Lori is in Wisconsin – a big storm came through and they didn’t get as much snow as expected.  However, her daughter Mariah really wanted a snow day.  She had heard from kids at school that there were a few things she could do to help nature along, so last night she:

• put a crayon in the fridge
• wore her pj’s inside out
• slept with a spoon under her pillow

I love it!  Unfortunately it didn’t work – back to the drawing board children in Milwaukee!

In the subway station, 2 people seated at a bench had the following sign propped up for everyone to read:
“Do not offend Jesus Christ by celebrating Christmas – it is ACCURST”

I think you can only, truly be a fanatic if you can spell correctly.  Otherwise you’re just crazy.

It’s rainy, cold and windy today.  And yet despite the weather, I found a few things on the subway to lift my spirits:

the iPhone stalker strikes again

what in world is UNDER there??

• Put up Christmas Decorations (including wreath on door, sing-songy plush animals, etc.)
• Hang stockings
• Buy live tree, decorate
• Make gingerbread houses
• Watch “Elf”
• Mull Cider
• Roast chestnuts (well, they were boiled, but same idea)
• Buy lots and lots of wrapping paper
• Ship presents to family (halfway there)
• Wrap presents for Keith & Max
• Pretend to be Santa and ask Keith to sit on my lap (can be repeated)
• Write a letter to Santa asking that 6 Democrat Senators from NY State lose their jobs
• Sing a Christmas carol
• Watch a Christmas movie
• Comment on how fast the year has gone by
• Plot out remaining vacation days for the year
• Mail Holiday cards
  

It is currently illegal to be homosexual in Uganda.  But a new bill that was just proposed would do the following:

• Gays and lesbians convicted of having gay sex would be sentenced, at minimum, to life in prison
• People who test positive for HIV may be executed
• People who engage in homosexual sex more than once may receive the death penalty
• The bill forbids the “promotion of homosexuality” which effectively bans all organizations working in HIV and AIDS prevention
• Anyone who knows of homosexual activity taking place but does not report it would risk up to 3 years in prison.

What a horrific, inhumane travesty.

I’m not sure there’s anything I need to say about this.  Well…maybe YUM!

On Saturday I bought a bag full of chestnuts at the farmer’s market.  So yesterday Keith found a new way of cooking them (new to us, at least).  Usually I roast them in the oven – or even pan roasted.  But Jamie Oliver had a recipe for boiled chestnuts, so we gave it a try.

First, I scored all the chestnuts (very important to get all the lovely flavors up inside), and put them in a layer at the bottom of a pan.  I poured over Courvoisier (the recipe called for brandy, but this cognac did just fine) – enough to just cover the chestnuts.  Then all the seasonings – cinnamon stick, some grated nutmeg, touch of mace, dash of vanilla sugar.  Point in fact, we basically mulled the chestnuts.  Bring to a boil, and then let simmer for about 20 minutes.

The chestnuts turn a really deep brown color, and once they cool they’re easy to peel and a GREAT snack while watching “The Two Towers” for the millionth time.

my mom’s birthday.

I wonder if she ever thinks of me on mine.

Look, I’m all for groups like Marriage Equality (New York) – hell, I’m a member and I donate to them.  And there are a number of groups that are great – like HRC for the political side of things.  Or Lamda Legal for, well legal things.  But I have a big problem right now with these “soft” groups.

There’s a rally tonight in Union Square.  At first I thought – GREAT, a rally, let’s get together – yell – scream – shout – voice our opposition.  But no.  It’s a cute little get-together, where people are encouraged to bring their candles or their flashlights to stand together and show that marriage equality will happen in the United States.  Okay, that’s fine.  That’s the kind of rally some people want and need right now.  But not me.

I want people to get as fucking ANGRY as I am.  Let’s get on a bus, drive up to Albany and smash some fucking windows.  Why don’t we fucking riot?

THE NEW YORK SENATE – THE STATE OF NEW YORK – HAS JUST TOLD EVERY SINGLE GLBT CITIZEN THAT THEY DO NOT DESERVE EQUAL RIGHTS IN THIS STATE.  THEY HAVE MADE US, BY A VOTE OF THE SENATE, SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS.  DOESN’T THAT PISS ANYONE ELSE OFF?????

So if anyone out there wants to get angry, and wants to get in the streets and make our anger heard, then I’m fucking with you.  But I’m seriously not about to light a candle and sing Kumbaya.  My days of being a soft-spoken gay/democrat are over.  We need to grow some serious balls.  The opposition is strong, and ruthless.  Unless we start ACTUALLY fighting back, we’ll never get any fucking equality in this country!