Me, Back in Time on TV

So MY BOY Chris Ford in Austin texts me last night saying “I just saw you on TV!” I promptly respond with “Liar!” He casually replies with a pic that he takes of his TV. I was like holy shit!

It was the day after Kay Bailey Hutchison (currently U.S. Ambassador to NATO) had been elected U.S. Senator in a special election to replace Lloyd Bensten, who had become Bill Clinton’s Treasury Secretary. The year was 1993. Oy vey!

You can see the pic below. The link is to the story that ran last night on the ABC affiliate KVUE in Austin about the history of Senate elections in Texas.

https://www.kvue.com/mobile/article/news/politics/vote-texas/texas-elections-senate-republicans-democrats/269-c020b657-8b49-4af4-bb4f-d6f83c692c2e

Quotes from the Pride Parade

“But if my being seen in the parade is a visible sign that God loves and accepts people across the full spectrum of human sexuality, it will have achieved its purpose.”
– The Very Rev. Gary Hall, Washington National Cathedral

But he didn’t stop there.

“I’m sure I’ll get some angry letters for participating in something this flamboyant. But you know, I think the flamboyance might actually loosen up some uptight people.”

– The Very Rev. Gary Hall, Washington National Cathedral

I’ve Got My Health

Health-wise, today is a pretty fantastic day!  Had my annual checkup this morning.  My blood pressure was an astounding 122 over 80.  I say astounding for those who don’t recall last summer, I was in the hospital for what turned out to be severe stage 3 of hypertension.

My good friend Patrick P took me to the hospital where I was quickly admitted after being triaged.  What I thought was a major asthma attack turned out to me being diagnosed with the beginning stages of heart disease.   A blood pressure level of 198 over 93 proved that.  I had been misdiagnosed a few years earlier with asthma.

Last November, I saw a new doctor and a nutritionist.  And together, we’ve worked a path towards a healthier life.  No fads.  No diets.  But a change in lifestyle.

I’m not going to tell you that I have been 100 percent committed to this change.  Nor will I say that I have not cheated or followed every restriction.  But I am eating much healthier.  I’ve cut down on my drinking (very hard).  And as evident from my runkeeper.com posts, I get my exercise by walking all the time.

With tonight’s walk to and from the RNC headquarters for a holiday party, I hit an amazing milestone.  I recorded my first walk on November 25, 2011.  That was for 3.31 miles.  With tonight’s 4.35 walk, I have officially walked 501 miles in 54 weeks!  Cue up that contagious song from Benny and Joon by the Proclaimers.  I’m down 43 pounds, my BMI has dropped by over 4 points, and my blood pressure is perfect.  I still smoke too many cigars, but that’s not gonna change anytime soon.

But as I conclude the year, I revel in the knowledge that I’m much healthier than when I started.

Not Just My Birthday

This week has been all about life.

Yesterday, I celebrated my 42nd birthday.  And while I relish the revelry that occurs around birthdays – especially mine – I was happy to share the day with two other occasions.  I am also honored (I don’t know if that really is the right word) to have shared life experiences with several friends around this time.

Yesterday back in 1996, my friends Jon and Jackie were married in their hometown of Bethlehem, PA.  Today, they have three healthy wonderful boys (Jared, Justin, and Josh – you see a pattern?) who are full of life and energy.

Also yesterday, we celebrate the official one year anniversary of the repeal of DADT!

Two weeks ago was the five year anniversary of my good friend Kathee being cancer free!  Her husband, and also my good friend Greg, carefully orchestrated a surprise party for Kathee in their very own back yard.  He arranged for her parents and close friends to fly up from Louisiana.  His family came down from Pennsylvania.  One of our friends offered up his band to play, while another of our friends who could not attend sent the magical gift of an Elvis impersonator.  Yours truly was on the scene, of course, to play DJ.  Not even that crazy monsoon that bowled through the region was enough to stop us.

Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to witness two friends express their love for one another in a beautiful wedding.  While not my first gay wedding, it was my first in a church – the National City Church at Thomas Circle.  Absolutely georgeous!  Congratulations, Rick & Steve!

Sadly, the other night I received the news that another friend lost his father after heart surgery.  Now, he and his partner are on their way down to Brazil for memorial services.

So while I selfishly celebrate my birthday, I am humbled to share in the life experiences of my friends on and around this day.

A Viking Stands Up for Equality

Needless to say, this makes my day. …from Deadspin.com

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo has spoken out in favor of a Maryland ballot initiative that would legalize gay marriage. Yahoo has published a letter that Maryland state delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. wrote last week to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, urging him to “inhibit such expressions from your employee.” This is Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe’s (@ChrisWarcraft) response to Burns.

Dear Emmett C. Burns Jr.,

I find it inconceivable that you are an elected official of Maryland’s state government. Your vitriolic hatred and bigotry make me ashamed and disgusted to think that you are in any way responsible for shaping policy at any level. The views you espouse neglect to consider several fundamental key points, which I will outline in great detail (you may want to hire an intern to help you with the longer words):

1. As I suspect you have not read the Constitution, I would like to remind you that the very first, the VERY FIRST Amendment in this founding document deals with the freedom of speech, particularly the abridgment of said freedom. By using your position as an elected official (when referring to your constituents so as to implicitly threaten the Ravens organization) to state that the Ravens should “inhibit such expressions from your employees,” more specifically Brendon Ayanbadejo, not only are you clearly violating the First Amendment, you also come across as a narcissistic fromunda stain. What on earth would possess you to be so mind-boggingly stupid? It baffles me that a man such as yourself, a man who relies on that same First Amendment to pursue your own religious studies without fear of persecution from the state, could somehow justify stifling another person’s right to speech. To call that hypocritical would be to do a disservice to the word. Mindfucking obscenely hypocritical starts to approach it a little bit.

2. “Many of your fans are opposed to such a view and feel it has no place in a sport that is strictly for pride, entertainment, and excitement.” Holy fucking shitballs. Did you seriously just say that, as someone who’s “deeply involved in government task forces on the legacy of slavery in Maryland”? Have you not heard of Kenny Washington? Jackie Robinson? As recently as 1962 the NFL still had segregation, which was only done away with by brave athletes and coaches daring to speak their mind and do the right thing, and you’re going to say that political views have “no place in a sport”? I can’t even begin to fathom the cognitive dissonance that must be coursing through your rapidly addled mind right now; the mental gymnastics your brain has to tortuously contort itself through to make such a preposterous statement are surely worthy of an Olympic gold medal (the Russian judge gives you a 10 for “beautiful oppressionism”).

3. This is more a personal quibble of mine, but why do you hate freedom? Why do you hate the fact that other people want a chance to live their lives and be happy, even though they may believe in something different than you, or act different than you? How does gay marriage, in any way shape or form, affect your life? If gay marriage becomes legal, are you worried that all of a sudden you’ll start thinking about penis? “Oh shit. Gay marriage just passed. Gotta get me some of that hot dong action!” Will all of your friends suddenly turn gay and refuse to come to your Sunday Ticket grill-outs? (Unlikely, since gay people enjoy watching football too.)

I can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero effect on your life. They won’t come into your house and steal your children. They won’t magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster. They won’t even overthrow the government in an orgy of hedonistic debauchery because all of a sudden they have the same legal rights as the other 90 percent of our population—rights like Social Security benefits, child care tax credits, Family and Medical Leave to take care of loved ones, and COBRA healthcare for spouses and children. You know what having these rights will make gays? Full-fledged American citizens just like everyone else, with the freedom to pursue happiness and all that entails. Do the civil-rights struggles of the past 200 years mean absolutely nothing to you?

In closing, I would like to say that I hope this letter, in some small way, causes you to reflect upon the magnitude of the colossal foot in mouth clusterfuck you so brazenly unleashed on a man whose only crime was speaking out for something he believed in. Best of luck in the next election; I’m fairly certain you might need it.

Sincerely,
Chris Kluwe

P.S. I’ve also been vocal as hell about the issue of gay marriage so you can take your “I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing” and shove it in your close-minded, totally lacking in empathy piehole and choke on it. Asshole.

Army Promotes First Gay General!

On the eve of the first anniversary of the end of DADT, the United States Army promotes its first gay general.  Phil Reese of The Washington Blade has the story.

WASHINGTON — At a ceremony last week at the Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery promoting her to Brigadier General status, Tracey Hepner pinned the star to the uniform of Tammy S. Smith — her wife — making her the first openly gay member of the U.S. Army promoted to that rank.

Smith and Hepner were married in the District of Columbia in March 2012, according to the New York Times, and prior to Smith’s promotion, Hepner co-founded the Military Partners and Families Coalition, which provides support services for the families of gay and lesbian military personnel.

“[P]articipating with family in traditional ceremonies such as the promotion is both common and expected of a leader,” Smith told the Times in a statement.

“For years, gay and lesbian generals and admirals were forced to hide their families in order to protect their careers,” said Sue Fulton, a member of the OutServe board of directors, in a statement. “It is a great day for our military and for our nation when this courageous leader is finally able to recognize her wife for her support and sacrifice in the same way that all military families should be recognized for their service to our country.”

As a colonel, Gen. Smith served as the chief of Army Reserve Affairs in Afghanistan from December 2010 to October 2011. She is currently the deputy chief of the Army Reserves.

This Makes My Day!

If You’re from Africa…

Gregg and Ross’ Wedding Reception

August 11, 2012

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Two Dads are Better Than None

Don’t Hate Them Because They’re Beautiful, Cool, & Awesome Dads.  Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burtka with their two kids.  I love this picture!