Twittering

Raw Food Dachshunds 1

Raw Food Dachshunds 1, originally uploaded by cbording.

I'm not really sure about this photo.

National Day of Protest Against Prop 8

National Day of Protest Against Prop 8, originally uploaded by Timothy State.

We headed to the National Day of Protest Against Proposition 8 at Federal Plaza this afternoon. It was a powerful collection of people. Good times.

All I Want for Christmas

The Oprah Store, originally uploaded by Timothy State.

All I want for Christmas is the moisture-wicking cashmere pajama pants made by Oprah's girls in Africa that she wore one time.

Quote of the Day

Comes from Davenetics:

Going from eight years of Bush to an Obama win means one thing quite clearly. For those who still had any doubt, it’s now official. Evolution is not just a theory.

Agreed

Agreed.

An Open Apology to Boomers

This article that showed up in the Salon today captures exactly how I feel, and my overall world view. It's so on target, I'm jealous I didn't write it.

Living the Obama Rally

        Moments after 10 p.m., when the bell sounded indicating CNN was prepared to call another state, the people fell silent for just a brief instant, like the sliver of white line defining the horizon between the sea and the sky. In one fell swoop, Wolf Blitzer called California, Oregon, and Washington all solidly for Barack Obama, pushing his electoral college vote over the 270 he needed.
        The ground shook as the people exploding into cheers, tears, laughter, high-fives, strangers hugging strangers, and lovers embracing lovers. Thunderous ovation plundered.
        The jumbo-tron flashed to a live shot of Grant Park.
        Oprah was with the people.
        And Reverend Jessie Jackson stood silently somber, a lifetime of work come to fruition, tears running down his face. The people danced around him.
        A fallen war hero, Senetor John McCain appeared on the jumbo-tron.
        “My friends.” He hushed the people into silence as they watched and listened intently. He spoke of his admiration for Barack Obama, and his accomplishment not only as the first African-American to be elected to office, but as a man who persevered through the campaign while inspiring millions who felt they had no stake, or could make no difference.
        “I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.”

        The shadow of nearly eight years of fear, and terror, and war begin to melt away.
        “Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting the next First Family of the United States of America.”
        Michelle and Barack walked across the stage, a bounce in their step. Malia and Sasha ran forward. Their faces--the whole family--beamed of youth, energy, optimism, and hope.
        Obama approached the podium.
        “Change has come to America.”

        When Obama finished speaking, the people retreated back into the city. Spirits high, they yelled in the gullies of high rises, and danced on State Street. A mass of humanity from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all experiences, making its way through the city, high on hope. High on a common vision of optimism.
        The last time we felt that feeling was in 1996 on the streets of Atlanta during the Centennial Olympic Games.
        For a brief moment--an evening--we could feel how living in a diverse world is supposed to feel. Change is opportunity. Opportunity is challenge. Challenge makes us better people. Better people come together. Together, we can do it, yes we can.

More on the Obama Election Night Rally
        Tony’s Obama Rally Photoset
        Tim’s Obama Rally Photoset, Includes a few videos
        Tony’s Twitter Page
        Tim’s Twitter Page
        Chicagoist’s live-blogging report on the Obama Rally with Tim’s contributions
        Chicagoist’s Obama Rally Photo Galley I
        Chicagoist’s Obama Rally Photo Galley II
        Chicagoist’s Obama Rally Photo Galley III

Was that Tony on NBC?
        Yes, we bumped into Kevin Tibbles moments before he went live, and Tony jumped in the background. And the facial hair? Yeah, that’s new, too. Tim was busy snapping photos.

Special Thanks
        Special thanks to Jessica, a.k.a. Little Mary Sunshine, who was able to get us the tickets so that we could tag along as “+1.”

Obamanation

Obamanation, originally uploaded by Timothy State.

Obama pulled it out, and we where there at 10 p.m. when Wolf Blitzer and CNN announced the polls in the west coast had closed, and the results were in, pushing Barack Obama over the 270 electoral votes he needed.

Oprah was there, with the people. Jessie Jackson wept tears. The crowd went wild.

Check out our photos on Flickr.

Follow Us on Twitter at the Grant Park Obama Rally

        Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather Tuesday night in Chicago’s lakefront Grant Park, where Senator Barack Obama will speak from a stage facing the skyline. And we have tickets for the ticketed event in Hutchinson Field.
        We’ll have our cameras and cell phones in hand, and will be “live blogging” via Twitter. You’ll be able to follow-along on our Twitter pages:
        Tony’s Twitter Page
        Tim’s Twitter Page

What is the Barack Obama Rally?
        Check out the Tribune’s Guide to the Rally
        Tribune Photos
        Grant Park Map

What is Twitter?
        Twitter is a service that allows people to stay in touch through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. Registered users of Twitter can “follow” us to have messages pushed to your own Twitter page, or even as a text message on your cell phone. Check out Twitter now.

Vote to Cancel Out Your Neighbor

Why Conservatives Vote for Obama

This is a great video about the logic that conservative voters are putting into their decision on who to vote fore. They're putting country first.

An Important Civics Lesson

The Writing Race has Started

        It’s November 1, which means it’s National Novel Writing Month. I’m off and writing this morning. Bright and early, hoping to pace myself to get to 50,000 words by November 30.
        That’s just under 1,700 words a day. I can do an easy 1,000 with each trip on the train, so if I write in the morning and evening, I should be able to average almost 2,000 a day. Then with a little more focus on weekends or a day or two in the evening, I should be fine.
        Wish me luck! Or better yet, join in!

Running of the Rhinos

Japan conducted a drill of a rhino loose in a zoo. The dramatic interpretation is award-winning.

Nine Hundred & Sixty-Nine Now Available

        Nine Hundred & Sixty-Nine: West Hollywood Stories is now available at Amazon.com. The anthology features Timothy State’s latest story, “Weenie Scaloppini.”

"Whether you live there, vacation there, or are just passing through, West Hollywood and all its gay glamour spring to life in Nine Hundred & Sixty Nine: a smart new collection of literary fiction by a smart bunch of men who know the city well. Established writers join talented newcomers in celebrating the best friends, boyfriends, break-ups, hook-ups, and both the daytime and nighttime drama that define a town like no other."

-Donald Weise, editor, the Fresh Men series

Release 'Patriotism,' Or I'll Hold 'Gay' Hostage

        I’ll give the word ‘gay’ back when right-wing republicans give the word ‘patriotic’ back. This morning, reporter on NPR was speaking with a woman about the differences between Barack Obama and John McCain. She was citing McCain’s past, demonstrating he was more patriotic than Obama--implying serving in the military and being a P.O.W. is more patriotic than leaving private practice to serve in public office.
        But that’s not my understanding of the requirements necessary for one to be patriotic. You know, when I was in elementary school, I received gold stars every quarter for citizenship, so I consider myself a bit of an expert in the area. And growing up, my understanding of what it meant to be patriotic was a little more global than being a P.O.W.
        I was taught that it was people like John McCain who helped to create a world where we could be patriotic without fighting, a world where each of us could demonstrate our patriotism in our unique ways. With roots firmly planted in a small fishing and timber town along the southern coast of Oregon, in my redneck background being patriotic meant, above all, respecting yourself enough to respect the people around you regardless of what they think because we each have a God-given right to think and believe what we think and believe.
        But McCain and the radical platform he panders to have altered the meaning of patriotic. If you disagree, you’re not only un-patriotic, but you’re pro-terrorist. If you question authority, you’re more than disrespectful, you’re unpatriotic. They’ve even pushed so far to suggest that if you live in an urban area, you’re not American. Obama has pointed out there are no states in this union of United States of America that are less American than another state.
        In the redneck backwoods I come from, being patriotic meant that you had the ability to question authority in order to hold it accountable. It meant you were free to speak your mind, as long as it didn’t break the respect-yourself-enough-to-respect-the-people-around-you rule. It meant taking pride in your freedoms, and your ability to demonstrate your pride by saluting the flag, or burning the flag. Marching in a demonstration, or watching a demonstration. Voting for the candidate who already holds the office, or voting for the candidate that you think will represent you in a new and different way.
        So until the McCain cronies get a grip on the true meaning of patriotism, I’m going to demonstrate my terrorist inclination and hold the word ‘gay’ hostage. Not only will it be ‘happy,’ but it’s going to represent a sinful inclination for pink cocktails. It’s going to mean an immoral embrace of both the feminine and masculine. It’s going to represent a sense of style and fashion, combined with a biting humor and wit. It will mean invoking the words of the United States Constitution to point out the injustices that still live in our country. And, I’ll it means I will thoughtlessly worship Dolly Parton.
        Oh, wait, she’s patriotic; I’ll thoughtlessly worship Cher.

Me and Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!

Me, Tony and Maureen McCormick, originally uploaded by Timothy State.

        “Hi, Maureen. It’s nice to meet you.” I extended my hand, and she grabbed it. “I’m Tim.”
        “Well it’s nice to meet you, too, Tim.”
        Maureen McCormick was sitting behind a table at the Borders on Michigan Avenue. She was signing copies of her new Memoir, Here’s the Story, Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice. She had easily signed books already, and while I stood in line, I read through the introduction. She wrote about her struggle with depression, and how it was only exacerbated by the fact that for the majority of her life--certainly all of her adult life--she has had to live in the shadows of the very perky, always perfect Marcia Brady.
        As we inched closer to meeting Maureen, I could hear people.
        “I loved the Brady Bunch so much.”
        “It’s so nice to meet you Marcia.”
        “Marcia was my idol, and it just means so much to finally meet you.”
        The Borders Book Nazis slid my book across the table to Maureen.
        “Congratulations,” I said.
        She closed the book cover, looking up at me.
        “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
        “I think what you have done is so brave.”
        “Oh, well,” she smiled and cocked her head to the side. “Really, thank you so much for saying that. Isn’t that just what life is about? Being brave?”
        She signed my book, “Love, Maureen McCormick.”
        “Is your hand getting tired?” Tony asked.
        “Not yet.”
        She handed the book to me.
        “I’ve been waiting for this day for so long.” Tony and I turned to face the Borders Book Nazi assigned to take pictures. We smiled. The camera flashed.
        Maureen extended her hands to us. We each grabbed one of her hands.
        “Really, it was so nice to meet you.”
        “Thanks, Maureen. Enjoy your evening.”
        The Borders Book Nazis ushered us away.

* * *

        With Maureen’s autograph, I now have the autographs of all the Brady children: Barry Williams, Christopher Knight, Eve Plumb, Micke Lookinland, and Susan Olsen. I also have the autograph of Ann B. Davis, and Brady Bunch Guest Star and Monkee, Davy Jones.
        Davy signed my program in 1994 when the Brady Bunch was turned into a stage performance on national tour as, “The Real Live Brady Bunch.”
        Following the show, I hung out in the lobby, waiting to be the last to ask Davy to sign my program.
        “Who do I sign this to?” he asked.
        “To The President of the Fan Club, Tim.”
        A smile burst onto his face, and he scribbled, “To the President Tim, David Jones”
        My mother gave me the Brady Cook Book written by Ann B. Davis. She stood in line at a book store to get it autographed for me.
        As for all the Brady kids, they appeared at a trading card show in 1995. I paid $10 and was one of the first 1,000 people to get a limited edition lithograph portrait of all the Brady kids. There they were, in a line, oldest to youngest. Maureen, not yet settled with Marcia, was the missing Brady.

* * *

        Had I a few more minutes, I would have explained to Maureen that her character Marcia was an inspiration to me growing up. While most of my peers were in love with Marcia Brady for her prom chair looks, I was in love with Marcia because she always figured out what to do in any situation.
        When I encountered an awkward social situation growing up, all I had to think about was how Marcia Brady might handle it. She’d figure out the right thing--the respectful thing to do.
        And had I ten more minutes with Maureen, I would have explained that’s what an entire generation of children loved about Marcia Brady--that she wasn’t perfect. She made mistakes. She misspoke. She made poor decisions. But after reflection during a commercial break, she figured out how to correct the mistakes, apologize for her wrong words, or make up for her adolescent judgement.
        In that regard, there is a little bit of Marcia Brady in all of us. And Maureen’s new book represents the Marcia inside of Maureen coming to terms with her own imperfections, and placing the Brady Bunch in the spot it belongs in her life.
        It’s courageous. Marcia would be proud.

Me with Maureen McCormick's New Book, originally uploaded by Timothy State.

Go-Go Dragzilla

Go-Go Dragzilla, originally uploaded by Timothy State.

Last weekend, we spent an evening in Oak Park at Go-Go Dragzilla, a fundraiser for PFLAG. I snapped over 500 shots of the show, and finally have filtered it down to the best 50. They're posted on my Flickr account. Check it out. In the mean time, here are three of the best shots.

Go-Go Dragzilla, originally uploaded by Timothy State.

Cookie Crumbles, originally uploaded by Timothy State.