WKS Restaurant Group, President
$6,000 on 8/21/08

This one is the saddest for me as WKS Restaurant group owns a huge percentage of the El Pollo Loco franchises in So Cal. As many of you know, this is my favorite restaurant. I am working on the locations so I know which ones I can't go to anymore...

Terry Caster & Family, San Diego, CA
A-1 Self Storage–4607 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA 92120 • Tel: 800.219.4854 • Web: www.a1storage.com and www.castergrp.com and www.servinghands.com
$693,000
The Caster Family owns A-1 Self Storage, with 40 locations throughout California. Terry Caster is quoted in the San Diego Union Tribune as saying “without solid marriage you are going to have a sick society.”

Robert Hurtt, Orange, CA
Container Supply Company–PO Box 5367, Garden Grove, CA 92846-0367 • Tel: 714.892.8321 • Web: www.containersupplycompany.com
$550,000
Robert Hurtt, President of Container Supply, gave: $25,000 on 4/18/08, $25,000 on 7/22/08 (from Container Supply), $250,000 on 9/5/08 and $250,000 on 10/17/08.

Robert Hoehn, Carlsbad, CA
Hoehn Motors–5475 Car Country Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008 • Tel: 760.438.4454 • Web: www.hoehnmotors.com
$25,000
Robert Hoehn, President of Hoehn Motors in Carlsbad, CA gave: $25,000 on 2/8/08
Hoehn Motors has 6 large car dealerships located along the 5 freeway in Northern San Diego County: Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi, Infiniti, Acura and Honda.

Roland Hinz, Valencia, CA
Hi-Torque Publications–25233 Anza Dr., Valencia, CA 91355 • Tel: 661.295.1910 • Web: www.hi-torque.com

$12,500
Roland Hinz, President of Hi-Torque Publications, gave: $12,500 on 4/7/08
Hi-Torque Publications is the world’s leading publisher of off-road, motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle magazines, with a readership of over 2 million per month. The magazines are:
Motocross Action, Mountain Bike Action, Dirt Bike, BMX Plus!, Dirtwheels, Road Bike Action, 4Wheel ATV Action and R/C Car

Amanda Crane, San Diego, CA
Larsen Golden Spoon, Owner
$10,000 on 8/8/08

Roland Spongberg, Long Beach, CA
WKS Restaurant Group, President
$6,000 on 8/21/08

This one is the saddest for me as WKS Restaurant group owns a huge percentage of the El Pollo Loco franchises in So Cal. As many of you know, this is my favorite restaurant. I am working on the locations so I know which ones I can't go to anymore...

Prop 8 update #2

• Los Angeles regretfully has started denying applications to same sex couples immediately as required
  
• So, last night the queers were angry and took to the streets. 7 arrested in Hollywood, mostly peaceful everywhere else.
• Protest today in front of the Mormon Temple on Santa Monica Blvd. at 2 p.m. Lorri Jean will be speaking.
• WHAT: Leading supporters of marriage equality will hold a news conference in front of the Los Angeles Mormon Temple in response to the Mormon church’s leading role in the deceptive advertising campaign for Proposition 8. At the urging of church President Thomas Monson, Mormons contributed more than $15 million to fund the initiative which would repeal the right of same-sex couples to marry.
  WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 6, 2 p.m.
  WHO: Speakers include: Lorri L. Jean, CEO, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, Religious and community leaders
  WHERE: Los Angeles Mormon Temple, Corner of Selby Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd. Westwood, California 90025
• The Christian Right is monitoring blogs for violent comments. You are forewarned.
• Per KLIV: Santa Clara County is joining the city of Los Angeles and San Francisco County in a legal challenge to Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban passed by voters Tuesday.
  
  County Counsel Ann Ravel says the county is challenging Prop 8 because it would limit the rights of certain residents by not letting gay couples marry. Because the County Clerk is required to issue marriages, the County has an interest in making certain all its citizens are treated equally.
  
  Ravel says there is only one legal way to amend the California Constitution to ban gay marriage. The legislature needs to pass a revision when a fundamental right is involved. That would then go to the public for a vote

5,387, 939 votes for Prop 8
4,883,460 votes against

difference of 504,479 votes 100% of precincts reporting.

I'm going to keep updating with everything I learn.

Prop 8 update

What I know so far:

1. Nowhere in the amendment does it revoke the rights of those persons who have already been married (per Atty. General Jerry Brown).

2. Two lawsuits have already been filed challenging the constitutionality of this amendment.

3. Since the court ruling that led to this proposition found that marriage was a "fundamental right" under the state constitution, you cannot take that right away by simply amending the constitution; you would need to revise it. While an amendment only needs a simple majority vote, a revision requires a constitutional convention, which itself requires a two-thirds legislative vote -- something highly unlikely to happen in California.

4. As a commenter said on Shakesville:

The Prop 8 amendment simply banned gay marriage, without addressing that equal protection factor.

When the United States Constitution was amended to undo a provision of itself (prohibition), it specifically negated that provision---"The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. "

Prop 8's wording did no such thing, so what we have here is that the California State Constitution now says two different things. It says

"(a) A person may not be deprived of life, liberty, or
property without due process of law or denied equal protection of the
laws; . . . (b) A citizen or class of citizens may not be granted privileges
or immunities not granted on the same terms to all citizens." (Article I, Section 7)

which the State Supreme Court has interpreted to include marriage rights, and now with Prop 8 passing it also says

"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

and I do not see anything to specify which legitimately outweighs the other; it's like two laws saying "cars must be red in color" and "cars must be green in color." There is no part of this new amendment saying "This repeals the right of equal protection under the law" or "nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to require otherwise," and thus it seems to me that the constitutional amendment is unconstitutional---and what on Earth gets done when that happens?

I think this is what the California Supreme Court is going to have to decide. And since they already decided against denial of rights, it is likely that they will do so again.

Good news for all. Now, about all you haters....

Proposition 8

Hey all. I have a guest post on Proposition 8 over at Shakesville today.

Check it out.

Write to Marry Day

Hi folks. It's me, Faith. Here's the thing. Apparently, this Proposition 8 -- it looks like it's going to pass. If it doesn't, it'll be a big upset for the evangelicals and Catholics. I am taking the day off on Tuesday, election day, to spend the day in front of the polls helping people who may be confused on what Prop 8 means. I'll also be spending the morning on Sunday - my sacred time for coffee and the L.A. Times and all of the crosswords I can plow through, at the Village. Here I will be training for my day at the polls.

One part of the reason that I am doing this? Yesterday I met with Frank and his partner and Oliver, of course. On Saturday, I will be officiating at their marriage which is such an honor for me. They are a wonderful family. I'm not going to go on and on because I want to save most of that for their ceremony but they are everything a family should be. A safe place in this big world.


That is what a family is -- or should be anyway. A safe place and while I know all the arguments against, I am not able to find even one that should negate the fact that one man, who is legally able to consent to marry a woman, and another man, who is able to legally consent to marrying a woman, should not be allowed to marry one another. There is no slippery slope. Churches will never have to marry anyone they don't want to marry. Ever. I give them their intolerance wholeheartedly. In fact, the Catholic Church is so -- consistent -- they would not marry a man who was quadriplegic to a woman because they would not be able to conceive. So, go on with your consistency -- but marrying by a judge in a chamber or a deputy in an office or by a friend in your backyard is not a sacrament. It is a legal contract no matter how much you would like to keep it in the religious realm, it has not been an exclusively religious contract for many centuries, if ever. And it wasn't before it was.

I hope this makes sense. I don't know how else to say it.

Please Vote No on 8.

Um, a little overwhelmed

Yes, yes, I've been reminded by everyone and my husband that I haven't been posting regularly.

I'm really fucking busy, people!!!

Writing

• I just finished two writing classes which, on the whole weren't all that satisfying but definitely piqued my interest in taking more
  
• I am trying to be a halfway decent writing partner (at which I am failing MISERABLY)
• I am attempting to start my 4th rewrite on the book that will not die
• Wrote an article for Frontiers Magazine (pub. 8/14, I think)
• Currently the International AIDS Conference is occurring in Mexico City and I wanted to cover it but I only have so much brain/time
  

Designing

• I am decorating a two bedroom condo in Palm Springs (about which I am so excited I want to pop) which involves actually spending time in Palm Springs
  
• I have about 30 or so unfinished objects (UFOs) in my craft room that must be dealt with
• Ideally, over the summer I would have redesigned my website and moved it over to Wordpress but that didn't really work out
  

Biker stuff
I am working on the 50th anniversary gala of the Oedipus Motorcycle Club which includes:

• designing an art piece to be used as centerpieces
• learning to use an oxy-acetylene torch
• creating platters out of motorcycle parts
• baking and decorating 400 cupcakes
• designing and creating a leather flag
• creating 32 table runners
  
• trying to get gay men to sit down and keep on topic during a meeting
  

Wifely duties (HA!)

• We had some health and home issues last month. TGIAugust.
  
• Keeping up my end of the bargain
  

Work

• I have a full time job which I would love to keep
• I have interviewed 3 times for a job that I would love to have

So there. That is what I've been doing.

I am NOT complaining. Everything that I am doing I signed up for and I'm really quite excited about. I only wish I didn't have a full time job so that I could work on all of this fun stuff full time, but that's not the way it works in Casa Queer. Unfortunately, being a good blogger sorta got thrown under the bus too, even if I really, really, really want to be writing on here every day. Which I do. Swear to FSM.

Consistency watch 2008

In my hypothetical list of turn-ons and turn-offs, such as they are, hypocrisy is a major turn-off. Also, proof = MAJOR turn-on.

I like to know things. I like to fact check. I like research. (Duh.)

I like when rules are consistent (family dynamics for the win!) even when they are rules I don't agree with.

For instance, the right claims that gay marriage is wrong because:

• marriage is for procreation
• same-sex couples can't reproduce on their own
• Therefore marriage is not for people who cannot reproduce

Fine. I'll agree to disagree on that one.

Though I disagree, I require that the logical extension of the argument include anyone who is infertile, post-menopausal, vasectomized, or just doesn't want children.

One who believes that marriage is the sole purpose for marriage should ostensibly be arguing for a signature on documents that Party A and Party B promise to reproduce at some future point. However no one on the right seemed to be calling for these measures which kind of pissed me off because at least if you're going to have an idiotic argument, don' t leave it so full of holes!

While it may seem like reductio ad absurdum, I point you to the Catholic church which seems to have at least one of it's proverbial ducks in its own special row.

ROME - An Italian bishop has told a young paraplegic he cannot have a church wedding because he is impotent, despite his fiancée being aware of the problem. Salvatore de Ciuco, spokesman for Bishop Lorenzo Chiarinelli of Viterbo in central Italy, explained that: "No bishop, no priest can celebrate a wedding when he knows of admitted impotence as it is a motive for annulment" of the marriage. The 26-year-old groom, who took part in a civil marriage ceremony Saturday in Viterbo, has been paraplegic since he was involved in a car accident. The curate of the parish who was banned from marrying the couple was present at the ceremony. Their pastor, having been refused permission to witness the union in a Catholic ceremony, attended the civil event.

Canon 1084.1 of the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church states that "antecedent and perpetual impotence to have sexual intercourse, whether on the part of the man or on that of the woman, whether absolute or relative, by its very nature invalidates marriage."

Now that is some awesome consistency. I'd like to see the evangelicals match this one.

Tying the knot in California

I am so happy for all of the couples that are finally allowed to get hitched in California. I also look forward to the hordes of New Yorkers that are not-so-slowly making their way to our state to legalize their unions.

Last year I celebrated one of the most beautiful weddings in Banff. My dear friends, Mick and Jim were married at Banff Springs.

Here's one of too many fabulous wedding shots! It may look photoshopped, but it's not.
It was the most gorgeous ceremony and I was honored to be invited. Most of the time I'm a terribly jaded hag but call me crazy, I love a good wedding where two people who really love each other share it with a room of 200 people.

In addition to the sharing of the love, blah, blah, I am a party planning enthusiast and Mick and Jim's wedding was not to be outdone. In fact, their wedding planner won awards for their wedding!!!

What's even more exciting is that I am able to perform marriage ceremonies!!! So let the bells ring, brides and grooms-to-be!

Happy Birthday Baby

Today is my hottie husband's 40th birthday. How much do I love this guy?

Well, let me tell you.

Michael has an awesome and ridiculous sense of humor. One of the ways he makes me laugh is by telling squirrels, birds, children and other assorted animals to "Get off my lawn!" in old man voice.

Michael makes me think by challenging the way I live my life, the routine things I do, so I hardly ever feel like I'm in a rut or living a certain way just because that's the way my parents did it.

He reminds me to appreciate my own opinions. Sometimes without one ounce of tact. Sometimes with just a little hint of it.

Michael knows how to turn off the voices in his head. Something I am learning to do.

Michael is protective. He wants to make sure my virgin ears stay that way and yet he loves the way I curse like a truck driver.

Fuck yeah!

Michael is boundary guy^TM He's teaching me. Slowly. Very, very slowly.

Michael says something and he actively works to make it happen. For instance, he said we'd buy a house. And here we are in our own fabulous house.

Michael keeps Jeff's memory alive in our home.

Michael takes me riding on his super hot VTX and I don't even care that I get bugs everywhere.

I love this guy so much that even when he's not getting "it", even when he's working my last gay nerve, I still want to give him a giganto hug for being a good man.

Michael has learned over the 8 1/2 years that we've lived together that I'm going to make too much food for us for dinner. He has also learned not to comment on it.

Michael loves who he loves. He can't fake it and he can't make it happen if it isn't there. I love that.

I love you.