It Was Just a Fender Bender

The Prompt: Tell us about a bullet you’re glad you dodged — when something awful almost happened, but didn’t. It wasn’t my first car accident, but it was one of the first where I was a passenger. Laura and I were toodling along McKnight Road preparing to go to the grocery store. The vehicle in […]

Five Ways to Help Someone Quit Beating Up On Themselves

The Prompt: If you could quit one bad habit instantly without difficulty, which would it be? Putting myself down. When you grow up in a fractured fairytale, you internalize a lot of negative messages that aren’t even necessarily about you – and when you are bullied and abused by your peers, it is worse. Not only […]

I’ve Got a Brontosaurus

Well, this explains the perpetual funk I’ve been in for days … I’ve got a good old-fashioned case of bronchitis. Just came home from MedExpress where not only did I get diagnosed but I was politely required to take a breathing treatment, then wait 30 minutes to drive. Wow. Fortunately, I’ve had a pneumonia shot […]

Why would anyone want to celebrate another year of me?

I sit here nearing the end of October and simply overwhelmed with grief at all that I’ve missed this autumn, nearly every autumn. No leaves, no haunted house, no giant rubber duck picture, no brisk walks at dusk. I missed most of the film festival and all of the animal Halloween costume contests. Laura has […]

We fall through life as much as we climb through it

Kinzua

The Prompt: Are you scared of heights or do you love looking down from a high point? When I was a kid, I would set up the ladder and scurry up on the roof of our ranch house. I couldn’t see much from the front and I was a little frightened of going onto the back […]

To Sleep Or Not To Sleep

The Prompt: How long does it take you to fall asleep? I’m starting this post wide awake at 11 while everyone else is asleep. That in spite of the fact that I am still sick and felt bone tired earlier. And I take bedtime meds that are slightly sedating. Typically, I fall asleep soon after […]

Jump!

The Prompt:  Which is better to jump in: a leaf pile or a puddle? I’m not in the mood to answer this or even consider the distinction. Last night, I jumped up on a park bench with a megaphone and spoke to a crowd of 100 or so LGBTQ folks and allies who had turned […]

Has the City of Pittsburgh Lost The Domestic Partner Registry?

What a ridiculous question. How can you lose a registry? So a few days ago, we were informed that we have less than 5 weeks to comply with an “employee dependent verification” audit conducted by a third party contracted through the City (City Council and the Mayor approved of this, unanimously.) These audits are used […]

I Don’t Need A Class Reunion, I Have Facebook

The year was 1998. I was partway through my first semester of graduate school and ready to celebrate ten years of post-high school excitement. It was a nice event even though I was on my own. I saw some old friends and one nemesis who actually apologized to me. It was also a little sad […]

Daytime Focuses on Gay Men, But Where Are The Rest Of Us?

Days of Our Lives

When last we chatted daytime television, I was sharing my thoughts on how the “Nick Fallon was raped in prison” story was playing out. Aside from the fact that there was a prison rape, it hasn’t been too bad. Nick had a come to Jesus moment about how he was treating his gay cousin and […]