Four Words

Yesterday mid-morning while at work I received a text from my husband.

"Will you marry me?"

It was the four word question I had been asked once before not so long ago in a very different time.  We had a wedding in 2006 to celebrate our love and commitment and to blaze our own path in this life- "why can't we get married?"  Today is a new day.  The Defense of Marriage Act, the law barring the federal government form recognizing same-sex marriages legalized by the states, is unconstitutional, the SCOTUS ruled yesterday by a 5-4 vote.

Yesterday started off sweet with all the texts, phone calls, and emails of support and celebration from friends after the world learned DOMA was struck down.  My husband, who was on the east coat working, sent me the "Will you marry me?" text turned me into a teary mess.  Even though our state has a state constitution ban against gay marriage, now that DOMA has been struct down we can fly off and get married in another state!

Texas, I need you to catch up!

Unless you've walked in our shoes it's difficult to comprehend the significance of this moment in time.  We have been sidelined as second-class-citizens our entire life.  For the most part, Ahem...Texas, our second class citizenship vanished yesterday morning.

We are now free to marry the person we love.

Today is a good day.

Today?

Still waiting.  Today is the day?  Do you think the SCOTUS will issue a ruling today?  I'm hoping.

Waiting

According to Towleroad, this is the last week of the 2012-2013 term of SCOTUS.  I'm waiting and hoping that these nine strangers will give me equal rights.  It's odd.  When was the last time nine strangers could make a decision that would significantly change your life?

I like to remain hopeful, which is why I want to end this post with a quote from my dear friend Anni.

"Did you know that this week, the Republican Senator from Alaska came out in favor of gay marriage, which makes the majority of members of the Senate in favor of gay marriage? Just heard it on NPR. Change might be slow, but it's a-comin' my friend."

- Anni

Bloom

In life it's important to stop and smell the (desert) roses.  I love this plant most when it's in full bloom!

QOTD

"Gay marriage: Like it or not, polls go in only one direction"

-L.A. Times

Dads

On the day before Father's Day we celebrated at my brother's house.  His wife cooked her delicious fish tacos and my mother made chocolate ice cream.  It was nice to see my family.

On Father's Day we ate an early lunch at Al Biernat's with my husband's father.

I had to work both Saturday and Sunday, and when I told my team about our Father's Day festivities they were so impressed: "You're lucky that both your father's are so supportive."

I agree.

Trunks

In the June/July issue of Details the experts say men should forget board shorts and opt for trunks.  It also says to avoid loud patterns like flowers and crustaceans.   I only have board shorts with loud flower patterns.

Am I the perfect example of what not to wear?  Yikes!

I want to know...

...is it wrong that sometimes I fantasize about doing something crazy.  Like ordering something really expensive from Tiffany's or Americus Diamond (Ahem...) just to remain unpredictable and edgy?  Is it wrong that I want to keep my husband fearful that I might spend all our money while he's away?

It would be a good story to tell as we aged: remember that time I drained our checking account on diamonds?

Dooley's Dewclaw

Dooley has an infected dewclaw.  She tried to attack my husband when he was investigating her swollen dewclaw.  We took her to the vet and it took the vet and a vet tech to contain our 18 pound bulldog princess.  Luckily the ointment started working within the first couple of days.  She's healing nicely and her attitude is improving!

Baby Girl, you have got to be more careful with your paws!

Agron Hearts Nasir

Best. Day. Ever. It pleases me to a very great extent to have recently learned that television has its first gay action heroes!  I shall be streaming Spartacus War of the Damned to catch up on the love affair between Agron and Nasir.

Dan Feuerriegel, the actor that plays Agron, recently gave the Advocate this wise quote:

Q: What was your reaction when you found out you’d be playing a gay gladiator?

A: It didn’t make any difference to me. I would have played him the exact same way whether he was interested in women or men. His personality wouldn’t change. They just wanted me to make him really fierce and a hardass, but then open up and have a soft, sensual side when he’s alone with the people he loves. His sexuality doesn’t change that as far as I’m aware.
Read the whole interview here.

Amazon Prime

My husband recently signed up for Amazon Prime.  At first I didn't understand how Amazon could maintain their margins if a flat yearly fee covers shipping for the entire year; HOWEVER, now that my husband has Amazon Prime he substitutes trips to the grocery store and Target with Amazon purchases.  Everything from hot madras curry powder to ginger float bubble bath to father's day gifts are arriving in the mail.  Amazon Prime has changed the way my husband shops.

My husband might be a little addicted.

Out of Tune

I'm not happy with the speed at which life is happening right now.  Zoom goes the days, weeks, and months.  The symphony of my life is out of tune.  I love my job, but I don't like the crazy hours.  Crazy hours.  I love that my husband is getting his MBA, but I don't like that we're apart all the time.  All the time.  It's taking a great deal of energy just to work and keep our household on track.  We have a house keeper, yard people, and my firm provides a concierge service for my use.  I still can't get it all accomplished.  Is this my life?  I want to work less and spend more time with my family and friends but my days vanish...

I'm going to blink and 2013 will be over.

I try to focus on the positives.

I have so many positive elements in my life.

My life is just whopper-jawed right now...but I'm holding steady until my husband completes his MBA.

Maybe I need a better conductor? Oh, wait...I AM the conductor of my own life.

Hmm.

Blurred Lines

A song I just discovered and love is Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines.  This might be my 2013 song of the summer.  This morning the husband and I were jamming to this song.  I was dancing before the morning hit double digits; I was dancing before I drank my entire pot of coffee, which means this song has magical powers.

Oh, the "blurred lines" theme of this song reminds me of my youth!

Pizza Night

It was pizza night at our house.  My husband made his cheese, tomato, and red pepper pizza from scratch.  I love his spicy pizza sauce.  We also have recently discovered wilted spinach.  We throw mounds of spinach in a hot skillet with olive oil and garlic, and at the end we throw in fresh tomatoes and salt.  I'm thinking about squeezing a lemon or maybe even adding a splash of chicken stock next time we make the spinach.  It's simple and delicious.

Blooming

My bluebells are blooming in the back yard.  I took this photo to document the moment, I love the color, and then I noticed Trigger made the photo too.

Liberace

First, let's get one thing straight.  Matt Damon is a beautiful, brilliant man, and he can do no wrong.  As you know my one "hall pass" issued from my husband can be used on Matt Damon.  What are the chances that Matt Damon's wife has given him a "hall pass" to use on me?  My fingers are crossed.

We watched HBO's Liberace movie last night.  Overall, it's interesting.  At times it's disturbing.  Liberace's great wealth and fame gave him incredible power in his own world.  He didn't have to deal with consequences.  You cannot be a normal person and live a normal life with normal relationships if you live in a consequences-free zone.

In additional, I found it interesting that in the 1960's, 1970's, and early 1980's  Liberace was considered the top entertainer in Las Vegas.  He was a man with a piano and cool costumes.  I doubt Liberace would be that popular today...the times are completely different, right?

The film's message to the audience is simple: First, addictions (drugs, alcohol, sex) are bad for relationships.  Why do so many people struggle with this concept?  It's very simple.  Second, you must define yourself on your own terms.  Matt Damon's character allowed Liberace to define him completely.  It's an impossible existence.