Happy Thanksgiving

Reviving an old tradition…  we’re truly fortunate and it’s always a good idea to give thanks.  Even if you don’t know to whom you’re giving thanks.  Lots of superlatives are coming, but that’s just because I’m an opinionated jerk sometimes.  :)

I’ve got the best life partner in the world.  Who just brought me a chocolate croissant.  No matter what lies ahead, I know we’ve got a rock-solid foundation.

We’ve got a beautiful home in the most kick-ass neighborhood of the greatest city in the United States.

We’ve got the most adorable, well-behaved kitty.

I’ve got a job I love… most days.

We’ve got a president-elect worthy of respect and admiration.

I’ve re-established old ties this year and I’m delighted to find so many old friends doing so well.

And thank goodness for all our friends and family, both rediscovered and never lost!

I’m thankful for the little things too:

• I love my iPhone.
• I love this new sweater I just picked up (it’s soft, warm, and makes me look skinny!)
• I’m still tickled pink by our A/V system in the living room!
• I love my eye doctor’s office in an interior design store — they’ve got the coolest glasses in this city.

Anyone want to swap houses?

I love our neighborhood.  I can’t imagine living anywhere else.  

I appreciate the goodies of our home.  We’ve got plenty of space, more bathrooms than we could possibly use, and tons of “extras” that we’d never want to live without: plenty of outdoor spaces, brick walls, exposed beams, hardwood floors, two-floor living, in-unit washer dryer, central air.  I’ve yet to see a home in our neighborhood that comes close to what we already have at the price we paid.

So why am I constantly dissatisfied with it?  It’s not that I want a HOUSE – that would just be a royal PITA.  As is, we love the low maintenance of our outdoor spaces.  What would I do with a yard?  (Other than shamefully neglect it?)  

Yet…

I crave sunlight!  Age!  Character!  Beauty!  Proportions!  Elegance!  Tin ceilings, wide hallways, crown molding, antique built-ins, wood-burning fireplaces, 13+ foot ceilings…  I want something that takes my breath away every time I walk up to my home.  We once had that… in the wrong neighborhood.  And frankly, I haven’t seen much that passes my “curb appeal” test in our neighborhood.  

So where does that leave me?  I think all this means that I want to live in a Kenwood house, preferably at Kenwood prices, but in my neighborhood.  Which is pretty much the same as wanting the moon.

Mawwiage…

I’ve posted on the state of marriage before:

http://ginia.org/oldblog/blog/entry.php?e=2038359521

http://ginia.org/oldblog/blog/entry.php?e=2096700895

http://ginia.org/oldblog/blog/entry.php?e=808110504

But events of the past two weeks have naturally lead me back to this topic.  I adore Chris.  I cherish the fact that we’re spending our lives together.  But I’ve never felt “marriage” was a glue keeping us together.  And I’ve never craved the world’s acceptance of our relationship.  But of course, that could be because I take such acceptance for granted and not because I’m such a social rebel.  (Almost said “maverick” there!)

So I’m seeing friends promote different ideas on how to respond to Prop 8 (as well as all the other bans that passed this year and in the past few years), and I’m torn.  I’m a big believer in choice, so I find myself sitting squarely on the fence on this issue, thinking that perhaps the answer is BOTH marriage and civil unions for all.  Something along the lines of covenant marriages for the crazies, marriage for the traditional, civil unions for the secular…  regardless of sexual orientation.

Would Chris and I divorce to leap into a civil union?  I think we’d at least talk about it…

Time to go someplace warm…

So, I’m thinking:

Post-election blues + end of Daylight Savings + arrival of winter = time to go someplace sunny and warm.

Good news, bad news

the bad news:

• Prop 8 is looking bad.
• Gay marriage bans definitely passed in FL and AZ.
• Bachmann held on to her seat.
• Stevens may hold on to his seat.  (WTF????)
• Dan Seals lost.

The good news:

• well, one of my former professors had a good night.
• Significant gains in both the House and the Senate.
• Indiana is still a nail-biter, so maybe I did make a tiny, tiny difference.
• Dole lost.

The good definitely outweighs the bad.  But my biggest criticism of Obama has been, and continues to be, that he’s too far right on gay marriage.  His stance made it okay for people to vote for him and against gay marriage at the same time.  There’s definitely a pragmatic reason to be “okay” with that — a progressive stance on gay marriage would have cost him the Democratic Primary, nevermind the presidential election.  I just have to hope that we, as a people, remedy this current round of injustice as we celebrate our victory over past injustices.

Enjoy this day…

but there’s a lot of work ahead.  With Prop 8 looking grim, there’s still quite a bit of discrimination out there to overcome.

Whee!!!!

I’m crying, elated, stunned.

Watching election results roll in…

And of course Colbert/Stewart coverage.

I can’t remember the last time I was this happy with the state of the union.

Gotta bottom out first…

Chris and I are sitting in our living room, watching The West Wing.  For years we’ve lamented the fact that this fictional presidency far surpasses the one we’ve actually been living with (I know we’re not alone on this).  So what would it take for this country to elect a liberal intellectual?

I’m convinced that the only reason why Obama has a good shot at winning on Tuesday is because we’re staring at rock bottom.  I think it’s sad that we as a nation must face a true crisis before we’d even consider electing this stellar individual.

But the cynic in me can’t help but think “hey — whatever it takes.”

I’m back!

I’ve been meaning to spruce up this blog since I discovered the world of Facebook.