Are we discussing Downton Abbey anywhere? And why is the rest of the internet so stupid?

I'm up at 5 in the morning because, 45 minutes ago, I saw my faux-brother off on his Inaugural adventure.

Not his first adventure, of course, but his 'I'm leaving at 4:30 to get down to the Mall and get a reaaally good place to stand so that I an take excellent pictures and fulfill a dream I've been having for 4 years,' adventure.

Bless him. The idea of standing around for 6 hours before anything even gets started...in 35 degrees...makes me want to...well, go back to bed!

Though, I do admire his stout heart and wish him a grand affair with many interesting strangers and excellent photos. He is a semi-pro, award-winning photog, so I have faith in his ability to make the most of the time.

I had a momentary fantasy of tossing on some clothes and taking Cagney out to walk part way with the faux-bro, but in his innocent wisdom, Cagney went out to pee and ran right back into his crate. "Close the door woman, it's not eyes open time! What's the matter with you bald apes anyway!!?"

Strix, my mentor/adviser professed so much more than what he taught in classes. We were very, very different people, but his worldview is so much a part of mine...these mumbletyyears later...that I sort of can't imagine being me without him.

As much as I feel that I am so different (read that with a little sarcasm) now, he is still at the front of my mind when I think about certain things.

Little phrases of his, factoids and facial expressions, they pop into my aspect more often than I tend to notice on the fly.

I'm glad you had that relationship and I am sorry for your loss of the person, but if you are anything like me...and I think you are...his legacy lives on strongly in you...and the others who loved him so. No teacher of any kind could really ask for more.

Trudy, there's been some chat about it in Natter.

And why is the rest of the internet so stupid?

You have to ask this question after all this time? Please.

I'm working from home today so I can watch all the inaugural events.

Strix, my mentor/adviser professed so much more than what he taught in classes. We were very, very different people, but his worldview is so much a part of mine...these mumbletyyears later...that I sort of can't imagine being me without him.

I'm glad you had that relationship and I am sorry for your loss of the person, but if you are anything like me...and I think you are...his legacy lives on strongly in you...and the others who loved him so. No teacher of any kind could really ask for more.

Oh, bonny, this is so true. Just reading snippets of stories from former students, my friends and faculty makes this clear. And these are only the stories we can allude to on FaceBook!

I will be inundated with memories today, but as I edit, write and read today, my thoughts will be with Bruce. I might be here doing the same thing today -- maybe --but I wouldn't be the same person without him. He was the first out gay man I knew, and my rabid anti-homophobia is due to him in a large part.

Ah, allergies.

I might be here doing the same thing today -- maybe --but I wouldn't be the same person without him.

Amen.

I celebrate the gift that was Bruce.

Incidentally, the first gay man I was conscious of was Mr. Bendosky, my senior Humanities teacher in high school. He was amazing. I would not appreciate art, literature or civility in quite the way I do, were it not for him.

He was a painter. Not a remarkable one, but he loved his art. I remember one painting he brought in as though I was seeing it today.

We butted heads over the value of Jonathan Swift and he taught me how to put forth a discourse that got my point across...rather than being a sullen youth with nothing but emotional ignorance.

In honor of Bruce, I'll do something in memory of both Mr. B and Dr. Brennan today.

eta: As I was out with Cagney, I remembered that Mr. Bendosky's first name was Bruce as well.

ION, MAN, it has turned out to be a radiantly beautiful day today. I took a nap after my faux-bro went down, and woke up to a blindingly beautiful sun.

How nice for all the folks downtown!

I'm filling out the forms for the fertility clinic, and there is also an information packet. The information packet has a whole page on obesity and the evil BMI chart and how difficult successful pregnancy is if you're overweight. So now I'm freaking out that they'll take one look at me and tell me to come back when I have lost a bunch of weight.

sj, Joe told me once that maybe the reason I couldn't get pregnant was because I was "too heavy".

And obviously, that wasn't true. I'm sorry about the obnoxious chart. And I don't think they will tell you to come back - they need clients! They are there to help.

Thanks, Stephanie. It was a tough set of forms to fill out. I feel like there are just so many strikes against me getting pregnant: age, weight, and the spina bifida.

Well, I can say that while I happen to have three children, I felt the pain and struggle of infertility. It just really sucks feeling like there is something wrong with you.

I hope they can find something quick and easy.