Donate Your Nativity and Holiday Decorations to Make a Statement

Holiday nativity scene

In 2022, I decided to create a Nativity Scene also known as a créche in front of my home. The objective was to raise awareness of Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities projects. People stopped. Back up a bit to 2019. My friend Sarah gifted me with a large plastic Jesus, Mary, and Joseph outdoor set. She had […]

Call me anytime, on the line

My voicemail can handle about three messages before it is full. I am frequently being told “Your inbox is full” or “Delete some messages” or some such advice. I try hard to stay on top of the three spam messages that inevitably fill those slots, but I’m only human. The rest of the voicemail slots? […]

Ten Holiday Traditions on My List for 2024

I expect the winter holidays will be a little challenging. Not as raw as last year, perhaps more insistent on looking forward. So I made a list of traditions, new and old, and already invited friends to join me. I have no one with whom I’ll exchange gifts. Of course I’ll gift to my nephews, […]

Hush (a rewrite)

NaBloPoMo

Its anxiety, my old friendYou’ve come to sit with me againBecause a feeling softly does creepGrabbing hold while I cannot sleepAnd the belief that was programmed in my brainStill remainsWithin the hush of silence In childhood years I walked aloneSlipping into a silent homeWatching other families from afarMy door to comfort was ajarWhen my heart […]

Thanksgiving Week Is My Favorite Time of The Year

Crap. It is Sunday at 8:30 and I haven’t posted yet. I cannot break my #NaBloPoMo streak on day ten. And you don’t want to read yet another post about cats so soon, I’m sure. My favorite week of the year is Thanksgiving week. Don’t get me wrong, I am aware of the horrors of […]

How to celebrate 54 lesbian birthdays

My big day is here – birthday 54. I am firmly in my mid-fifties. And I’m good. No big plans. Having lunch with a friend. Then I’m going to enjoy some birthday cake from Prantels while watching ‘When Harry Met Sally.’  On a DVD, no less. By myself or rather with the cats. My birthday […]

Karen Block Johnese and Emily Johnese Escalante are Destroying Union Families in Pittsburgh

Emily Escalante is breaking federal law

I first met Karen Block Johnese in the late 1990’s when she ran the now seemingly dormant Pittsburgh Post-Gazette philanthropic programs. She went on to work with the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Fast forward to 2024 where she is chairwoman of Block Communications. Notably, the company that refuse to negotiate in good faith with the union […]

The Lingering Impact of Slouchy Boots Trends of the 80’s

 A little bit of swashbuckling bravado boots might be just what we need to keep up the fight Laird Borelli, Vogue In my middle school days, fashion trends were aplenty. Most of us kids of steelworkers did not have plenty to spend on them. We settled for knockoffs in a time long before TJ Marshalls and […]

How to Request Toys For Tots in Western Pennsylvania 2024

Toys for Tots Pennsylvania

This is our annual (13 years) round-up of Toys for Tots programs in Western Pennsylvania for 2023. I’ve done my best to sort through the available information and provide you what you may need to know. PLEASE click through to the applicable link to double check the details. I will update as information becomes available. […]

I Love Big Birthdays and I Will Not Lie

Happy Birthday cards

October is my birthday month -Yay! Last year, my birthday  (53) was the first ‘occasion’ while I was homeless and couch surfing with friends. They were lovely. Cooked me a meal I chose, made me a cake from scratch. But I fled the table, overwhelmed by sadness and a tidal wave of all that I […]