White Halloween

Here in Minnesota, we don’t need to dream about a White Christmas, as Christmas tends to find us knee deep in the cold white stuff. Yeah, it’s all magical when you’re a little kid or live in a tropical climate, but the novelty of it wears off the first time you have to shovel the shit off your sidewalks.

Minneapolis woke up to the first snow of the season this Halloween morning. According to the official records, 1.8 inches of snow fell on the Twin Cities, making it the second snowiest Halloween on record.

We still talk about the storm that holds the record for snowiest Halloween, because it was also the worst blizzard ever. Many of us are still in therapy over it.

It was 1991, and I was thirty years old. The forecast was calling for “one to three inches” of snow, but between October 30th and November 3rd, over three feet of the cold white shit got dumped on us.

We all have our stories, those of us of a certain age. I was living with a guy named J.D. and we had no groceries in the house. Because of the storm, I couldn’t get my paycheck. Fortunately, a kind neighbor spotted me a twenty, and J.D. was very good at making it stretch at the grocery store, so we didn’t go hungry. When we were finally able to leave the house, we made our way to the park a block away, where the snow was waist-deep. With J.D., I built my first snowman that day. It was seven feet tall and we named it Elvis.

The overnight dusting we received last night was nothing. This is just October. The worst is yet to come.

We’ve Lost A Friend

The world is mourning the loss of Matthew Perry, the beloved actor who starred as Chandler Bing on the iconic sitcom Friends. Perry passed away on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 54 years old.

Perry was a talented and versatile performer, who appeared in numerous films and TV shows, such as The Whole Nine Yards, The West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Mr. Sunshine, Go On, The Odd Couple, and The Kennedys: After Camelot. He also voiced Benny in the video game Fallout: New Vegas and appeared as himself in Friends: The Reunion earlier this year.

But Perry was more than just an actor. He was a friend to all, who touched millions of lives with his humor, kindness, and generosity. He was also a courageous advocate for recovery and mental health, who openly shared his struggles with addiction and depression. He used his platform to raise awareness and help others who were facing similar challenges.

Perry once said in an interview that he wanted to be remembered “as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker” and that “his paramount thing is that he wants to help people.” He certainly achieved that and more. He inspired countless people with his honesty, resilience, and compassion. He made us laugh, cry, and think. He made us feel less alone.

Perry’s death has left a huge void in the hearts of his family, friends, colleagues, and fans. His legacy will live on through his work and his words. He will always be our friend.

Rest in peace, Matthew Perry. Thank you for everything. You will be missed.

Happy National Coming Out Day! 🌈

Today is a day to celebrate the courage and the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. Coming out is not an easy process, and it can be different for everyone. Some people may have supportive and accepting families and friends, while others may face rejection and discrimination. Some people may come out early in life, while others may wait until later. Some people may come out to everyone they know, while others may only come out to a few trusted people. There is no right or wrong way to come out, as long as you are comfortable and safe.

Coming out can be a liberating and empowering experience, but it can also be scary and stressful. That’s why it’s important to have a support network of people who love you and respect you for who you are. You are not alone in this journey, and you can find many resources and communities online and offline that can help you along the way. You can also be a source of support and inspiration for others who are struggling with their identity or their coming out process.

Remember that coming out is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of self-discovery and self-expression. You may change how you identify or how you present yourself over time, and that’s okay. You are valid and beautiful no matter what labels you choose or don’t choose to use. You are worthy of love and happiness no matter what challenges you face or what obstacles you overcome.

So today, let’s celebrate ourselves and each other. Let’s be proud of who we are and how far we’ve come. Let’s share our stories and our hopes for the future. Let’s show the world that we are here, we are queer, and we are fabulous! 

💖

This Is Not A War; This Is A War Crime

I had a wonderful time at Chorus retreat, only to come home and discover that you silly humans have started another war.

The unprovoked attack on Israel by Hamas and the ensuing war that has resulted has been a tragedy for all of those involved. The death toll is already too high, with innocent civilians on both sides of the conflict, taken as hostages. (Civilians by definition cannot be considered “prisoners of war.”)  It is a sad reminder of how quickly violence can erupt and how easily it can take an entire region by storm.

On Sunday, Hamas began firing rockets towards Israeli citizens living in the towns of Ashkelon and Sderot. Within minutes, sirens blared throughout Israel as more and more rockets were fired, indiscriminately targeting civilians. In the subsequent days, more than 4,000 rockets were fired into Israel, and the Israeli government launched retaliatory airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

The death toll has been heartbreaking. In total, more than 200 people have been killed, with the majority of victims being civilians, including countless children. This is a cruel reminder that war does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, and that even in a conflict involving two sides, innocent people are the ones who suffer the most.

The civilians who have been affected by this conflict are largely people who are already living in poverty, with limited access to healthcare and basic necessities. The destruction of homes and the displacement of families as a result of the fighting has only exacerbated their already-difficult living conditions.

Furthermore, the impact of this war has been felt beyond the borders of Israel and the Gaza Strip. The United Nations has called on both sides to end the violence and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Unfortunately, so far, neither side has been willing to budge.

The human cost of this conflict is staggering and the violence must end. The people of the region deserve better and it is up to the leaders of both sides to find a diplomatic solution before more innocent lives are lost. It is up to the international community to put pressure on the parties involved to come to an agreement that will ensure the safety and security of all those living in the region.

Just as we stand with the people of Ukraine, we stand proudly with the nation of Israel and its people against the unprovoked attack by Hamas which has caused a war that has taken a tremendous toll on civilians in the region. It is a reminder of the cruelty of war and of the need for a diplomatic solution that will ensure peace and security for all. Too many innocent lives have been lost already and it is essential that an agreement is reached before any more blood is shed. Let there be peace. Shalom.

The Shower Chronicles

 The new shower is now complete, bringing us to the end of a journey that has taken over a month and gotten rather pungent at times. In June, Jim and I invited a representative from Tundraland to explore the possibility of renovating the bathroom into a step-in shower. We also spoke to someone from Minnesota Rusco, because Casey is so darn cute. (Don’t worry, Cody, you’re a hottie too.) Tundraland offered us a better price and a faster install.

The install was supposed to happen on August 28th, but the installer had a personal emergency and had to re-schedule for September 13th. That’s when they ripped out the old tub and tile, only to discover a heat register that was going to be in the way. We had to contact Cedar Trails’ contracted maintenance to have it removed, and the pipes re-routed because it’s part of the building’s heating system. Then we had to have a city inspector check the work and approve it. Finally, yesterday Tundraland came back and finished the job. As I write this, we are waiting the 24 hours before we can actually use the shower. That’s about four hours from now. Then I plan to take a long, hot shower.