The Buck and Mike Blog

December 10, International Human Rights Day, has been designated Day Without a Gay.

Some same-sex marriage supporters are urging people to “call in gay” (as opposed to “call in sick”) Wednesday to show how much the country relies on gays and lesbians. Modeled after similar work stoppages by Latino immigrants in the past, participants are encouraged to spend the day performing volunteer work and refrain from spending money. The idea is to counteract recent hatred by showing love instead.

Not just gay people are calling in. Many straight same-sex marriage supportes are doing so. We have some friends and relatives who are joining the action.

In 30 states, you can be fired simply for being gay or lesbian. Calling in gay would not be a great idea. Organizers of the action point out that there are still plenty of ways that you can lend a hand and a voice in our fight for gay equality—without missing work. Here are some ways.

Other activists question the wisdom of Day Without a Gay, given the current economic situation in the country. “It’s extra-challenging for people to think about taking off work as a form of protest, given that we are talking about people who may not be out (as gay) at work, and given the current economic situation and job market,” said Jules Graves, coordinator of the Colorado Queer Straight Alliance. “There is really not any assurance employers would appreciate it for what it is.” Nevertheless, his group is collecting food and non-perishable items to donate to local charity organizations.

Whichever side of the fence you are one, in my opinion it’s never a bad idea to be open about who you are and what you contribute to society. Whether it’s your contributions at work, in the marketplace, or volunteering in the community, gay people are just like everyone else. We participate, produce, consume, pay taxes, and help take care of society. Perhaps Day Without a Gay reminds a few more people of that fact. If so, it’s worth the effort.

Human Rights Day, gay, Day Without a Gay, Colorado Queer Straight Alliance

December 8th is our good friend Dawn Brandvold’s 50th birthday and I was thinking about her this weekend as I worked on my latest project exercising our 3Rs ethic (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).

When we moved into our house there was a filthy, beat up old table in the basement. I made a couple of extra leaves so that I could extend it, carefully drilling, glueing, and adding pegs. At first, the Neurotic Perfectionist in me wanted to strip off the old finish, fill the scores of holes, repair the burn marks, and fix the worn edges. The top, especially was a mess, as you can see in the top picture.

I plan to cut fabric on the table, so the top and edges have to be very smooth. As I started to sand, I got to see the marks up close. Rather than viewing them as flaws, I saw them as marks of character. My favorite was a long drip of bright red fingernail polish. (If you click the picture, you can see the nail polish.) I’m sure there was a great story behind it. Why on Earth would I want to take away the character of this classic old piece? So I changed course. As soon as the top was smooth enough to cut the risk of snagging fabrics, I put a coat of rich stain and finish. After it dried, I added another coat, then a third. I finished with three coats of polyurethane. Finally, after four days of work and waiting for drying finishes, it’s done! As you can see in the bottom photo, it retains it character and is absolutely beautiful.

So here is where Dawn’s 50th birthday comes in. No, she is not beaten up around the edges, or covered with burn marks and oil stains. She has weathered her years quite well, as a matter of fact. But when I think back on the 25+ years we have been friends, I am warmed by some wonderful memories. In an attempt to guard her reputation, I won’t share any details. Each experience we have makes its mark on us, and as we revisit the memory later it takes on added warmth and the rich patina that only comes with age and life experience. We have been through good times and tough times. Our families vacationed together. We reinforced each other’s progressive social politics, lamented the rise of the Neocons and social conservatives, and then cheered their recent fall as the country begins a new era of hope. We watched our perfect children grow up to be extraordinary adults. We moved to different states, but always kept in close contact. She is another sister to me, one who will always be there no matter what.

So with every project that gets born on my new old table, with its extraordinary character, I’ll think of the many people who have made their marks on my life and helped me grow. The red fingernail polish, the mark that stands out the most, is for Dawn.

Good friend and Seattle artist Marjorie Masel recently brought to my attention the work of sculptor Jennifer Maestre. Inspired at first by the beauty and danger of sea urchins, her work has since branched out to include other natural and mythological forms. She cuts, drills, and sews together hundreds of colored pencils as if they were beads into fantastical shapes. The pieces draw the viewer in for a closer look, but the sharp pencils remind us that sometimes there is danger in beautiful things.

Click the images to view larger photos and be sure to visit her web site for titles and other details on the pieces: www.jennifermaestre.com.

Marjorie Masel, Jennifer Maestre

Today marks the official end of National Adoption Month, as designated by President Bush, and November 15 was National Adoption Day, so this post is late. But it’s never too late to consider the alternative of adoption.

So many successful people in our history were adopted. Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs.

One adoptee was Wendy’s restaurant founder Dave Thomas. To show the importance of adoption, he created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The Foundation’s web site has great materials for those considering adoption.

» Read the rest of this entry »

About 25 miles east of our house, along the Columbia River Gorge, lies Multnomah Falls, the second-highest year-round waterfall in the country. Its water falls 620 feet, with an upper and a lower fall. In 1914, Simon Benson, a prominent businessman and owner of the falls at that time, erected the bridge you see in the picture. Crafted by Italian stone masons, it crosses the falls between its lower and upper cataracts and provides an impressive view of the upper falls. If you see the movie Twilight, you will see the falls and other areas around where we live.

Our friend David Bruce, a businessman from Washington, DC, was in Seattle for a conference and drove down to visit us over the weekend. It was really great to see someone from Washington, DC. He serves on the board of directors for the Skopelos Foundation for the Arts in Skopelos, Greece. We are always looking for a good excuse for an adventure and David made for a good excuse. The hike to the bridge is an easy .3 miles and, as we discovered, a very scenic way to get wet.

As we move into our first autumn in Portland, we are in awe of the natural beauty of our new area. The fall colors and the abundance of bright green moss, which softens the hard edges of the old stone walls and walkways, provide a striking contrast in color and texture. Unlike most places I have lived, the city and environs are covered with very old pine and cedar trees. Because they keep their leaves all year, the city is always green. As the leaves from the other trees drop, the light rains begin their annual months-long drizzle. The rain isn’t hard enough for an umbrella. It’s sweater and hoodie weather, but not cold by any means. We still have roses blooming and a few tomatoes remain on the vines. I normally find autumn to be depressingly gray, but this year it seems rich and layered. I think we’ll survive!

Thanks, David, for visiting and allowing us to show you our city and its environs and to enjoy it again. (Click the photos to see larger versions.)

Multnomah Falls, Portland