More biking, less driving.

Eight years of driving -- lots of trips to LA, several to Colorado, uncountable to some random place to ride my bike.  And there you have it.

Ask and Tell. What a day.

President Obama signed the law that will begin the repeal process of Don't Ask Don't Tell -- meaning, if you want to fight for our country and protect the notion of democracy, you have to hide yourself if you're gay.  
I'm not going to run out and enlist or anything, I today seems like our humanness and our sameness has won over fear and shame. 
Bravo, Mr. President.  Bravo.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Laughter.) 

You know, I am just overwhelmed.  This is a very good day.  (Applause.)  And I want to thank all of you, especially the people on this stage, but each and every one of you who have been working so hard on this, members of my staff who worked so hard on this.  I couldn’t be prouder.

     Sixty-six years ago, in the dense, snow-covered forests of Western Europe, Allied Forces were beating back a massive assault in what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge.  And in the final days of fighting, a regiment in the 80th Division of Patton’s Third Army came under fire.  The men were traveling along a narrow trail.  They were exposed and they were vulnerable.  Hundreds of soldiers were cut down by the enemy. 

And during the firefight, a private named Lloyd Corwin tumbled 40 feet down the deep side of a ravine.  And dazed and trapped, he was as good as dead.  But one soldier, a friend, turned back.  And with shells landing around him, amid smoke and chaos and the screams of wounded men, this soldier, this friend, scaled down the icy slope, risking his own life to bring Private Corwin to safer ground. 

     For the rest of his years, Lloyd credited this soldier, this friend, named Andy Lee, with saving his life, knowing he would never have made it out alone.  It was a full four decades after the war, when the two friends reunited in their golden years, that Lloyd learned that the man who saved his life, his friend Andy, was gay.  He had no idea.  And he didn’t much care.  Lloyd knew what mattered.  He knew what had kept him alive; what made it possible for him to come home and start a family and live the rest of his life.  It was his friend. 

And Lloyd’s son is with us today.  And he knew that valor and sacrifice are no more limited by sexual orientation than they are by race or by gender or by religion or by creed; that what made it possible for him to survive the battlefields of Europe is the reason that we are here today.   (Applause.)  That's the reason we are here today.  (Applause.)

So this morning, I am proud to sign a law that will bring an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  (Applause.)  It is a law -- this law I’m about to sign will strengthen our national security and uphold the ideals that our fighting men and women risk their lives to defend.

No longer will our country be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans who were forced to leave the military -– regardless of their skills, no matter their bravery or their zeal, no matter their years of exemplary performance -– because they happen to be gay.  No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie, or look over their shoulder, in order to serve the country that they love.  (Applause.)

As Admiral Mike Mullen has said, “Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives.  None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well.”  (Applause.) 

That’s why I believe this is the right thing to do for our military.  That’s why I believe it is the right thing to do, period. 

Now, many fought long and hard to reach this day.  I want to thank the Democrats and Republicans who put conviction ahead of politics to get this done together.  (Applause.  I want to recognize Nancy Pelosi -- (applause) -- Steny Hoyer --  (applause) -- and Harry Reid.  (Applause.)

Today we’re marking an historic milestone, but also the culmination of two of the most productive years in the history of Congress, in no small part because of their leadership.  And so we are very grateful to them.  (Applause.)

I want to thank Joe Lieberman -- (applause) -- and Susan Collins.  (Applause.)  And I think Carl Levin is still working -- (laughter) -- but I want to add Carl Levin.  (Applause.)  They held their shoulders to the wheel in the Senate.  I am so proud of Susan Davis, who’s on the stage.  (Applause.)  And a guy you might know -- Barney Frank.  (Applause.)  They kept up the fight in the House.  And I’ve got to acknowledge Patrick Murphy, a veteran himself, who helped lead the way in Congress.  (Applause.) 

     I also want to commend our military leadership.  Ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was a topic in my first meeting with Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and the Joint Chiefs.  (Applause.)  We talked about how to end this policy.  We talked about how success in both passing and implementing this change depended on working closely with the Pentagon.  And that’s what we did.

And two years later, I’m confident that history will remember well the courage and the vision of Secretary Gates -- (applause) -- of Admiral Mike Mullen, who spoke from the heart and said what he believed was right -- (applause) -- of General James Cartwright, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs; and Deputy Secretary William Lynn, who is here.  (Applause.)  Also, the authors of the Pentagon’s review, Jeh Johnson and General Carter Ham, who did outstanding and meticulous work --  (applause) -- and all those who laid the groundwork for this transition. 

And finally, I want to express my gratitude to the men and women in this room who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Services.  (Applause.)  I want to thank all the patriots who are here today, all of them who were forced to hang up their uniforms as a result of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” -- but who never stopped fighting for this country, and who rallied and who marched and fought for change.  I want to thank everyone here who stood with them in that fight. 

Because of these efforts, in the coming days we will begin the process laid out by this law.  Now, the old policy remains in effect until Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen and I certify the military’s readiness to implement the repeal.  And it’s especially important for service members to remember that.  But I have spoken to every one of the service chiefs and they are all committed to implementing this change swiftly and efficiently.  We are not going to be dragging our feet to get this done.  (Applause.) 

Now, with any change, there’s some apprehension.  That’s natural.  But as Commander-in-Chief, I am certain that we can effect this transition in a way that only strengthens our military readiness; that people will look back on this moment and wonder why it was ever a source of controversy in the first place.     

I have every confidence in the professionalism and patriotism of our service members.  Just as they have adapted and grown stronger with each of the other changes, I know they will do so again.  I know that Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, as well as the vast majority of service members themselves, share this view.  And they share it based on their own experiences, including the experience of serving with dedicated, duty-bound service members who were also gay. 

     As one special operations warfighter said during the Pentagon’s review -- this was one of my favorites -- it echoes the experience of Lloyd Corwin decades earlier:  “We have a gay guy in the unit.  He’s big, he’s mean, he kills lots of bad guys.”  (Laughter.)  “No one cared that he was gay.”  (Laughter.) And I think that sums up perfectly the situation.  (Applause.)

Finally, I want to speak directly to the gay men and women currently serving in our military.  For a long time your service has demanded a particular kind of sacrifice.  You’ve been asked to carry the added burden of secrecy and isolation.  And all the while, you’ve put your lives on the line for the freedoms and privileges of citizenship that are not fully granted to you. 

You’re not the first to have carried this burden, for while today marks the end of a particular struggle that has lasted almost two decades, this is a moment more than two centuries in the making.

There will never be a full accounting of the heroism demonstrated by gay Americans in service to this country; their service has been obscured in history.  It’s been lost to prejudices that have waned in our own lifetimes.  But at every turn, every crossroads in our past, we know gay Americans fought just as hard, gave just as much to protect this nation and the ideals for which it stands.

There can be little doubt there were gay soldiers who fought for American independence, who consecrated the ground at Gettysburg, who manned the trenches along the Western Front, who stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima.  Their names are etched into the walls of our memorials.  Their headstones dot the grounds at Arlington.

And so, as the first generation to serve openly in our Armed Forces, you will stand for all those who came before you, and you will serve as role models to all who come after.  And I know that you will fulfill this responsibility with integrity and honor, just as you have every other mission with which you’ve been charged.

And you need to look no further than the servicemen and women in this room -- distinguished officers like former Navy Commander Zoe Dunning.  (Applause.)  Marines like Eric Alva, one of the first Americans to be injured in Iraq.  (Applause.)  Leaders like Captain Jonathan Hopkins, who led a platoon into northern Iraq during the initial invasion, quelling an ethnic riot, earning a Bronze Star with valor.  (Applause.)  He was discharged, only to receive emails and letters from his soldiers saying they had known he was gay all along -- (laughter) -- and thought that he was the best commander they ever had.  (Applause.) 

There are a lot of stories like these -- stories that only underscore the importance of enlisting the service of all who are willing to fight for this country.  That’s why I hope those soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who have been discharged under this discriminatory policy will seek to reenlist once the repeal is implemented.  (Applause.) 

That is why I say to all Americans, gay or straight, who want nothing more than to defend this country in uniform:  Your country needs you, your country wants you, and we will be honored to welcome you into the ranks of the finest military the world has ever known.  (Applause.) 

Some of you remembered I visited Afghanistan just a few weeks ago.  And while I was walking along the rope line -- it was a big crowd, about 3,000 -- a young woman in uniform was shaking my hand and other people were grabbing and taking pictures.  And she pulled me into a hug and she whispered in my ear, “Get ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell’ done.”  (Laughter and applause.)  And I said to her, “I promise you I will.”  (Applause.)   

For we are not a nation that says, “don’t ask, don’t tell.” We are a nation that says, “Out of many, we are one.”  (Applause.)  We are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot.  We are a nation that believes that all men and women are created equal.  (Applause.)  Those are the ideals that generations have fought for.  Those are the ideals that we uphold today.  And now, it is my honor to sign this bill into law.  (Applause.)  

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you, Mr. President!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you!

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We're here, Mr. President.  Enlist us now.  (Laughter.) 

(The bill is signed.)

THE PRESIDENT:  This is done.  (Applause.) 

Marvelous weekend happenings

My sister Karen is quite proud of herself for being the one to introduce me to this lesbian singer-songwriter who she (Karen) has been seeing at a CO folk festival for years.  On her recommendation, I went to see Ellis in the lovely city of San Francisco on a cold, clear Friday evening. 
Small cafe, girl with a guitar, and a small crowd.  It was like getting back to my roots. . . if my roots involved all that stuff.  I've attempted to explain the evening on isolated occasions with little success.  For whatever reason, I was in the right place at the right time, and I was able to hear what I needed to hear.
So anyway.  Here are some photos.  This one I asked Ellis if I could take so that I could send it home to Karen. 

My view of the concert.

A little playin'.

Can you see this video?  I might have to re-load it. . .

Coffee from H M R on Vimeo.

Driving home through the lit-up (in more ways than one I imagine) Castro.

Jerry of Under One Roof had this sign made to promote his Team One.  If you're in the Bay Area and are ready to ride, Join his team!

Later that weekend. . . 

I went to this "Tree Skirt Party" -- wear a tree skirt in whatever way you wish, bring a gift certificate for a grocery store to support Breaking Barriers.  Some folks got *very* creative.  I just tied mine around my waist like a . . . skirt.

Jeffy and Mindy.  How cute are they?

*Love* Mindy.  She's too fabulous for words.

Mindy's husband Steve and his tree-skirt twin.

Jim and Miguel.  Jim was a riot the other night.

A little gang.

That dispersed when Mindy demanded that she get more wine in her glass immediately.

The handsome hosts.

How come gay boys get all the looks?

Not my best work on the self-portrait.  And you can see, Doug is only begrudgingly complying.

Fred dresses the bartender in . . . well, pretty much all the decorations he could find, including from his own costume.

The event raised over $2200 for Breaking Barriers to provide holiday dinners to their community.  Pretty dang fantastic.

Dozo the bowling pin

Hee hee.

Mini-break to Portland -- the gateway drug

A couple of days away was less rejuvenating and more of an appetite-whetting.  I think I need a vacation.  A real one.
Photos are random and more or less just stuff that looked interesting at the time.  Some, like this one, I can't explain except that there was some draw.

Wet rainy street looked like a movie set.  Why is it so pretty?  Is it always like that?  Are they dressed up early for holiday shopping?

Store window display.

More rainy pretty street.  I think Emily was 'singing in the rain' or something.

I got the impression that my calling this place 'the bra bar' didn't go over well for someone who actually speaks French.

A lot happens at Jake's grill.  After-dinner drinks, dessert, post-opera drunkenness (not mine), group dates (also not mine), announcements that we should all applaud for a celebrated, decorated Marine in our midst, dead animals on the walls, and naked persons running through the streets in front of the window (not me).

Looks better than it tasted.

Tastes better than it looks.

Time to walk home -- pouring down rain.  This photo was an attempt to capture the 3 police cars that showed up to restrain the aforementioned naked man who was running through the streets.  He must have been cold.  I surmised that maybe he's just a visitor to Portland as several times I figured it didn't matter what I said or did as I would not see these people again, most likely.  Though my rationale only had me taking pictures of strangers and laughing out loud when the mood struck.  I kept my clothes on throughout.

View from breakfast.

Look how sunny it is.  Walking to Powells', I found these elephants posing for a photo.

Not the best view, is it?

We sat in the Powell's coffee shop and watched the storm come in.  Dumped down rain for a while.  I spent my time eavesdropping on college entrance interviews going on at the next table.  I think my engaging in other people's lives gives Emily the willies.

Oh, Mary!

Lovely sunflower's dying day.

If you have the chance to stop by a cellar bar, I highly recommend it.  This one in particular, but perhaps any would do.  Down down down the steep stairs into a warm little cave with the friendliest bartender and the funkiest vibe.

Our bartending host.  He made me a drink with apple cider named after fall that was quite good (a little sweet) that he was going to enter into a contest the next day.  I can't remember the contest, his name, or the name of the drink.  Matt?  Ben?  Zeek?  I don't know.  I remember his stories though -- wants to home-brew hard liquors, has a small son, a wife who does lots of different things including the artwork for a local (celebrated) donut shop (Voodoo Donuts). 

I saw these signs all over.  Someone wrote a law.  Someone had to write a law based on a perceived problem?

We sat at the bar and chatted with good ol' whatshisface, but here's a view of the rest of the seating area.

New buds.  He was on board with my 'I'll never see this people again, so what the hell' attitude and probably did not mind being the subject of my photo-intrusion.

Bike scuplture.

Mmmm.  Yummy sushi dinner at a little teeny place with very little opportunities for eavesdropping.

But I managed.  Two women on this side of the table, two men on that.  The woman on the left seemed to be with the man on the left.  The man on the right was doing a pretty good job of talking himself up to impress the woman on the right.  There are more details.  All imagined.  But you're probably not as interested.

There was also quite a mural to behold.

A quick stop at a cajun place for decaf coffee and sweet potato ice cream while Emily warmed up her pipes for karaoke night.

The singing was great (Emily's), but I think Emily was disappointed in the overall outing.  There were a couple of really good singers, a bunch of drunk people, and a "KJ in training" who stood behind all the singers and stared at the women from behind.  I was ready to leave about an hour before we got there.  It wasn't my night though -- so I stayed as long as I could until I started whining. 

Met up with some of Emily's friends from Utah who now live in Portland and have an adorably stubborn, independent, and thoughtful little girl. 

 Who wanted to check out just about everything. 

 

But does not smile on cue.

 I was quite taken with Portland this time around.  Ready to go back for some more exploring!

How I spent my Veterans Day Weekend

Over the long weekend last week, I went to LA to visit my grandparents, et al.  It was a nice weekend and I got lots of computer help, some good chats, a long giggle (when Gram kept saying "bitch"), and lousy nights' sleep, as usual.
I found out when I got there that my Gramps had somehow broken through the "indestructible" glass of the shower.  A shower that was built specifically for him for ease of use.  Two contractors came to look at it and both said, "This stuff just doesn't break.  It's not supposed to break."  Hm.
The glass was still there when I got there, and armed with my gram's gardening gloves, I went to work. 

Before:

And after:

Then I spent a few hours at the party supply shop weighing bags of chocolate for candy-making.  It was just like I was 8 years old again.

I wonder what the next visit will bring . . .