Lesbian rights pioneer Del Martin dies

Wow, I am sad about this woman's passing.

Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon were the absolute founders of this century's gay and lesbian rights movement. I never knew them, but Del's work and life certainly impacted who I am today. She fought for women's rights and more specifically, for lesbian and gay rights. She fought to have SF police stop raiding gay bars, she was the first out lesbian on the Board of Directors at NOW, she founded the first gay political organization, the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, and founded the very first national lesbian social/political organization, Daughters of Bilitis, and started the first national lesbian newsletter, The Ladder. She and her wife Phyllis Lyon were the first couple married in 2004 when Mayor Gavin Newsom empowered the city of San Francisco to start granting marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, and they were again the first gay or lesbian couple married on 6/16/08, after the California Supreme Court ruled that gay and lesbian marriages were legal and must continue.

What an incredibly inspiring pioneer she was. I can't help but think of all the freedoms I've experienced in my life as a lesbian woman, without being incredibly thankful for Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. The frivolous fun I had in college and after, at dozens of gay and lesbian bars around SF and at 16 consecutive gay & lesbian rights parades; the freedoms and equality I've experienced - that every one of my employers since 1996 has offered health benefits to domestic partners (although I had to actively participate as part of a gay/lesbian employee group at that first one to get them to change their policy); that today I can work as an out lesbian, a lesbian mom no less, that I can be out at my kids' school, and lobby their teachers for equal representation; and not least of all, that in the state of California, I can actually get MARRIED.

All of these freedoms I enjoy are due in some part, to the lifelong efforts of Del Martin. Thank you Del Martin, thank you for everything. My my condolences to Phyllis Lyon.

Like the new look?

So I got bored the standard blogger template & wanted something a little more personal. What do you think of the new look?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  The picture of the girls was taken at Lake Tahoe a few weeks ago.  We had a great time there, and definitely plan to go back. 

Today was the first day of First Grade for the girls!  They had a great time, even though only 1 kid from their Kindergarten class was with them.  It's a mixed class of 10 Kindergarteners & nine 1st Graders.  I wasn't thrilled with this initially, but spoke to their teacher from last year & am more comfortable with it now. The K's go home @ 11:40, and then the 9 1st graders have 3 hours of time with the teacher alone.  This teacher has done this mix before, and says she can get a whole day's curriculum covered in just the afternoon with the 1st graders.  I also spoke to a mom who's son was in this setup last year, and she said it was great for her son.  And, I've spoken to at least 10 other parents who either raved about the teacher from personal experience, or said they'd wished their kids had had her as a teacher. 

Also, they put the oldest of the K's in this class, so there aren't any of the 4-going-on--year-olds.  And only 1st graders who can focus, and not be "off task" were selected - so they should be with a good group of kids.  I'm feeling like it will be OK for the girls, and they won't get behind.  The first back to school night for parents is next week.  I'll chat with the teacher about it then too.  

The girls also had soccer practice today too. Boy were they tired tonight. And Sophie didn't eat her sandwich at lunch, so was starved after school.  No chocolate pudding in her lunch box tomorrow, since that's all she ate today! 

We had to fill out a form for the teacher with each kid's likes, dislikes, etc... Under "Food - dislikes:" we put "doesn't really like much of anything" for Sophie, and "none" for Zoe.  I guess that's not entirely true, I can think of 3 things Zoe doesn't really care for: chocolate pudding, bananas (unless they have peanut butter on them), and apple juice.  Sophie, could practically live on the 3 things Zoe won't eat, and be perfectly happy. Add some carrots, apples, chicken nuggets and pancakes, and you've just about got Sophie's diet covered. 

Anyway, I'll post more about school and some more photos tomorrow. In the meantime, here are a few select shots.

More great lego art

Hey, there might a future in this for them.... :-)

http://www.portfolio.com/slideshows/2008/08/Lego-Artist

Star Wars Legos

You've got to think these are cool. Sophie made the lego models after some Star Wars toys she has.

Lego Monsters

Check out these lego monsters! I think my children are genius builders. They used almost every lego in the box. I don't know how many that is - but it seemed like a LOT.

Travels

Hyderabad

I'll be there in the "wet season" where it can rain for days on end.  Average temps are in the mid to high 80's with lots of rain. The forecast for this week says chance of rain or thunderstorms every day this week.  Hmmmm.

My Indian visa application is in the mail. I have an appointment next week for shots and to get malaria pills as a precaution. 

Right now I'm trying to figure out how I can get on a plane with a laptop bag, a purse, and a camera bag. I think that's one too many carry-ons.  I think I have to figure out how to consolidate somehow, cause I am NOT checking my laptop or my cameras.  

Singapore too!

I learned yesterday that I will have a 9 hour layover in Singapore, so will be able to take a cab to the city and take a tour. Very cool.  For $40 I can also get access to a premier business traveler's lounge in the airport, and take a shower.  That will be $40 well spent!

Pretty

Sunday I took the girls with me to get a pedicure, and they both decided they wanted their toes painted too.  Guess whose is whose. 

Twinspeak

I know they are way beyond toddler age, but I resist correcting their speech 'cause it's so darn cute.

Yes Mommy, Mama already put on our sunscream and chopstick.

Is it time to go to the movie vader yet?

Yoda uses a green light saver, but Dark Vater's light saver is red.

I like ice cream, it taste-es good.

Look Mama!  A chickmunk climbing a tree! 

In the meantime, I hope none of their teachers send home nasty notes.

Going to India 9/9- 9/16!

After working for an international company for 2.5 years, the time has finally come for my trip to India.  I'm now managing a team of developers in Hyderabad, so I can't postpone the trip any longer, I have to make some face time there.  I have completely mixed emotions regarding this trip.  I've never been any place so "exotic" or foreign to my western point of view, so that's both exciting and frightening.  And I've been working with my Indian team for so long now too that I'm really interested to see their lifestyle, culture, and working environment first hand.  

Most difficult will be leaving Laura & the girls.  8 days away will be tough on Laura & she's NOT happy about this trip.  (Who could blame her?)  I've told the girls, but they haven't absorbed what 8 days without Mama will be like.  Grandma Nancy will have them over for the weekend, so they're looking forward to that, and to swimming in Grandma's newly refurbished pool.  

There will be more on this later. In prep, I've set up this blog to display Twitter feeds, so I can update anytime, anywhere and let everyone know what I'm up to.  

Oh, and I also put a Rx request with my Dr. for zanex for the flight.... can't go flying without it anymore.