Marc and I both went. Marc hung out with friends from the team, and I took photos of the matches which I'll now start to share...
No skinny legs here!
Okay, I'll stop there for now. More to come!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Rugby!
On Saturday, Gotham played against the Brooklyn Barons at Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers.
Marc and I both went. Marc hung out with friends from the team, and I took photos of the matches which I'll now start to share...
No skinny legs here!
Okay, I'll stop there for now. More to come!
Marc and I both went. Marc hung out with friends from the team, and I took photos of the matches which I'll now start to share...
No skinny legs here!
Okay, I'll stop there for now. More to come!
Can we please calm down?
The media aren't helping things, of course, but I think everyone is getting a little too excited about this swine flu outbreak. Yes, sure, it could be a problem, but it doesn't seem all that deadly. Besides, everyone is worried about this strain of swine flu that has killed only one person within US borders, while no one bats an eye at the usual seasonal flu outbreaks every year.
Yes, this swine flu strain may wind up killing a bunch of people (and has already killed some poor folks in Mexico), but really! One person here. A hundred or so in Mexico. And our normal, seasonal influenza? Well, that kills around 40,000 people in the US alone every single year. 40,000! So let's keep some perspective. If it gets bad, we have treatments that weren't even imagined 90+ years ago during the Spanish flu pandemic. In the meantime, a bunch of people here in New York had or have this swine flu, and no one here has died. So it may not get too bad at all. I hope it won't. Yes, it's a worry, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it just yet!
One last note to the government of Egypt: you're all morons! Slaughtering every pig in the country won't make any difference! I know you have doctors over there. Have none of you listened to any of them? I'm sensitive to pigs being killed, ever since I learned that they're smart like dogs (that's why I don't order or buy pork--because an animal that smart will be in terror and can't be "humanely" killed), but this doesn't even rise to that level of thought. This isn't about whether we should kill pigs. After all, those pigs were, no doubt, headed for Egyptian dinner tables eventually. No, this is just about panicking and doing stupid things. Your pigs aren't going to give you this flu! No matter how/where it started, the pandemic fear has to do with people passing it to each other! Morons.
Yes, this swine flu strain may wind up killing a bunch of people (and has already killed some poor folks in Mexico), but really! One person here. A hundred or so in Mexico. And our normal, seasonal influenza? Well, that kills around 40,000 people in the US alone every single year. 40,000! So let's keep some perspective. If it gets bad, we have treatments that weren't even imagined 90+ years ago during the Spanish flu pandemic. In the meantime, a bunch of people here in New York had or have this swine flu, and no one here has died. So it may not get too bad at all. I hope it won't. Yes, it's a worry, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it just yet!
One last note to the government of Egypt: you're all morons! Slaughtering every pig in the country won't make any difference! I know you have doctors over there. Have none of you listened to any of them? I'm sensitive to pigs being killed, ever since I learned that they're smart like dogs (that's why I don't order or buy pork--because an animal that smart will be in terror and can't be "humanely" killed), but this doesn't even rise to that level of thought. This isn't about whether we should kill pigs. After all, those pigs were, no doubt, headed for Egyptian dinner tables eventually. No, this is just about panicking and doing stupid things. Your pigs aren't going to give you this flu! No matter how/where it started, the pandemic fear has to do with people passing it to each other! Morons.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Wine tasting & the Equality Awards
Our friends Byrne, Andy and Nate came over Friday night to spend the weekend with us. We had a nice dinner Friday evening (filet mignon, salmon and veggies), and Marc made breakfast Saturday morning (matzo brei and blueberry pancakes), and we took our time getting around, since we were going to the Equality Awards Gala that night and didn't want to make too long a day of it.
Early in the afternoon, we headed east. We stopped at an outlet store in Riverhead that we all wanted to check out. Then we continued on, stopping at the fabulous Modern Snack Bar in Aquebogue for lunch. After that, we drove to Pindar Vineyards in Peconic for some wine tasting. I took a few photos there...
The front area at Pindar
Andy and Nate check out the tasting selections
Stained glass lets light in through the rafters
Marc and Andy
Nate samples some wine
Pink Champagne
Nate and Andy
And then, on to the Gala...
They clean up nicely, don't they?
Marc, Andy, Nate and Byrne gather for a group photo
Sunday was nice and relaxing, too. Andy and Nate had to leave pretty early, but Byrne stayed until mid-afternoon. Despite it being a relatively full weekend, it was over way too fast. We had a great time!
Early in the afternoon, we headed east. We stopped at an outlet store in Riverhead that we all wanted to check out. Then we continued on, stopping at the fabulous Modern Snack Bar in Aquebogue for lunch. After that, we drove to Pindar Vineyards in Peconic for some wine tasting. I took a few photos there...
The front area at Pindar
Andy and Nate check out the tasting selections
Stained glass lets light in through the rafters
Marc and Andy
Nate samples some wine
Pink Champagne
Nate and Andy
And then, on to the Gala...
They clean up nicely, don't they?
Marc, Andy, Nate and Byrne gather for a group photo
Sunday was nice and relaxing, too. Andy and Nate had to leave pretty early, but Byrne stayed until mid-afternoon. Despite it being a relatively full weekend, it was over way too fast. We had a great time!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
More rugby photos
Well, we certainly got pulled away from those rugby photos. Time to continue!
More to come!
More to come!
Thursday, April 09, 2009
I think I'm in love with an Iowa senator :)
Okay, maybe not love, but I do admire what he said in response to legislative efforts to overturn the Iowa Supreme Court's decision on marriage equality (the video is embedded below).
I've already drafted a letter to him (I think actual paper with a signature says so much more than e-mail), thanking him for this. Regardless of his political affiliation, what he has done is a wonderful defense of equal rights. I think a letter of thanks is well deserved!
I've already drafted a letter to him (I think actual paper with a signature says so much more than e-mail), thanking him for this. Regardless of his political affiliation, what he has done is a wonderful defense of equal rights. I think a letter of thanks is well deserved!
Monday, April 06, 2009
The bullshit of bigotry
Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court found that denying same-sex couples the right to civil marriage is a violation of the Iowa constitution. One of the many bigots who screamed about the decision was U.S. Representative (Republican--shocking!--of Iowa) Steve King, who said, "If judges believe the Iowa legislature should grant same sex marriage, they should resign from their positions and run for office, not legislate from the bench." I expect Mr. King, if he has any integrity, to speak out again today.
After all, the Vermont legislature voted overwhelmingly (95-52 in the VT House) to approve gay marriage in Vermont, and ONE man, the Vermont governor, has vetoed it. Given what Mr. King said about the few judges legislating from the bench, and Mr. King's respect for the legislative process, I'm sure he'll be coming out with a statement condemning Vermont Governor Jim Douglas for his veto of the gay marriage bill the legislature passed. Just because the governor's personal beliefs about what's right tell him to veto this, does he have any right to override the will of the legislature? Of course not! So go get him, Mr. King! (But I hope you're all okay with my not holding my breath waiting for him.)
After all, the Vermont legislature voted overwhelmingly (95-52 in the VT House) to approve gay marriage in Vermont, and ONE man, the Vermont governor, has vetoed it. Given what Mr. King said about the few judges legislating from the bench, and Mr. King's respect for the legislative process, I'm sure he'll be coming out with a statement condemning Vermont Governor Jim Douglas for his veto of the gay marriage bill the legislature passed. Just because the governor's personal beliefs about what's right tell him to veto this, does he have any right to override the will of the legislature? Of course not! So go get him, Mr. King! (But I hope you're all okay with my not holding my breath waiting for him.)
Friday, April 03, 2009
Wedding ceremony, vows and a photo
I've been pondering how this all made/makes me feel. It's hard to put this into words, but one thing I do know: getting married has strengthened my resolve to fight for marriage equality. I already had thrown my support behind the fight for our civil rights, but it really hit home this week. I already believed that civil unions weren't enough, but it has a very personal impact now that has touched me to the core.
So on this day when another state's Supreme Court has acknowledged our rights--"If gay and lesbian people must submit to different treatment without an exceedingly persuasive justification, they are deprived of the benefits of the principle of equal protection upon which the rule of law is founded"--I will happily share more from our wedding of just two days ago. (What we say is in italics, if I didn't screw that up.) :)
The ceremony
We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Marc and Jess. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though I am unable to give all this knowledge to both of you standing here, I can hope to leave with you the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.
Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, you have come here today to be joined as one in marriage.
Please join hands with your partner and listen to that which I am about to say...
Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...
Like a stone should your love be firm; like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, let peace be with you always.
Stand fast in your hope and confidence, and believe in your shared future just as strongly as you believe in yourselves and in each other today. Only in this spirit can you create a partnership that will sustain all the days of your lives.
The Vows
Marc and Jess, we are here to rejoice and to recount with one another that it is love that guides us on our path, and to celebrate as you begin this journey together. It is in this spirit that you have come here today to exchange these vows…
Jess, repeat after me:
I, Jess, take you Marc to be my partner for life/
I promise above all else to live in truth with you/
And to communicate fully and fearlessly/
I give you my hand and my heart/
As a sanctuary of warmth and peace/
And pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor as I join my life to yours.
Marc, repeat after me:
I, Marc, take you Jess to be my partner for life/
I promise above all else to live in truth with you/
And to communicate fully and fearlessly/
I give you my hand and my heart/
As a sanctuary of warmth and peace/
And pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor as I join my life to yours.
Rings
Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing of them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness, you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight.
Jess take Marc's ring and put in on his finger, and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end
My love for you is limitless
Just as it is made of indestructible substance
My commitment to you will never fail
With this ring, I take you to be my best friend, lover, and partner for life.
Marc take Jess's ring and put in on his finger, and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end
My love for you is limitless
Just as it is made of indestructible substance
My commitment to you will never fail
With this ring, I take you to be my best friend, lover, and partner for life.
Pronouncement
Marc and Jess, Your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you the earth. Like the stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow. If you would have the foundation of your marriage be the devotion you have for one another, not just at this moment, but for all the days to come, then treasure the hopes and dreams that you bring here today. Stand fast in that hope and confidence, having faith in your shared destiny just as strongly as you have faith in yourselves and in one another today. Only with this spirit can you forge a union that will strengthen and endure all the days of your lives.
As you have consented in this ceremony to be partners for life, and in accordance with the law of CT and by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the state of CT, I now pronounce you partners in marriage. Congratulations!
Candle lighting
Within each human being burns the spark of the Divine. When two people love one another with devotion and freedom, they kindle the awareness of that spark in each other as nothing else quite can do. The lighted candle is symbolic of the cosmic creation and the light and truth in the human heart, mind and soul. Fire also symbolizes both purity and passion.
Take into your hearts the warmth, radiance and light that the flame represents. Let it light your way on the journey of life that you are about to embark on.
If at this time you wish to affirm your free choice to unite as partners in marriage, please light the unlit candle together now. (We lit candle together) As you bring your individual flames together to symbolically form the new and greater flame of your marriage, never forget that the light of your union is made up of your unique, individual expressions of light and is continually sustained and renewed by your connection to each other. May the light of your marriage be a beacon in the night, a safe harbor from the storms of life. May your future be made infinitely brighter by the light and the love that you share.
------------------------------------
And that was it. Marc had some tears in his eyes, and I fought hard not to start crying myself, since I thought that would make both of us emotional wrecks. Still, it was quite an amazing feeling.
By the way, if anyone wants to get married in Connecticut, let us know. We'll be glad to give you the contact information for Maureen Davis, the Justice of the Peace who officiated at our wedding. She did a lovely job.
To close this post, here's a photo with the Justice of the Peace:
So on this day when another state's Supreme Court has acknowledged our rights--"If gay and lesbian people must submit to different treatment without an exceedingly persuasive justification, they are deprived of the benefits of the principle of equal protection upon which the rule of law is founded"--I will happily share more from our wedding of just two days ago. (What we say is in italics, if I didn't screw that up.) :)
The ceremony
We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Marc and Jess. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls has come our way through all paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though I am unable to give all this knowledge to both of you standing here, I can hope to leave with you the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.
Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, you have come here today to be joined as one in marriage.
Please join hands with your partner and listen to that which I am about to say...
Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...
Like a stone should your love be firm; like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, let peace be with you always.
Stand fast in your hope and confidence, and believe in your shared future just as strongly as you believe in yourselves and in each other today. Only in this spirit can you create a partnership that will sustain all the days of your lives.
The Vows
Marc and Jess, we are here to rejoice and to recount with one another that it is love that guides us on our path, and to celebrate as you begin this journey together. It is in this spirit that you have come here today to exchange these vows…
Jess, repeat after me:
I, Jess, take you Marc to be my partner for life/
I promise above all else to live in truth with you/
And to communicate fully and fearlessly/
I give you my hand and my heart/
As a sanctuary of warmth and peace/
And pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor as I join my life to yours.
Marc, repeat after me:
I, Marc, take you Jess to be my partner for life/
I promise above all else to live in truth with you/
And to communicate fully and fearlessly/
I give you my hand and my heart/
As a sanctuary of warmth and peace/
And pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor as I join my life to yours.
Rings
Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing of them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness, you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight.
Jess take Marc's ring and put in on his finger, and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end
My love for you is limitless
Just as it is made of indestructible substance
My commitment to you will never fail
With this ring, I take you to be my best friend, lover, and partner for life.
Marc take Jess's ring and put in on his finger, and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end
My love for you is limitless
Just as it is made of indestructible substance
My commitment to you will never fail
With this ring, I take you to be my best friend, lover, and partner for life.
Pronouncement
Marc and Jess, Your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you the earth. Like the stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow. If you would have the foundation of your marriage be the devotion you have for one another, not just at this moment, but for all the days to come, then treasure the hopes and dreams that you bring here today. Stand fast in that hope and confidence, having faith in your shared destiny just as strongly as you have faith in yourselves and in one another today. Only with this spirit can you forge a union that will strengthen and endure all the days of your lives.
As you have consented in this ceremony to be partners for life, and in accordance with the law of CT and by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the state of CT, I now pronounce you partners in marriage. Congratulations!
Candle lighting
Within each human being burns the spark of the Divine. When two people love one another with devotion and freedom, they kindle the awareness of that spark in each other as nothing else quite can do. The lighted candle is symbolic of the cosmic creation and the light and truth in the human heart, mind and soul. Fire also symbolizes both purity and passion.
Take into your hearts the warmth, radiance and light that the flame represents. Let it light your way on the journey of life that you are about to embark on.
If at this time you wish to affirm your free choice to unite as partners in marriage, please light the unlit candle together now. (We lit candle together) As you bring your individual flames together to symbolically form the new and greater flame of your marriage, never forget that the light of your union is made up of your unique, individual expressions of light and is continually sustained and renewed by your connection to each other. May the light of your marriage be a beacon in the night, a safe harbor from the storms of life. May your future be made infinitely brighter by the light and the love that you share.
------------------------------------
And that was it. Marc had some tears in his eyes, and I fought hard not to start crying myself, since I thought that would make both of us emotional wrecks. Still, it was quite an amazing feeling.
By the way, if anyone wants to get married in Connecticut, let us know. We'll be glad to give you the contact information for Maureen Davis, the Justice of the Peace who officiated at our wedding. She did a lovely job.
To close this post, here's a photo with the Justice of the Peace:
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
A quick report on a big day
We're married.
Marc and I met on his birthday, 13 years, 7 months and 15 days ago.
So it seemed fitting that me make it "legal" on my birthday... which is today. I'm sure we would have done this sooner, but marriage only became an option for us recently. We were waiting for New York, but the Democrats in New York took our votes and suddenly lost some of their dedication to the cause. But I digress--and there's no need for any of that on such a happy day. We didn't wait for New York. Instead, we went to Connecticut to get it done.
Today, we went to Danbury, visited their City Hall, got a marriage license and then went to a Justice of the Peace. We had contacted the Justice of the Peace quite a while ago, so this was all set up and ready to go.
She was terrific, and she conducted a wonderful ceremony. We said our vows, exchanged our rings and lit a candle.
When I have more time, I'll share the vows we said. In the meantime, I'm going to take my HUSBAND (yes!!!) upstairs. Because, you know, we wanted to wait until we were married before we did anything.
Okay, we wanted to wait, but, as I recall, we waited until after lunch back when we first met. ;) Even so, I'm dragging this hot man upstairs, and I'll share more about today when I have more time!
Marc and I met on his birthday, 13 years, 7 months and 15 days ago.
So it seemed fitting that me make it "legal" on my birthday... which is today. I'm sure we would have done this sooner, but marriage only became an option for us recently. We were waiting for New York, but the Democrats in New York took our votes and suddenly lost some of their dedication to the cause. But I digress--and there's no need for any of that on such a happy day. We didn't wait for New York. Instead, we went to Connecticut to get it done.
Today, we went to Danbury, visited their City Hall, got a marriage license and then went to a Justice of the Peace. We had contacted the Justice of the Peace quite a while ago, so this was all set up and ready to go.
She was terrific, and she conducted a wonderful ceremony. We said our vows, exchanged our rings and lit a candle.
When I have more time, I'll share the vows we said. In the meantime, I'm going to take my HUSBAND (yes!!!) upstairs. Because, you know, we wanted to wait until we were married before we did anything.
Okay, we wanted to wait, but, as I recall, we waited until after lunch back when we first met. ;) Even so, I'm dragging this hot man upstairs, and I'll share more about today when I have more time!
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