My bro and his family are in town for a hockey tournament, so my plans so far include running home and quickly tidying before they arrive, then going out to dinner with them.

Plans for the weekend include doing something with Nate, since Abby has her first sleepover with a friend. (Yay friends-- two other little girls who are as manga mad as she.) And then on Friday, a local friend and I are going to go hang out with a California friend who'll be in town for her sister's nursing school graduation.

We've been promised margaritas. Also, the possibility that her uncle (@shitmydadsays on Twitter) may be making an appearance. We're quite excited.

I'm going to this: [link]

A letter to Sullivan: "So That Means You Love Each Other" Ctd

Three of my nephews live in southern West Virginia in a town with a lot of bigotry, much of it tacitly accepted. I've made a project of taking them out-of-state on my visits and eventually succeeded in bringing the eldest out to San Francisco, where I live, after overcoming the amorphous fears of his parents.

At about age 13 or 14, on his first visit, John told me that he hated gay people and thought they should be put in jail because they are "against the Bible." No amount of discussion between us or even fussing on my part could change his mind.

I live in an apartment building with a shared courtyard and we're a pretty friendly group of tenants who enjoy spending time together. One rare sunny day, John and I went out to the courtyard to play chess in the garden's 'chess corner.' Two couples were already there, Will and Darren, Jade and Janice. I realized my nephew was thrilled to be hanging out with the grown-ups without knowing that most of the grown-ups were gay. I went inside.

About two hours later, he stomped into the apartment and without preamble announced, "Aunt Michelle, I don't hate gay people any more. And did you know that the clitoris is just for pleasure?"

For maximum funny, my story should probably end there but I have to add that John, now 23, is recently back from 13 months in Iraq serving in the U.S. Army. Of course he has gay friends in the Army. Hate in the abstract is easy. Thanks to some caring and generous adults, my nephew got that monkey off his back pretty early and I hope the experience continues to serve him well. I am so proud of him.

Yay lisah!

That's so awesome, tommy.

I'm writing this weekend, and maybe enjoying a little springlike weather. Probably convincing Sara that she doesn't want to see Alice, and maybe taking her to see something else, if there's another movie she'd like.

Great news, lisah!

That's so awesome, tommy.

There are a few more stories like that at the link.

Hate in the abstract is easy.

Ain't that the truth.

Also, the possibility that her uncle (@shitmydadsays on Twitter) may be making an appearance. We're quite excited.

OMG that would be awesome.

PSA of the day: Lady Gaga's music causes brain damage. [link]