A Weekend (Afternoon) In the Country

How delightfully droll ...

We headed out to Snohomish (home of the Sno Hos!) to our friends Jeannie and Kevin's house for a belated Easter brunch. They were the ones who sent us flowers when we registered for our domestic partnership with the State of Washington - how cool are they!

We haven't been very social lately, so it was nice to see some friends. Our other buddies Luz and Boyd were there too, and we got to spend some time with Jeannie and Kevin's two-year-old son Griffin and 11-week-old daughter Janelle.

Scott's GPS telling us where to go ...

Matterdays driving the ScooterMobile (a.k.a. Jeepie) in the rain/sleet/snow ...

Proud Papa Kevin with Da Baby ...

What a beautiful face:

The snow was beautiful up here:

Jeannie's Wonder Woman shrine - I covet this:

Scott happy about dinner (I LOVE their dining room):

Mom Jeannie holding happy Griffin, and Dad Kevin looking on:

Janelle's turn:

No Easter celebration is complete without a visit from The Easter Scooter:

Griffin showing off his animal linguistics:

A fun afternoon. I needed this.

Blah. Blah, Blah, Blah.

I'm cranky. I've been working 60 hour weeks - which many of you may be used to, but not me. Yesterday I ended up taking two naps because I'm absolutely exhausted - and then working for a few hours later in the day. Blah. The biggest part of my contribution to our fiscal year-end at work is done, so I'm hoping to ease back into a regular schedule and some semblance of a life.

I feel like I'm behind on everything that doesn't have to do with work (well, that too). I owe Chris a meme post (it was harder than I thought!). Scott keeps trying to add new things to his collection of iPod accessories, thinking I won't notice in my foggy state of mind. The house isn't very clean ... I think the piles of clothes in the Pink Room (I'll explain that some other time) are supposed to be washed. Our kids only vaguely remember me as someone related to feeding them. I hate feeling this way, that there are so many things I'm not getting done. It overwhelms me - and then I don't get ANYTHING done.

This afternoon we're heading up to our friends' house in Snohomish for a belated "Easter" brunch. I need to force myself to get some laundry and cleaning done before then. I'll post some pictures later; I'm hoping getting together with some friends will help energize me.

Easter Weekend

Scott is taking a few days off ... he came home from the store yesterday afternoon with these roses for me. I needed this. Everyone should have a Scott Equivalent - I highly recommend one.

The roses have a really cool marbling to them:

He also brought a few bunches of daffodils, which started opening pretty soon once they were inside. We're kinda like crack whores when it comes to anything blooming in the spring - we'd shove dandelions in a vase if we had to:

I started cooking the three dozen eggs that Scott brought:

Meanwhile, Scott went out in the yard to play, and to cut the grass with the push mower. He told me he's scared of the electric mower.

Scott bought a plethora of egg-coloring kits ... it was a little overwhelming:

Decorating eggs is harder work than we thought:

The finished products drying:

Have a great Easter, y'all.

Happy Easter

Where the Hell is Matterdays?

I'm still alive. We're going through our fiscal year-end at work. I've been spending a few hours at the office. Almost 15 hours yesterday. (Yes, I most certainly AM asking for sympathy ... humor me, please).

I feel like I'm living, eating and sleeping with my job lately. So, I thought this was funny:

An accountant is having a hard time sleeping and goes to see his doctor. "Doctor, I just can't get to sleep at night."

"Have you tried counting sheep?"

"That's the problem - I make a mistake and then spend three hours trying to find it."

I'll post something soon. Don't forget I'm here ...

March 12 of 12

Time again for the Chad Darnell 12 of 12 phenomenon!

These picture were all taken on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 in Seattle, Washington.

On my way to work, driving through Capitol Hill. Notice the huge crack in the windshield (lower left, across the left lane)? I had a chip that started cracking the glass when it got incredibly cold and snowy/icy. Now I have to come up with the money to replace the windshield. Grrrrr ...

Crossing I-5. The guard rail is blurry, but the large grey horizontal building smack-dab in the center is where I work. The little windowed tower to the right is Seattle's main REI store.

Paying at the parking kiosk. For some silly reason, they take credit/debit cards ... and coins. No bills. And some of them never work, so I have to walk around finding one to give me a parking sticker. Grumble ...

Did I mention that someone keyed Joe Jetta a couple weeks ago? On a Saturday night, parked in front of my house. Sometimes I hate our neighborhood. I know it's vain to get pissed off about someone damaging your car, but really - it's the whole idea that someone has no respect for anyone else or their stuff. Another grumble ...

A couple of blocks from work, looking over at Capitol Hill ...

The tall building in the center is Two Union Square, a landmark of the Seattle skyline which my firm designed ...

Miraculously, I only had 23 e-mails when I got to work this morning. I think I answered three.

Our administrative departments just moved to this new area of our building last weekend. It's really bright up here. I'm not complaining.

Proof that I really do work here. Notice my right hand on my adding machine. Notice that it's not plugged in. (Still some electrical work to be finished, and not enough outlets ... I was practicing my acting brilliance).

Leaving work - cherry trees blooming ...

Looking towards the Space Needle ...

This fast food place is about two blocks from my house. Sadly, about a month ago someone walked in and opened fire, killing the owner and wounding a couple other people. There was a huge pile of flowers and "Say No To Guns" posters in the windows that have all since been removed. I don't know if it will open again.

Let's make up for the depressing post this month ... daffodils are blooming!! Somehow, things always return to a good part of the cycle! Take a look at this face:

Happy 12 of 12 to everyone!

Pretty Pictures

Some more pictures from our Sunday gardening excursion with my new toy:

Forsythia cuttings in the living room:

Some bulbs and seeds we got at the garden show:

Our Japanese quince getting ready to bloom:

Spirea - I love the color of the new leaves ... beautiful in the fall, too:

Mexican Orange, artemesia (the grey plant), and red-twigged dogwood:

Some helebores (Lenten Rose):

Matterdays is a dirty boy:

Kali the Amazingly Large and Resilient Puppy Wants To Lick You.

It was a beautiful late-winter Sunday afternoon ... Scott and I were planting some late bulbs and scattering flower seeds in the garden ... the dogs were ecstatic to have us in their yard ...

I decided to take a short video of our koi pond and the tiny waterfall. Quiet, serene, peaceful.

Kali, however, wanted to say hi:

How can anyone not love dogs???

My New Toy

I'm not a gadget guy ... but a while ago, I decided I needed (wanted) a new camera. FINALLY, I picked one out by the price and user reviews, and bought myself a shiny new digital camera today. (Andrew knows that I'm distracted by shiny objects ... ).

My old, hand-me-down Sony Mavica:

My new, sleek, metallic blue Canon SD1100 IS:

Remember when we got Kali, about 20 months ago? This was her first day at her new home:

In the same spot of the yard, today:

I tried a video, but I'm having problems finding a way to upload it (YouTube is f*cked tonight). I'l try later.

Don't tell me homophobia and anti-gay hate doesn't exist. Just don't.

I'm sorry, Michael.

Fly the Friendly Skies. Just Don't Try to Land.

Matterdays isn't big on flying. I used to love it, when I was younger. And I'm okay if I'm flying with someone, especially my Scott. But get me alone on a plane, and all I can think of is the fact that I'm strapped in a pressurized aluminum tube, being shot through the air six miles above the earth with no viable exit - and having to pay for the experience. I'm usually okay with takeoffs, but landings can be a little nervous.

THIS did not make me feel any better:

Am I preaching too much to the choir?

Following yesterday's post, a comment/e-mail exchange with my good blog friend Paul:


Paul:

Yes, the message needs -- and must be -- changed.

"Being gay" has been been the butt of jokes, an expression of ridicule, and a "simple" derogatory phrase on TV and in the movies for years. As long as I can remember.

Until recently -- within the past couple of years -- it never really bothered me. I just accepted it. And I probably laughed right along with everybody else. Now however, every time I hear it I think, "They didn't really have to say that. Surely the copywriters could have thought of something else."

My favorite TV show is Two and a Half Men. I find every episode intensely funny. Unfortunately, Jake, the 14-year old, has a habit of expressing himself saying "that's gay." And I cringe every time I hear him say it. "Being gay" is obviously negative to Jake, even if he isn't referencing anything sexually. (And, yes, sometimes he is.)

But, Matt, what do we do about it? Talking to the choir doesn't help at all. It doesn't really help if your straight friends/associates don't say "gay things" around you in an attempt to be sensitive to you. They must not say it at all. Anywhere. And, believe it.

I commend Ellen for her monologue. But she needs to go on David Letterman and/or Jay Leno and make the same speech. Perhaps she could change THEIR monologues.

Ellen, and Rosie, and a few others, have a lot of influence in Hollywood and New York. I hope they use it.

I'd like to hear Chad Darnell's perspective on this. Do writers cater to their own beliefs, or the popular opinion of potential viewers? Would a show really lose ratings if derogatory "gay" comments were deleted? (Maybe you should forward my comment to him.)

OK, I'm over it.


Paul, two hours later:


So, I’ve been thinking about your post for a few hours.

Maybe talking to the choir isn’t such a bad idea.

While I can’t change what others do, I do need to change what I do.

I frequently say, “he’s too gay,” referring to a current HGTV host that I don’t like to watch. And, “he’s just too fuckin’ gay,” referring to a cross-dresser that hangs out frequently at one of the same places I sometimes hang out.

The reality is that I’m very judgmental. It’s not just “too gay.” But “too fat.” “Too ugly.” “Too stupid.” “Too tall.” “Too short.” “Too weird.” …

I’m not sure if it’s hatred, but it’s definitely not right.

Nobody should be a second-class citizen.



(Am I in the choir?)



Matt:

Paul,

You hit the nail on the head. Anytime anyone says “(S)he’s too _______ “, it’s a judgment, it’s putting someone down, it’s making someone less than who we are, and it’s definitely not right.

Not that I’m above it all. But recognizing that we do it is at least a step.

Yes, I’m preaching to the choir. For the most part. But I’m also preaching to anyone who stumbles across my blog. And I hope that just one person who comes there accidentally will read and think something they haven’t thought of previously.

I had someone in South Carolina, who I’ve never heard of, invite me to be a Facebook friend. Simply because we have the same last name. It’s an uncommon name. But I accepted his invitation, in part because maybe he’ll find himself exposed to something that he would never have previously been exposed to. Maybe, hopefully, something I write or at least post will have a positive influence on someone. If that happens with one person, I feel grateful, I feel like I’ve done something good.

Yes, Paul, you’re in The Choir. But thank you for bringing up an important point. We all, every day, should think about the messages we’re sending, and to whom. We can change the world … but it starts with us. We should all change what we say and do to match what we truly, deeply believe.

I’m starting right now. You?

Matt

I Am Not A Second Class Citizen.

I had read about Ellen Degeneres' emotional speech the other day at the beginning of her show, about the hate-crime murder of a 15-year-old California boy, but I just watched it today. Beautiful.

For those opposed to profanity, stop here.

What is so fucking difficult to grasp about this whole concept?? Why do so many people think that the fact that some people are born gay - and yes, that's how it works, kids - means that they are meant to be objects of jokes, ridicule, tauntings, abuse, and murder? That they are second class citizens? That they - WE - aren't people, but something akin to insects that should be brushed aside, tortured for someone's amusement, then forgotten? That the idea that someone being attracted to a member of the same sex - physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually - is so worthy of contempt and disgust that ending their life is a logical conclusion?

If any of y'all just don't get it yet - and I know I'm preaching to the choir - here it is.

Simple. Anyone with a few working brain cells should be able to grasp it: