(I was) Gone (for a while)

I was gone for a few days, and it wasn't just because I couldn't think of anything to post.

The past weekend was Memorial Weekend here in the states, so I was busy having a good time. I ate a lot and drank a lot over the course of the weekend, I actually ate some really good food. Ended up at an English Pub on Sunday (it wasn't quite the same as the Slap and Tickle), and played some darts. I haven't played darts in a long time, and it really showed. We then headed over to the pool hall and played a game of snooker, I wasn't all that great at that either, but I could remember the rules, and was able to guide the lads through the game.

The last couple of days at work I have been in a class called "Team Leader Facilitator Training". It was a great class, and even throughout the long days I stayed focused the whole time, which is really saying something, as I am very easily distracted. Now I am back at my desk, wrapping up my current job before beginning the new one on Monday.

I'm really looking forward to the end of the work day today, as I'm going out for dinner with 2 former colleges. One is my ex-boss, and she is just great, she's one of the nicest people I've ever met, the other is a guy who was a project manager on a project from a few years ago. About 4 years ago, we were all on the same project, and took a business trip to Germany and Barcelona. We had such a great time, eating, drinking and generally being merry and goofing around. I'd tell some of the stories, but I have found from experience, that they just don't seem as funny to anyone else as they do to us. I am sure tonight will be full of reminiscing and lots of laughs.

You Inspire Me

Some days I find it very hard to find something to write about in this here blog. I am just not sure what people would find interesting. Lately I don't really feel like I've been doing much interesting either, so I'm struggling to find inspiration.

How do you guys always manage to find something to write about?

What do you use for inspiration?

I wil follow you

The conversations that I hear on the MAX (Portland’s light rail), are quite often rather interesting. Today was no exception, other than it was more of a monologue than a conversation. A guy and a girl get on a couple of stops from my work, they sit down behind me. The girl is chattering away (seemingly to herself).

Why am I following you?

You said you were going to take me home, and now I am following you.

I’ve been fantasizing about spiders a lot lately.

Spiders are quite good thing to be thinking about.

You can think about good spiders and bad spiders.

I was thinking about having a spider party.

Invite everyone, all of my friends and his friends.

All the spider friends.

There’d be no drugs.

Well there could be drugs, lots of drugs.

Crazy drugs.

We’d all sit in the dark like spiders.

Everyone would come over after not sleeping for a week, and we’d all fall asleep, like spiders.
Why am I following you?

You we taking me home, but now I am following you every where.
I can go to the store and get my diet pills.

Now there were lots of pauses in this conversation, and I am not guaranteeing that I got it word for word… but it’s a little odd isn’t it?

The guy that she got on with (the one that she apparently was following), didn’t say a word, occasionally he’d talk to the other girl next to him.

I just thought I’d share.

Sun Lotion in my eye...

I ended up having to go to the doctors yesterday. I was having issues with my eye. It wouldn’t stop tearing up, and it was stinging. Well seems that the sunscreen that I got in it, caused a burn… isn’t sunscreen supposed to prevent me from getting burnt? The one advantage is that I got the day off work, however, I didn’t do much other than play final fantasy.

My eyes still hurting a little today, but its no where near as bad as yesterday, and I’m no longer running a fever, which I was yesterday, and I am back at work. Also its raining today, so I have no need for sunscreen today, thank goodness.

Compared to last week, this week is a quiet week. I don't have much of anything planned. Work is also going to be pretty quiet as I am finally moving into my new role, which means only one job to do instead of two, that makes me very happy.

In the Palm of Your Hand

I was just over at British Speak and and I see that relax max has been giving me some link love, so I thought I should actually sit down and write something.

I finally got to have some fun last week, and that is the main reason nothing was posted on my blog.

It began with a "country fair" at work on thursday, this meant free beer, bull rides, tattoos, palm reading, popcorn, corn dogs, arts and crafts, and goodness knows what else. However, we had lots of sun begining on Thursday too, and my fair skin got very burnt, there wasn't really any shady spots for me to be hiding in.

As mentioned above there was a couple of palm readers at the fair. I've never had my palm read before, so I figured what the heck. She was spookily accurate, it began with her telling me "well I can see right away that you are a sensitive person, you care a lot about other people and their happiness and will put them before yourself". She then went on to say, that I live to be in love (so true!), that I am a bit of a rebel. It ended with her talking about my relationship with wbf, and she couldn't have been more spot on there either... like I said... spooky :)

I don't remember doing much Thursday evening... I think we watched a movie, yup we did - Two for the Money, it was rather good. The rest of the weekend consisted of drinking, dancing and more drinking. All in all not a bad weekend.

Yesterday a friend came over, and we started to watch the Soprano's. We are going to get together every sunday afternoon and watch them all. Until yesterday I'd never seen any of them, the wbf has seen them all, and needless to say, this was his idea. We watched the first 3 episodes last night... so far I like it.

Unite for Human Rights

Today is the day that bloggers unite and talk about Human Rights.

I chose to talk about human rights for LGBT folks, as it’s a subject near and dear to my heart.

If you’ve been by my blog before, chances are that you know about my involvement with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends network in my workplace.

I got involved in this network primarily because of the legislation that exists in the US and many other countries which prevents gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender folks from being able to do the same things that a heterosexual person can do. This ranges from healthcare, benefits, employment rights, rights to marriage, taxes – and that is just in the US. In some countries people can get the death sentence because they are in love with a person of the same sex. It amazes me. Why should someone’s sexual orientation require them to be treated differently? The map below shows LGBTI rights around the world. It really shocks me.

Photo source: http://ilga.org/

Its not just a matter of legislation. For many people the inequality comes from having to hide a part of their life due to a fear of how their community/workplace/friends and family will react. Back in February 2008, Lawrence King an eight grade boy, was murdered by a class mate. Hehad asked his friend to be his valentine, this lead to him getting shot by the same friend. Whattype of world do we live in, when showing your love gets you killed, when there’s so much homophobia that even an eighth grader is so frightened that he shoots a fellow classmate?

Small wins happen in the fight for GLBT rights, but for every win there seems to be a set back somewhere else. Last year Oregon finally managed to get the Domestic Partnership bill into effect, however, the fight continues today to keep it there, due to concerns of an appeal. If Domestic Partnerships are removed, it voids any domestic partnerships that have already been registered in the state of Oregon.

Its quite hard for me to keep this short, as there’s so many things that I want to say, but instead I will just give a few suggestions of things that that anyone can do that will make a difference.
- Find out more about what’s happening in your community.
- Know your local legislation.
- Walk in, or attend your towns Pride Parade.
- Stand up against homophobic slurs.

If you are interested, here's some sources for more information:
HRC

Speak Out

Public Agenda

Doodle Week - Day 7: Doodle Mad

Today is the last day of doodle week, and this is my final doodle. Its supposed to be mad, I don't think this is really mad, a little crazy perhaps but not mad.

I just like it, so I thought I'd share it.