Category: awful

I sit here, safe and snug with my family as the storms roll in…

…and I wonder how many folks in downtown Austin are wishing they had a choice of Uber or Lyft, but couldn’t vote because they have a DUI on their record.

And as a followup, why did Uber and Lyft let the “Big Corporations writing our laws” meme stand instead of coming back with a “Big corporations fighting about which corporations get to write our laws” meme? Aside from being a cash cow, how is the medallion scheme any less a bribe?

Meh. Probably time to go to sleep.

Twas the night before southby…

Twas the night before southby
Twas the night before southby

Twas the night before southby and all through the town

Not a car was stirring, no-one could get around.

Each person alone, and still on their phone

As the mayor said, tomorrow, work from home.

The presidents visit, he said, not his first

Will make tomorrows traffic much closer to worst.

That’s what she said.

Last night, we lost a dear friend who brought joy into the life of everyone he met.

For example, from my 30th birthday surprise party:

Robert started the whole "stripping clown" thing
(Robert started the whole “stripping clown” thing)

His daughter and G were the original “Aristocrats” for Wand…

Our original "Aristocrats"
Our original “Aristocrats” – it really is QUITE different!

And he was the first recipient of the revenge surprise party…

Follow the link only if you really want to know what the cake said...
Follow the link only if you really want to know what the cake said…

Wherever Robert went, joy followed. The world is less without him. Fuck cancer.

Sunday is going to be one of the worst days of my life.

I’ve been friends with a couple of guys for 20 years now (since it’s 2016, officially). They’ve been best friends since long before I met them. Tonight, I got a call from one of them, confirming my worst fear – the other one is now officially in hospice, and is sinking fast, leaving behind a wife and young daughter. The phrase “too soon” is an understatement.

Those of you that have known me for any length of time will probably recall a time when there has been a stripping clown. This guy is the reason. Most of my memories of him involve me laughing to the point where inhaling air HURT. He is responsible for my antitheist preference for “I acknowledge your sneeze without further comment” over “Bless you.”

I have a “trophy shelf” in my office. On it are many mementos, such as the doorbell from my Grandma Tonne’s house (one of my earliest memories). On it also are at LEAST 3 items from when he and I worked together, not the least of which is a “mulimedia etch-a-sketch”. (The two others I can think of without going up there are “Catbert” and “Birdbert”…)

For the first time since he got sick, he wants visitors. For that reason alone, I fear that it will not be long before he is taken from us forever. I asked G to join us for the visit – and she, being the kind soul that she has always been, said, and I quote:

I want to go see him anyway. If you told me you were going I would probably ask to come.

My daughter, ladies and gentlemen. Even as my heart is breaking, it swells with pride. I’m trying to brace myself to be brave, and funny, and touching without being maudlin.  In the meantime, I’m going to watch some Marx Brothers films to lamely attempt to cheer myself up.

Bookmarks catchup/cleanup

It’s been much, much too long since I’ve cleaned up my bookmarks “other” folder; A simple dump is all that I can bother with at this size.

A full weekend of anniversaries…

So, if we go by the eventually allowed marriage certificate, Cy and I have been married a whole three months since yesterday.

If we go by our accounting, we’ve been together 30 years today.

The best part of my day? Telling Cy to go back to sleep while I help G with her homework. He’s earned a rest after 30 years, and I’m so proud that she is taking full responsibility for her own homework.

I couldn’t be happier with my family.

#anniversaryzilla

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.