I found this very moving and felt like I should pass it on. Thank for shaing this on your blog Tommy.

This was in my in box this morning from the No On 8 people. If anyone is going from my neck of the woods and would be inclined to give a gurl a ride (I am BROKE until Sunday), please drop me a line.

 

If you haven't heard…

 

Opposition to Prop 8 protest march in SF Friday 11 07 @ 530pm from civic center (market and 7th) to delores park

 

Blessings,

Teresa

OK, here's the plan...
 
Those who wish to caravan to the rally, I will be at the Fairfield Park and Ride at West Texas and I-80 until 11:30AM, then I will depart with whoever is there with me. :) You can get more information about this lot at:

http://rideshare.511.org/511maps/default.asp.

 If you are available to give rides, please email me with your desirable contact information and I will pass it along.
 
If you have questions (hell, who doesn't?), please drop me a line. If you email me privately, I will give you my phone number.
 
Blessings,
Teresa

I originally wrote what follows as a response to a comment from one of my many "adopted" kids that I have known since he was a young 'un. Thank you James for supporting me and my community in a time where it feels like we have been forgotten. I love you kiddo and am very proud of the man you have become. :)

I just let my typing come from my heart and the product is below. After I was finished, I felt like I should post it as a blog, so here I am on my soapbox and in all my glory, lol!

Thank you for your words of encouragement my surrogate son! :) I too was amazed to see that my home county was a supporter of this civil injustice. The sad thing is that I KNOW that that if these same people actually studied the prop and saw what was really about instead of listening to the pro 8 bullshit being spoon fed to them, they would have voted otherwise. The problem with our country as a whole is that if it doesn't actually pertain to them, they won't try to learn more about it.

Now if the prop tried to say that two people of different races couldn't marry (how quick they fucking forget), there would be riots. Hell it never would have gotten on the damn ballot. They just don't realize that it is the same thing. They are taking away MY civil rights!!! That is discrimination, plain and simple. Soon they will be taking away yours as well, stupid people...

I am so tired of hearing people say, "Oh, you have domestic partnership, that's the same thing". Read me loud and clear, DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP IS A SHAM!!! Couples who have been together for years are finding out the hard way. One of the partners dies and there is a GOOD chance that the suriviing partner will never see any of the deceased loved one's pension, property or even be able to keep some of the things they purchased together as a family. Let's not forget social security benefits and the other 1000+ federal benefits that domestic partnership does not get to access. How many of those Solano County voters know this? Not many I am afraid.

So I will march on in Sacramento Sunday with my friends and those who support me (and each other). I will march and think of many things:

Stonewall to inspire me,
Gwen Arujo
Matthew Shepard,
Brandon Tina,

and all the others that have been abused, mistreated, or killed by those who hate us for what we are and what we represent. I march for all of you.

The really sad thing is that whether they like it or not, WE ARE JUST LIKE THEM. We cry when hurt, we bleed the same blood, we love with as much conviction (sometimes more) as they do. We are your mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. We are your teachers, the police and fire personnel that keep your homophobic asses safe. We are your ministers, your grocery clerks, your next door neighbors. Above all this, we are your fellow human beings, not animals or abominations. WE ARE EVERYWHERE AND WE WILL NOT GO AWAY! THIS IS FAR FROM OVER AND I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AS LONG AS THERE IS LIFE IN MY BODY!

I just received an email from Californians Against 8 about the upcoming rally on Sunday. Here is what I know:

* The rally begins in front of the Capitol Building at 1pm.

* There is a carpool/caravan leaving from Emeryville at 10am. No meeting place has been announced as of yet.

* You can get up to the minute information from the Californians Against 8 Facebook group site. For those of you Non-Facebook users, I will be sharing information as I get it, so keep your eyes peeled on the blog and bulletins.

* I have a flyer posted in my photos. Please feel free to copy and distribute. :)

I am organizing a car pool to the event for those of us in this neck of the woods (North Bay, Vallejo, etc.). My car is already full and I know a wonderful couple (Breanne and Courtney) who live in Martinez that could sure use a ride.

If you would like to caravan from Solano County or offer transportation to those who would like to come, but no car, please email me at redwoodgurl64@yahoo.com. I will have the caravan meeting place information for you shortly.

We will not sit silently...

Teresa

I am copying this from an email I received from the No On 8 East Bay. I AM going to attend this and would like to ask that those of you who can, please join me. If transportation is an issue, I WILL COME PICK YOU UP! Call or email me if you want to do this.

To my queer friends and allies,

We may have lost one battle yesterday, but this fight is NOT over. Join me this Sunday at 1pm (we are checking to see if any other groups are organizing.. . let me know) in Sacramento (at the Capitol). This will be just one of the many protests we will have to organize. We will not be able to win this in one day, or even a year. We cannot give up! African Americans, Women, Latinos, and every other group that has been marginalized/ oppressed didn't just have their rights given to them, they took them. Our time is now, we must organize... WE HAVE TO UNITE!

We are creating fliers, blogs, and contact the local news stations with a press release.

I need you all to help me out with this.

This is a sad day... but we cannot take this quietly. I will be able to give specifics soon. We will carpool, but maybe have enough people to rent a bus (which would be amazing).

What can you do?
*Call/text every person in your phone book and get them to join
*Forward this on to every contact you have, post it on your facebook, myspace, blogs... get the word out!
*SHOW UP! How many thousands of people go to pride? If you can go to pride you can come to this!

Please email us at CaliforniansAgainst8@gmail.com to pledge your solidarity and let us know that you can join (this will be helpful in the event that we rent busses). Please pass along this email address to those who are serious about getting involved!

In Solidarity,

Amy DeRoboam

No act of kindness, however small, is wasted. -Aesop

How much I LOVE working from home? I feel like I am much more focused here than in Petaluma. No outside distractions maybe? Whatever it is, I am enjoying it and so are my doggies. They seem so much more settled and happy now that I am home all the time. Sandy is even sleeping in the house again (hasn't done that in ages!). Starting next week I will be taking them walking every morning before work. I was going to start this week, but my ankles are swollen for some reason and I need to find out what's going .. I begin. I hope it's not high blood pressure rearing its ugly head. It's been a year since this has been an issue for me. Think happy thoughts...

I am hoping that the pos-Samhain party isn't a bust. I always stress just before a party and it always turns out fine. I am a little nervous because I have invited people that don't know me very well and I want them to have a good time. Shut up Teresa; everything will be great...

Howdy Happy Campers!

Sorry for falling off the face of the earth these past few weeks. Life has been a little insane and I have barely had time to catch my breath! Here are some updates for you...

1. I officially have a car as of today! The financing went through today and my payments start next month. I LOVE my Isizu Ascender! It is a kick-ass vehicle and fits my lifestyle like a glove. I can fit my queen size air mattress in the back without a problem. Can you say Winter camping?

2. The Petaluma office where my job was located has now closed. I am working from home (the benefit of having a job that is 99% online). Getting my home office together has been a challenge (space mostly), but it is starting to take shape. My doggies are freaking out because they wonder why I am home all day long now, lol!

3. Still getting things together for the pos-Samahin party on 11/1. I don;t think that everyone has recieved the invite. If you haven't let me know. You can check your events calendar as well. Look under "events I'm invited" and it should be there. I hope you can make it. It should prove to be a fun a spooky night for sure!

4. Susan and I are doing well. Still taking it slow, as my heart is still quite sore from my last adventure. She has been very patient with me and I have really enjoyed getting to know her these past couple of months. I still have my "Nolen" issues, but they are not as intense and I think she/he is finally starting to fade away for me a bit. I miss her, but not as bad. Way too early for the L word, but who knows what the future will hold? 

5. I love my friends at the White Horse Inn! They have quickly become like a second family to me. Everyone there is fun and friendly and warm. Thank you for making my Wednesdays fun and a welcome respite. YOU ROCK! WIENERS!!!! LOL

6. I miss my "other" family. It was good to see most of you camping recently. I feel like I don't get to see you near as much as I would like to. Y'all were there when my marriage of 17 years ended and I was discovering exactly who "Choochi" was. I know it wasn't easy at times, but thanks for sticking with me through it all. You MOTHERFUCKERS better make it to my party! LOL!

Finally, much love to those who take the time to read my blog. Being a chronic "sharer", it's nice to know that people are actually interested in what is happening in this dizzy life of mine. Kudos to you and give me a shout every now and again so I know who you are.

Later,

Teresa, AKA Choochi, AKA Corporal Punishment (more on that one later...) 

Well, as many of you know, my lovely green companion of 10 years died last week. I loved that damn car! She was the best and I have many fond memories of our times together. I will miss you Vanessa; RIP...

I was terrified about having to go through the whole financing thing since my credit went to shit after the divorce, but it actually wasn't as painful as I feared. The dealership was great and worked within my parameters and now I am the owner of a beautiful black 2007 Chrystler Sebring. She has and kinds of nice bells and whistles as well as a 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty (YAHOO!!!). Ladies and gentelman, I would like to introduce you to Velvet...