Beth and me

Beth and me, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Beth

Beth, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Johnny's home in portland

Johnny's home in portland, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Breakfast in portland

Breakfast in portland, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

Hawthorne district
--Reese

Portland 2

Portland 2, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

Table cake 2

Table cake 2, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Table cake

Table cake, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Ellen and Eric

Ellen and Eric, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Ellen's wedding

Ellen's wedding, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Oh those oregonians

Oh those oregonians, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

Ice rink in the mall

Portland

Portland, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Childrens do learn

Legowall with baby isabella and her mom

Legowall with baby isabella and her mom, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

At zeum!
--Reese

Legowall

Legowall, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Lego wall with baby isabella, her mom and grandma

Lego wall with baby isabella, her mom and grandma, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Merry go round

Merry go round, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

With baby isabella
--Reese

Merry go round

Merry go round, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

what 37 looks like

Dinner

Dinner, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

here's the video of the san diego mayor talking about his new position in favor of marriage equality. very moving...

one of the most heartening things to read lately:

from an email today by the san diego republican mayor and former police chief:

Earlier this afternoon, I announced that I will sign the resolution that the City Council passed yesterday directing the City Attorney to file a brief in support of gay marriage. My plan, as has been reported publicly, was to veto that resolution, so I feel like I owe all San Diegans an explanation for this change of heart. During the campaign two years ago, I announced that I did not support gay marriage and instead supported civil unions and domestic partnerships. I have personally wrestled with that position ever since. My opinion on this issue has evolved significantly - as I think have the opinions of millions of Americans from all walks of life. In order to be consistent with the position I took during the mayoral election, I intended to veto the Council resolution. As late as yesterday afternoon, that was my position.

The arrival of the resolution - to sign or veto -- in my office late last night forced me to reflect and search my soul for the right thing to do. I have decided to lead with my heart - to do what I think is right - and to take a stand on behalf of equality and social justice. The right thing for me to do is to sign this resolution.

For three decades, I have worked to bring enlightenment, justice and equality to all parts of our community. As I reflected on the choices that I had before me last night, I just could not bring myself to tell an entire group of people in our community that they were less important, less worthy and less deserving of the rights and responsibilities of marriage -- than anyone else -- simply because of their sexual orientation. A decision to veto this resolution would have been inconsistent with the values I have embraced over the past 30 years.

I do believe that times have changed. And with changing time, and new life experiences, come different opinions. I think that's natural, and certainly it is true in my case. Two years ago, I believed that civil unions were a fair alternative. Those beliefs, in my case, have since changed.

The concept of a "separate but equal" institution is not something that I can support.

I acknowledge that not all members of our community will agree or perhaps even understand my decision today. All I can offer them is that I am trying to do what I believe is right.

I have close family members and friends who are members of the gay and lesbian community. These folks include my daughter Lisa and her partner, as well as members of my personal staff. I want for them the same thing that we all want for our loved ones -- for each of them to find a mate whom they love deeply and who loves them back; someone with whom they can grow old together and share life's wondrous adventures. And I want their relationships to be protected equally under the law. In the end, I could not look any of them in the face and tell them that their relationships - their very lives - were any less meaningful than the marriage that I share with my wife Rana.

Thank you.

now if only arnold would see the light on this issue too and sign my boss' AB 43, the marriage equality legislation, which has been passed twice now. don't veto it again arnold!

iCan

i love Apple. absolutely love them. and my new computer.

first of all, i never realized how much i get out of having an Apple computer. things i never considered. things i simply didn't understand. and i feel like i'm only using 2% of the computer's brain as it is, since i really don't know much about it. but it just feels like a piece of my life now, rather than just some instrument like my old PC's. everything in my life can be on here.

i no longer need my dvd player. i play my dvd's on my computer and it's so much better and easier to use. and everything is so simple!

today, i had to go down to the Apple store to ask a few questions about my laptop and my computer. i signed up online this morning for a time to speak with them. i went in, sat in on a class about iTunes and iPods, learned a ton of cool things i didn't realize before and which is totally awesome, and then had my time with the staff who helped me with my questions and problems without any trouble at all. and they somehow made me feel smart about it all.

when i think about how much i struggled with the PC over the years, it's almost like, well, they wanted me to struggle and not get it. Apple wants me to be happy and comfortable and helps me with everything along the way.

it's a whole new world people!
as always, i wouldn't be here with my dear friend Jessie's tremendous help in figuring out my computer life needs. but after today's amazing trip to the store where i actually felt accepted and wanted and given free assistance, i almost felt like i could do anything. i am an Appleboy now.

I like the new muni buses

I like the new muni buses, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

I like the news muni buses

I like the news muni buses, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

saturday lunch in the castro

saturday lunch in the castro, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

Beautiful day in the neighborhood
--Reese

walter visiting over labor day

and here he took to some fun pictures of me while he was here:

Tun

Tun, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Extras

Extras, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

peaces

peaces, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Polk St. Station's no more

Polk St. Station's no more, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

Bye Eva
--Reese

Polk St Station's no more

Polk St Station's no more, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Polk St. Station's no more

Polk St. Station's no more, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

28th floor

28th floor, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Historic silver shovel from 1915

Historic silver shovel from 1915, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Historic shovel

Historic shovel, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

In the dirt

In the dirt, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Palace of fine arts restoration event

Palace of fine arts restoration event, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

IMG00364.JPG

IMG00364.JPG, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Palace of fine arts groundbreaking shovels

Palace of fine arts groundbreaking shovels, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

For restoration
--Reese

Palace of fine arts

Palace of fine arts, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

new newsletter is up

Walter at chachacha

Walter at chachacha, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Chachacha

Chachacha, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Hippity2

Hippity2, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Hippity

Hippity, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Walter in the city

Walter in the city, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

new column:

"The Blinds Leading the Blind"

I've written before about how I'm not very good with technology and gadgetry. It's still true. There's this space in my brain that's missing that element of ability or knowledge. I usually start out with some thought that, 'yes, I can do this!' and then I begin to utilize this area of my brain and there's some misdirection with the nodules and impulses and such and all I get out of my brain is 'that does not compute.' And honestly, I go blind. I cannot see instructions or logic any longer. Everything is blurry and mixed up in my head.

So this last month my dear friend helped me put together my new computer and switch over all the files from my old one to the new. If I didn't have him to help me with these things I swear I would be still writing on typewriters--and even then worrying about the time when the tape runs out.

But more to the point of this column, I had another episode which emphasized my inabilities. I bought new blinds for my home windows. And of course I started out very excited and fully functional in the theory of putting those up on the windows myself. I mean, they came with instructions, I had the tools, even a drill--thank you Father!--and I had the will.

But then came the actual time when I was standing on the window sill and putting the brackets in place for the new blinds, and, suddenly, my mind went blank. 'does not compute' 'does not compute' cannot function anymore, can't see anything in front of me, must sleep... bleh.

So there I was holding a bracket in one hand, laying my head on the other, and falling into a deep sleep on my bed while my window stayed blind-less. My window was as open as that space in my brain that doesn't compute. I was vulnerable and without knowledge. I was back in my state of dysfunction.

So, what to do? Well, while I wished my father was visiting town right now and while I wished my mom would make me some toast and while I kept remembering that, gosh, geez, I'm an adult and I can take care of myself, I just laid there helplessly. Well, luckily I have friends. Friends who will help. And so a dear friend came over one day recently, took out my tools, and put my blinds up while I 'helped.' Yeah, I know, kinda pathetic. Very pathetic. It's these little things that remind me of my loser-aptitudes.

But then, where would any of us be without our friends and family? There has always been sometime in our lives where we've depended on another. And those of us in the LGBT community in particular have looked to friends who would be there if and when are family or so-called 'friends' turned away from us when we revealed a fuller life to them about ourselves.

I do need to get stronger about these types of mechanical and manual activities. I really do. And I plan to. Right after I finish this column. I swear. But regardless, we are all in this life together and it's good to know that I have a friend or two I can find to help when the chips, or in this case the blinds, are down.

Walter the tourist

Walter the tourist, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Walter the tourist

Walter the tourist, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Me!

Me!, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

Walter!

Walter!, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese

MoAD

MoAD, originally uploaded by Reeses World.

--Reese