Mid-Week Thoughts
Good Morning all!
It’s a bright, sunny March Wednesday out, so far, and I thought I’d drop a few notes about some stuff that’s been rattling around in my noggin these past few days.
On Monday, Nate and I had a chance to meet up with a fellow blogger and resident of the North End. His name is Brian. You can find out more about him at:
We had a lovely time, meeting up for coffee and wandering around our neighborhood. Brian led us through a side of the North End we don’t normally visit – the area between Christopher Columbus Park and North Square, for those who are familiar with the ‘hood – and we discovered a lovely little market down there which Nate and I will be going to more often. It was really, really nice to meet a fellow member of the Tribe that lives in this uber-macho neck of Boston, and to have him turn out to be also level-headed, easy to talk to, and just all-around good natured and good humored was a pleasant surprise. We will certainly be seeing him again!
Yesterday was a trip to Nate’s grandmother’s for another AWESOME home-cooked Italian dinner with his family. I got to spend time with his aunt Carol, and the new niece of the family, Tracey, which is always a good time (I’m a sucker for babies), and actually found myself connecting a little with his other niece, Jade. I don’t know why, but maybe it’s because she’s now the oldest sibling that I understand some of her behaviors better. I was the oldest of two – we’re not sure how many baby Browns that Jade will preside over – but, as those of you who are also eldest siblings know – there is a certain level of responsibility, of expectation, and effort that goes into being the eldest one. In any case, I got to teach Jade to say please AND bat her lovely eyelashes whenever she needed something from me. It works like a champ every time!
On another note, I’m in the process of making plans to attend Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, in South Boston. I have put out the word to those who follow me on Twitter (ukthom) or Facebook, and have got a few people on board. I did, however, get one response from a fellow Twitter follower that made me do a little thinking, and I will talk a little bit more about that later. There’ s a certain level of history regarding this specific parade in terms of being a member of the GLBT family, and my time has run too short this morning to talk about it. Maybe I’ll post about it tonight, or tomorrow.
The school app is being sent off tonight, as well. Here’s to being nervous about that!
I also have managed to secure an appointment for my travel shots at Beth Israel Deaconess’ Travel Clinic here in Boston. I’ll be all shot up with the interesting vaccines one must take when traveling to certain countries next week, so that ought to be interesting as well. I’m SO excited to have finally started putting the ball into motion regarding this trip, and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve had a few rough ideas about how to best present the trip, and everything about it, to you all, so stay tuned for happenings with the blog. I’m thinking I might try to implement WordPress MU, if that’s a hint…
Anyway, time IS short, and I must fly to work. Have a wonderful rest of your week, and I’ll post again soon!
XX
Thom
Support My Mom!
So, those of you who grew up in a very rural area of the country will have an appreciation for the bicycle. As a kid in a small town in rural Maine, my bike was my ticket out of the house, and the means to go exploring, visit friends, and simply get around without relying on anyone else but yourself, at least until you got your license. I have many, MANY fond memories of bike rides that would last from early in the morning until the sun went down. My mom shared this passion with us as kids, not only making sure we knew how to ride a bike at an early age, but also supplying my brother and I with new bikes as often as she and my dad could afford to do so. We learned how to maintain them, and would ride the hell out of them, especially on the trails and dirt roads that surrounded our house.
It’s in this spirit, and with this in mind, that my Mom has taken bike riding to a new level.
My mother has decided that she’s going to do something she’s never done before, and as a proud son, I wanted to do my part. In the sidebar on the right, you’ll see a little ad for the Trek Across Maine, a fundraising event for the American Lung Association. This event is best described from their website:
The Trek is a three-day bicycle ride held annually on Father’s Day weekend in June. The ride is approximately 180 miles across Maine, from the mountains of Sunday River Ski Resort in Bethel to the coastline in Belfast, Maine. We have overnight stops at the University of Maine in Farmington and Colby College in Waterville.
That’s right: 180 MILES of bike riding!
Though I’m not able to take part in the event myself, along side her, I wanted to do my bit to show her a little love. She’s trying to raise $500 as her pledge. I know we can all help her a little bit, so if you click on the button to the right, you will be taken directly to her pledge page, where you can give as much as you can to help her reach her goal.
I am so proud of her for doing this!
And So That Was Christmas
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Christmas 2009 has come, and now gone, and what a whirlwind it was getting here! The last two months (since about the first of November till now) has been nothing short of a marathon for Nate and I, especially in terms of work, time spent apart, and trying to meet a lot of expectations placed on us from the outside.
In the end, we did the best we could to get in touch with family and friends, and spend time with those we love, and somehow strike a balance between time to enjoy the holidays and time spent preparing/working so others can enjoy them. Honestly, I am ready for a different tradition – maybe one that involves a lot less prep work and more time just reflecting on the year past, and reconnecting with friends and family. I’m ready for a change from the buy-buy-buy, hustle-hustle-hustle, run-run-run of the Christmas that currently exists, and maybe return to a simpler time, when the central focus of the holiday was time spent with loved ones…
Ah, but I’m just becoming more and more cynical as I get older. I realize and accept that.
All in all, it was a good day spent with Nate’s family. I had a chance to reconnect with many of his cousins, and get updated as to what they’re all up to. I got to see his grandmother, who was holding up quite nicely since the passing of her husband, enjoy and relish the time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I got to meet a new member of the family (HELLO GRAEME BAXTER!) and am highly anticipating another new member in February (CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU BABY BROWN!). I also was able to witness Nate enjoying some time with his family, which for me, after seeing the stress and strain that working at a grocery store through the holidays can cause, was very satisfying. He was able to relax, and really just enjoy the day.
Now, my attention has turned to the New Year, and the possibilities that lie ahead. Here’s to a bright 2010!
Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful…
From the National Weather Service:
Issued by The National Weather Service
Boston, MA
4:41 am EST, Sat., Dec. 19, 2009… WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO NOON EST SUNDAY…
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO NOON EST SUNDAY.
THIS WINTER STORM WARNING INCLUDES MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EXCEPT THE NORTHWESTERN INTERIOR.
A CLASSIC WINTERTIME NOREASTER WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST TODAY. IT WILL MOVE NORTHEAST TONIGHT AND LIKELY BE SITUATED JUST SOUTHEAST OF NANTUCKET EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL SPREAD NORTHWARD IN ADVANCE OF THIS LOW AND WILL REACH THE WARNING AREA BY THIS EVENING. THE SNOW WILL BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES OVERNIGHT AND CONTINUE SUNDAY MORNING. THE LOW WILL PULL AWAY DURING THE DAY SUNDAY WHICH WILL ALLOW THE SNOW TO TAPER OFF AND END SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 7 TO 15 INCHES… WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION… AS THE LOW APPROACHES TONIGHT… NORTH WINDS WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY… ESPECIALLY ACROSS EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. THIS COMBINED WITH HEAVY SNOW WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES TO BE REDUCED TO UNDER A QUARTER MILE AT TIMES. SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE. IF WINDS LOOK TO INCREASE MORE THAN FORECAST ACROSS RHODE ISLAND AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS… MAINLY NEAR AND EAST OF THE I-95 CORRIDOR… AND UPGRADE TO BLIZZARD WARNING WOULD BE POSSIBLE LATER TODAY. TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED TONIGHT AND SUNDAY AS IT WILL BECOME DIFFICULT.
A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN AN AVERAGE OF 6 OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED IN A 12 HOUR PERIOD… OR FOR 8 OR MORE INCHES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. TRAVEL WILL BE SLOW AT BEST ON WELL TREATED SURFACES… AND QUITE DIFFICULT ON ANY UNPLOWED OR UNTREATED SURFACES.
Looks like things are going to get VERY interesting in Boston over the next 24-36 hours! I’m expecting a train-load of family in from Maine on Sunday too. I’ve put the e-mail out to my mom, and will let her decide, but if they come, I hope they bring storm gear and extra blankets. There’s not much room here at the inn!
-Thom
Very First Thoughts Today
The Proudest Day of my Life
Before I settle into some decent writing this morning, I think a post is due. It’s a little about Question 1 in Maine, and it’s passage in yesterday’s election, but it’s also just some rambling thoughts…bear with me.
I woke up this morning at quarter to four, and immediately checked the ballot results. Much to my dismay, as you all must realize by now, Maine repealed the right to marriage for same sex couples. Calling itself the “People’s Veto,” this measure stripped away any legal rights that currently are reserved for straight couples, but had been granted to same-sex couples, such as Nate and myself. These rights include, but are not limited to, end of life decision making, inheritance, tax laws, and insurance coverage. There are many more protections and rights granted to married couples, but those are the ones I can think of now, 5:26 in the morning. Basically, all of those rights, which are granted to Nate and I here in Massachusetts, are now not extended to us whenever we go to visit my family, who live in Maine. Now, when we cross the border to visit my hometown, we leave the protections and legal rights we have as a married couple at the Piscataqua River bridge. We are deigned a second-class couple, and are not afforded the same status as our straight couple counterparts.
Will someone tell me how this is anywhere near fair? How is it possible that a majority gets to decide what rights a minority group gets? Who are they to decide who is worthy and not worth of receiving equal protection under the law?
To say I’m upset is barely scratching the surface.
A couple of weeks ago, I sent an e-mail to my family, both my father’s side, and my mother’s side. I asked them to just keep Nate and I in mind when they voted. I would never, ever have done anything like that for any other political issue, as I respect that they usually keep their politics close to the breast, and hold the privacy of one’s vote in high regard. I would never ask them how they voted, as that’s none of my business, but this time, on this question, I had to say something, even if it was just a quick note. I got a loud and proud response from my Mom, and her husband (a true-blood redneck, I might add), that they were going to support gay marriage anyway they could.
I never got a response from my father’s side – but that didn’t surprise me. They were the side of the family I didn’t expect a response from.
Still, Nate and I are planning on going home to my family’s place for Thanksgiving. I’m dreading the topics of conversation. They will do everything and anything to skirt around politics, I’m guessing. They might not. I don’t know, but I do know, right now, I’m worried about it. And I don’t want Nate to have to go through that, either.
Let it be said, I’m so damn proud of being a resident of Massachusetts. Today, perhaps, more than ever, I am proud to be in a state that recognized my legal rights as a citizen, and a member of a minority group, and didn’t give the decision to protect and uphold those rights over to the masses to decide. The politicians saw it differently in Massachusetts – they saw that protections, however unpopular they might be politically – needed to be extended to include ALL people, regardless of what color, shape, or preference they had. After all, we’re all HUMAN. In the end, it’s our humanity that binds us – the differences in labels, in ideologies, in opinions are what keeps us from having to wear silly “HELLO, MY NAME IS…” name tags.
SoundByte 40
Thanks for downloading SoundByte 40. This show goes a little personal, with a work update, and reflections on an event over the past week. Please have a listen, and please, let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
This Week’s Music
- First Tones: ATB
- Offshore: Chicane
- Walking in the Sky: DJ Encore feat. Engeline
- Dooley’s World: ATB
- Good Morning Kaia: BT
- Against the Wind: Bob Seger
- See U Again: ATB
- The Scientist: Natasha Beddingfield
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
More Pictures
Here is a collection of pictures from the weekend spent at White Horse Beach. Enjoy!
Click the Pic for More!
SoundByte 31 Another Monday Quickie
A brief show discussing the past weekend, and the short-term plans ahead. Enjoy!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
At the New England Intensity Football Game on Saturday, June 27th, 2009
I took plenty of photos at my sister-in-law’s football game last Saturday, and wanted to share the pictures here. I’ve also tweaked with the settings on my pictures that are also part of my Facebook profile! See if you can notice the difference, and Enjoy! (Click the picture for more photos!)
This Weekend
Hey All!
Just wanted to let you know that I’m taking off for Maine this weekend. It’s a combination trip to celebrate my gram’s birthday, my best friend’s birthday and anniversary, and Father’s day. There won’t be one long show from me, however, there will be small bytes from me, as I’m going to use my phone to send some lovin’ your way.
Be prepared for pictures, smiles, and hopefully good weather. It’s been so rainy in Boston for the month of June, I’d pretty much kill for a decent day with sunshine.
Anyway, stay tuned!
