Candlight March and Vigil

Just on a whim.....I typed in "Twin Falls Pride" on youtube thinking maybe, just maybe someone had posted a camera vid or flip video of the first ever pride in Twin Falls Idaho. I am so proud of James and the rest of the people who participated in this historic week long event in my hometown, and am excitedly surprised at the number of attendees! I wish I could have been there.

Thank you also to Meagan from the Times News for producing and posting this vid!

To put it into context, GLBTs met at a shopping center and then proudly marched down the main thoroughfare (which is the busies roadway in Twin Falls), all the way to the courthouse to hold a candlelight vigil for those who are not visible in Idaho. Each one of these people is a brave, compassionate role model.

When It All Comes Down To It...........

........it was a family saying goodbye to their son, brother, and father.

Weird as they may be, freakish as their behavior may seem, as rich as they are...............today they were a family minus one.

Along with the rest of the world, I've endured the seemingly endless specials, tributes and newscasts on Michael Jackson over the last 12 days, and I've watched many of them sometimes twice. As a result, I've been surprised at the memories which have come to the surface as I've relived my own life through the timeline of his. I've even chastised myself for buying into all the "hooplah". (or as Liz Taylor tweeted, "Whooplah")...but I've paid attention.

I liked MJ when I was in high school, wondered what in the world was going on as his evolving face and persona changed year by year, then I tossed him in the proverbial despicable pile when he was accused of molestation (both times)....and thought I was done with him.

As I was reminded of all the music, all the stories of his life............I suddenly found my perception about him changing just a bit. Pity crept in slowly, and a little sadness too. He was obviously tormented deep inside to some degree, and I wonder what his life would have been like if all that ugliness (or potential ugliness) was simply cut out like a cancer leaving all the good stuff behind? What would his gift have been like?

Don't get me wrong. I still think the guy was guilty of some of the behavior he was accused of, and I have zero tolerance for pedophiles....but I guess all this coverage has made me stop and wonder about the true measure of a man and perhaps allowed me to glimpse some of the other facets that made him who he was.

Ignoring all the glitz, and star-filled eulogies...today the Jacksons became like everyone else on the planet as they shared in the common, and agonizing human experience of saying goodbye to a loved one.

Despite the sideshow circus of his life, when it all comes down to it......today it was just a family saying goodbye to their son, brother and father.

I Love Thunderstorms

......real thunderstorms, that is. I've weathered enough personal thunderstorms to last a lifetime.

Today was beautiful outside. Temps in the mid 80s, sun, a few white clouds...just a beautiful day. Then I began hearing a 'rumbling' so I went outside and saw a storm moving in from the west.

Instead of claps of thunder, it sounded more like really big drums being pounded over and over....very spooky. I called Doug and told him it sounded like the hoofbeats of the four horsemen.....and shortly thereafter it hit.

First it was hail the size of marbles, and then it was wind and rain. BIG rain....STRONG winds.

I have always loved thunderstorms since I was a kid, and still do today (as long as I and my loved ones are inside). There is something reassuring (to me) when you can enjoy the safety of being indoors while the weather rages out your windows.

Now I have to go check my garden....I hope it survived.

Hey.........

Have a happy (and safe) 4th of July!

An Icon Passes & An Apology Received

I was a child of the 1970's, and thus Farrah Fawcett is embedded in my consciousnes.

I had a huge poster of her in my room. It wasn't the famous swimsuit one, I didn't have enough of my allowance saved to buy that particular poster when it came out.....and my parents wouldn't let me have it anyway. The one I had and have, is of her in a white shirt sitting with a martini glass. (more leg, less nipple)

I have Terry Molyneux to thank for that poster. My childhood friend came over to spend the weekend w/me and didn't understand why all my posters were of guys. I had Lee Majors, Buck Rogers, BJ and the Bear among others plastered all over my wall. When he came back the next time, I had Farrah Fawcett, Loni Anderson, Audrey Landers and a few more. The new decor met w/his approval.

She was never my favorite actress, but I always liked her. I'm really sad, though not surprised to learn of her passing today.

Closer to home...........

I heard from my mom this morning, offering an apology of sorts. I was pretty quiet throughout the call but it certainly helped my outlook. Things aren't and won't magically just "be alright" between us, but........... it is what it is, and I appreciate the effort.

Thank you for all the nice comments. It was a rough week, and while I'm embarassed at sharing too much, I wanted you to know how much your encouraging words mean.

I'll be back to myself soon.

The Three Day Tally

Figured I should keep count.

Asshole: 3 times
Ungrateful: 3 times
Fag: Once
Jerk: Once

No embellishment. The last one hurt the worst.....who woulda thunk?

To Delete Or Not Delete...That Is The Question

Ever write a post that when the light of the next day hits, you're filled with embarassment and regret? Kind of like that hangover and blurry memory from days gone by?

Well....I do.

And just like you should never, ever send an email/letter to a boss, ex lover, or failed interview session after consuming a bottle of wine (forgive me I just watched "Confessions of a Shopaholic" last night), I'm starting to think you shouldn't blog when you've had a shitty week and it's an hour past your bedtime.

The problem begins, when you wake up do discover three relatively brand new readers have left wonderful comments....THEN.....you have a connundrum on your hands.

I hate the previous post. It's not who I am, or what I'm about, and I"m embarassed I shared some of that stuff. Are things as bad as I wrote? Unfortunately yeah and maybe a little bit worse, but what do I do about it?

There's no way I'm deleting it now because I"m not axing those three comments which truly made my day...and I can't just leave it as is......so I think I'm going to pretend I was a member of the not so distant Bush regime for just a moment (Don't hate me)...and I'm going to delete the parts I hate.

Life will get better. It has to.

Addendum: I couldn't do it.