Micah records me reading to Miranda a poem by Billy Collins.
January 20, 2009
A Good Day for Lady Liberty and Steve Perry
It’s been a good day in so many ways. The inauguration of the nation’s new president; the 92 Jonathan got on his mid term; the knowledge that Steve Perry is now eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (hey, that’s what Jonathan said when defining his criteria for a good day).
To celebrate we actually turned around and pulled the car over for this unprecedented photo opportunit.
January 15, 2009
What’s Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?
I am posting this pretty much everywhere today. It looks like this lecture embodies so much of all of the little discussions I’ve had with folks lately. I’m tempted to buy the video and force my brothers and sisters to sit and watch it. Check it out at The Gay Moralist
December 26, 2008
Ripped Like a Spun Monkey?
Okay, my youngest son (12), the monkey, is now blogging again on The Blog that Will Never Love You. Apparently the blog is very sad this Christmas and needs cheered up with comments. So please go here and do your part.
He has quite a sense of humor. Here is the youtube Christmas Greeting he sent me. Sigh…
December 10, 2008
Mean Kitty’s Baby Sister
I’ve been pretty busy since Thanksgiving, trying to get Gay Fatherhood, the Global Community for Gay Dads fix up and redesigned. Lots of new pages and features and a billion little links. Sigh… Thank God for Bob’s help!
Anyway, so between that and the off and on cold bouts, the work and the upcoming holidays I haven’t had much time for poetry or birding. But I thought you might enjoy some videos that my youngest son, Micah sent to me yesterday. He’s had some challenges of his own lately, not the least of which is a return of seizure activity. More on that next time, for today I’d rather concentrate on the upside; this kid has a great attitude and crazy sense of humor, and he helps bring up the spirits of the rest of his family with it.
After his shower this morning, he asked his mom, “Was I normal last night?” (His recent seizure was after bed time and he remembers nothing of it except for waking up in the hospital).
“Yes, you were normal.”
“Oh good. Now you better have a good morning, or else.”
Below is the Mean Kitty video he sent me. The cat looks like it could be an older sibbling of our 13 week old Claire (remember, we named her Claire because of the increasing role that the allergy medicine claritin would now play in our family’s life). To watch the other crazy video he sent check out the Gay Father’s Blog here.
November 29, 2008
The Time for Thanks Has Passed
So how was your Thanksgiving? Even my friends in Northern Ireland took time for a feast of thanks on Thursday!
Ours was delightful, but Rachel Ray’s Manchego Cheese in Smashed Potaoes recipe needs butter in it (just in case you ever try it. Otherwise it was great), and in the future I’m going back to spending the extra bucks for the Butterball turkey with that funky little plastic thermometer that pops up when the bird is done. The American cookbook recipes always teach you to cook it 15 minutes per pound at 300 F. plus one hour for a stuffed bird. The problem with that is that the bird reaches an internal temp of 180 (Done to death) long before that time passes, at least if you are using an electric roaster. Ah well, lesson learned, and the dark meat at least was still tender.
And I must say that my gravy was and always is flat out amazing. And nothing beats my very easy recipe for cranberry orange relish.
As for the pies? Well, Brian made a yummy apple (even though he neglected the Granny Smith’s I bought for the purpose) and a scrumptious pumkin pie. We never got to them on Turkey day. So I suggested we start on them at Breakfast friday. Micah (12) nodded his head gravely and said, “Okay, but we can’t be thankful about it.”
“Why?”
“Because Thanksgiving will be over. We’ll have to go back to moaning and complaining just like we always do.”
November 13, 2008
From the Mind of a Fifteen Year Old
Leaving the little country store tonight, with our bag of fried chicken in hand, his ear phones draped down from the sides of his Zack Efron hair, I turn and notice a far away, serious look in his eyes.
Me: (Concerned) What are you thinking?
Him: (With barely a hesitation) Who would win in a fight, Sheryl Crow or Celine Dion?
Me: (Raised eyebrows turned in toward each other)
Him: Well, if you don’t want to know don’t ask!
Me: (After a moment) Sheryl Crow. Definitely Sheryl Crow. (Long pause in the car). But then I bet that Celine has some serious claws and could be really vicious in a cat fight.
Him: Yeah.
That’s right folks, my sons and I are not afraid to talk about the deep stuff.
November 11, 2008
A Note on the Fridge
Clarice has dined on liver
and fava beans
and a nice chianti — at 1:10 AM
Clarice is our kitten Claire, thus named for the greater part that the allergy medicine Claritin must play in our lives, especially for my son Jon who turned red and blotchy and burst into sneezing minutes after first starting to play with her. Luckily with the the medicine he’s alright. I only seem to itch if I touch my eyes after petting her, or if she rubs my face, or of course in a fit of carnivorousness, she plays too hard and scratches or bites me. And while I think we are training her well (she gives kisses instead of bites the moment I say “No.”), she is still a nutty berserker right after she eats.
We leave the notes on the fridge to let each other know when she was fed last, but one AM is awful late. Either Brian forgot to write it down, or else he knew she’d expect to be fed again, no matter what, as soon as I walked in the door. To be safe I got the food out and we started our nightly ritual. Her with her Life-Is-Good kitty dish and toys, and me with my gin and tonic and the computer. Now she is regally bathing on my lap, more like Clarissa before a party than the friend of Hannibal.
I am looking at CSS and XML tutorials and trying to learn something useful in giving a face lift to GayFatherhood.com, as well as be of some help to the Cowboy when the old MSN Poetry Workshop pulls up steaks and wagon trains for Multiply or whatever group service the posse decides on when the MSN groups shut down after January. Of course, then there is this new and homey blog here that I’ve created. I still need to sort out the links and a few other things, but with a few dishes in the sink and one load of laundry to put away, I think that Clair and I will turn in for the night.
She’s already sleeping here on my lap, the very picture of innocence.
November 5, 2008
Two Speeches
I stayed late at work last night because I knew the speeches would soon come and I didn’t want to miss anything on the drive home. There is much to do for all of us in the days and months ahead here in these United States, but last night I felt hope again. I found myself a little less cynical and more able to believe that perhaps this nation will indeed be a better place for our children than the one we have known.
I found McCain’s speech moving and inspiring as he pledged his support to his new president and urged the people of this country to come together. I got a bit choked up when he mentioned the recent passing of Obama’s grandmother. And Obama’s acceptance was nothing short of inspiring and presidential. These two good men showed the greatest respect for each other and the people who voted on either side. It makes me proud to be an American again.
If you haven’t seen them, I invite you to watch and listen to both speeches in there entirety in the order in which they were delivered. I hope it boosts your own faith in what this great democracy can accomplish. They were the best concession and acceptance speeches I’ve heard in my forty one years.
I only got three hours of sleep because of watching this all unfold last night, including some local races and right-to-marry issues that I’ll talk about later. But I am refreshed and invigorated this morning in a way that I haven’t been in so very long. I hope that you make it a great day. Oh, and yes, we can.
McCain:
Obama:
