Yeah baby!

Hey hey it's Friday night in San Jose California and what am I doing to celebrate a week without a certain Mexican named Gonzalez? A week that will end with Senator "I didn't know what tapping on the bathroom floor meant" Craig resigning in hypocritical disgrace? Tony Snow leaving the White House Spin Room? John Warner deciding to retire? A lovely evening spent this week with Ms Marinucci gossiping about any and all politics and class reunions?

Well I watered the lawn and walked one of the dogs. Good lord could it get any more boring? But oh so satisfying. It was a good week to be a Democrat.

Today's lesson

I grew up on Toledo Avenue in Santa Clara. It was idyllic in its suburbaness, open front doors, kids who played in the streets, sleepovers, hide and seek. Across the street from us were the "N" family. Mom was the nicest person I have ever met in the world. That is still true. Mom has cancer now and I have been meeting her at the hospital while she gets the poison known as chemotherapy pumped in to her veins.

Today I went and met mom at the hospital so I can get my own blood drawn and she needed to do the same. From there we went to donut heaven, Stan's donuts. We talked about a lot of things on Toledo Av. Then I took her to see my mom so they could visit. They were best friends for years and years so it was nice to see them together again, chatting away...

From there I took neighbor mom to a mental institution to see her youngest daughter who is schizophrenic. Today is the daughter's birthday. I haven't seen the daughter in probably 35 years. She has lived a really hard life and every inch shows on her face. She is missing a lot of teeth, is in a wheel chair and is a ward of the state. We talked and I humored her about going out to a movie or something. I lasted a half an hour.

I took mom back to her car and promised to see her tomorrow at chemo. The next time I think about being sad, I will remember that institution. Today could have been a great day to see the downfall of Alberto Gonzalez but I saw the face of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses instead. I have to remember today that I have a good life even if I live in Bush's America.

Not yet

So this weekend the DNC is hosting the pimp the party in Las Vegas. All the minority groups are being told how fabulous it is that the Dean scream machine has taken away all the dedicated staff and made us in to one big happy family. And I forgot to go, damnit.

As I was listening to Air America today I was reminded about the fact that no one has cast a vote yet for any candidate and yet the MSM is proclaiming Hillary the winner of all primaries to come. Which then reminded me of Dean's scream in Iowa and how Dean was going to win it all and then, whoops, he lost. Could we be having another case of deja vu? Or could it be the season is already too long and I can't care yet.

Yes well tomorrow I have a high school reunion and who cares about Presidential elections in the face of seeing people from Buchser High? Not me.

Yippee!

This is what a happy old biddy looks like! This was taken after my first hockey foray. Yes, my head does look a lot out of proportion. But I was so happy I thought I was going to wet myself. Practices starts in September.

New chapter

So I am bordering on being an old biddy. I am 52 years old and I have played sports my entire life. Softball, swimming, water polo, soccer have all been part of my life at one time or another. Tonight I played ice hockey for the first time and I had the time of my life!

I was the first to fall and smacked my head but good. I managed that feat twice more during the course of the evening. But I came away with a new found appreciation for my boys in teal. But now I know how to stop on the ice. I can get up with the use of my stick. I skated backwards for just a little bit. And I played about 10 minutes of actual on ice hockey. W00ohoo00!

So I will now sign up for the beginners league. I purchased some used equipment tonight also. I am the proud owner of not just one but two hockey sticks. I also kind of know how to put all the equipment on. Yeah baby, now if I can just quit falling on my ass, let alone bouncing on my head.

Today's lesson

Today I got to have lunch with one of my dearest friends from high school. I think I have been closer to him than any other straight man in my life. Ironic too that he is a "born again" with, I think, some pretty conservative views. In our conversation though, we talked about our shared life experiences, as adult children of alcoholics, as jocks, and how different our lives would have been if some things had been different in our youth.

He was a VERY high draft number, like, 12. That year the draft was put on hold and he didn't have to go to Vietnam. We both applied to Chico State and we had planned on living together. I got in to Chico and he didn't. He got married very young, like when he was 20. I, obviously, became a big lesbo.

So while I am jubilant that Karl Rove is going to hit the road, I was reminded that I have real relationships and history with real people who are conservative. So I may disagree with home politically but it doesn't matter. He is still my brother and we share a very long history together. In the end, humanity wins.

Pure snark

Well Thursday was the HRC/Logo Presidential sit-on-the-sofa-with-the-homos-conversation. I screamed a number of times with the questions being asked. My favorite was the bark beetle question. I know my former Gov wishes he had some of those answers back. In fact they may actually want to get a real LGBT adviser to help in the future in the future instead of relying on NM people. This is, after all, a national campaign.

I had been complaining over at Pam's pad that there were no Latinos. My friend, Wilfred, corrected me. In fact there were four, Margo Gomez, Wilson Cruz, Pedro Julio Serrano and Eric Alva. Wow that is some representation! Way to go HRC.

Also on Thursday I went to see my sister at her job at kaiser. We had lunch listening to the kaiser choir. I saw the boss-from-hell there carting her little bundle of joy around. EEEEWWWW! As we were listening to the choir, I looked down and saw a bundle of Focus on the Family magazines. I was horrified. I explained to my sister who the homophobes are and promptly picked up their trash and put it in the nearest receptacle. Ah empowerment. I may not have a job but I still know how to do the right thing.

The end

The homo world as we know it has officially come to an end. All the Dem candidates for president will be debating tomorrow night in an LGBT sponsored debate. And there will be no Halloween events in the Castro this year. As a matter of fact, no city endorsed event will happen in San Francisco this year. WTF????

Today's lesson

Completing my first week of unemployment, here are today's lessons learned.

• If I hear one more Dem debate pundit say Hillary could have been strident but wasn't tonight, my head will blow off. Thus the lesson, don't listen to them.
• I am just looking for a job, not validation of who I am.
• It is ok to make money and not kill myself at work.
• It is really alright to make money to support myself.
  
• My next job is just a job.

Amazing what a person can learn if the right person calls. And I shut up and listen. Thanks Ginger.

Just Kos

I couldn't go to DKos this year. Or last year for that matter. Last year I was new to the blogospere, this year, no mon means no fun.

On the other hand, I posted a diary once on Kos and got reamed. That was really no fun. I think I am too old to be fanatical but old enough to be thoughtful about my time and resources. I don't like going places where I am not wanted.

The blogosphere is the Wild West, not many rules, lots of flames and cybershots. I finally found some thoughtful places to hang out besides over at Pam's pad and with Blabbeando.

This last weekend was the DKos convention. All the big blogs were posting about what a good time they had there. I felt like the really uncool person in high school again. The "couldn't get there, no ride" syndrome I remember all too well from Buchser High in the 70's. Yup, no job, no money to spend on a weekend in Chicago, watching from the outside as everyone else got to rub elbows and do movies and blog about each other.

Now there has been some blowback about the WaPo doing an article saying the group was mostly white male. The women participants are talking about their apparent invisibility to the media. Point well taken.

However, I think it is irritating that there are also wide spread concessions that the gathering was nearly as diverse or representative of the blogosphere. To which I would respond, I think it is probably very reflective of the blogosphere.

Recently I was interviewed by a woman talking to Latino bloggers. She had some looking to do in order to find us. Look at the composition of the big blogs, where are the women, where are the people of color? With the exception of Pachacutec at FireDogLake, I can't really find POC in the top groups. Remember earlier this year when Clinton invited top bloggers to meet with him? Not a person of color to be seen at a meeting in Harlem. I'll give AmericaBlog props for inviting Pam on to that blog but one sister does not make diversity in the blogosphere.

I asked Digby to feature more people of color blogs, invite us to guest blog, do something. All those blogs at the top have opened doors now it is time to let some of the rest of come through.

BBQ news

Today was the summer event of the year in Santa Clara county, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren's annual summer barbecue. I attended with my friend from high school, Theresa O'Neill and some other women of high regard in political circles here. I worked the hell out of that event, networking, giving out my card, letting people know I was looking for a job.

I was also able to talk to the Congresswoman.

In short, she voted against FISA. I was so glad. At least I know she is truly representing me. She also said there is some sign of hope for the DREAM Act. She is also working on getting the visa backlogs straightened out so that eligible residents can get their citizenship faster than the current slower-than-hell process. I feel a little optimistic about those outcomes.

I also feel good about my chances of landing another job soon. My network here is much wider than last time I was unemployed. I know I have a good reputation and people are very supportive, especially in the Asian community. So back to the job market tomorrow.

My speech

Earlier this year I blogged a lot about the APALI program I was in at DeAnza college. Tonight I gave this speech at the APALI 10th anniversary dinner.

I am sure no one in this room knows what it is like to feel like the “other.” To look different, speak differently and feel differently than, say, all the people at your job or the store. To be different in your culture and your values, all these components can make us feel alone and isolated.

What do we want, what do we need for the feeding our souls and spirit? Of course, it is community. Having people we can call with good news and bad, laughter and tears, gives us a sense of belonging, being part of community.

When Evan Low invited me to join the APALI program I had no idea I was in for a life changing experience. I had the opportunity to be in a classroom with my colleagues for months, to share laughter and tears, shared wisdom, caring and food for the soul. Through the shared vision of Dr. Chang and Ruben Abrica, we have created a new community for ourselves in the Santa Clara Valley. We are the face of this Valley. We are the face of a new vision of hope.

Daily we are faced with the realities of different cultures, different ways of expressing ourselves (and is that ever different!), the different stories of our lives and the need to strengthen our relationships and shared values to make the Santa Clara Valley the model for this country. We know how to get along, we know how to support each other, we want to see our communities in elected positions, on committees, providing a voice for those who have been quiet.

APALI has given me that and more. Today I feel part of the APA community as a trusted friend. Today I feel honored and respected as part of two communities working together to make our little part of the world a lot better.

Today I addressed envelopes for Gilbert Wong’s campaign because he is my brother. I talked today with Anne Im, Linda Leu and Winnie Lee because they are my sisters. I have been hugged and loved, able to share love, compassion and a vision as a family to change the hate and prejudice to love and acceptance. Our shared humanity gives us a chance to walk this path together.

I would just like to share one last thing, a vision from a Hopi elder.

To my fellow swimmers-
There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid, who will try to hold on to the shore; they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know that the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river and keep our heads above the water.

And I say “See who is there with you to celebrate. At this time in history we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves, for the moment we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves. Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. For we are the ones we have been waiting for.

Thank you.

SING ALONG WITH ME.

Think in your head now the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel. Put these words and burst out in your best tenor and this will describe my day.

LIBERATION, LIBERATION, LIBERATION LIBERATION, LIBERATION. For the Mexican woman without a job, LIBERATION, LIBERATION, LIBERATION. She wants a job with be-ne-fits, LIBERATION, LIBERATION. She wants a job where she likes the boss and the boss respects her, LIBERATION, LIBERATION. So she will try to find her perfect job, her perfect job. And she will stay there for a very long time. LIBERATION, LIBERATION. Her spouse will have be-ne-fits too and they will be well and they will haaaaaapy. Forever and ever, LIBERATION, LIBERATION, FOREVER LIBERATION, LI-BE-RAAAAAA-TION!