The Office Pool

Every year I say I’m not going to buy in because I never win and every year I end up buying a few squares.  It’s all random, but I never seem to win.

Time to Unsubscribe from CNN

Presidential Dreams

Dreams are weird.  Last night I incorporated some of the recent headlines of Obama’s State of the Union into my dreams.  I’m surprised Alito wasn’t there scowling at me.

The focus centered, not surprisingly, around my high school in NH, Kimball Union.  I often find that I am on-campus or working in the arts center, where I spent a great deal of my time.  In this dream, Obama and Biden were around to promote and speak about their initiatives after the SOTU.  Sort of a speaking tour to keep the momentum or something.

At one point I was in my dorm, which of course was occupied by current students, one of which was a friend of mine, Michael Johnson.  His door was open and he was laying in bed when I came across him.  He asked that I keep it down as he explained that he wasn’t leaving his room much so as to keep the existence of a puppy secret on campus.  I then noticed the puppy squirreling around under the sheets.  I guess I like puppies.  :)

I told Michael to meet me down at the Arts Center where everyone was going to see the President.  As I left I noticed some renovations on the stairwell which made the ceilings much lower.  I had to duck just to get out of the building.  The Densmore common area was as I remembered it except now they had two TVs on each end.   Oddly, they were mirroring each other but I was quickly out the door to find myself by the library receiving a cell phone call from a stranger who’s name I recognized.  We spoke briefly before I went down to the Arts Center.

When I got there, I didn’t see Obama but Biden was just as bright and outlandish as ever, saying hello to everyone in the room.  As the groups mingled, I worked my way closer and said hello.  I put my hand on his shoulder and commiserated at what needed to be accomplished.  I spoke of how frustrated I was at the glacial pace of progress in our country and how disappointing it was that nobody seemed capable of working together.

Everyone was drinking wine and I couldn’t find any cider (my preferred beverage) so I opened this oddly-convenient refrigerator that happened to be in this large social area and found (strangely) a bottle of cider.  I figured I’d be the only one drinking it, so I took it and went back to Biden.  It wasn’t long before I realized it was a wine-sized bottle but nobody else seemed to notice so I just sipped at it as we all watched Obama enter.

I watched him mingle for a bit and it was clear I wouldn’t have time to speak to him (for some reason) so I headed out the door and across the quad.  Michael Johnson was there again and said hello in passing before the dream ended.

Coming back

I’m working on testing out Windows Live Writer, which seems a worthy blog editor.  Hopefully it’ll mean more writing from me.

But it makes me wonder why (or if I just haven’t seen it yet) Google Docs doesn’t integrate with Blogger.  Why, i ask!??

Facebook and Social Networking

Everything in moderation.

I've been following a local blog of a guy who is giving up his Facebook account. While exiting the service should seem pretty simple, Haik has turned it into a two-week event and each day he ranted about how "Facebook sucks, blah, blah...". Today marked day 15 and his account was deleted. (He then ponders creating a new Facebook account.)

The bottom line is that while a service can take a lot of one's time, it's a personal choice and a matter of moderation. Also, adjusting your security settings is critical to ensure a pleasant experience. Sure, if you can't do that...it's easier to just not be a part of it all.

gettestedvermont.com

I've been working on a site for the community. Doing my part. :)

In Vermont, the rates of HIV are increasing and often too late. People aren't getting tested and we're working to change that. One of the things the Outreach committee I'm on is doing is the web site: gettestedvermont.com

This site has information and resources on HIV, what kinds of testing is available and where testing is done.

gettestedvermont.com

Fortunate Fool

I'm quite fortunate. Not only am I a white man, born into a family with a hard working father who worked his entire life to give each of his children a life he never had, but in the last 15 years my life has change dramatically.

When I realized I was gay and came out at the age of 20, I had no idea where I would be so many years later. A friend/mentor at the time suggested I make a 5 year plan, something I was incapable of doing. I had no way of imagining the future in 5 years, much less did I expect I'd live beyond 30. For some reason, that seemed the end-point.

Flash forward 15 years. I'm a 35 year old man who is proud of his family, honored to have a man who loves me as I love him and amazingly fortunate to have the love and support of his entire family.

Yesterday, Mike and I were featured on the cover page of the local newspaper. It came upon us quickly and we didn't hesitate to jump at the opportunity. The risk of negative response is high, living in a world where not everyone sees homosexuals as normal. But the feedback from people in our lives has been overwhelmingly positive. It reminds us how fortunate we are to have surrounded ourselves with people who are forward thinking and open to the idea that, even though history had forced people to keep their truths secret for so many years, we're now moving to a point in time when it's ok to be honest about what you are. Even more importantly, is our refusal to sit back and let others tell us what we're deserving of.

The ability to marry the person you love is a fundamental right we all deserve. To prohibit others from doing so, is just wrong. I'm proud to stand up for what I believe in. I have yet to find someone who can honestly defend the desire to prohibit me from marrying my husband. We're fortunate to have Civil Unions, but resentful of that fact that we feel fortunate to have something my siblings and hundreds of heterosexuals take for granted everyday.

So I'm fortunate. Fortunate to have the support structure I have. And ever grateful for the husband I have and the love we share. May it take me to my death.