Jamie's wedding was yesterday. It was a fantastic day.
It was good to get to know some of her other friends from college and Chicago and to see some old faces from high school. The ceremony was simple and lovely and the music was mostly 80s rock - pure Jamie. She was an absolutely exquisite bride. I will try to get some pictures soon.
Besides celebrating Jamie's new beginnings, for me the wedding was also a reunion of sorts.
Alexei, who was, once upon a time, one of the people I was closest to in this world, was there. We hadn't seen each other in a couple years but we have the sort of relationship that we are able to pick up just where we left off and feel intensely connected the moment we get together. It's been like that since we first became friends in 1993. There have been ebbs and flows with respect to how often we see each other or talk, but the connection remains. This was the first time that Alexei met Johan and the first time I met Alexei's daughter Pelagia (Pel-a-GHEE-a).
As we waited for the salad course to be served at dinner, Alexei and I were in the area outside the dining hall watching Johan and Pelagia play. It was intensely emotional for both us to see our little ones together. I suppose something about the passage of time and generations. I felt at once old and intimately connected to my youth in a way I haven't in quite some time.
Jamie and her new husband are now on their way to sunny Lincoln, Nebraska for a honeymoon (their real honeymoon will be in Bali next year), and Johan has spent most of today feverish. A little too much weekend for him, I guess. Or maybe he's feeling emotional about his youth, too.
No strep or ear infections, and the doctor at Urgent Care told Johan to drink lots of fluids including water and popsicles. What part of that do you think he heard? Yep, he sucked down four (4) All Fruit popsicles today. Can you say milking it?
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
8
I can not completely articulate how absolutely full of joy my heart is that a Federal Judge in California overturned Proposition 8 yesterday. Here is the full decision. It is worth reading.
Proposition 8 was the one glum moment of election night 2008. Well, that and Michelle Bachmann getting re-elected.
I was not in Castro or Chelsea or West Hollywood where I understand some raucous celebrating to have occurred, but I have to say that I was pretty moved by the sort of virtual rally and celebration that occurred on Facebook. I seem to have over 300 Facebook friends, which, of course, is no reflection on how many actual friends I have, BUT it was very cool to see so many statuses of people from many walks of life and all over the country celebrating the same victory. And it reaffirmed that I know some of the best people in the world, even if I only stay in touch with some of them via status updates.
Finally, I think it's pretty clear that the next step in this Proposition 8 battle is the 9th Circuit and then the SCOTUS. If SCOTUS upholds the decision from yesterday, it will be a landmark civil rights case and likely recognizable by name similar to Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board of Education, Gideon v. Wainwright, Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah...
Oh. Wait. You haven't heard of Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah? That was the case where SCOTUS overturned a Hialeah ordinance banning animal sacrifice as it infringed upon the religious freedom of practitioners of Santeria. You know, that pesky 1st Amendment and all. I wrote a paper on it in college and another in law school.
I have digressed into SCOTUS rambling. It happens too easily. I haven't even had any wine today. Sometimes I really miss law school.
My point, though, was that the name of the case that overturns Proposition 8 is Perry et al v. Schwarzenegger. This name will go all the way up to SCOTUS and if the esteemed Justices follow the U.S. Constitution, the landmark case legalizing gay marriage throughout the country will be named after Arnold Schwarzenegger.
This is totally awesome.
Proposition 8 was the one glum moment of election night 2008. Well, that and Michelle Bachmann getting re-elected.
I was not in Castro or Chelsea or West Hollywood where I understand some raucous celebrating to have occurred, but I have to say that I was pretty moved by the sort of virtual rally and celebration that occurred on Facebook. I seem to have over 300 Facebook friends, which, of course, is no reflection on how many actual friends I have, BUT it was very cool to see so many statuses of people from many walks of life and all over the country celebrating the same victory. And it reaffirmed that I know some of the best people in the world, even if I only stay in touch with some of them via status updates.
Finally, I think it's pretty clear that the next step in this Proposition 8 battle is the 9th Circuit and then the SCOTUS. If SCOTUS upholds the decision from yesterday, it will be a landmark civil rights case and likely recognizable by name similar to Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board of Education, Gideon v. Wainwright, Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah...
Oh. Wait. You haven't heard of Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah? That was the case where SCOTUS overturned a Hialeah ordinance banning animal sacrifice as it infringed upon the religious freedom of practitioners of Santeria. You know, that pesky 1st Amendment and all. I wrote a paper on it in college and another in law school.
I have digressed into SCOTUS rambling. It happens too easily. I haven't even had any wine today. Sometimes I really miss law school.
My point, though, was that the name of the case that overturns Proposition 8 is Perry et al v. Schwarzenegger. This name will go all the way up to SCOTUS and if the esteemed Justices follow the U.S. Constitution, the landmark case legalizing gay marriage throughout the country will be named after Arnold Schwarzenegger.
This is totally awesome.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Activity
Sometimes I get lazy. For example, I haven't been to yoga in several weeks. Part of it is that I now have a radio show on Tuesday mornings which means I can't do Tuesday class at Blooma, but that's mostly an excuse since I know the basic sun salutations and I have a Yoga Shakti DVD that I can do any day of the week. I hate that I'm not doing it and I am changing the day of my show post Labor Day so I can go back to my Tuesday class. But, in the mean time, this laziness has to stop.
Back in 2003, before I was in law school, I was doing pilates regularly at the Calhoun Beach Club. Then, one day, I showed up to the 6:30 am class and it had been cancelled. It disheartened me so much that I never went back. Yeah, I know, weird.
I've been riding my bike some this summer, but not the long rides I was envisioning, and not as often as I was when I first bought it.
It's kind of a circular problem of tiredness- if I get into a pattern of not working out, then I feel very tired and then I feel very tired so I can't drag my ass out of bed in order to do yoga or bike or walk before work.
Today Johan and I went on a 5 mile, brisk-paced walk. Well, I walked and he sat in his stroller eating oranges and pointing out various animals along the way. I know it's not running a marathon, but I felt awesome all day - while Johan was napping, I read my book and did laundry and organized the house. Tonight I still feel good and am hoping that my long walk is the catalyst to getting back to the mat/bike/paths.
One of my facebook friends (the Mister of my good friend Sarah) had a status update a few weeks ago that is apt and is important for me to remember:
"And to think I almost skipped yoga this morning due to tiredness. That would have been like skipping one's favorite meal due to hunger."
Back in 2003, before I was in law school, I was doing pilates regularly at the Calhoun Beach Club. Then, one day, I showed up to the 6:30 am class and it had been cancelled. It disheartened me so much that I never went back. Yeah, I know, weird.
I've been riding my bike some this summer, but not the long rides I was envisioning, and not as often as I was when I first bought it.
It's kind of a circular problem of tiredness- if I get into a pattern of not working out, then I feel very tired and then I feel very tired so I can't drag my ass out of bed in order to do yoga or bike or walk before work.
Today Johan and I went on a 5 mile, brisk-paced walk. Well, I walked and he sat in his stroller eating oranges and pointing out various animals along the way. I know it's not running a marathon, but I felt awesome all day - while Johan was napping, I read my book and did laundry and organized the house. Tonight I still feel good and am hoping that my long walk is the catalyst to getting back to the mat/bike/paths.
One of my facebook friends (the Mister of my good friend Sarah) had a status update a few weeks ago that is apt and is important for me to remember:
"And to think I almost skipped yoga this morning due to tiredness. That would have been like skipping one's favorite meal due to hunger."
Monday, July 12, 2010
Fiscal Year
Well, Friday at work was just about one of the worst days at work I've had in a long time. No one single thing was disaster, but a bunch of annoying and unpleasant things added up to one bad July 9th.
But fear not.
It was the end of my fiscal year, because, see, on Sunday I had a birthday. So, July 9 was my last day as a 28-year-old lawyer. Today I started anew. A new fiscal year. A new settlement; a new kind of hearing (fighting to get my fees paid after winning the substantive case); and then wine with Brianna.
I don't do New Years resolutions much, but I do feel contemplative at my birthday. I like to think about the year ahead- things to change and ways to grow. Or whatever.
Here's what I've got so far for age 29:
- Stop fidgeting. This include clicking pen tops and unraveling paper clips. Immediately.
- Get regular pedicures. Shallow, you say? Then you haven't seen my feet. This is $40 well spent.
- Do new stuff in my practice. Done! What? On the first day of the fiscal year 29, I already did it! I had an attorney fee hearing which is a Work Comp hearing I'd never done before. So, now for the next 363 days, it's time to try out some more. Go.
- Teach Johan to write his name. (that might be in the 4th quarter of my current fiscal year.)
Let's vamos! Time to seize 29.
But fear not.
It was the end of my fiscal year, because, see, on Sunday I had a birthday. So, July 9 was my last day as a 28-year-old lawyer. Today I started anew. A new fiscal year. A new settlement; a new kind of hearing (fighting to get my fees paid after winning the substantive case); and then wine with Brianna.
I don't do New Years resolutions much, but I do feel contemplative at my birthday. I like to think about the year ahead- things to change and ways to grow. Or whatever.
Here's what I've got so far for age 29:
- Stop fidgeting. This include clicking pen tops and unraveling paper clips. Immediately.
- Get regular pedicures. Shallow, you say? Then you haven't seen my feet. This is $40 well spent.
- Do new stuff in my practice. Done! What? On the first day of the fiscal year 29, I already did it! I had an attorney fee hearing which is a Work Comp hearing I'd never done before. So, now for the next 363 days, it's time to try out some more. Go.
- Teach Johan to write his name. (that might be in the 4th quarter of my current fiscal year.)
Let's vamos! Time to seize 29.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
7 Weekends
1) Carla Emeott's wedding + Jamie's bridal shower.
2) Brianna's cabin in Glenwood, MN. Tubing behind a speed boat? Why, yes, thankyouverymuch!
3) My 29th birthday + Sarah in Minneapolis!
4) 6th Wedding Anniversary + Sylia in Minneapolis!
5) Mille Lacs with Addie, King, + Johan!
6) River boat cruise and mini-vacay in Stillwater for Mom and Roger's 25th Anniversary!
7) Jamie's Wedding!
So...if you want to hang out, how's mid-August?
2) Brianna's cabin in Glenwood, MN. Tubing behind a speed boat? Why, yes, thankyouverymuch!
3) My 29th birthday + Sarah in Minneapolis!
4) 6th Wedding Anniversary + Sylia in Minneapolis!
5) Mille Lacs with Addie, King, + Johan!
6) River boat cruise and mini-vacay in Stillwater for Mom and Roger's 25th Anniversary!
7) Jamie's Wedding!
So...if you want to hang out, how's mid-August?
Sunday, June 20, 2010
It was time...
...for Sarah's dad to be on his way home.
...for me to update the Johan stats.
...for summer to start with a bang featuring Johan running across the lawn with a couple of neighbor kids for 3 hours last night.
...for me to discover Minneapolis' dueling pianos bar. Awesome. Pretty sure I want to celebrate there again very soon.
...for me to discover Great Lakes Brewery.
...for the sun to come back.
...for me to celebrate my husband as father...whatever disagreements he and I have, he sure is a great dad and I do love to watch him with Johan.
...for me to get a Father's Day gift for my dad that I think he is really going to love (I'll let you know tomorrow!)
One last thing-
it WILL be time for me to post some new pictures of Johan. One of these days.
...for me to update the Johan stats.
...for summer to start with a bang featuring Johan running across the lawn with a couple of neighbor kids for 3 hours last night.
...for me to discover Minneapolis' dueling pianos bar. Awesome. Pretty sure I want to celebrate there again very soon.
...for me to discover Great Lakes Brewery.
...for the sun to come back.
...for me to celebrate my husband as father...whatever disagreements he and I have, he sure is a great dad and I do love to watch him with Johan.
...for me to get a Father's Day gift for my dad that I think he is really going to love (I'll let you know tomorrow!)
One last thing-
it WILL be time for me to post some new pictures of Johan. One of these days.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Schoolyard Drama - International Edition
I haven't been blogging and it's mostly because I've felt like everything and anything I would say would be trite in light of my best friend Sarah's dad's situation. If you aren't aware, you can catch up on my facebook page but he is currently imprisoned in Rwanda for words written and spoken in conjunction with representing clients. Rwanda is a police state and there is no love lost between Peter and the current regime.
I have also felt like I haven't wanted to write too much about his situation for a few reasons 1) I don't know enough background on Rwanda and Peter's work to speak with any authority on it; 2) it's not about me and what I would write on my blog would be about me; and 3) I sort of hate Rwanda right now.
It's crazy, really, to hate Rwanda. I guess better said, I hate the government that has so little regard for human rights, free speech, free exchange of ideas, due process, an independent judiciary, the presumption of innocence, and all other sorts of things I like.
And at a very basic level, I hate the Kagame regime because of the way it has caused an upheaval in Sarah's life. I mean, she's my best friend. Remember the intense feelings of loyalty to a friend in elementary school and how that loyalty would become even mroe pronounced when some mean kid started picking on your friend? And remember those primal feelings of anger and detest for the mean kid-even though he wasn't picking on you directly?
Imagine that, but on a greater scale. This time the schoolyard bully is the Kagame regime. And I kind of want to punch his lights out to defend my best friend. (Note to self: this probably counts as a threat to Rwandan national security- do not ever travel to Rwanda so long as current laws still exist.) And this time punching his lights out means cutting off U.S. aid to Rwanda until they start respecting international law and human rights standards.
Zero dollars of U.S. aid to Rwanda? How would that affect Rwandan national security, huh?
I have also felt like I haven't wanted to write too much about his situation for a few reasons 1) I don't know enough background on Rwanda and Peter's work to speak with any authority on it; 2) it's not about me and what I would write on my blog would be about me; and 3) I sort of hate Rwanda right now.
It's crazy, really, to hate Rwanda. I guess better said, I hate the government that has so little regard for human rights, free speech, free exchange of ideas, due process, an independent judiciary, the presumption of innocence, and all other sorts of things I like.
And at a very basic level, I hate the Kagame regime because of the way it has caused an upheaval in Sarah's life. I mean, she's my best friend. Remember the intense feelings of loyalty to a friend in elementary school and how that loyalty would become even mroe pronounced when some mean kid started picking on your friend? And remember those primal feelings of anger and detest for the mean kid-even though he wasn't picking on you directly?
Imagine that, but on a greater scale. This time the schoolyard bully is the Kagame regime. And I kind of want to punch his lights out to defend my best friend. (Note to self: this probably counts as a threat to Rwandan national security- do not ever travel to Rwanda so long as current laws still exist.) And this time punching his lights out means cutting off U.S. aid to Rwanda until they start respecting international law and human rights standards.
Zero dollars of U.S. aid to Rwanda? How would that affect Rwandan national security, huh?
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