Category: Culture

Culture can he high or low, good or bad…

An economic technicality…

Technically, I never could boycott chick-fil-a, because I never ate there.

Similarly, I cannot support Doritos rainbow Doritos, because I don’t eat them anyway.

It’s probably too much to simply acknowledge that most sushi joints already have a “rainbow roll”…

Always the best part of my night…

is helping G with homework. She came down for help with math early today, and we got that out of the way easily. She easily learned where the parenthesis belong with cross-products. Then, she wanted help with a short story. I gave her a few paragraphs and a funny ending.

She re-wrote everything, and returned with a heart-wrenching tale that will not leave my memory for a long time.

And what really gets me, is that that was her teacher wanted. All I did was to give a spark — which was discarded. She kept the theme (which I kept asking her to select out of 4 options) but went completely her own way.

I couldn’t be happier to be heart-broken. And just so you know, my ending was to have one girl shoot a retallitory spitball into her little brother’s mouth just as he was going to sleep, and to get a high-five from her mom who was walking by at the time. G managed to top that ending.

Another good day with G…

While Cy is rehearsing for SJB, I get to single-parent.

Tonight, I got to help not only with math, but with a book report as well. Her summer reading was a book we shared in her youth, and she needed some help identifying foreshadowing. In “Ender’s Game”.

I mean, come on. That’s TOO easy! She did everything except smack her forehead…

Is it wrong?

Is it wrong that I now feel that I should start a landscaping removal service called “Sod Off?”

What has four thumbs and a filed marriage license?

These guys!
These guys!

I would like to thank:

  • My parents and my in-laws (no longer out-laws!) for providing such an excellent example of commitment.
  • The Travis County Clerk’s office, specifically:
    • Dana Debeauvoir, for leading such a great team who made us feel welcome from beginning to end
    •  Adrian R., our clerk, who helped us by walking us through the process (and remembering us when we returned to file!)
    • Louis L., and his team who made the filing process – well, if not fun, at least painless.
  • District Judge Gisela Triana, who made the process of getting a wavier fun.
  • Our officiant, who for now chooses to remain anonymous.
  • My entire management chain at work, for their well-wishes, and accommodation of missing an entire day on such short notice.
  • Hundreds of facebook friends for their likes and congratulations!
  • The dozens or hundred of other couples going through the same welcome process – folks were sharing flags, flowers, photos – just about anything to make everyone’s special day…well, special!
  • The officiant offering free services outside Judge Triana’s courtroom – we didn’t need you, but we were glad you were there!
  • Diane and Torsten, for their insistence on joining us to celebrate afterward.
  • Our Esther’s family, for unrestrained joy they all shared with us
  • Our daughter, for her patience with both daddies on this historical day
  • Cy, for the rest of our lives together. Oh, what the heck, for the past 30 years, too…
  • And finally, snarkily, Anton Scalia, for being so wrong about every decision he’s put in writing since joining SCOTUS, that I know when he was this upset that this was DEFINITELY the Right Thing To Do, no hesitation nor doubt on my part.
  • And now, really for final finally, our daughter again, for making a joke confusing SCOTUS with SCROTUS. Honestly, folks, that’s what she said. No idea what SCROTUS would stand for, but I ended up giggling almost as hard as she was…

 

On the eve of the supreme court hearing, I must posit a ridiculous idea:

Every minority that has gained acceptance in the US has gained it be beginning with cuisine.

Therefore, I propose that part of the reason that LGBT acceptance is at what must almost be the tail end of minorities is the lack of a “gay quisine”. Note: “Brunch” doesn’t count…

The closest I’ve come in my life was a gay bar in Pittsburgh years ago that had a baked chicken with brie and apricot preserves entree, and honestly, that can’t compare to Pho, or curry, or Guinness, or lasagne, or hummus, or any of a thousand other dishes that our culture has absorbed.

Despite that lack, we’re still on the cusp of equality. (And let’s be glad that it wasn’t sponsored by Apple, otherwise we would be fighting for iquality…)

Equality is coming. Are you on the right side of it?

From George Takei’s facebook:

Friends, on Tuesday the U.S. Supreme Court hears the case that might finally bring marriage equality to all 50 states. I’m changing my profile for 48 hours (using the special tool at http://equality.georgetakei.com) to show my support. I address this not to my LGBT fans, but rather to our straight allies: We cannot do this without you. Stand with us, ?#?makeitcount?, and together we will achieve equality for all.

NOTE- Your overwhelming support has Takei’d the site. Please be patient with it and it will be up in no time.

makeitcount32804

Really? REALLY? What the #%!? is wrong with people?

<http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/04/04/smerconish-cortreras-04042015.cnn/video/playlists/gay-rights-movement/>

As a gay man…

You know, don’t serve me pizza, fine, I’ll eat elsewhere. I don’t want your hate-filled cake at my wedding. I can get my car fixed anywhere else without having to show a CHL. I can buy flowers anywhere else that will be assembled caringly, not with resentment.

But if you as a pediatrician can’t be a good doctor to ANY child for ANY reason, you should just retire. This makes pharmacists that won’t give out plan B look almost human.

The phrase “first, do no harm” should also apply to this “pediatrician’s” reputation.

What’s wrong with this picture?

<http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/State-leaders-celebrate-ten-years-without-6101014.php> (No, really. Go read the whole thing and come back here…)

Why are there only 2 women in this picture? Exactly how many were married today?

I also like to think that the flavor chosen was “Pyrrhic Velvet”, but that might be a touch snarky. It is doubtful that anyone was wiping frosting off their nose a few moments later, and even more doubtful that anyone stepped on a glass wrapped in a cloth a few moments later, right?

I was particularly interested by this quote:

Supporters of the marriage ammendment say traditional family structures with one man and one woman are essential for healthy children, while opponents say the Fourteenth Ammendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits discrimination based on other people’s opinions.

I dare guess that our daughter is perfectly healthy – probably healthier than theirs, since we’re insisting on the HPV vaccine and sex education that includes knowledge of contraception…

Hey! How did this soapbox get under me?