So, what did I get?
The nearest book happened to be "Using Adobe Premiere Elements 7." So much for any illusion I may have been desperately clinging to as a literate intellectual. ;)
My brother Steve, who lives downstairs from his girlfriend, Karen, had a neighbor and myself over today for some leftovers and hanging out. Their neighbor Jeff was there as well.
My brother showed me his cat, Gizmo, who is the litter mate to Gus, who belongs to his girlfriend, Karen. They are the kittens of my Mom's cat, Kharma. They got all 3 cats from an animal shelter. Apparently someone had tried to drown Kharma and her 8 kittens. 6 of the kittens died, so Steve and Karen figured that they would adopt the survivors. Gizmo is much smaller (Miss Junior Petite Thing), and Gus shows all signs of being a Grande Diva Extra Large.
We launched yet another online contest at Erie Gay News. You can enter the contest here.
Help the 1,000 homeless men, women and children that turn to Community Shelter Services in their time of need by joining the agency’s mailing and emailing list. Fill out the form at the web site between November 28 and December 19 to join the agency’s list and to win a FREE chance to WIN A $100 GAS CARD! See some of the children you can help in the Erie community by logging onto communityshelter.org to view volunteer opportunities or donate online.
Entering this contest will add you to Community Social Services email and mailing list.
I had a very nice Thanksgiving at my mom's. Mom and my stepfather, Carl, also invited their neighbor, Laura, who is in a master gardener program with my stepfather. My brother Steve came over with his girlfriend, Karen. There was lots of food and cooking. I joked with mom towards the end of the evening that I think that I had washed every dish that she owns!
I brought my two dogs, so they had a great time playing with mom's two dogs.
Afterwards, Karen and I ripped the turkeys apart so that everyone could have some leftovers. (Getting the turkeys out of the roasting ovens before dinner was a bit of a challenge.)
I am really grateful to have a terrific family! It was a great way to spend the holiday.
My sister, the chemist, would undoubtedly ace this.
Sigh! Tonight was the monthly Erie Gay News folding work party. We had another record breaking night for turnout. We signed post cards for a political project (hat tip to C Michael for researching the idea and picking up the postcards.)
I turned around and all of the folding was done within 15 minutes or so!!! This was extremely unusual. We worked on stuffing envelopes and then started in on the copies for distribution. As we were getting toward the end, it became apparent that we were significantly short, so I called the print shop, who were pretty gracious about printing replacement copies.
We took photos of people with the post cards that they signed, and many of the folks volunteered to come back the next night to help out again. I am so deeply touched by all of the wonderful folks that we have in our community!
Proving that I am not the only media whore in the family, my brother in law was interviewed in Toledo about being one of Santa's helpers. Check out his site at http://www.toledosanta.com
My mom noted that I have been dying my hair darker, and he has been bleaching his, so we are headed in opposite directions.
Local
Slumping economy hits Santa's helpers
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Jolly old St. Nick is facing tough times as consumers tighten their belts in this slumping economy. We have learned even Santa's helpers are having trouble finding work. Santa is extremely busy this time of year at the North Pole. He can't possibly appear at every shopping mall. That's why he enlists helpers all over the world, including Toledo's Santa Tom.
Santa Tom runs his company Toledo Santa, in addition to working a full-time job.
Santa Tom says, "It'll be a very busy season."
Slumping economy hits Santa's helpers - 11/25/08 - Toledo News - 13abc.com
Lynda Carter, in a video that appears to date from the 1970's or so, sings and dances to "Heartache Tonight" from her TV special Encore. It's fun and deliciously campy. Check it out here.
May I just say that those are quite possibly the gayest cowboys that I have ever seen??!!! And yes, that even includes the one in the Village People! I had a smile on my face watching it, and when they danced with each other (with the vests with obscene amounts of fringe), I just about guffawed.
God bless Lynda Carter! She has a great voice and really knows how to have fun.
So, I wore a tuxedo last night and the universe did not explode. ;) I had a very good time at the Lake Erie Gala that the Erie Sisters put on this weekend. The Erie Sisters are a regional crossdresser support/social group that have been around since 1991. The president and his wife have been terrifically supportive of the picnic, and I really wanted to return the favor. Plus, I never turn down a free meal.
We needed 4 guys to escort during the fashion show and James, Brent and I were there. Jeff had talked about it, but I wasn't sure what had happened so I called to check. It turns out that there had been a miscommunication. Jeff asked whether we were wearing tuxedos with tails or regular. Bear in mind that formal wear is completely alien to me, so the idea that someone would not only own their own tuxedo, but have several style to choose from (and have the appropriate vocabulary), is completely outside the realm of my comprehension. I sort of stammered that I was wearing regular and James was wearing tails. I hadn't noticed what Brent was wearing. Jeff was able to make it.
Fortunately, there was a woman there from the dress rental place who was very experienced and knew when to nudge us. It went off fairly well.
Afterwards, there was a dance, and the Erie Sisters definitely know how to kick up their heels. There was a section of country western music that led into Shania Twain's "Feel Like A Woman", which is sort of an official theme song for the group. Needless to say, the dance floor was quite crowded. I joked that if there were enough crossdressers, that we might have a black taffeta hole - a field of gravity so intense that nothing, not even a sequin, could escape.
Everyone was very kind and gracious, so we all had a good time. James, Jeff and I left about 11 PM to go over to the Zone for the breast cancer fundraiser that they had there. Since I was renting a tuxedo, I figured that I might as well get full use out of it.
Um, wow. Sarah Palin gives a TV interview at a turkey farm with a worker slaughtering turkeys in the background. Did no one bother to explain that having a killing station with what appears to be blood and a worker who calls to mind Sweeney Todd might be just the teensiest bit distracting? Yes, I know that stuff doesn't float down from Heaven to land on everyone's dinner plate, but for most of us, seeing animals being dispatched tends to blot out someone speaking.
Wow. I also am totally taken aback how the reporter asks her about if there any programs on the chopping block immediately before the guy slaughters the turkey. You can't write them any better than that. Sarah Palin is pure comedy gold!
Okay, so it technically isn't my holiday, but my mom sent a Christmas meme, and I responded. Here it is:
Okay, so is it quite clear that I am not big on the gift exchange thing? What do I want for Christmas? Not to shop!
This weekend, the Erie Sisters are having their annual Lake Erie Gala. The group has been wonderfully supportive of the picnic and other activities, and they were looking for guys to escort the ladies for their fashion show on Saturday. They are an incredibly nice group, and I wanted to return the support (and it's not like I have ever turned down a free meal in my life!), so I arranged to rent a tuxedo.
Let me explain that I have never worn formal wear in my life. (Okay, so that is not the most surprising admission I have ever made.) I found something, and was recalling that the Zone Dance Club was having fund raiser for breast cancer later that night, which I am also thinking of going to. I thought that I could possibly just stay in the tuxedo, which would be odd.
Then, when I tried it on, I realized that there was no belt to clip the PDA to. (Those who know me fairly well are probably visualizing me hyperventilating into a paper bag at this point. ;) Me being without data is not a very likely occurrence, so maybe I will just change.
Jeremy from Misinformed Productions took video at Saturday's Proposition 8 Protest Rally and put it on YouTube.
I will be writing more later about the event. It was a wonderful experience, and I feel really good about how it went!
I was doing some thinking today about those who agree that same sex couples deserve equal treatment under the word law, but think that the term "marriage" should not be used. This is the idea that states would simply issue something called a civil union or some other new term. Let me share why that is an incredibly bad idea and almost certain to be expensive and nightmarish. I don't think that anyone has really thought this through.
Let me tell you about my friends Laurie and Janice. Laurie and Janice got a civil union in Vermont years ago, and now live in Pennsylvania. Do you know what Pennsylvania regards their relationship as? Absolutely nothing! As far as this this state is concerned, they are strangers.
A side note about the so-called Defense of Marriage Act that was passed in 1996. The folks who passed it didn't think about all of the ramifications, in my opinion. So, if states don't have to recognize marriages performed in other states, then that means that the 2 people are not in a valid relationship in at least some states. Pay attention! If you're not in a valid marriage, then that means that you are single, and thus free to enter into a new marriage without dissolving the existing one.
So therefore, there is nothing that bars Laurie and Janice, who are in a civil union from Vermont's perspective, but are single from Pennsylvania's perspective, from either or both marrying a man here in Pennsylvania. A same sex couple that had gotten married in Massachusetts could do the same thing. They would be committing bigamy in Massachusetts, but not here.
Do you see why DOMA creates the potential for legal chaos? One of the reasons that states have always recognized marriages in other states, even if they could not have been performed in that state, is that at least 2 people have the same legal relationship no matter where they are, and the questions of "who is my spouse?" and "what is my marital status?" do not vary based on geography. Married in one place is married everywhere. If you are of legal age in Ohio, but not Pennsylvania, but then get married in Ohio, Pennsylvania still counts you as being married, even though PA wouldn't have allowed you to get married in PA.
So, let's say that Vermont doesn't issue marriage licenses anymore, but just civil unions. That means that ALL couples, gay and straight, are stuck in the same legal limbo. Let's call this the Laurie and Janice Problem - "we have a relationship that is recognized in only some places, but not all." (Sorry to pick on you, ladies.)
This is the crux of the problem; when you create a new term/legal category for relationships, you open up the possibility of discord. Bear in mind that there are laws that deal with marital status throughout the federal government, all 50 states, DC and US territories, counties in all states, and municipalities in all of those counties in all of those states. If we come up with a new term, you basically have to do it simultaneously for ALL laws at ALL levels of government, or every couple, gay and straight, will inherit the Laurie and Janice Problem. It sounds like there will be a lot of legislators researching and voting on laws that don't add any new functionality, and therefore not working on other problems. Does this sound like an intelligent use of your tax dollars?
Now how about existing marriages? We would need to modify legislation (again, all levels of government, every law) to address both existing marriages and whatever the new term intended to replace it. This would be more of your tax dollars and legislators' time being spent.
Example: Mark's parents are married and living in New Jersey. New Jersey passes a law that everyone just gets something called a civil union as of January 1, 2010. Mark meets and falls in love with Alice in 2011, and they set the date for mid 2012. New Jersey is now calling everything a civil union. Mark and Alice thus have a civil union (from New Jersey, since New Jersey decided that we just wanted to use the new term - for everybody), but Mark's parents still have a marriage (and not a civil union - the term didn't exist when they got together.) So now, we have two straight couples, and also two different terms for their respective relationships, plus maybe conflicting or confusing laws covering those relationships. Did New Jersey and every county and municipality therein changed all of their laws to include civil unions? If not, Mark and Alice may be headed for problems. Did any law get changed that forgot to include married or did someone just change married to civil union? If any laws just use the new term, then Mark and Alice are okay, but Mark's parents might be in trouble. Multiply this by all federal and all laws in other states.
What about if some state slips up and uses a slightly different term than everyone else? Count the number of terms that would refer to something like a marriage. Right now, we have 2: civil union and marriage. This represents the number of spouse-like relationships you could enter into, provided that you entered into them in the correct order. And you have also opened it up to both opposite sex and same sex couples, because you are replacing the term for everyone in that state. In the example from above. Mark gets a civil union with Alice in New Jersey. Things fall apart and he moves to Pennsylvania. Let us say that civil unions haven't been implemented yet in Pennsylvania. Mark could marry Elizabeth, since he is not married, and civil unions are effectively treated as non-existent in Pennsylvania. Maybe Utah decided to use the term sacred bond or something else. That means Mark could stop off in Utah after getting the civil union with Alice in New Jersey, and before marrying Elizabeth in Pennsylvania, and possibly get a sacred bond or whatever the Utah term is there, since he would have a term that didn't mean anything under Utah law, and since he wasn't legally married.
What happens if a state simply refuses to pass legislation throughout the state to adopt the new term? That means that ALL couples, gay and straight, are back to the Laurie and Janice problem, quite possibly for a long time. In the example above, Mark gets a civil union with Alice in New Jersey, moves to Pennsylvania, which refuses to change its laws. Mark and Alice live together happily for 40 years in Philadelphia. Mark dies and Alice is effectively a stranger, from a legal perspective, since they were in a civil union, not a marriage, and Pennsylvania never recognized that form of relationship.
How about all of those paper forms, computer software and everything else that refer to marital status? Those would all have to be modified. I work for a company that processes payrolls. We have folks running on 2 different versions of the same software. This would mean that we would just have to use "married" anyway, or modify/install software that reflects the new term or terms.
How about international law? If everyone in Vermont can only get a civil union, what does Canada, which doesn't even have that term, do if at least one member of the couple goes there or interacts with Canada? Congratulations! All couples, gay and straight, have just inherited the Janice and Laurie problem both domestically and internationally! Mark moves to Greenland, which has provisions that cover his legally married spouse. But Mark isn't legally married to Alice, he is just in a civil union. Greenland therefore could easily regard Mark and Alice as having no relationship at all. Just about all of the treaties that we have with other countries probably only deal with marriages. What happens when there are other legal relationships that are undefined in the other countries?
Basically, if you are a lawyer with a lot of time on your hands, or a print shop, or a computer programmer, creating a new legal term to refer to refer to what we now know as marriage means lots and lots of money.
Is anyone seriously trying to suggest that people in everyday usage won't use the term "married?" Straight folks are going to continue using the term "married" when referring to themselves, as will gay couples. Sure, you may feel that same-sex couples aren't equal to opposite sex married couples. Of course, you might also feel the same way about interracial or interfaith couples. Nothing stops you from looking down your nose at others, but nothing allows you to deny everyone equal protection under law.
In short, suggesting that we just have a new legal term that represents what we currently know as marriage is just about the most unworkable, ridiculous and expensive idea possible! People weren't comfortable with women and racial minorities being included in the electorate. Eventually we see that it only strengthens the political process by including everyone. It is intellectually dishonest to recognize that people deserve equality and then try to use some artificial term that screws over everybody.
Wow! Too cool! I have always liked the wonderfully brash comedian Wanda Sykes. I am so proud that she took the step of being open and honest. Yay for people who stand up for the truth and love!
In Las Vegas, the comedian Wanda Sykes surprised a crowd of more than 1,000 rallying outside a gay community center by announcing that she is gay and had wed her wife in California on Oct. 25. Ms. Sykes, who divorced her husband of seven years in 1998, had never publicly discussed her sexual orientation but said the passage of Proposition 8 had propelled her to be open about it.
I felt like I was being attacked, personally attacked our community was attacked, she told the crowd.
Across U.S., Big Rallies for Same-Sex Marriage - NYTimes.com
Although the weather is a tad damp, the protest rally against California's Proposition 8 scheduled for today (Saturday, November 15) at 1:30 PM at the Erie County Courthouse, 140 W 6th St, Erie PA, is still ON! This is a chance to be a part of a historical nation wide event. I believe that there is enough of an overhang on the porch at the courthouse that we should have a somewhat sheltered area. Please be alert when you arrive. Bring an umbrella and a commitment to equality for all! Marriage equality is too important to let a few raindrops slow us down!
This was definitely put together in a very short amount of time. Here is the event that is happening today on the steps of the Erie County Courthouse at 1:30 PM. More info at the Join the Impact wiki page for Erie.
| What: | Proposition 8 Protest Rally Local gay, lesbian, straight citizens to protest passage of anti-gay constitutional amendments in Arizona, Florida, California ERIE PA — A group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight citizens will take to the streets of Erie to protest the passage of Proposition 8, California’s anti-gay marriage amendment, as well as other anti-gay ballot initiatives in Arkansas, Arizona and Florida. Every day since Election Day, thousands have protested up and down streets in cities across California, including in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento. A national, grassroots coalition of LGBT activists have followed in their footsteps. On Nov. 15, 1:30 p.m., in large cities and state capitals across the country, Pro-Equality supporters will raise public awareness of the need for LGBT equality in marriage and in other civil rights. More info is available online at http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Erie or at http://www.jointheimpact.com WHAT: Prop. 8 Protest WHO: LGBT and straight citizens of Erie PA and surrounding areas. WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 1:30 p.m WHERE: Erie County Courthouse, 140 W 6th St, Erie PA 16501 For more information contact Michael Mahler at (814) 456-9833 or info@eriegaynews.com or Rev. Steve Aschmann at (814) 440-0902. |
| When: | Saturday, November 15, 2008 1:30 PM |
| Where: | Erie County Courthouse Erie, Pennsylvania United States |
So, apparently the idea was devised just barely a week ago. I hadn't heard/thought about it too much until Monday. I sent an email to the GLBT Voter email list to see who might be interested. Rev. Steve Aschmann of the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Erie was very much interested, and we had a meeting about it on Wednesday.
We had some familiar faces at the meeting, and some new faces. Some of the new folks who were friends got together to make red, white and blue arm bands. I am so grateful for their enthusiasm.
I was out at both bars yesterday passing out business cards and talking it up. I have no idea what the turn out will be, but I wanted to give it my best shot.
The weather is crappy today, but we are going ahead with this! It is really exciting to be part of a national event.
Fingers crossed resolutely for everything to go well!
Your result for The Camelot Test...
Honourable and passionate. You never back down from a challenge. Your friends are very important to you. You believe in justice and duty far above your own personal security and comfort.
Congratulations! This was the most challenging result to get. You are one of a kind.
I was walking through the break room at work, and I heard a co-worker say, "Me, I like meat jello." I shot back with "I believe that the term is aspic." He smiled and agreed, and the data entry women sort of giggled when I said that I had been trying to find a way to squeak that word into a conversation for quite some time.
Word nerd points for the day!
I had a fairly good time yesterday at Joe and Luna's wedding. Raven and Carrion officiated. The attendees were mostly Pagan folks + the families of the couple, whom we were trying to not freak out. The ceremony was very nice, and the food afterwards was fantastic! Jeremy/Otter, who was one of the kitchen organizers for this year's Pride Picnic, was one of the cooks.
Oddly enough, the table that I was at got on the subject of death and dying after dinner. It was macabre, but fun.
A friend sent me the link to this. Someone has their bowels in an uproar over the wedding listing that was in the paper a few weeks ago.
Imagine my surprise when I scanned the wedding announcements (Erie Times-News, Oct. 26) and felt compassion for the woman who had no hair, probably because of chemo treatments.
See! He just told us how compassionate he was. Which certainly beats having to behave in that way.
But wait! It is a wedding announcement of two men, married in California and living in Manhattan. This only tries to normalize an abnormal practice and behavior.
You boil a frog by raising the temp one degree at a time and, before he realizes it, he is cooked.
I am unclear here. Is this guy thinking that he will turn gay by reading an announcement in the paper for 2 people he has never met. Is he THAT impressionable? For public safety, should he not watch any murder mysteries?
Thanks anyway for the cooking tip! The next time I find I want to make Grenouille Provencal, I will definitely keep this in mind.
I am sure this announcement was sent to many papers as a deliberate act.
As opposed to all of those wedding announcements that are randomly sent out, of course! Are the ones for straight couples some kind of insidious campaign to promote penile-vaginal intercourse? If he had bothered to read the announcement, he would have noticed that one of the mothers of the couple was from Erie, so there was indeed a familial connection to the area.
Literacy. It's a good thing.
The gay and lesbian community has every right to practice its private behavior, its civil unions and relationships, but please don't announce it as "normal" and part of my everyday life.
Greg Tower
Fairview
Um no, it's part of their everyday life and of those people who know and love them. Why is Greg trying to make this all about him? When I read the announcements in today's paper for straight couples, I didn't see them as some kind of grandstanding appeal for my personal involvement. Two people were simply celebrating an important milestone in their lives. Those that know them can share in their joy and those who don't can simply blip on by. How arrogant and self-centered to think that everything is about oneself!
I hadn't had dinner this evening (okay, morning by this time), and when I headed out, it was 2 AM, so I ended up at Eat 'n Park. Apparently that is where a fair number of straight folks go out after the bar. There were several tables of folks who were somewhat raucous, but they were having a good time.
I was sitting in a small booth, and on the other side of the divider was another guy, who seemed to be a mite tipsy. A friend of his came to sit down, noticed me there, and somewhat sloppily asked how I was doing, was I having a good evening and extended his fist for a fist bump. I demurely said that I was having a fine evening, fist bumped him, and returned to my meal.
A few minutes later, I heard Mr. Fist Bump start referring to the other guy's brother as being gay (I believe that the word "faggot" came up a few times) while the other guy complained about not being respected. I was rather offended by the stuff being flung around, but it is usually unwise to engage a drunk in conversation at 2:30 AM, so I let it go. (Actually, I usually just let stuff like that go, unless there seem to be some behavioral manifestations.)
Amusing wardrobe note: while I was sitting there, I was wearing a T-shirt that reads "Every time you see a rainbow, God is having gay sex." If I had been bitchy (and maybe stupid), I would have cleared my throat significantly as I faced them, before leaving. Again, engaging drunks in reasoned discourse is rarely a good idea.
I should probably start off by stating that in terms of home maintenance/repair skills, I am pretty much near the bottom of the heap. Anything much beyond changing a light bulb and I am pretty much worthless.
I was having a problem with the upstairs toilet not filling the tank. So I analyzed it, and figured out the culprit. I was having a huge problem figuring out how to attach the supply line (I think that's the term) and was getting frustrated. Deb even stopped over, and she was perplexed, but she made a go of it. I left a message with my friend Jeff, who is terrifically handy, and just ditzed around with computer stuff until I could figure out what to do. There is a bathroom downstairs, so I was only inconvenienced.
I caught up on some geek stuff, and Jeff called back later. When I explained the problem in my own halting and lame fashion, he suggested just getting a flexible supply line. I had even walked past them in the hardware store, and didn't make the connection.
So, thanks to my friends, I now have a repaired toilet and a modicum of self respect.
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I must admit that my elation over the election this past Tuesday was rather blunted by the anti-gay ballot measures that passed. (Although, it sounds like the ACLU might have a very good case to overturn Prop 8.)
I am not sure if the material below is original to the poster at the Datalounge, but WOW! Good point about these anti-gay measures being the last gasp of a dying bigotry that will be looked back at with shame and puzzlement.
I feel oddly uplifted by this. Yup, what happened was bad. But it is only a temporary setback.
Hey, y'all! Yes, you! Everyone who voted for Proposition 8 in California yesterday, and everyone who's voted for similar measures in Arizona, or Florida, or elsewhere. Come on down. Have a seat. Have a beer. I'd like just a moment of your time; I promise I'll go quickly, and I won't swear. Everybody with me?
So I'm sure you're feeling pretty good today, and why wouldn't you? It isn't every day you get a golden opportunity to hurt thousands of people who never did a thing to you, in exchange for zero benefit to yourself or to society. You sure showed people who were just looking to share their lives with the person they love, didn't you? Awesome work, and I hate to be a party pooper at this, your great moment of triumph over the homosexuals. But today, of all days, it seems necessary to remind you of one thing that, I suspect, you already know deep down.
You're going to lose.
You do recognize that, right? I mean, 150 years ago, your philosophical forebears kept black men as slaves. A hundred years ago, your philosophical forebears outlawed marriage between a white woman and a black man. People like you denied blacks the vote, denied women the vote, explicitly allowed marital rape, segregated the schools, and burned down stores with Jewish owners. And yesterday, a man that people like you once enslaved, the product of a union that people like you once forbade, was elected President of the United States of America in part by citizens that people like you once disenfranchised. The slaveowners, the segregationists, the Klan, the rest of it, all of them are gone or marginalized, sad jokes, and the only thing separating you from them is just a little more time. A little.
And you do know it. I can see it in your panicky faces. You managed to get a cheap amendment passed yesterday, a stopgap against a tide you can't stem, but you know and I know that amendments get repealed. Laws get changed. Oh, you may still have a decade, give or take, to put your pitiful boot down on a group that still distresses enough of your peers to make it unprotected.
But within your lifetime, it's going to happen. Gay men, and gay women, will be married. Not engaged in a "civil union," but married. To each other! They'll share their names, homes, and lives; they'll have the sex you can't bear to think about, in the context of a legally recognized relationship. Then, you know what they'll do? They'll adopt and raise children. They'll join the PTA at your grandkids' school. And you - as marginalized as the "separate-but-equal" shlubs became after the 60's - you'll see it happen. And you'll sit muttering into your bib about how things used to be, and members of a generation who never knew anything but equal marriage rights for all will nod politely and move away, pausing maybe to wipe the creamed corn off your chin.
It's coming, and we all know it. We know it because the natural direction of this society has always been toward more freedom, more rationality, more common decency. We move in pathetically small increments sometimes, mostly because of people like you, but we keep on moving and we're going to move right on past your outmoded ass. And there is nothing - nothing - that you can do about it.
DataLounge: You! You who voted for Prop 8 in California! Gather around!
Everyone once in a while, it's nice to have an evening that doesn't feel scheduled. There is some computer geek stuff I need to catch up on, but it was nice to be somewhat lazy tonight.
Goodness! It sounds like Caribou Barbie will take anything that isn't nailed down. So, if they are giving all of this to charity (slightly skeptical there), then we should have lots of disadvantaged folks not having to cope with having to wear last season's designer fashions. Finally, a ray of hope.
I think that we dodged a bullet here in not getting the Palins elected to national office.
In their special election edition, Newsweek reports that Gov. Sarah Palin's "shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain's top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy."
"One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told Palin to buy three suits for the convention and hire a stylist. But instead, the vice presidential nominee began buying for herself and her family -- clothes and accessories from top stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. According to two knowledgeable sources, a vast majority of the clothes were bought by a wealthy donor, who was shocked when he got the bill."
"Palin also used low-level staffers to buy some of the clothes on their credit cards. The McCain campaign found out last week when the aides sought reimbursement. One aide estimated that she spent 'tens of thousands' more than the reported $150,000, and that $20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband. Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. An angry aide ... said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books."
Palin "Shopping Spree" Bigger Than Reported
Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:50:29 GMT
I finished being a poll watcher last night after dealing with a crisis at work. Kathy Dahlkemper's daughter, Gretchen, was there to get totals for her mom. We had a nice chat while they were getting ready to produce the vote totals. I called Deb to see what was up, and she wanted to take photos to use on the LEAD and Erie County Democratic Party sites, so I was more than happy to act as chauffeur.
We got to Obama HQ at 10th and French, and I asked one of the staff who I should give the precinct vote totals to. "We don't need it!", he jubilantly said. (Pennsylvania had just been called for Obama.) The mood was jubilant and electric. Deb took photos, and Jim Schuelke also asked folks to grab lists and start calling Colorado and other states.
We then went over to Polish Falcons to Cindy Purvis' party, which was not quite so upbeat. They were pretty close to calling Ohio, and one woman mentioned that her grandson had said that his elementary school in Ohio had gone for Obama. "As goes Valley View Elementary, so goes Ohio", she quipped.
We then went down to the Bayfront Convention Center, which was packed to the gills with very happy Democrats! I visited with a lot of the folks from the Erie Steering Committee. We were there when they announced that Obama had won and the crowd went wild! I saw a friend crying because of being so deeply moved. There were tears of joy and people whooping it up. It felt transformative.
I am still bummed about how the anti-gay measures went and am feeling very scared about what could happen in California. It sucks that other people think that you are less worthy of equality and that they have the right to deny you equal protection under the law.
For the most part, it was a most excellent night!
I took today off to be a poll watcher. I was sort of confused yesterday, as they didn't get me tear sheets to note who voted. I showed up at the poll and just figured I would keep an eye out. A runner later dropped off tear sheets. Yay! However, they were mostly non-alphabetized. Boo! So, since there weren't that many names (maybe 200 or so), I just went home, keyed them into Excel, and printed out a sorted list that I could work from. Yeah, it helps to live across the street, and to be a geek.
Someone showed up and said that a runner was supposed to pick up the sheets. Hmm. The time frame seemed to go by, so I tried to phone it in, but the line was busy, but mentioned that other arrangements could be made with the local staff, including keying the data in at a web site. (It's only a digit code for each voter.) Back across the street to key in data. I left the papers at the polling site and told the election officials what was up while I grab some lunch here.
I am feeling fairly good and hopeful about all of this!
I could have gone to belly dance class or an Obama rally tonight, but I ended up having a really time having dinner at my Mom's. The original plan was that we were going to get together to celebrate my brother's birthday tomorrow, but his work schedule changed. Mom figured what the heck, since it had been a bit. We chatted about all kinds of stuff and had a very good evening. Mom also was in the half page ad in today's Erie Times News in support of Obama/Biden. Cool!
It has been a fairly productive and fun weekend. I bustled around on Saturday trying to catch up on domestic stuff. It was definitely a case of wanting to be in several places at once.
We had a very well attended and enjoyable coven potluck dinner before Samhain at Dylan and Selkie's. I brought along the cards for folks to sign for Kym, and Selkie said that she would take them to her. We didn't really do a formal circle, but we did do the candle ritual for Samain that Salem came up with. Basically, each person takes a candle and says a few words of remembrance for ancestors, people or other loved ones and puts the candle in a tray that is filled with sand (or kitty litter.) It's very simple, but it usually is extremely moving. I noticed that quite a few us (yours truly included) were looking a tad misty-eyed after the ritual.
I then figured I could make it down to the Night of the Living La La's Dance at the Latonia Theatre in Oil City, which was about an hour and 45 minute drive away. I had a costume stashed and arrived there at about 11 or so. They were all so graciously warm and friendly. I also took photos so that we can use them in Erie Gay News. The costume I had included a latex half skull with a long gray ponytail wig. A few people asked me if I was going as Diane "Whack Job" Gramley. I explained that I wanted to be slightly scary, not vile. I also danced a bit. It was just a wonderful night and I am so glad that the women managing the theatre are doing a terrific job and that folks support them!
Things went quite well at the Obama/Erie Steering Committee this AM. I have a pretty full day. They are doing a rally on Monday and an election night party on Tuesday. I feel lucky to work with some really dedicated and upbeat folks.
I was sitting down and about to post the rally on Monday to the web, when the doorbell went off. I looked and saw 2 young women with babies/toddlers in tow. My first thought was "Huh? Halloween was last night??" because I was thinking of late trick or treaters.
It turns out that they were canvassing for Barack Obama, and I explained that I was involved with the Erie Steering Committee, and was most definitely voting for Obama. They were cheered by this and mentioned that I was the very first house that they went to. I felt so thrilled that their first time canvassing started off on a happy note.
I also talked with a very nice lesbian couple at Craze when I was out last night who are taking the day off to give rides to the polls, and another woman who had created her own info sheet about why GLBT voters should go for Obama.
It is absolutely thrilling and uplifting to see all of these young people so actively involved and excited about the election! Yay!!!
