O Christmas Tree

Graham and I went back and forth on whether or not to get a Christmas tree this year--we've been really busy lately, and we'll be in Madison the week between Christmas and New Year's, so we weren't sure it was worth it--but the Christmas Spirit finally got the best of us yesterday, and we couldn't resist any longer.

The tipping point for me was that we're having our Game Night crew over on Friday (Kate and Melissa will be in town--yay!), and somehow it just doesn't seem right to entertain this time of year and not decorate. Plus, we live just a few blocks from Dunshee House (home of Seattle AIDS Support Group), which sells local Christmas trees for their annual fundraiser, so it was easy and a good cause!

Yesterday was a great day all around, actually. We hosted a Bagel Brunch for the Seattle Crew (with Oliver's presence, followed closely by baby Lyla's, being my favorite parts, of course), did some planning for our trip home, took a nap, got our Christmas tree around 4:30, and then spent the rest of the night decorating our house for the holiday.

We turned the fire on, I broke out my eclectic Christmas CDs (Manheim Steamroller, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Tchaikovsky's Nutracker Suite, Jewel's Christmas, Handel's Messiah, Noel Chant, etc.), and we went through our entire Christmas box. We haven't decorated for Christmas since I moved to Seattle--and I can't remember now if Melissa and I had a tree in DC--so it's been at least three, probably four or five, years since I last looked through all my Christmas stuff.

It was so fun to see everything! There's the purple stocking I made for Graham (impressive, since I can't sew) and the stocking I bought for myself in Bolivia, the advent calendar that Lucy and Susanne made me (the window for the 15th said: "This rose has died for the winter. ~A Deep Thought by Lucy Benton"), my awesome collection of reindeer ornaments (I have at least 20), the pop-up-book advent calendar my Mom gave me (if you lift the chimney, the star on the Christmas tree lights up and "Silent Night" plays), the cute little tree skirt Susan made us, many many strands of icicle lights (remember when those were all the rage?), my star w/rings advent calendar from my Dad's house ("Each day after my story is read, I'll take off one ring and climb into bed. When only the star is left to shine, then I'll know it's Christmas time."), all the ornaments with dates on them (Meritz 1998, ABC 1998, Food & Friends 2003, '04, '05 and '06, etc.) and Graham's odd assortment of ornaments (the ones I got him during his "I like purple shiny things" phase, the beautiful ones KA made him, and the collection of snowmen he didn't realize he had (seriously, there are like 15 of them, how can you not notice that?!).

Graham spent hours untangling lights (a true Christmas tradition), and I spent hours finding the just the right spot for each ornament (a true OCD Sarah tradition). And when G got tired of my Christmas music, we watched parts of "All The President's Men" and "Die Hard 4" (parts, because the TiVo kept cutting them off after 1.5 hours!) ...

All in all, it was a perfect way to celebrate our one-year anniversary as home owners. :)

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Elf Yourself

Wanna see one of the funniest things I have ever seen? Click here to watch the BABES staff dance like Santa's Elves. Thanks for sharing, Caroline!

Tday retrospective

After looking at M's photos of our Thanksgiving Day celebration, I realized it really did merit a blog posting.



We spent a lovely, relaxing Thanksgiving Day hanging out with Emily and our Camp Spoonhowopic buddies, M & J. (Brian was out of town for his 10-year high school reunion, otherwise he would have joined us, as well.)

M brought her two specialties, pound cake and red wine (lots of red wine), and J baked some of the yummiest breads I have ever tasted. The other Em brought garlic mashed (purple) potatoes and chocolate volcanoes (mmm, lava). In addition to some old standby appetizers, the rest of our dinner consisted of raspberry vinaigrette salad, cranberries, green beans, cachaza sweet potatoes (we were out of bourbon, again) and vegetarian stuffing and gravy to complement Graham's first ever turkey. If you would like to look at 30 or so photos of Graham carving said free range organic carcass, click on the image above.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The end of days is near ...

Seattle on Saturday:



Seattle today:

Learn what the candidates are saying about AIDS

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), which was the country's first AIDS Service Organization, and Housing Works, which recently won a $4.8 million settlement against New York City for Giuliani-era contract violations, put together this wonderful 85-page document about the current presidential candidates' views on issues important to PLWHA and AIDS activists.

I find it difficult to be objective when none of the republican candidates even answered the survey--and some of them are lobbying against policies that have been proven to work (e.g. needle exchange) and for programs that have been proven not to work (e.g. abstinence-only until marriage)--while almost all the dems not only answered the survey but also have come out with comprehensive National Strategies on AIDS (as an aside here, it's about freaking time, considering we have required other nations to do this before we'll fund them for many years!), but that said, I think GMHC and Housing Works did a fantastic job of focusing on what candidates are saying on the issues now, and complementing that with a look at their voting records and a historical treatment of what they used to say.

Anyhow, I found it enlightening and useful. And I have to say I am still leaning toward Obama.

Apparently I like Dennis Kucinich

Pour your sweetness over me ...

Or, you know, don't. Either way, click here to read what vegetarians and vegans have to say about sugar and honey.

Whrrl the night away

Emily's new product got a write-up in USA Today today. So, if my sister-in-law's company is famous, that means that, by extension, I am also famous ... right? Go Emily!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

So, today was one of those rare, beautiful, warm sunny days that make me love fall. *

I took my buddy Oliver and his friend Bob (that's his stroller, fyi) for a long walk around the neighborhood this evening, stopping along the way to pick up leaves and pine cones, look at birds and talk to the dozens of other kids who were out enjoying the gorgeous weather. We also stopped frequently so that Oliver could demonstrate walking backwards up the hills (he would turn to me and say "Up? Walking backwards" as he did it) and pretend to go to sleep (he would lie on the ground and say, "night night"). So cute!

Hanging out with Oliver for a couple of hours here and there is one of my greatest joys each week, and I continue to be amazed by his rapid development. In just the past two months, he has started to repeat everything people say, string words together and recognize colors, numbers and letters. And he is by far the best almost-20-month-old Beyonce dancer I know!

*This photo was taken on my iPhone!

I just wanted to see if I could post from my iPhone.

BABES on TV!

I wonder what kind of gross, porno-seeking traffic I'm going to get with that post title ...

Anyhow, the reason I'm writing is to let all of my adoring fans know that The Seattle Channel aired a 13-minute "Community Story" on the making of BABES' theater project, Positive Dreams, last night, and you can watch it by clicking here. It's a great little segment, and not just because they interviewed me. Yay, BABES!

Happy Anniversary to us!

It's been a year since Graham and I got married* ... and what a year it's been. We bought a house, managed lots of new and crazy, time-intensive projects at our respective jobs, went camping in the San Jan Islands, hosted like 40 people in our new digs, celebrated G's 30th birthday (robot-pirate-monkey-style) traveled all over the country for weddings and camp, etc., and just generally settled in to married life.

Here's to many more wonderful (and we hope much less busy) years together!

*Have a peanut butter & jelly sandwich on us today.

2688 minutes in 21 days

After subtracting for sleep and work, I think that means we spent close to 80% of the last three weeks watching Veronica Mars.

And now it's over.

Forever.

What should I do now?*


--------------------------------------------------
*FYI, given my ridiculously skewed priorities at the moment, I know that "feed starving babies" is a fair and deserved answer. But please , spare me. I'm in mourning.

I haven't been this obsessed since The X-Files

So, Graham and I returned from our 10-day whirlwind vacation (which involved flying Seattle --> Denver --> Tucson --> Dallas --> Rochester --> Chicago --> Seattle) sick sick sick. Like, we were both out of work for an entire week and had to fight over which one of us was going to get out of bed to buy more Kleenex and orange juice sick. Luckily, Graham had the first five episodes of Veronica Mars from Netflix to keep us entertained in between our numerous naps and trips to the doctor.

My childhood friend Tania, who (bless her heart) introduced me to the X-files many years ago, had been urging us to watch the adventures of Neptune High's finest girl detective for a couple of years, but we had just never gotten around to it.

Until two weeks ago, that is. Sick in bed, with nothing better to do, we started watching. We were hooked by the end of the second episode (as often seems to happen when you start a series at the beginning) and proceeded to watch the entire first season over the course of the next week. Then we watched the entire second season last week. Did I mention that we are now almost half way through Season Three? Hell, if it weren't for the fact that my husband just inadvertently blew up our server, erasing all of our photos, documents, movies, music, and VMars eps in the process, that's probably what we would be doing right now.

In case there is any doubt as to the gravity of our VMars obsession:

• We both keep walking around the house singing, "A long time ago, we used to be friends ... Haven't thought of you lately at all," as if it's the most normal thing in the world.
• Also, I had trouble sleeping this past week, which usually only happens when I'm trying to work out some real-world issue in my life. This time, though, I was stressing over what was going to happen to my beloved Wallace after he was caught cheating on his MechE exam, worrying about what was going to happen to my adorable little Weevil if Veronica didn't clear him of the Venetian robbery, and wishing that V and Logan would cut each other some slack and work it out already, so I could sleep happy.
  
• Then, on Thursday, I ran into a colleague in the hallway at work and honestly thought for a minute that she was Veronica. No joke.
  
• Oh, and I also had to fight back tears a few moments ago when I read on a fan site that the show had been canceled. Graham and I only have 12 more episodes to go. Ever.
  

I am fully aware that this level of immersion in a television show is both ridiculous and unhealthy. But I don't care. I just really love the show:

• I love that watching it reminds me of reading Nancy Drew Files as a kid and dreaming of becoming a girl detective some day.
• I love that Veronica is smart, independent, snarky and remarkably flawed ... but still totally down-to-earth and lovable.
• I love the copious pop culture references and no-holds barred social commentary.
• I love that they made us think the entire show revolved around Lilly Kane's murder, but then had Veronica solve it in the final episode of Season One.
  
• I love that, despite it's rocky and at times annoying start, Season Two proved every bit as compelling and obsess-able as Season One.
• I love the theme song (although slightly less so after its "updated for college" version took over in Season Three).
• I love that Veronica has the kind of dad every girl dreams about.
  
• And I really, really love all the supporting characters, especially Wallace, Weevil, Logan, Mac and, of course, Keith.

So, to sum up, I think it's a pretty good show. OKay, I'm done now.

Please don't put me on probation ...

I've been busy since I last posted on August 9th!

Some day I'll actually get around to posting some photos, but for now here are a few verbal highlights to whet your appetite:

• My husband turned 30! We had a perfect surprise party for him at our favorite neighborhood bar, complete with 35 of his favorite people (including one of his closest friends, his mom, and his aunt, uncle and two cousins, all of whom came from out of town) special pirate grog, custom-made "robot pirate monkey" buttons and yummy cupcakes.
• We had 24-straight days of house guests (eight in total) followed by 10 days of travel (we're five days in so far).
  
• The BABES DVD of Positive Dreams ~ Weaving Stories of Our Sisterhood arrived, and we had our first public screening (for all the women who were a part of the show and therefore hadn't seen the show!). Copies are available for $10ea and come highly recommended ... by me.
  
• We got a Wii, and I learned that I actually do like some video games, especially ones that involve launching plungers at aliens impersonating bunnies ...
  
• Melissa and I did the Danskin triathlon (along with 5,120 other women) and, despite a Rochester-like downpour, her aching knees and my two weeks of virus-induced fatigue followed by bizarre low-back pain, we both finished!
  
• Allison and I took Maya on her first-ever camping trip. In addition to inventing the perfect, rain-inspired "tent-house" game, "sock-er ball," my two-and-a-half-year-old niece also hiked three miles in one day!
• Speaking of Maya, she also peed on the potty for the first time ... in the men's room at Red Hook, of course! In keeping with her tradition of doing all of her "firsts" for someone other than her mother, she picked Tio Graham as her chaperone for this particular milestone.
• G and I went to a wedding at a ranch in Tucson. In addition to good friends, we also saw more kinds of cacti than I knew existed, more kinds of insects than I wish I knew existed, a spotted toad and a tarantula. Did I mention it was 100+ degrees the whole time; that we heard coyotes (and a mariachi band); or that we ate the best salsa I've ever had at the oldest continually operated restaurant in the country, El Charro? (Yes, dl004d, I bought you a jar. You just have to come to Seattle to get it ... ;)
• After Tucson we flew to Rochester to visit G's parents and some old friends for a few days. So far we've found a new favorite Indian restaurant, eaten Abbot's chocolate almond custard twice, gotten coffee at Women's Coffee Connection, driven around our old neighborhoods and taken Slurpee and Timoteo on a tour of cool area playgrounds.

On tap for the rest of the week: more visiting with family and friends, lunch at DiBella's, dinner at MacGregor's (not the real one, sniffsniff, but MacGregor's nonetheless), and a jaunt to Allegany State Park for a wedding-type, camp-out celebration this weekend, followed by a trip to the Kents' cabin near Naples.

And four days after we get back? More visitors, of course!

It's good to be back ... :)

The Skinny on Seattle City Council Candidates

The Seattle Human Services Coalition surveyed Seattle City Council and King County Council candidates (in Seattle-based districts) on their positions on ending hunger and homelessness, undoing institutional racism and other human needs/human services. The results of this "2007 Election Education Project" (which was co-sponsored by Solid Ground) are illuminating! You can find the SHSC Voter Guide at http://shscoalition.org/votersguide07.htm .*

*I know Joe Szwaja from his days as a Madison City Council member. Plus, I once went to Costa Rica with his ex-partner and son.

I am a Great Aunt

After a grueling 27-hour labor, my niece Cassie had a C-section to bring baby Jalen Hudson into the world at 11:50pm on Monday, August 6th, 2007. Jalen weighed 7lbs 13oz and was measured at 20.5 inches long. Mom, Dad and Baby are all doing well, and although I haven't met the little one yet, by all unbiased accounts he is a beautiful baby! Welcome to the world, Baby Jalen!

While we're talking birthdays, best wishes go out to my nephew Bon and my friend Susan (both 8/7) and my husband Graham (8/9).

Storm 111, Mercury 101

Last night I watched the best basketball game I have ever seen. Not the best women's game, or the best WNBA game, but the best game, period.

And although I had already seen my beloved Storm beat the very physical Mercury once this season, my hopes were not high for this particular game. Phoenix (18-10) was 1st place in the West, having just won six games in a row, while Seattle had lost three in a row, for a dismal 4th place in the West and 13-15 overall record. The Storm exceeded all our expectations, however, and I'd like to share a few highlights/favorite moments/photos of this record-breaking evening:

• My favorite player, Iziane Castro-Marques, made four of four three-pointers in the first quarter and finished the game with 22 points. Go Izzy!
• The Storm shot 76.2% to end the first quarter with a WNBA record 40 points. The Mercury had only 17.
• The Storm missed more free throws than I've ever seen them miss in all the games I've watched combined, but they still finished 77% for the game.
• Five Storm players (Izzy, Lauren Jackson, Betty Lennox, Sue Bird and Katie Geralds) finished in double digits.
• Every time the announcer shouted "Aussie!Aussie!Aussie!" after an LJ score, instead of the traditional "Oi!Oi!Oi!," the crowd answered "M!V!P!"
• Clarence, B-Money's brother and staunchest sideline supporter, wore all pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Night at the Key Arena.
• The Storm's 61 first-half points and 111 game points set franchise records for points scored in a half and a game, respectively.
• LJ made every one of the six free throws she got after being fouled by girlfriend (and unbelievably intimidating player) Diana Taurasi. Taurasi, who was nice enough to pat LJ on the butt each time she helped her up after knocking her over, only made five of six reciprocally earned free throws.
• Best of all, our friend Jesse, who is hands down the biggest women's basketball fan we know--and a font of inside information, as you can see--did not have an aneurysm despite being unbelievably excited!

Figth for Justice in Louisiana

Dear friend,

I just learned about a case of segregation-era oppression happening today in Jena, Louisiana. I signed onto ColorOfChange.org's campaign for justice in Jena, and wanted to invite you to do the same.

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=1847-189752

Last fall in Jena, the day after two Black high school students sat beneath the "white tree" on their campus, nooses were hung from the tree. When the superintendent dismissed the nooses as a "prank," more Black students sat under the tree in protest. The District Attorney then came to the school accompanied by the town's police and demanded that the students end their protest, telling them, "I can be your best friend or your worst enemy... I can take away your lives with a stroke of my pen."

A series of white-on-black incidents of violence followed, and the DA did nothing. But when a white student was beaten up in a schoolyard fight, the DA responded by charging six black students with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

It's a story that reads like one from the Jim Crow era, when judges, lawyers and all-white juries used the justice system to keep blacks in "their place." But it's happening today. The families of these young men are fighting back, but the story has gotten minimal press. Together, we can make sure their story is told and that the Governor of Louisiana intervenes and provides justice for the Jena 6. It starts now. Please join me:

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=1847-189752

The noose-hanging incident and the DA's visit to the school set the stage for everything that followed. Racial tension escalated over the next couple of months, and on November 30, the main academic building of Jena High School was burned down in an unsolved fire. Later the same weekend, a black student was beaten up by white students at a party. The next day, black students at a convenience store were threatened by a young white man with a shotgun. They wrestled the gun from him and ran away. While no charges were filed against the white man, the students were later arrested for the theft of the gun.

That Monday at school, a white student, who had been a vocal supporter of the students who hung the nooses, taunted the black student who was beaten up at the off-campus party and allegedly called several black students "nigger." After lunch, he was knocked down, punched and kicked by black students. He was taken to the hospital, but was released and was well enough to go to a social event that evening.

Six Black Jena High students, Robert Bailey (17), Theo Shaw (17), Carwin Jones (18), Bryant Purvis (17), Mychal Bell (16) and an unidentified minor, were expelled from school, arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder. The first trial ended last month, and Mychal Bell, who has been in prison since December, was convicted of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery (both felonies) by an all-white jury in a trial where his public defender called no witnesses. During his trial, Mychal's parents were ordered not to speak to the media and the court prohibited protests from taking place near the courtroom or where the judge could see them.

Mychal is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31st, and could go to jail for 22 years. Theo Shaw's trial is next. He will finally make bail this week.

The Jena Six are lucky to have parents and loved ones who are fighting tooth and nail to free them. They have been threatened but they are standing strong. We know that if the families have to go it alone, their sons will be a long time coming home. But if we act now, we can make a difference.

Join me in demanding that Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco get involved to make sure that justice is served for Mychal Bell, and that DA Reed Walters drop the charges against the 5 boys who have not yet gone to trial.

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=1847-189752

Thanks.

Take that, Peter Angelos!

The BABES and their families had a grand old time at Safeco Field last night, as the Mariners beat the Orioles 4-2.

BTW, can anyone tell me who J.J. is and/or why everyone there was so crazy about him?

SKBK visits DCA!

Click on the photo of the Sara(h)s to read (and see) more about my recent visit to Washington, DC. (You'll need a free Snapfish.com login for this album, too.)

"Gap unveils new clothing line: 'For Kids, By Kids' "

If you have TiVo, you should consider downloading TiVoCasts from the ONION. G and I thought the above-mentioned episode, in particular, was priceless. Incredibly distasteful but hilariously funny.

Happy Birthday, Slurpee!

Graham, Brian, Homer and I celebrated with free Squishees from our local Kwik-E-Mart.

High today in Seattle 97 degrees

After having spent just 2 days in the San Juan Islands ...

I'm even more mad at myself for having lived in Washington State two-and-a-half whole years before having gone camping one single time! Click on the photo below to see more pics from our Orcas Island Adventure. (Please note: you will need a free Snapfish.com login to view the photos.)

Happy Summer!

Seattle will be experiencing 16 hours of sunlight today. Yippeee!

Is this normal?

Now that I have a blog, I am constantly viewing the world through the lens of blogability. Like, I'll be walking along, see something of interest and think, "ooh, I should put that on my blog." I rarely remember what it was I wanted to blog about by the time I have a chance to post, mind you, but this processing of my environment and experiences in terms of their potential worthiness for inclusion in my blog happens at least six times a day.

Heart was my first ever rock concert

Which is why I am totally stoked to say that Ann Wilson and I have both worn this sweatshirt.

Ahhh, the sweet smell of success

After countless hours of planning and prep time, nine weeks of workshops, two very long rehearsals, more wood-fired pizza than I could ever have imagined eating and five amazing shows, Positive Dreams is finally done.

I am more tired than I have ever been, but I am also beyond proud of all that the BABES have accomplished through this project. Their courage, energy, honesty, passion and willingness to share their stories for the betterment of our community not only raised hundreds of dollars to support women living with HIV, it also raised the consciousness of the hundreds of good people who were lucky enough to attend.

I'm taking three days off to recover, but starting Thursday I'm taking orders for the DVD. ;)

Yay, BABES!

Positive Dreams opens tonight!

If you haven't bought your tickets for my show yet, there's still time! Read on ...

Positive Dreams is a self-devised performance by the diverse women of BABES that address the fears, hopes, dreams and achievements of women living with HIV through story-telling, music, comedy and dance. The show is the culmination of a 9-week Theater for Development workshop process facilitated by Caroline Brown of Emergence Collaborative.

Central Cinema is a movie-dinner-theater, a full evening out all in one place. Waiters deliver food and beverages right to the tables in the theater, while audience members enjoy movies and local community events such as Positive Dreams.

Performances Times:
Wed, June 6^th-Sat, June 9^th @ 7pm
Sun, June 10^th @ 4pm

Tickets:
$10 Adults / $5 Students & Seniors
Free to BABES members via guest list (call 206.720.5566 for more info)
Purchase tickets at the door or at www.brownpapertickets.com

O-bam-a, O-bam-a, O-bam-a!

Graham and I paid $25 each to hear Barack Obama speak at Qwest Field's WaMu Theater tonight.

After having read the Audacity of Hope a few months back, I was pretty excited to hear him speak. And although I was bummed I couldn't get a better shot of him despite many trys, I thought the rally was worth every penny.

There's no question he's charismatic, but it's more than that. He's substantive. He makes sense. He brings people together. He's articulate. And listening to him tonight, I actually started to believe that, with the right leadership, we might some day be able to fix our country's sullied reputation in the world. For the first time in a very long time, I felt proud to be an American.

Sound Check in 'da House

Many years ago, the Hartford Courant's illustrious Rock Critic interviewed James Taylor from our Rochester, NY, dining room table. On his most recent trip to visit us--this time in Seattle, WA--ED created this blog entry while sitting next to me (and Nicole) on our living room couch.

We're famous!

Have you noticed that I've been impossible to get ahold of these past few weeks?

Here's why...

BABES Network-YWCA Presents:
Positive Dreams – Weaving Stories of Our Sisterhood

SEATTLE, WA – May 16, 2007 - BABES Network-YWCA’s upcoming show Positive Dreams – Weaving Stories of Our Sisterhood is the culmination of a nine-week workshop process in which the women of BABES use story-telling, comedy, music and dance to create a self-devised performance that addresses the fears, hopes, achievements and dreams of women living with HIV.

Performances will take place at Seattle’s Central Cinema Wednesday, June 6^th through Saturday June 9^th at 7 PM and Sunday June 10^th at 4PM. Tickets are $10 for adults/$5 for students and seniors and can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets.

Positive Dreams is BABES’ follow-up project to their highly acclaimed performance of The New Threat to Humanity…The Lack There of! presented at the Live Girls! Theater in Ballard in 2005. Both shows were the product of a Theater for Development workshop process facilitated by Caroline Brown of Providence, RI. Caroline is the co-director of Emergence Collaborative, a theater-based Production Company that uses performance as a communication tool for fostering community and breaking down barriers in our society.

Theater for Development (TfD) is a social development practice that uses performance as a tool to help individuals and groups express themselves to the community with the intent of social advocacy. It is recognized internationally as a strong tool for participatory development with sustainable results, as it offers a practical and theoretical exploration of the ways in which the arts can be used by communities to create powerful social transformations on their own terms.

BABES Network -YWCA is a peer-based program, a sisterhood of women facing HIV together. BABES was started by a diverse group of HIV positive women who came together to share information, experiences and support. Founded on the concept that HIV+ women are uniquely qualified to understand and encourage one another, BABES has been building community among women from all walks of life who are facing HIV and AIDS since 1989. BABES reduces isolation, promotes self-empowerment, enhances quality of life and serves the needs of women facing HIV and their families through peer support, advocacy, education and outreach. Recognizing that the HIV infection rate is growing among women and girls, BABES expanded its mission in 2006 to include outreach and prevention activities through the HOPE Project (HIV/AIDS Outreach & Prevention Education). The HOPE Project trains and coordinates people living with HIV to effectively share their personal stories through media campaigns, speaking engagements and community forums in order to educate the public about AIDS, combat stigma and stop the spread of HIV. 206.720.5566 or 888.292.1912 (toll-free), the_staff@babesnetwork.org.

Central Cinema is a movie-dinner-theater, a full evening out all in one place. Waiters deliver food and beverages right to the tables in the theater, while audience members enjoy movies and local community events such as Positive Dreams. Central Cinema is inspired by the Parkway Theater in Oakland, CA, the Alamo Theater in Austin, TX, and the Olympic Theater in Centralia, WA. Central Cinema is located at 1411 21^st Ave, Seattle, WA 98122, on the corner of 21^st and Union. 206.328.3230, office@central-cinema.com.

Hope you can make it to a show ... or two ... or three!

It's Official!

Last Friday I went to the Court House and changed my name.*

On Saturday I went to the DMV and got my new license.**

Today I went to the Social Security office and updated my name with them, too.

On tap for tomorrow ... faxing all of the above to the bank and sending in my application for a new passport.

Who knew marriage would be so much work?!

*It was a pretty momentous occasion for me--I swore to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God and everything--but in the end the most memorable part of the day was the woman in front of me with six aliases. After the judge explained to her that her criminal record would be attached to the new name ("You do realize this would just be a 7th alias, right?"), she decided against the name change. Oops.

**Notice that my license expires on 2/29/2009. Does that mean I get a birthday 2 years in a row?!

"Happy Birthday to My Best Friend ...

I'm kidding, you're like my 3rd best friend, but they don't sell cards that say that."

That was just one of the many treasures among the Bald Guy greeting cards Graham and I found tonight as we were strolling around the U Village (possibly the yuppiest mall ever in the history of life) looking for Mothers' Day cards and cereal storage containers.

Another priceless one:
"I'm sorry about your break-up ... but to be honest, I always thought he was an asshole, and we all secretly made fun of you for dating him."

Oh! While we're talking about things that I have recently found amusing, have you heard of Knock Knock? Kudos to Emily & Brian for turning us on to the "All Out Of" grocery list. It makes so much more sense, and it's totally revolutionized our grocery shopping!

Speaking of revolutionary grocery shopping, when we moved into our new house (3 blocks from a fabulous Safeway) a few months ago, I bought us a granny cart (at Storables, which is located in the U Village) so we could do all our shopping on foot without having to carry tons of heavy bags. Graham was mortified, right up until I told him that Liz & Christian once used a similar cart to MOVE. Like from one apartment to another. In Brooklyn. I dubbed it a "Liz & Christian cart," and now he's, well, slightly less mortified. He only walks 5 feet behind me now.

I didn't buy a cell phone until 2003 ...

So I guess it's probably not much of a surprise that I waited until 2007 to start a blog. I honestly used to think cell phones were dumb. Then I moved to Washington, DC, and succumbed to peer pressure. These days, we don't even have a home phone line, and I send text messages (complete with occasional emoticons) almost every day.

It was pretty much the same with blogs. I couldn't imagine why anyone would ever want to read about the mundane details of my (or anyone else's, for that matter) daily life. And even more judgmentally, I thought it was the epitome of hubris to think someone might. But through their excellent examples (accompanied by much prodding, many reminders, occasional pleading and a life-changing introduction to Bloglines) friends dl004d, Enchanted Pants, Grand Marnier and Dr. SJB proved to me that blogs really do serve a purpose. Several, actually. So here I am ... jumping on another bandwagon, late in the game.

ANYHOW, I'm not totally sure what I'm going to do with The SKBK Times just yet, but for now here are a few cool things I just learned about that I'd like to share:

• Give your mom a different kind of gift this Mother's Day. In honor of Mother's Day, and mothers around the world, please take a moment to visit the One Campaign and write your congressional representatives and encourage them to support the Global Child Survival Act.
• Read about and consider using Blackle, the Black Google, to save energy while searching.
• Want to send an E-card? Save endangered animals at the same time by visiting Conservation International.

Thanks for showing me the way, guys!