Productivity

No one on my team is here yet. Neither of my managers is here. This is totally the Friday before a three-day weekend.

Got my car into the dealership. The initial estimate is about $300 but I know that will go up. If it were just upkeep I'd prolly have it back before noon but there's two pending recalls to look at. Not only my master cylinder but the daytime running lights. The useless desk person smiling said it could be as late as 4pm. Yet I suspect I'll need brake work.

In the interim, I've been loaned a shiny new Scion xB. I liked it for about five minutes. The gears are too far forward, practically on the dashboard. The speedometer and gauges are in the middle of the dash. The arm rest isn't equal with the door rest. Outside visibility is awkward. And it's like driving a bucket. Heh. Guess I'm not ready to ditch the two-seaters yet.

Below the Neck

At lunch with two workers teasing back-and-forth about looking at women's chests randomly. I mostly sat back, rolling my eyes, until it reminded me of something at the gym on Saturday. Was totally checking out this ripped Austrian-looking guy who was coming in as I was walking out. When he said, “Hello.” I looked up from his pecs in total surprise, thinking to myself something along the lines of, “Oh yeah! The body does have a head!!” *snicker* So instead of adding anything hypocritical to my coworker's banter, I laughed along.

Then On the Other Coast...

California ban on same-sex marriage struck down
Thu May 15, 2008 2:04 PM ET

By Bill Mears, CNN Senior Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a much-anticipated ruling issued Thursday, the California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.

California's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

Several gay and lesbian couples, along with the city of San Francisco and gay rights groups, sued to overturn state laws allowing only marriages between a man and a woman.

"There can be no doubt that extending the designation of marriage to same-sex couples, rather than denying it to all couples, is the equal protection remedy that is most consistent with our state's general legislative policy and preference," said the 120-page ruling.

It said that the state law's language "limiting the designation of marriage to a 'union between a man and a woman' is unconstitutional, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples."

With the ruling, California becomes the second state to allow same-sex couples to legally wed. Massachusetts adopted the practice in 2004, and couples don't need to be state residents to wed there.

Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Connecticut permit civil unions, while California has a domestic-partner registration law. More than a dozen other states give gay couples some legal rights.

Seven other jurisdictions around the world have legalized same-sex marriage: Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.

San Francisco officials in 2004 allowed same-sex couples in the city to wed, prompting a flood of applicants crowding the city hall clerk's office. The first couple to wed then was 80-year-old Phyllis Lyon and 83-year-old Dorothy Martin, lovers for 50 years.

"We have a right just like anyone else to get married to the person we want to get married to," Lyon said at the time.

One issue before the justices was whether San Francisco's laws carried legal weight when the rest of the state banned same-sex marriages. Gay rights advocates argued the state was violating their civil rights by limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. The state law in question is the Defense of Marriage Act, Proposition 22.

Oral arguments in the case in March lasted more than three hours, a sign of the political and legal issues at stake. Six cases were consolidated.

Groups saying they were promoting a pro-family agenda had vowed to fight a statewide law allowing same-sex marriage.

"The government should promote and encourage strong families," said Glen Lavy of the Alliance Defense Fund. "The voters realize that defining marriage as one man and one woman is important because the government should not, by design, deny a child both a mother and father."

An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is likely. The federal high court has never addressed the question of same-sex marriage.

© 2008 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Just wow. A few days ago a friend was talking about what about what label to apply to a significant other… partner? boyfriend? lover? I haven't put too much thought into it as there hasn't been much need. While doing the dishes last night I would be fine with boyfriend. Yet husband has a great ring to it.

I'm so glad I'm alive to see this social reform unfurl. Hopefully this decision stays. Hopefully more are made similarly.

My Luck (At Least It's Consistent)

Being a pack rat extends into my electronic life. DVDs started to stack up so with the price drop in portable hard drives I decided to buy four or five over the next few months. One for raw photos, one for movies, one for music, one for pr0n, etc. The WD120 I bought a year ago has been great, so I've been watching prices and capacities for a while now. Western Digital introduced their My Passport Essential line a bit ago that includes eleven colors (including Vibrant Pink!!) so when I saw the Arctic White 250 for $113 at Buy.com I ordered it. The very day it arrived, Buy.com marked the Intense Blue 250 down to $99. *sigh*

Heading out to the salon for a tanning session last night I pulled my apartment key off the ring to minimize my pocket requirements. As I has undressing I realized the key was gone. While in the big comfy chair up front my phone slipped out of my pockets so I figured it was there. Rushed out and turned the thing upside down to no avail. Watched the streets all the way home and nothing. So I got to the office and did the dance for a copy of the key. They didn't have a spare one available so the attendant said one would be made in the morning. I grumbled about it as she let me into the apartment then I grabbed my check book and we went back down so she could photo copy my ID. Walking back I noticed my key was about ten feet from the door. *SIGH*

Was running late to work, as usual, so I stopped into the office to see if they'd tear up my check. The front desk lady handed me a little envelope with my apartment number on it. “You already have a copy of it?” I asked as she nodded with a smile. She was probably thinking like “Yes, we are that efficient.” while I was really thinking “Fuck fuck fuck!” on my way out the door. Oh well.

Secure

The company has been going through PCI compliance hoops so there has been some renewed interested in security. IT put up a number of posters that remind my Ukrainian coworker of the propaganda back in the mother country. Had to take an online course in which I was encouraged to become a “Human Firewall.” It was actually okay because most all of the actors were gorgeous. For instance, right now I'm really ready to get me some pirate…



Kidding aside, all the Identity Theft hysteria did prompt me to put an access code on my iTouch. I've got all my contacts sync'd to it. Considering the damn things retail around $500, if someone stole it I don't want to be responsible for spreading info.

Passwords are like bubble gum:

• strongest when fresh
• should be used by an individual, not a group
• when left laying around, will make a sticky mess

Vroom

Not sure what it is about impending Summers that get me thinking about new cars, but this year's looks to be the 2008 Nissan Z NISMO in Magnetic Black. Have to include the Titanium knob, too. I seriously need to win the lottery.

When the Filter Fails

GMail does such a great job with the spam. Yet sometimes a well-written one sneaks through and I have to click. Great was to start the day:

From: Walt Minna
Subject: I know what ladies do on a farm. DO NOT leave them there alone!

Never leave your madam on a farm abandoned. She may substitute you with animals and you will be way out of the competition for the rest of your life. I learned it the hard way. Here are the details.

Alive

In a great mood this morning. While it's somewhere between cool and crisp it felt great to have the windows down and the moon roof open while Alice Deejay moved me along. I'd forgotten what great driving music their only album was. Drove a little too fast on the freeway because of it.

Filling up on the way in an attractive man in business attire pulled up behind me in the exact same Celica. Year, paint, sport options, fog lamps, etc. Put as much bass in my voice as possible and said, “Nice car.” with a nod. Shared a laugh and some stories. Apparently his burns as much oil as mine does now, which I found interesting. I never did get around to the “Are you married? Wanna fuck?” questions but it was a fun random moment.

Now… work. Ignore the beautiful day outside. Yay.

Evil Willpower

Summer is right around the corner so I have to stay serious about the regimen. One thing that helps maintain my resolve is doing wrong by others. Shopping for groceries Saturday I saw 8-packs of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's Special Dark on sale. These are two of my favorite candy bars so I bought one of each. Kept them out of sight yesterday then brought them in this morning to place in my bucket 'o sugar. A few people have passed by and exclaimed, “Full candybars?” to which I grin innocently and say, “Help yourself!”

Yes. YES! Help themselves to 220 calories of love-handle expanding doom!! *evil cackle*

As funny as I make it sound, it does keep me motivated. I will go home tonight will a feeling of victory. Though they sit here in plain view and easy reach, I shall resist!

Innocent

I'm pretty good about keeping my looks to myself in the locker room, largely because I've gotten unwanted attention myself on occasion. Yet this afternoon was the opposite for a change. Heading towards the shower I did a double take in the mirror as I noticed the guy behind me. Not only was he gorgeous, but he was staring me down. Nubility personified with his taut, tanned torso and wavy blonde hair.

Figured I was delirious from the workout so I looked the other way in puzzlement as I continued on into the showers. While lathering up my peripheral vision caught him walk into the sink area. So naturally I flex what I can and lament the fact that being naked doesn't allow one to hide a pronounced gut. Wasn't really a factor though because he was still staring. Staring. In fact, he even waited at the wall to the urinals, watching me until I looked directly at him. Made me roll my eyes with a giggle.

Toweled off and as I approached the locker I withered under his glances. I dressed as quickly as possibly but he was ahead of me. Was putting on my shoes as he headed out. I hate how new situations overwhelm me. All I had to do was say something, anything. Yet the moment was gone. Out in the parking lot he was nowhere to be seen.

Probably for the best. I'm not a slut. Really.

Last Few, Future Few

Relaxed night last night. Got in a quick nap after work before heading over to get some tanning done. The parking there is such ass, I took the first one that opened up. It wasn't until I was naked in the booth that I realized the spot I took was marked off since it was next to a handicapped space. I couldn't get the image of a tow truck hauling off my baby out of my head, so I cut my session a little short.

Got over to the Quarry for a hair cut. The girl cutting my hair was chatty as hell. When she asked if I was married and had any kids, I was so tired I stumbled over trying to say something clever about how I wasn't allowed to yet. Finally just said, a little too loudly even, that, “I am trying to say that I'm gay.” She laughed as I blushed. Sometimes it's annoying being so butch.

Managed to get some shopping in before heading home. Watched some TV as the laundry was going. Tim brought over the first season of Battlestar Galactica for me on Saturday and I haven't been able to stop watching. I would really like to finish Torchwood but I'm finding BG very compelling; the story has brought me to tears a number of times—so much for butch.

Not many plans for the weekend; with this evil weather it will likely the usual: some drinking, some DVDing, and some gaming gaming. Meh. Off to the gym.