I tend to keep my blog posts fairly lighthearted with the occasional rants about this and that. Too often I really don’t want my thoughts out there for everyone to see. Not my real thoughts. But this post is a bit different, and as much as I hate to say it…brought about by politics.

I know…again.

It started a couple days ago when I received a text message from my sister. She was at an Obama rally in Albuquerque. It took me a moment to realize what it was, but soon I noticed the oh so familiar banners and slogans and realized what it was. I didn’t think much more about it at the time. I don’t really worry about the politics of my family, so long as there is thought behind it, not fear. My phone was on its last bit of battery and I didn’t think I had enough time for a reply–So I figured I would just email her towards the end of the weekend.

The end of the weekend came and I spoke with my mom on the phone. She mentioned my sister going to the rally and subsequently having mentioned it to my grandfather.

Let me back this up by saying I grew up in a small town in Northern New Mexico. Yeah yeah..forget your romantic thoughts of the southwest and the culture and tradition. This is real New Mexico. The New Mexico of Rednecks and Mormons, of regular racism against natives and the good ol’ boy club at its most grotesque. Everyplace has its perk though. And deep down I will always be very proud my roots in that romantic idea of the southwest, at its most tacky. Its art, culture, traditions, rich history…the list goes on. But the list is as selective as my memory will allow.

There I gained an understanding of nature, of family, of religion. None of which I think of the way you might expect. Nature is a harsh thing, a force that cares nothing for you. Family, not only those that are related by blood, but sometimes more importantly those that are there for you in times of need. Those that share common bonds and pains, not only blood. And of course religion, something that was never forced on me, something that seeps into your pores when in the southwest. The fusion of history, nature, family, pain, ritual, and love. That is my religion.

Back to that conversation with my mom, that rally that my sister attended, the response of my grandfather.

Why did she go see that n****r, I censor the word because despite my tendancy to believe a word only carries the meaning we give it, that words still carries too much meaning for me to cope with. More meaning that I want to believe is possible. At first I had the same reaction that my mom had, “oh it is just that generation”, “it’s not his fault”. I would like to accept that excuse…but I know better. I want him to say that word to my face, I want him to say that word to another of his grandsons when he is trying to make something of himself as a young black man in Farmington New Mexico. My heart breaks for him knowing that no matter the acceptance he receives on the surface, that hatred still exists, masked behind that hug when he stops by to say hi to his grandpa. Those things do not go unnoticed…they may be ignored for a long time…but they are and always will be noticed.

That is the story that has me heartbroken at the moment, the other that I faced today meant nothing other than my pity for a cousin who will always be a friend who was suckered a long time ago by a feeling of want and acceptance. I wish him the best, and I wish his sons the best and that they may find their way with him away from the hatred that their mother brings. You are always welcome in my household. To her I say only this, I will question your right to spread hate, to say it is okay for my loved ones and I to have fewer rights than you. i will always question your right to say that anyone is less than you. Despite my tears, and my lack of understanding, so to is my grandfather welcome. I hope that before it is too late he understands what those long held beliefs can cause. Words said here and there in passing can mean more than any action or expressed feeling. Words in passing all too often express the truth. Even if that truth is based in a lack of understanding or miseducation. Words that I myself still think of, age 11 or 12 when my own being was assaulted without real intention. The bearer of such words will not be shared…but are all too often thought of still today.

At the end of the day, regardless of whose rally my sister went to, regardless of her beliefs and where they take her. I am honored to have my sister, my sister who I know has been braver than I ever could in defense of those she loves. My sister who has found her own place in family and religion, I am privileged to consider her family, blood and all…and so proud that she holds so tightly to love and trust. I also am thankful for my parents that blessed us with the understanding and love to allow us our short time here as members of a family…without condition.

Okay…am more than just a tad over politics and wingnuts this season. And I only watch like one TV show so I don’t even understand how the rest of the American Public is even still semi conscious (err or somthing). But I did just see this on YouTube

Betty White Is Fucking AWESOME..I am so gonna shop at 1-800-pet meds again now

Palin truly gives me the willies….forget Canada I am going to Iceland

And here I thought it was something gross, like two girls and a cup gross. Really that manhunt ad was just promoting public mass transit. Whew what a relief! And so very Green–IN A GOOD WAY!

Folks in St Pete have their panties all in a twist over a proposed dog park located on the east side of Kenwood, where the 5th Ave onramp leads to 275.  There is 14 Million dollars in a fund dedicated to parks and recreation that resulted from the sale of St Pete’s interests in Weeki Watchi, as I understand it at least.  That money must be used for parks and rec, so what is the problem with using those funds to create a dog park on a plot of unused land in Historic Kenwood?   It seems the majority of the people I have hear complaining aren’t even aware of the fund or its reasons for existance.  They see that upwards of 200,000 are going to be spent on a park for dogs.

Thats True.

It is also being spent on Beautifying one of the main thoroughfares of the city, currently occupied by weeds and panhandlers. It will put a dog park in the center of town, currently all of the dog parks in the city limits are conveniently located in “affluent” neighborhoods near the water.  Right now if I want to take my dogs to a dog park, we have to load up the car and drive to on of the coastal areas of St Pete where money talks and people have the clout to get parkland without question.  In the case of Kenwood you have an enclave of people who have taken a neighborhood of delapidating homes and gentrified the area, built a community that is known nationwide for its “bungalow-fest” and co-exists with a majority of the city’s homeless and rehabilitation clinics.  There might be tension, but they have pulled together and built their own community when the city would have nothing to do with them.

Back on the subject,  people are in an uproar that the money is being used on a dog park rather than other services in a time of cutbacks and layoffs.  I can agree, but the money is legally bound to parks and recreation and if it is not used for such, it cannot be used.   A dog park on the east side of Kenwood would give the community a place to congregate with their pets,  beautify a main entry point of the city, AND provide usable parkland in the center of the city.  I live in Central Oak Park, west of Kenwood, unlike other parts of the city, we don’t have acres of greenspace,  the Kenwood community actually pulled together to clean up and fix Seminole park themselves, it’s time the city gave a little back, the money is there and it is intended to be used for this very task.  Dog parks are not just parks for dogs, they are parks for the people and family that own dogs that consider them a very integral part of their family and aren’t welcome at other parks where the focus is on children.

—via 23/6

.

.

.

.

.

.

Hard hitting Barracuda Palin got rid of the Old Governors private jet on ebay, well she put in on ebay apparently, now the story is that when it didn’t sell there she sold it…at a loss. Of course that did allow her to do a few things around the house. Such as $50,000 in new carpeting for the Governors mansion, a $10,000 pocket door (it just wouldn’t stay in the track!), $250,000 in new trim work and column bases, and $40,000 in updated fencing.

Source

Fuck polar bears and sex ed mama wants a new rug.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence teamed up this past weekend with the Tampa Bay Leather Men to raise over $1000 for HIV/AIDS Charities around Tampa Bay.  The proceeds are being split up between the Francis House and AIDSWalk St Pete. While it wasn’t packed, the crowd was generous as always and very much appreciated.  Congratulations goes out to The Leather Club and Novice Guard Tommy T Baggin for his first event!

Ha Ha, I find it really funny that Palin used Heart’s “Barracuda” for her theme song. Not only does she have the fabulous Wilson Sisters pissed, but obviously she and her minions didn’t pay much attention to the actual words of the song.

For your enjoyment.

Perhaps it was the PERFECT choice for Ms Palin

Barracuda
(Heart)

So this ain’t the end - I saw you again today
Had to turn my heart away
You smiled like the Sun - kisses for everyone
and tales - it never fails!

You lying so low in the weeds
Bet you gonna ambush me
You’d have me down on my knees
Wouldn’t you, Barracuda?

Back over Time when we were all trying for free
Met up with porpoise and me
No right no wrong you’re selling a Song - a name
whisper game

If the real thing don’t do the trick
You better make up something quick
You gonna burn it out to the wick
aren’t you, Barracuda?

“Sell me sell you” the porpoise said
Dive down deep to save my head
You… I think you got the blues too.

All that night and all the next
Swam without looking back
Made for the western pools -silly fools!

Okay,  in my opinion,  about the only redeeming thing to Ms Palin is that her 17 year old daughter is pregnant. Does that make sense? lol   It doesn’t really matter what I think of her, I won’t be voting for McCain.   And if you look at Palin on the issues,  she is scarier than most…. I can however almost admire her for apparently busting her way to where she is today…but not really.  I would like to thing that she is a strong woman that is being supportive of her daugher unconditionally…but I dread to think of what is going on BEHIND the scenes on the family front.   Best wishes to her daugher, I wonder how differently things would have turned out if Palin didn’t spend most of her time destroying funding for programs for pregnant and at risk youth and maybe focused on a more proactive form of Abstinence Only Sex Ed.