This morning, I dragged my ass out of bed at 7 AM and discovered that we had neither milk nor orange juice.  Since we did have coffee, I was cool, but I knew that herself would want to be fed eventually.  So I suggested we dine out for breakfast.  I admit I was thinking Eat'NPark.  But she had the brilliant idea of going to the Square Cafe in Regent Square. 

We had been there before to catch the luminous Eve Goodman perform, but only sampled some of the hummus and beverages.  So anyway, I called to determine their breakfast serving hours (all day) and lo and behold, guess who answers the phone?  Gab Bonesso, the comedy chick we met the other day when we went to see John McIntire perform at the Funny Bone. 

Its obviously a cool place to work because Gab, Autumn Ayers and a few other friendly employees all took turns waiting on us (and making us laugh).  Let me just tell you that the waffles have this secret ingredient (orange juice) that make them taste like something right out of an episode of The Waltons.  Before Grandma had her stroke and she made huge country breakfasts for the entire clan in her tidy little homemade dress ... I bet she put some of The Recipe in those waffles.  All we ever had as chez Kerr were the Eggo kind, actually the generic version of Eggos.  My grandmother was more of a Shredded Wheat and prune juice for breakfast kind of gal.  Since she's 90 now and never had a stroke like Grandma Walton,  I guess there's something to be said for Shredded Wheat.  But I digress ...

Anyway, being waited on by creative artisty people is much more fun than your typical slack jawed yinzerette with a permanent cigarette droop to her lip and a snarl that makes you think twice before asking for something on the side.   Like the chick at Soho last week (PrideFest nonetheless) who accidentally threw honey mustard all over Ledcat and MY PURSE.  It was an accident, but it took 13 minutes for her to get us a wet cloth.  In the meantime, I unrolled 13 sets of silverware from 5 surrounding tables to use the cloth napkins.  Which seemed to displease her.  I hope she delivered a baby in that 13 minutes because I cannot imagine what would be more important than removing honey mustard from your customers.  So like a good lesbian, I spoke to the manager but to my credit I left her a really big tip b/c I know it was HIS fault for her being harried. But I digress again ....its like 99 degrees up here in the Correspondents computer lair so forgive me.

Anyway, next Friday at the Square Cafe you have the opportunity to catch both Gab and Autumn performing LIVE.  and you can have some of the delish hummus.  Or a real meal which is what we plan to do ...possibly you can have OJ infused waffles.  But I'm not making any promises since i don't actually work there.  I am fairly sure you can make it through the evening without being dipped in honey mustard, but then again you might like that so ...

You must, however, promise to laugh at the abortion jokes. 

Well the Correspondents are off in pursuit of sno-cones from Gus and Yaya ...

8 PM   Friday June 30 Square Cafe ---  A Homo-Affirming Business ... be there and be square ... god I sound like McIntire now .... it really is the heat ... or maybe they infused my waffles with mimosas ...

h/t Shakespeare's Sister

Simon Property Group  forced a 10-year old girl in one of its Missouri malls to remove a bandana decorated with smiley faces, peace signs and flowers.  The 10 year old had violated item No. 10 on the list of 17 offenses: "failing to be fully clothed or wearing apparel which is likely to provide a disturbance or embroil other groups or the general public in open conflict." (Columbia Daily Tribune)

Simon Property has refused to explain how a smiley face bandana promotes disturbances or conflict.

Christine Moses, director of mall marketing, noted the mall is privately owned and behavior on its premises can be regulated.

"The bottom line is we want to have an environment (conducive) to shopping. Offensive apparel does not fit in with that environment," she said, although she could not say how the bandanna was offensive.

Ironically, the JC Penney store in that very same mall sells ... decorated bandannas. 

Here's the best part.  Simon officials won't tell us what clothing is acceptable on their private property and what is not acceptable.

Mall officials won?t clarify what clothing and accessories are prohibited.

"The code of conduct is pretty clear, and, you know, I think common sense should prevail," said Les Morris, spokesman for Simon Property Group Inc., which owns the mall.

Given that Simons is the owner of three of our own lovely and talented malls - Century III, Ross Park and South Hills Village, we should probably know.

I'm guessing clothing worn predominantly by teenagers, African-Americans and homosexuals will be high up on that list.  Not so much Mom jeans, tee shirts with pot belly stretch marks and Alfred Dunner mix 'n match.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell speaks to the crowd at the beginning of the Pride Awareness March on Saturday, June 17, 2006.  Click on the image to see other photos from PrideFest posted on the Gay & Lesbian Community Center website. 

For those of you with great suggestions on how to improve PrideFest, you can find information on joining the PrideFest Committee.  That would be the most effective way to actually make Pride more queer-friendly, more political, more-woman friendly, more youth-friendly, more vegetarian friendly, more low income friendly, recruit more pride merchandise venders, diversify the entertainment, increase the activities ... and the whole host of other things I have heard people complain about over the past weeks. 

Or you can continue to complain and be part of the problem. 

Penns Park United Methodist Church in Wrightstown could teach a few Pittsburgh pastoral "shepherds" a few things about tolerance, love and standing up to bigotry.  (365gay.com)

A gay affirming congregation, they proudly displayed a rainbow flag in front of their church building as a sign that everyone is welcome. 

Earlier this week, some pathetic homo-bigot decided to steal the flag, an action the church's pastor attributes to the dischord caused by the marriage amendment debate.  (Wanna bet it was a self-styled Christian who stole it?)

But the real story here is how the Church has responded to this prank, mischief, theft, whatever.

The Rev. Ginny Miles has one message for whoever stole a Rainbow flag from in front of  Penns Park United Methodist Church in Wrightstown: Put it back or I'll put two more flags in its place.

And Miles says that each time a flag is stolen two more will go up until there is no more room on the church lawn.

Amen, sister.  You do Christians proud.