It really isn't that there's a dearth of LGBTQ news to analyze and share.  I'm just not feeling it lately.  I have this weird kidney thing going on (not diabetes related at all, thank god) and I basically drag myself out of bed every single day feeling like a dishrag.  The one you tossed into the laundry.  Yesterday.  After one final giant squeeze. 

I couldn't even make it through my class reunion.  I went, saw about a dozen people and came home to lay on my bed and moan.  Sort of like the scene from When Harry Met Sally.  Not that scene.  The one when Harry lays in bed moaning after hanging up the telephone with Sally.  That was me last night. To tell the truth, I wasn't entirely disappointed about missing the reunion (except for the wasted $$) because I pretty much keep in touch with the few people whom I care about catching up with at this point in my life. I wish the others well, but it just felt so contrived.  I don't think I'll go to another reunion. Maybe when I'm 67 and fewer people show up.  Does that sound awful? 

I glanced through the reunion book and noted that I am the only out homo in the whole thing.  So that's wasn't awkward at all.  Fortunately, my classmates were more hung up on the fact that I was in the Post-Gazette for my former pet sitting business several years ago.  I should be flattered that people paid attention.  Aside from people I currently know, I couldn't tell you the occupation of 5 of my former classmates without at least 3 lucky guesses.  And one of them was in the Post-Gazette himself. 

Today, I still feel icky.  We had breakfast at The Square and then did some much needed grocery shopping.  Speaking of which, I learned via the Queer Events list that the Square is hiring a barista.  Check it out if you are interested.

On an international level, this amusing little commercial from Heinz caused quite the furor in England because of  ... well, watch it and see.

It is cute, but I can't believe it created an international furor.  Clearly, the joke is the play on the deli part of the deli-man, not the man part  Heinz in good fashion pulled the ad for fear of offending people.  So sad. 

How Do I send a comment or inquiry about a Heinz Product online?
At Heinz, we look forward to hearing what's on our customers' minds. If you would like to send a question or a comment via email, http://www.heinz.com/Consumer_faq.aspx . We also welcome you to call our toll-free number at 800.255.5750 or send a letter to Heinz Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 57, Pittsburgh, PA 15230.

While the celebration continues in California, Arizona faces another ballot initiative about a gay marriage amendment.  Note that Arizona has already defeated one such initiative at the ballot box -- a landmark accomplishment.  Pam has the scoop.  What is important to note is that this verion of the hate eliminated the broad language to reduce claims that they might be hatin' on unmarried heterosexual couples and seniors and so forth.  Smooth. 

The tough call here is that a lot of funds are being poured into California.  So who is going to help Arizona?  Hopefully, the prospect of seeing Ellen marry Portia doesn't completely overshadow folks in other states.

Speaking of how this impacts us locally, I just sent an email to Bruce Kraus, Doug Shields and Tonya Payne (my councilwoman) asking for some feedback on the Domestic Partner Registry. I'm hoping to have a constructive dialogue on how to make the registry valuable for moderate and low income families living in the City and/or employed by the City.  The man called Potter has alluded that the City Paper might look into the relatively small number of employees utilizing DP bennies and I'd really look forward to the outcome of that investigation. 

Well, that's it from Lesbian Central.  I have to go refill my drink -- kidneys need hydration.  Oh, I should say that our nephew is home and doing great.  Thanks for the kind words and thoughts.  I'm staying away until I feel better just to be on the safe side. 

Tonight, Ledcat and I visited our nephew at Children's Hospital.  He has pneumonia. He is 10 weeks old. 

He looked good. He was cooing and wriggly and hungry and breathing well.  His parents have been on a round robin for days now, juggling his needs with the care of their toddler.  Tomorrow, we'll be with the toddler.  She bit me on Saturday night.  I've never seen anyone so surprised by the concept of time out, rather the concept that Aunt Sue actually knew about time out.  Or that Aunt Sue's exothalmia gives her super human peripheral vision and thus she can snuff out any time out cheating without actually making eye contact with the misbehaving toddler.  I rock.  She did learn how to say exothalmia and now thinks I have superpowers.  To be fair, she only eats for Aunt Ledcat.  It takes a village.

Yesterday at work, I held a 2.5 lb baby who was born 5 weeks premature.  She was so small, but feisty.  She wrestled off a heart monitor and we had to have a little talk about making me look bad in front of the rest of the staff. 

Such joy gives me great pause in the middle of a busy week.  I am so grateful for the technologies of various sorts that makes each of three wee ones a few steps closer to healthy. 

I have a busy day tomorrow and I think construction is going to make it worse.  I'm going to try and recall seeing this beautiful little child in all his feisty glory as he battles for his health.  I'm going to revel in the little glow I feel when someone refers to us as "the Aunties." 

And I'm going to walk through the day with bit more gratitude than I did today. 

Yesterday, Ledcat and I were trotting up Liberty Avenue to grab some dinner with our friends Tom and Harry after wrapping up our PrideFest activities when I saw her.  Sitting at the City Theatre table.  Actually, I saw the sign first "Meet Lauren Weedman, Goddess of All that is Funny and Smokin Hot" or something like that. 

It took Ledcat and the guys like 3 blocks to realize I had completely abandoned them (Honey, that's why we have cell phones!). 

Then I saw Chris Young talking with her about Obama.  I waited impatiently for about 4 minutes, trying very hard to carry on a conversation with the somewhat taciturn City Theatre folks. When I send staff out to outreach events, I encourage them to talk to the people -- especially if they want to sell something. Like tickets. Whatever.  Finally, I used the hips God gave me and sent Mr. Young on his merry way (he was very cool about it). 

Then I talked with her.  I told her that her show revolutionized my life.  She told me she had read my blog post at the Pgh Women's Blogging Society.  I swooned.  I broke a cardinal rule and bought her book "A Women Trapped in a Woman's Body:  Stories From a Life of Cringe" and immediately felt guilty because I had told the Carnegie Library folks that I couldn't check out a book because I was holding myself to a two book limit to avoid any further $56 payments in late fees.  Seriously, at home waiting patiently for me were the final chapters of Faye Kellerman's latest mystery and a book about John and Abigail Adams.

Did not matter.  I broke my code and slapped down a $20.00 for a trade paperback book.  Which my new friend Lauren signed for me "The Power of the Blog"  !!!!  She then gave me this complicated order of chapters in which to read the book.  Which I promptly forgot and could kick myself because that was clearly intended to be a secret message about the meaning of life.  I asked her how many people under 60 came to her show and she admitted that not as many as she hoped.  What's up with that, CT?  I guess you missed my suggestion about inviting bloggers to all of your shows for people under 60.  I mean I enjoyed our show, but it felt like a race for the early bird special when we walked out the front door. 

Finally, Ledcat dragged me away.  She hates when I gush, especially over straight people.  Plus, she was hungry and we had to walk to Station Square.  I clutched my book to my bosom the entire way.  It was raining.  $20 is a lot of money for a book. 

Then I came home, finished the Faye Kellerman mystery and laid the new book on the nightstand to crack open tonight.  It is just waiting for me. 

The sad thing is that Lauren is a cable personality.  She was on the Daily Show which I've never seen.  She has a new show coming up on Oxygen which I don't get.  We get CBS, NBC and Fox. 

My entire appreciation for Lauren is based on her one woman show, Bust.  On her talent.  Not her ability to play nice with the boys.  Not her appeal to the homos.  Not her being a hottie.  On. her. talent.

So I am probably not going to get to see her again until she returns to Pittsburgh in two years. 

Meeting Lauren in person was pretty cool.  She is definitely the kind of person you wish you could go have drinks or coffee with.  I would love to invite her to hang out with Johnny Mac, Gab and me at Hoi Polloi.  I'll invite Ledcat, too, as long as she doesn't smirk at me for being gushy.  Ah well ... maybe someday when I'm a blogger with 200 readers a day, that dream will come true ...

Bust runs at the City Theater through June 29.  You should definitely check it out.  I'd like to go again b/c it was a really moving show. 

The Dyke March.  Was. Awesome.  I was very impressed with how well the ladies pulled off a switch from Oakland to the Downtown area.  From our vantage, the event was smooth and made quite an impact on the multitude of downtowners watching us march past.  I think the switch was good and added more visibility to the whole affair.  The women were in high spirits as the delicious Betty Hill speech kicked things off.  It was really cool.  We attended two years ago and it was completely different -- I felt much more welcome and part of the group this year.  Maybe it was the location switch -- being out of the university environs and in a more diverse atmosphere. The "Don't Sell Your Pride" theme was very appropriate downtown. Regardless, the dyke organizers did a terrific job and here's looking forward to something even more spectacular next year.

PrideFest was a good experience for me.  My agency had a booth so I had shade, a seat and a great view of the crowd for the first however many hours.  I missed the parade because of set up, but I certainly heard it.  There was a huge crowd and people were in a really good mood.  Many friends, old and new, stopped by to say hello, including Doug Shields and Michael Lamb.  Doug was in a really good place and kissed my intern -- she was really stunned b/c she had no clue who he was.  I was pleased when Michael Lamb recognized me (or my name at least).  We had an interesting discussion and I have to reiterate that he impresses me.  So much that I've reconsidered a campaign donation I was planning.  Overall, Pride was pleasant. The kids area was busy. We walked around at the end of the event and I managed to walk away with no new flyers, papers or handouts.  We stopped for a minute near the food/beer garden end of things and that was a little less nice.  It makes me appreciate the park and having a place to plop down.  I think moving the event to West Park on the Northside and maybe utilizing the Garden Theater for inside events would be great.

Kudos to the PrideFest Committee for a job nicely done.  The folks who helped us get our booth set up and address some related issues were really nice and helpful.  I appreciated that.  Thank you.

How was your Pride experience?

Gab is having a comedy show at Club Cafe on Saturday night at 10 PM.  It is not an official Pride event, but Gab is part of the emcee lineup at PrideFest and a long-time supporter of many, many queer organizations. She's also a local comedian. If you need a good laugh and can appreciate edgy humor, catch the show.  Check out Gab's website for information on her other shows.

Dyke March - Joan Rivers - Gab Bonesso

I might need some CoCo Crispies on Sunday to recuperate from all of this dykygoodish.