Me & The Horse I Rode In On

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The 200th Post

My dear loyal and true readers, this is the 200th post. I'm not sure what significance that holds, if any, but it's fun to think about (thinking about it..........) okay I'm done.

Memorial Day weekend was spent camping with some friends in the Fall Creek wilderness. We came prepared for the rain and Mother Nature didn't disappoint. Thankfully, the only time it rained was on Saturday but it really came down. Within a 1/2 hour, however, we had Tarp Universe constructed and the entire campfire was covered on all sides so we could stay dry and enjoy the warmth of a raging fire. We also managed to vault a tarp over the kitchen area, so food and drink making could happen without soakege.

I could recount all the shenanigans during our three day extravaganza (all-terrain bocce ball was a highlight), but I keep dwelling on a situation one of my friends is dealing with in her school. She teaches in a middle school and last week was, in a word, hell.

A very out, very proud, very gay middle schooler tried to commit suicide. There were many factors contributing to his attempt, from administrators finding pot in an abandoned locker that he kept, to his suicide note talking about his boyfriend and their relationship issues. What got me, however, was the fact that while in questioning for the pot, one of the administrators was speaking to him about another issue - his public displays of affection with the boyfriend - and said something like, "Look, you can be gay. You just can't act gay."

As my friend said those words, very real and very painful memories began to surface. I was enraged at this administrator, someone who is supposed to uphold the values of our local school district; a school district that prides itself on inclusion and diversity and in fact has very harsh disciplinary measures for students or staff who violate them. I thought about the blatant dig at this kid's identity, an attack on his very self. Why didn't the administrator simply say, "You know that public displays of affection aren't allowed." There is no reason to bring someone's sexuality into play when the school policy is simply "No PDAs" (which it is). From deep within, I started shaking in anger. I wanted to lay into this administrator. I wanted him to feel what it's like to be told that you cannot exist; that somehow, you are supposed to live your life split from yourself to make your actions more "appetizing" for others.

Look, you can be a man. You just can't act mannish. Look, you can be a woman. You just can't act womanly. Look, you can be a person. You just can't act like yourself.

The one place I heard such language thrown at me, time and again, was the church. I'm going to guess that's where this guy heard it too. Or if not, from another ignorant person/body that proudly values segregation over tolerance. My coming out was a tortuous, years-long process that, at its worst, had me absolutely suicidal and at its best, I would forget that people didn't want me for a few minutes. When people who you look up to and respect tell you that you are essentially living to displease others by being yourself, the effects are beyond painful; you are utterly devastated. I remember days where I would barely eat, where I was so mad at myself that I could have "turned out this way." Suffice to say, my heart goes out to this kid and I wish there were an opportunity to educate this administrator in a way he would understand. Maybe the inquiry (which is going on now) will be a way he can understand how ignorant, painful and insidious his words were.

Maybe the 200th post is about something after all. If I stand for anything, it is the wish that each person can freely express themselves, THEIR LOVE INCLUDED, provided such expression doesn't bring harm to others. And don't try to play the "mental harm" card when you see two dudes necking. If you're mentally hurt by two people in love, you have way, waaaaayyyy more issues than I can even go into. It's called therapy and it totally works.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Vote Today!

That is all. If you haven't yet turned in your ballot, today's the day fellow Oregonians. Make yours count!!

Friday, May 16, 2008

Soul Harvester

Everyone is born with a special talent. In Star Jones' case, her talent is scaring the living shit out of me. I'm pretty sure this is what evil people see right before they die. You can almost hear it screaming, "GEEVE ME YOUR SOOOOOOOOUUUUULLLLLL!!!"

Monday, May 12, 2008

Bill O'Reilly Can't Read; Doesn't Understand Phrases

Before Bill O'Reilly was granted his very own show, he was just another shill reading entertainment news off a teleprompter. That is, if he could read the words. Based on the following clip, I'm not surprised that Fox gobbled him up. In fact, I'm pretty sure that if anyone on TV can get a Fox executive to say, "Holy shit! That guy/chick is an insane asshole who can't read!," s/he gets a job as a Fox political pundit. This made my Monday morning worth getting up:

CLICK ME

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Words

As many of you know, I am a man of many words. More often than not, the necessary information you require of me will be buried in a lavish tapestry of breath-taking narrative. Sometimes, the necessary information will get lost completely, which means that I will again have to weave a story of mystery and excitement for you. When I'm on a roll, words often pop into my head that do not, according to modern English, exist. Those of you who keep up with my ramblings have seen these words in action! For some reason, lately I have become inundated with new creations and would like to share them with you. I would like to ask, dear readers, that we take it one step further. I know how I would define the words, but I'm curious as to how you would define any or all of my brilliant creations. Enjoy!

  • Delivarious
  • Lustonomous
  • Retarious
  • Kruptonic
  • Jymonic
  • Zirantic
  • Pugously
  • Camously
  • Varinaciously

Thursday, May 01, 2008

The Oregon Colonels


Eric and Chandra are hosting a party this weekend to celebrate the most important horse racing event of the year, the Kentucky Derby. The theme of the party is "Decadent and Depraved" (in the vein of Hunter S. Thompson), so we were encouraged to wear our finest seersucker suits, hats and other appropriate accoutrement. We will of course be drinking mint juleps made of the finest bourbon, or if you're an alcoholic like me, just the bourbon on a drip.

In preparation for the pending party, Robin became intrigued with the idea of a colonel. A colonel, for those of you who aren't aware, is a southern gentleman of stature and leisure. He is one of good humor and flushed visage, one who at any given time will refer to anyone as "suh," regardless of gender. He is often found in a rocking chair on his veranda, cigar in mouth, bourbon bottle on a table next to him and perusing the latest property offerings. His mustache is thick and distinguished, fully covering his upper lip, beads of liquor clinging to it and glistening in the afternoon sun.

At least, this is our idea of a Kentucky Colonel. In reality, the Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonel is a charity organization that does many good things for their community. Famous Colonels include Bob Hope, Elvis Presley, Marie Osmond, Tiger Woods and Pope John Paul II. Their mission now, as stated on their web site, is "The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, utilizing contributions from individual Colonels from all over the world, provides financial support to Kentucky charitable and educational institutions and organizations."

But enough with all that. It's great that the Kentucky Colonels have broadened their organization to include women, black people and popes, but let's cut the shit. The real purpose of being a colonel is to behave in the manner I described above - to watch people tend my crops and say "suh" to everyone. For this weekend, that is the stereotype from which I will draw my mannerisms and verbiage.

And I'm not alone. Robin, Evan, Eric and everyone else will be stammering around with their mint juleps, inciting duels, inappropriately grabbing others and everything else the grand colonels used to do. When asked what I think about the derby, I will say, "Why suh, I do declaya this the best duhby in the land, suh!" My genteel demeanor will not doubt impress the ladies, one of whom I plan to court by the end of the evening. "Why, my deeyah, why don' we take a little stroll in tha gahden?" Taking her arm in mine, we will stroll amidst the blooming apple trees and speak of the good life, the only life, the Kentucky life. I will no doubt have to defend her honor, a task I am more than willing to see through. I can hear that pesky Evan Burns right now, "Suh! I say, suh! I do believe you are courtin' my one true love, suh!" I will ask my lovely to stand aside for a moment while Evan and I duel with pistols in the orchard. It will be a gentlemanly affair, of course, and all proper etiquette will be observed. If he somehow misses me but hits my glass of bourbon, I assure you he won't live to tell of it.

I am confident that our shenanigans will be a bawdy mess of southern stereotypes. But when you think about it, "suh" is the only proper way to refer to someone while drinking bourbon and watching the derby. And what better way to celebrate the derby than how Hunter S. Thompson would have wanted us to? There is much shopping left to do. Eric and Chandra have a front porch, er, veranda, so I'm off to find us some rocking chairs...