Bring Your Gun to Church

Guns for God. Pistol Packin' Preacher. Guns for Jesus. Whatever. Dear god in heaven. Just when you think you've heard it all, something like this pops up. In spite of the fact that it scares the hell out of me to think that this is where a portion of our globe is headed, I laughed and laughed at parts of this article. I think it reminded me too much of good ole' Idaho....my home state. I remember also going to a Christmas parade in Eagle, Idaho, when we heard Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA blaring from speakers in the middle of December, in the cold, at Christmas time. We still poke fun at it. I laughed at the raffle prizes (membership in the NRA, a Lee Greenwood video, and a gun itself). I laughed again at setting a fake fire to the Bill of Rights; I laughed at just picturing them all singing My Country Tis of Thee and God Bless America. It's a piece right out of picture-perfect Americana-land. Complete with the red, white and blue! And, to think, that July 4...Independence Day...is in just a few days from now. What a poor little subsection of our nation. Scared. Weird. Strange. Old. Dark-ages induced. Feeling the need to strap a weapon to their hips and head over to the nearest church for the Sunday service. Something's missing here, folks. In spite of it all, the little people of this world do provide me with a good laugh from time to time.

Sony 15x Zoom Fantastic Camera for Sale.....

I'm selling one of my three cameras. It's quite clear that I do not need all three.

Beautiful nearly new Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H9 camera. Bought new at Best Buy and hardly used. Works perfectly and no damage or scratches. $225...an excellent buy. Black in color. I will include Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo 1GB card. You can see from the link below that my asking price is horribly fair. Experience more creative power to capture life’s greatest moments with the Cyber-shot® DSC-H9 digital camera. This high-performance camera impresses with 8.1 megapixel clarity, 15X optical zoom, Advanced Sports Mode, and the NightShot® system for shooting in darkness by infrared light. Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilization and high sensitivity (ISO 3200) mode allow low-light shots without flash to preserve the mood, Face Detection brings out the best in faces, and HD (high definition) output lets you share memories in spectacular high definition detail on compatible HDTV screens.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/H9/H9A.HTM

The Great Land

After about 2,500 miles of flying from San Diego-Seattle-Anchorage, I find myself in Anchorage, Alaska, this afternoon. We arrived at 1:30pm and depart at 00:50am (just after midnight) for Portland. It's a very short layover...or DAYover. I will be taking a little nap shortly (to ward off additional wrinkles) but wanted to pass along a few pics first. The sun will set tonight at 11:42pm and will only be down a few hours before it rises again at 04:21am....the sky will never actually get dark at this time of year. The flowers you see in the pics are dahlias and are in a park downtown. Everything up here grows quite large -- not because of the warmth or heat, but because of the length of the days...lots of light for growing. I just went on a little walk and happened to pass the Snow City Cafe.....if I'd had more time, I'd have stopped in. It looks very alternative-hippie-gay-etc....just my kind of place. Next trip, for sure. Anchorage is rough. Blue collar. Tough people who know how spend lots of time in the cold and snow. The oil conglomerates have made plenty of money off of this untamed wilderness. They sort of share it back each year in the form of the Alaska Permanent Fund -- a little payback to each eligible resident of the state for all of the money they are taking in here. The oil comes from the North Slope in places like Prudhoe Bay and flows through the Alaska pipeline down the port at Valdez where it is shipped away. Okay now, enough of me....enjoy the pics. And if you haven't been here, you owe it to yourself at least once in your life. Start your planning!

Monday Madness

Oh, there's nothing to see HERE.....except another weekly installment of Pride 2009 Undie Monday. Just a bunch of men in their undershorts......or nearly, anyway.

Overheard By A Co-Worker With a 21-Month-Old Baby Boy:

She: I've decided that I don't think my son is going to be gay.

Me: Oh, too bad for you...because not every mother can be fortunate enough to have a son who is gay. And, besides, why do you say that???

She: Because he was on the slide at the playground and pointed to a little girl next to him in an adorable little pink frilly dress and he said, "Cute!"

Before I could even respond, another listening-in co-worker responded with my sentiments precisely:

Other Co-Worker: He could have been saying "Cute" about the pink dress and wishing he could wear it!

In addition to recently joining the iPhone cult, you'll also want to know that I've immersed myself in major cultism on both Twitter and Facebook now. Badges and links are on my upper, left-hand sidebar.

Today is my one day off before heading out for yet another West Coast whirlwind: Portland-San Diego-Los Cabos-San Diego-Seattle-Anchorage-Portland-Denver-Portland-Phoenix-Portland. That's my work week coming up.

And we were just discussing this morning that we're leaving two weeks from this Thursday for the Northeast US.....first to Albany, New York, where we'll join up with friends like Sean and Dan and Jeffrey and others.....and head off to what I'm sure will be a fun-filled time at Bear Week 2009 in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Not only did this group of guys allow us to invade their New Year's festivities, but they were kind enough to invite us to be a part of their party and we couldn't be happier.

Sunday Snarkiness

Dear lord in heaven, I've not written anything reasonably entertaining for a while. In fact, numerous of we bloggers haven't. I'm amazed at those blogs disappearing, not having a post for two or three months at a time, those who have left blogging for Facebook or Twitter, and even those who have found more socially acceptable ways of finding friends on the internet! Where is everyone going? I mean, hey now, Facebook is cool....and I'll probably be on Twitter soon. But where's the substance and all of that? Endless memes seem to be the way to keep a blog alive while not actually having to write a post....or pictures of naked bathroom shots or of sorting out dirty clothes while preparing for laundry day. I know that summertime brings along less readers and fewer posts. Hey, we're all busy...right? I totally understand....it's just not the way it was a year or two ago. And mine is a relative new blog in terms of the world blogosphere. Coming up on three years this October. So, hang in there, kids. Stick with it. Give us a little depth, a little culture, a little something to think about. Meanwhile, I'll see you over on Facebook or Twitter!

My new iPhone 3GS is amazing. We haven't felt well this week -- so yesterday afternoon after a round trip to Phoenix was a perfect time to lay on the bed, TV on, and fool around....with the iPhones. We traded apps, contacts, ideas, tested speeds between the new one and the old, and all of that. It's been so cool. I can't believe I remained outside the realm of the Apple Cult for so long. Syncing the contacts list between my phone and my GMail contacts was a huge fiasco and had me in a very sour mood. Thankfully, my Hubby is far more patient and understanding than I will ever be. I was the second one in the door last Friday morning to pick up the new iPhone at 07:00am. There are features beyond features. I keep on clicking, discovering, and having a lot of fun. I went out to Denver and back this morning and couldn't wait to get home.....to take care of my sick Hubby, but also to fool with my toy. I may surface in a month or two.

Guess Where?

Belly Rub Anyone?

Get Yer Color On !!!

If THIS doesn't do it, I don't know what does. It's Undie Monday again at Idle Eyes and a Dormy -- and this week's celebration is a tribute to the rainbow flag....every color of it. It's come to be a typical gay icon...always a reminder of who we are, the brightness of our spirits (in spite of the many trials we've all come through), and the giant group of GLBT folks that we call friends and family. What a fantastic time of the year to celebrate each of us.........

I've just finished a six-day stretch of work. In spite of being able to see such amazing beauty in Sitka, Alaska, this week, I'm not feeling overly chipper this morning. Getting up at 04:00am every day can do that to a guy. I'm really looking forward to my two days off.....I do have to say that I was able to say hi to the beautiful Keri Russell yesterday. She's been working on the movie Crowley in the Portland area with Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser. Such a gorgeous woman, she is.

The iPhone wait is in the home stretch -- The doors open at 07:00am Friday morning for those of us who pre-ordered it before last Friday. I'm wondering what time I should be there? I have no idea who many people will be in line waiting for their cult-following-technology devices. I can't wait....my hubby keeps saying that he's never seen me this excited for an Apple product before.

My brother's birthday was yesterday -- he turned 45. I thought about him a few times and wondered what he was doing. I sent a card early last week so that it would reach him in time. We're not close. He's a nice man and has a great family. But, as many can relate, since that "I'm gay" moment, things have changed. I wish it were different.

So, it's that time of year....summer is cranking up in full swing, gay Pride celebrations going on worldwide, and families are off and running to camping and holiday trips. Enjoy yourselves, boys and girls -- especially those of you who exist most of the winter months in snow and ice. You deserve it more than any of us. Have a great week, everybody.......wear your bright colors in pride and solidarity.....and especially because you look damned great in them!

Photos from Sitka, Alaska

UPDATE: Let me fill in a few more details about Sitka for those who are interested. Sitka sits on the western edge of Baranof Island about halfway between Seattle and Anchorage. There are no roads to/from Sitka....all transportation is via air or water only. The climate feels coastal to me....not nearly as cold in the winter as Anchorage or Fairbanks. Tons of beautiful evergreen trees, lots of cold water filled with fish, and quite a few small rock outcroppings/islands just off shore. The airport is literally built into the water. The tourist highlights are Totem Park, the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, sea kaycking, fishing, Saint Michael's Cathedral, along with a ton of other very cool activities. You won't find a Wal Mart or Target nor any large chain stores of any sort....thankfully. We also spent a bit of time actually down in the tide pools taking pictures and looking around at all that is left when the water recedes for a while. And, boy oh boy, when the tide returns, look out....it's a giant tide and comes back in very rapidly. We all couldn't believe how the very land that we were looking around on was completely covered with deep water in less than 30 minute's time. It's very picturesque and a place that I'd love to spend some holiday time in. And on my list now is a stay at the Rockwell Lighthouse.


You'll see all of the photos from my quick layover in Sitka, Alaska, here. It's quite the place. Beauty far beyond any measly words I could dig up to use here. Plus, I'm on my way to work again.....going to Los Angeles and then back as quickly as I can to begin two days off. I'm quite exhausted but wanted to get these amazing pics out to you all. I will update this post later with a few more details.......so stay tuned.

Sitka Bound

I'm actually sort of excited about going to work today. It's a 3-day trip......we overnight in San Diego tonight (after going into Mexico and back). But the really exciting part is that the second night of the trip is in Sitka, Alaska. A place I've been in and out of....and actually spent a couple of nights in back in 1983. But this will be my first overnight in Sitka for working purposes. And I'm really cranked about it! In this picture, you can actually see the dark brown stretch of land on the center left side of the picture....that's the runway at the small airport. The runway extends right out into the water. Sitka's Summer Music Festival is also going on while we're there. And Sitka is home to the Alaska Raptor Center....a place where raptors are rehabilitated and released back into the wild. You can't drive to Sitka. It is accessible only by sea or air -- sort of the middle of nowhere. It's a mystic land of bald eagles, whales, and lots of cold Pacific water. I can hardly wait.

I'm Joining a Cult

I'm joining a cult. I've swore against it for years. I've bad mouthed it. I've cussed it. I've giggled and poked fun at those who were in it. Even my close friends -- of whom there are many. And even the dude that sleeps with me each night. But as time has evolved, I've become interested. And asked questions. And if you know me very well, you know full well that I always do my homework on any new purchase or project -- I rarely dive headfirst into anything. Plus, I travel for a living...and always carry my laptop with me. It's a necessary evil but I love having it around. All of that to say that I've just returned from the AT&T store and completed my preorder of the new iPhone 3GS. Such an amazing piece of technology. So, I'm in. I'll be reporting to my local store at 07:00am on Friday, June 19, to pick mine up -- and will be able to bypass the (apparently) long lines that will be there. So, just like Eve took the the apple from Adam (it was all her fault, you know.....), I've taken the fruit from the tree too. But, of course, that's what you'd expect a fruit to do.....take the fruit, right???

Proper Preparation of Your Private Parts

And this, my little squash blossoms, is how to properly prepare your private parts for depositing urine into a specimen cup at the doctor's orifice....er, a office. And if you don't believe me (with my vast array of non-essential knowledge), just take a close look at this blurry picture and read the instructions for yourselves. Happy cleansing! I took this just this morning at my MIL's doctor's office while I waited for her to be poked.....I mean, give blood. I'm on pins and needles watching Live Blogging from Apple's WWDC Conference in San Francisco....waiting for new info on a possible new iPhone.

UPDATE: 11:46AM PDT.....A new iPhone on it's way!

10:14 PM....Downtown Anchorage, Alaska

The streets are busy with people and the sun is well above the horizon. Ahh, summertime in Alaska! And if you were HERE (scan down to the "Astronomy" section), the sun wouldn't even be setting tonight. Go ahead, take a look at this....

Barrow, Alaska for Today:

Length Of Visible Light: 24h 00m
Length of Day: 24h 00m

Anchorage

I'm not sure what happened. But it did. I arrived in Anchorage shortly after noon today. It's a pretty nice day by Anchorage standards. Clear and 60. I started looking around at streets and buildings and the rugged mountains that sit on the east side of the city. It was a 3 hour and 15 minute trip up from Seattle --over Vancouver Island, past Ketchikan, Juneau, and Yakutat. Staring out at some of the world's largest glaciers -- one the size of the entire state of Rhode Island. And water -- miles and miles of cold, blue Pacific water. The sun came up at 04:27am this morning here and will not set until 11:29pm tonight....making the day 19 hours and 2 minutes long today. In fact, the sky will not actually get "dark" tonight. Only sort of twilight. And the longest day of the year isn't quite here yet. People go sort of crazy-happy here in the summertime. Here's the weather for today in Anchorage. It's a land filled with miles and miles of nothingness....no people, no roads, no nothing.... except for moose, bears, fish, and bald eagles.

Oh yeah, back to what happened. I sort of got sentimental. I missed my husband. And my pooch. We used to live here. For a short time in late 1998 when we began working for our company. We lived with four other people in an apartment near the airport. The snow fell and got deep and cold. We rode the #7 bus around town because we didn't have a car. We flew to places like Barrow (the northern most point in the US) and Prudhoe Bay ("Drill Baby, Drill!). We had only been together a year or so and then found ourselves living in the Great Land. It was a good time for us. A time of newness, adventure, and happiness.

I haven't really been back up here too much since left in early 1999. And so, when I do end up here, it sort of brings up memories of our early years together, the adventurous spirit that we had at that time, and the fresh beginnings of our relationship and a new job. Combine all of that with being in our nation's largest and northern-most state, and you've got a good combination for a little sentimentality. And that's where you'll find me today. In Anchorage, thinking about my hubby and the times that we shared here in Alaska, and missing my home and my doggy. I leave at midnight tonight for an all-night flight south to Portland. It will not actually be completely dark during the whole flight southward because we're at just about the longest day of the year. I land at 05:25am tomorrow morning and will jump in the car and race home to lay kisses on my hubby's lips and my pooch's tummy -- not positive about the exact order. They both like that.

A Few More Facts About Anchorage: Anchorage boasts the world's second largest ocean tides...around 40 feet at times! At also sits within spitting distance of Mt. Redoubt....which has erupted numerous times over the last few months. A bit further up the road is Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park at 20,320 feet. I could see both of these mountains as we landed at Ted Steven's International Airport today (man, I hate saying that name). Oh, and remember Sarah Palin's Bridge to Nowhere? It is here.....well, it isn't here....since it hasn't been built. But the water over which they want to build it is outside my hotel room window. When we lived here, we lived across the street from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base....one of the world's busiest. We used to take long walks around the lake and look at all of the hundreds of airplanes floating in the water there.

Brief Respite

And...we're back. Briefly. Seven hours 40 minutes brought us home along I-84 and the beautiful Columbia River today. We were amazed to see how many new wind turbines are being installed on both the Washington and Oregon sides of the River -- and there were many semi trucks on the freeway bringing new turbine pieces for installation. You'll see all of the pictures here. Oregon is poised to be one of the largest producers of wind power in the nation -- and maybe even the globe. We also made a brief stop at Multnomah Falls, just a scant 20 miles east of Portland and very near Rooster Rock. We've said it before to one another, and we said it again today, we live in one of the most amazing places on earth. If you haven't been here, you need to plan your visit. I also found myself wanting more -- more pictures. More and more. But, alas, being the sole driver and speeding along at 70mph did not permit such frivolity today. Maybe another time.

Time with the family is always good but always hesitant. I find myself getting irritated at some pretty silly things -- like the fact that many of the adults in my family cannot hear well and we find ourselves yelling everything and repeating questions over and over. I hate that. And then there is the narrow-in-scope Republican issue. It's everywhere. From the Ten Commandments being posted in house windows to their inability to recognize same-sex couples. I just don't like it. I know full well that we live in a political and social bubble here in Portland. And I like my bubble. We visited with my brother, my sister, and all of our nephews and niece. Plus, we got to see cousins, aunts and uncles. In spite of it all, we do have a great family. My mother's 79th birthday is tomorrow. I hope that I'm half the gal she is when I grow up.

I'm unpacking, repacking, and off to yoga this afternoon before I begin a long four-day trip early in the morning. It'll find me in San Diego, Los Cabos, Oakland, Seattle and Anchorage. I'll be home on Sunday. It appears to be nearly 8,000 miles. Here's the routing if you're interested.

Cheers and deep-throat kisses to you all.