so the costume ideas didn't work out this year, but a nice dinner with the gf and friends following some serious election work was a lovely trade-off. i'll tuck the brilliant costume idea in my back pocket for next year :) Expect some posts in the coming days regarding the election, and the importance of getting out and voting.

xoxoxo

GOTV for Tony Avella

Working on a Saturday to make sure that Tony Avella wins in the New York State Senate!!! Get Out the Vote because this one is going to be close. GO TONY!

Olberman on Freedom

Why I'm Voting on Row E

But more importantly than Matt Damon wearing a Yankees hat, I support the Working Families Party and their platform.


You can still vote for your candidates, just do it on Row E. Don't know much about the Working Families Party? Well, check out their website. This party pays particular attention to the issues that impact, yup, you guessed it, working families. But beyond that, the issues that they focus on, impact all of us: affordable housing, green jobs, education, healthcare, infrastructure, good jobs, a living wage, equal rights and so much more!!! The more voters who vote on this line, the more candidates will pay attention to these issues! Your vote will still go to your candidate of choice, so don't worry about that. One thing to note: with NY's new paper ballots, only vote for your candidate of choice on one party line. DO NOT vote for a candidate on both Row A (Democrat) and Row E (Working Families Party), if you do this, your vote will not count. Only fill in ONE row!

Don't forget to vote on Nov. 2, 2010. If you aren't sure if you are registered to vote, go here.

Early voting in NY

So today, I went to perform my civic duty and vote. I need to vote absentee because I will be working from 5:30am - 9:30pm on election day. The Board of Elections website clearly states the following:

Registered voters who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day because of occupation, business, studies, travel, imprisonment (other than a convicted felon), illness, disability and hospitalization or resident in a long term care facility, may vote by absentee ballot.

There are two options for New York City voters wishing to cast absentee ballots:

1. Voting in person at your Board of Elections office in your borough
2. By mail.

However, this is not entirely true. The reality is, is that I must be unable to make it to the polls because of occupation, business, studies, etc. BUT ALSO I must be absent from not only my county BUT ALSO the 5 boroughs of New York City.

I call BULLSHIT. This is just one of the many reasons why NY should have early voting! Check out all of the states that do have early voting.

More on this soon!

God's Love We Deliver

Tonight I attended the Golden Heart Awards Dinner for God's Love We Deliver, a favorite NYC organization.

The mission of God's Love We Deliver is to improve the health and well-being of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses by alleviating hunger and malnutrition. We prepare and deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to people who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. We also provide illness-specific nutrition education and counseling to our clients, families, care providers and other service organizations. All of our services are provided free of charge without regard to income.

The staff at GLWD is simply phenomenal but their work would not be possible without their army of volunteers, they prepare and deliver close to 1 million meals a year and work hard to create nutritious and tasty meals for their clients. For the past 4 years, I've volunteered with them on Thanksgiving or Christmas to deliver clients their meals. It is truly a humbling experience and such a wonderful way to spend a few hours on these holidays. If you are in NYC during the holidays, you should consider volunteering with God's Love We Deliver.

HealthGAP

Are you familiar with HealthGAP? If not, please check out their website to learn more!!! Last evening I attended Health GAP Global Health Justice Awards that Rachel Maddow headlined, along with Annie Lennox to honor the excellent work of Bob Lederer, John Riley, ACT UP Philadelphia and Treatment Action Campaign (South Africa). Hats off to Jennifer Flynn, Managing Director, for all of her hard work over the years and putting together this successful event!!!

tonight we donned matching shoes, played dress up

day off

sometimes, there is nothing better than a day off to just catch up on life. didnt do much today, biggest thing off the check list, laundry. woo hoo. nothing like the smell of clean clothes.

too little?

for me, these are just words...

i'll feel better when:

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is fully and absolutely repealed
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is passed
the Defense of Marriage Act is repealed
the Respect for Marriage Act is passed
the Uniting American Families Act is passed

but this of course is only a start...there is so much work to be done.

Dear Mr. President, you told me you were a fierce advocate, I don't know where that man is.

I want equality and justice for all LGBT Americans and their families to be a reality!

I don't want to be a second class citizen because of love.

meetings.meetings.meetings. that is how i spent my day. i would rather be outside playing.playing.playing.

allergy mistaken red eye flights across barren fields
pulse racing not from anticipation but from wanting pause
blinking lights and traffic horns side swiping races from streets to the highest roof
fruit flies chasing nectar honeybees planting stingers
puzzles and unfinished sentences cross pages of incomplete cadence
cracked oils collect on pallets and summer turns to fall
blankets no longer keeping warm.

today's favorite photo

my 6 year old nephew, who loves having a camera in hand...so cute. love you, jeremy!

this is at the wright's brothers memorial.

sunday in the park

Maskers

apple picking at maskers farm in warwick new jersey = a saturday full of fun, friends and frolicking.














peter piper picked a pumpkin...here's to pumpkin pie, soup, muffins :-)

3 pounds

of adorableness in brooklyn.

The Fall Dinner

Tonight was the Empire State Pride Agenda's Fall Dinner. Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen hosted the star studded event, that many LGBT supportive elected officials attended. It was a great event and we raised a lot of money that we can use to continue the great work changing hearts and minds across New York State.

SHE

National Coming Out Day

Today is National Coming Out Day, many people probably don't know what this day is, or what it means.


This evening, I went to the 30th Annual PFLAG NYC Dinner. PFLAG is an incredible organization. The organization was founded in 1973 and was founded by parents and friends of LGBT persons who stood up to support their loved ones. Such a great organization, such a great dinner. Mayor Bloomberg spoke and a whole host of others, moving speeches but I think the one that hit me was, the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brian Burke talk about his gay son (who passed away in a tragic car accident) and his support of LGBT rights, tonight, you are my hero! Thank you.

a perfect sunday

spent walking around followed by homemade pizza with the gf and friends. perfect.

Happy Birthday Jeremy

Today this little man turns 6...and got a cool Lego airplane to prove it!

after a long, long week, my conference is coming to an end. it has been quite an interesting week, filled with many lessons that i will bring back to work in the days and weeks to come. it was amazing to see so many workplaces present at the conference. Non-profits. Fortune-500 companies. Government agencies. one common goal = advancing LGBT equality and justice in the workplace.

thursday in la and it is finally sunny and not raining. its also my last night in town, tomorrow afternoon i board a plane, thank goodness. i miss NYC.

i don't write because i know she'll read
i write because it's what i know
no matter the fights, the ill words, the frustration
there is another day and way to come together
to let go of held beliefs
realities that shine
terrify
decisions to put fairytales to bed
to speak honestly
i'm tired
i'm annoyed
i'm in love

a breath

forget the bruised apple
the wallet list
nikki's doorway technique
fifteen minutes
pens and paper
paint and canvass
read
one hour

Out and Equal

Today I head to LA for Out and Equal's Annual Summit. Won't be a bluegrass festival, but I will come back to NY with some great ideas of making change happen in the workplace around LGBT issues.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival: Day 3

The line up:

Indigo Girls
Earl Scruggs
Doc Watson and David Holt
Patti Smith
Emmylou Harris
The Avett Brothers

Today the festival brought another dancing man:


Zoe's hippie dog cousin


Patti fucking Smith

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival: Day 2

Today is the day that brought me to San Francisco, a chance to see Conor Oberst yet again. He played an incredible set with a nice mixture of his solo stuff, some bright eyes stuff and then some stuff I haven't heard. Today we had: Conor Oberst, Gillian Welch and Steve Earle and the Dukes. amazing!!!

Set list:
Laura Laurent
Moab
Four winds
New Song I think, some lyrics: "you don't know what's further up the road" new song? "all in time"
No one would riot for less
Train under water
Spring cleaning
New song, I think, some lyrics:"throw your arms around me...let's jeep this quiet there are hawks in the distance"
Easy lucky free
I know you
Method acting
Poison oak

san francisco was also celebrating my birthday early:



we also had a chalk unicorn for smiles:

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival: Day 1

Today was day one of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. What an incredible line-up all weekend! Today was Patty Griffin (with surprise appearance by Emmylou Harris), Ralph Stanley and T Bone Burnett. A day well spent in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

I highly recommend checking out Patty Griffin's newest album, Downtown Church.


Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris and Patty Griffin

And what a way to spend an afternoon, getting more familiar with Ralph Stanley and T Bone Burnett, both incredible. Ralph Stanley's 82 yrs old chords sang a haunting acapella version of an incredible song...will post name soon.

you know you are in san francisco when... this man was having such a good time listening and dancing. i wanted to talk to him but before i knew it he disappeared.

Today was incredible and it is only going to get better with the line up!!!