kslatz.blogspot.com

MR. DEMPSEY DOODLE JOINS THE FAMILY

2011-05-19T17:18:00.001-07:00

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 2011

2011-05-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

CHRISTMAS 2010...SEEMS SO LONG AGO

2011-05-19T17:08:00.001-07:00

ONLY IN NEW YORK

2011-05-19T17:01:00.001-07:00

SURPRISE MARRIAGE PROPOSAL ON THE LOVE LETTER TOUR

2010-11-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN - PUPPY STYLE!

2010-10-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

TIMELESS POSTCARD ART

2010-09-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

PARIS, FRANCE

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

VENICE, ITALY

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

LONDON, ENGLAND

BARCELONA, SPAIN

HONOLULU, HAWAII

THE FAM HAS BEEN OPRAHFIED

2010-09-13T18:52:00.000-07:00

PARIS, FRANCE 2010

2010-08-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN 2010

2010-08-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

URKULT MUSIC FESTIVAL SWEDEN 2010

2010-08-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

KAYAKING THE CHICAGO RIVER FOR RYAN'S BIRTHDAY

2010-07-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

For brother Ryan's birthday, he invited his friends to a kayaking architectural tour down the Chicago River followed by a trip to a family favorite casual restaurant - Portillo's. I was fortunate enough to be able to fly in for the occasion - it was seriously the best birthday ever!

I think Ryan's diverse group of friends was what made the whole deal so special, everyone was so chill, it had to be a fun experience. Out of everyone in the group, I was the only one who almost fell into the water - so happy that didn't happen...it surely wouldn't have been the best birthday party ever if it did!

The river was surely dirty in some parts - it was about 5 miles of kayaking from North Ave. to around the Sears Tower/Willis Tower - and it was super clean when you got closer to Lake Michigan.

When you travel outside Chicago/live outside Chicago - other rivers/lakes give you a greater appreciation for how truly beautiful Chicago is and what a great job the city does in making itself more beautiful year after year! The skyline, public art, beaches, recreation, lakeshore path, etc.

Happy birthday baby brother - nice job on planning this party - can't wait to see what is in store for your 30th!

FIRST EVER BASEBALL GAME FOR MARCOS AND JOSE

2010-07-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

My first Cubs game of the season provided lots of fun in the sun - it was super hot hot hot in the bleachers!

Marcos and Jose had never been to a professional sporting event in the US and had no glue how to play baseball. Barb and I gave some lessons on the game - as much as we could on this seriously sticky/muggy/sweaty day.

The thing Jose found so different from futbol/soccer games in Spain is that people are so carefree about watching the game, whereas in Spain people would have their eyes glued to the action.

I told them that the bleacher seats are essentially a big beer garden, especially when the Cubs are 9-10 games out of first place and on the verge of trading some of their best players for younger talent.

The Cubs won the game vs. the Phillies that afternoon - maybe because Marcos and Jose brought their good luck from Spain - ie. them winning the World Cup days before the game!

What an amazing day...We left the game a little early, got a table at Sheffield's Bar, had some beer and Southern BBQ, watched the rest of the game on TV - I love that place!

Chicago is so spectacular in the summer!

MURAL ARTS PROGRAM: FRANKFEST 2010 WAS SUPER SUCCESSFUL!

2010-07-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

Why I dressed up like Frankenstein and what exactly happened at Frankfest 2010?

Frankfest 2010 was a promotional event I produced for the City of Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program. This summer the organization unveiled a new tour product called the Mural Mile - this was one of the many events programmed to draw attention to these free downloadable audio/cell phone tours. For more information: www.muralarts.org/muralmile

Here's what happened at Frankfest 2010:

Guests met MAP Executive Director Jane Golden and Dave McShane, the muralist who painted the Mural at Dirty Franks
Acclaimed Frank Sinatra performer, Rich DeSimone, sang classic Sinatra tunes throughout the event
Philadelphia's most famous Frank, Ben Franklin, was on hand offering guests intriguing historical Philadelphia factoids
Two adorable frankfurters, Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein greeted guests, danced and smiled for photos
Free frankfurters - America's favorite "Frank" themed food - was served to those named Frank, Francine, Frankie, etc. and to those who dressed in a Frank themed costume

GOOD TIMES HAD BY ALL!

DAVIS IS QUICKLY BECOMING A MANLY PUP!

2010-07-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

Our young pup Davis is getting very big and starting to act like a manly dog!

He finally stands up for himself when is sisters try to bully him around. Recently we noticed he gives out this cute little bark when he suspects one of them will take his bone away from him. He also likes to tease Doris by taking her toys or bones and hold it hostage - mainly so she'll chase him around the house!

I love him, I love him, I love him!

LISTEN UP! LISTEN UP! LISTEN UP! LISTEN UP!

2010-07-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited to share with you a video project I initiated and produced for Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program (MAP). My idea was to program a Flash Mob/Random Act of Dance (RAD) with a talented and diverse group of dancers in front of one of Philadelphia's best murals and start a viral video in an effort to raise awareness for the organization and this amazing new tour product called the Mural Mile.

To learn more about the Mural Mile: www.muralarts.org/muralmile
Subscribe to MAP's new youtube channel: www.youtube.com/phillymuralarts

MY SWEET HEART SARAH HAS A SUMMER TAN

2010-07-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

ADOLFO SHOWS HIS MEXICAN PRIDE AT THE WORLD CUP!

2010-06-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

Adolfo shows his Mexican soccer pride during the World Cup - simply awesome dude!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY JOHN!

2010-06-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

LAST SATURDAY

I put the dogs in their beds and headed downstairs to prep John for his Father's Day present, tickets to the Brad Paisley concert. "We have lawn seats so we will need to bring a blanket."

He quickly chirped, "Were the stadium seats sold out?" Making it clear he wasn't happy with the lawn seat part of our afternoon.

I purchased the tickets a few weeks ago and a few bad seats were available but they were priced two times higher than the lawn seats. I also mentioned “lawn seats” were clearly typed in my email to him about the event.

PREGAME

As soon as we pulled up to the parking lot, around 4pm, we saw a college football tailgating party breaking out. There were hundreds of rambunctious-white-country dudes and their tank-top & short-shorts wearing girlfriends getting their drink on.

People were playing the bean bag game (bags, bago), flippy cup, the smell of grilled meat was in the air and the sounds of various country crooners blared out of parked cars. I knew we were a bit out of our city-boy element.

We got out of the Jeep and John walked quickly through the parking lot, cautiously weaving in and out of the sea of party goers as I quickly learned the testosterone fueled party made him feel uncomfortable.

For me it depicted a typical Midwest college weekend - a scene I actively took part in almost 10 years ago at NIU! (GEEZ, has it really been that long?)

We found safer pastures at a restaurant across the street as I wondered out loud if he would be more comfortable hanging with the same size group but of all black or hispanic people.

He quickly replied, "I think black people would leave me alone and wouldn’t have a problem with me!"

He felt that the crowd saw him/us as gay dudes and was concerned the white country kids would take issue with our sexuality – especially while in party mode.

Neither of us wears our sexuality on our sleeve and I felt completely safe. I understand and respect his feelings on the matter, so we left the scene as fast as his cute little legs could take us out of there.

PROFESSIONAL CONCERT GOERS

We sat in the lawn, waiting for Paisley to hit the main stage as a side concert was going on with most of the crowd checking it out.

We took in the diverse characters sitting around us, including a woman with several missing teeth, her boyfriend brushing his short grey bristly hair with a big hairy brush.

We listened to a talkative beer drinking couple, who traveled from Delaware to see the show, actively engaging the couple in front of us - who we deemed the “professional concert going couple.”

These professional concert goers planned everything out so perfectly - it was actually nauseating and annoying because we were so ill prepared.

The venue allowed guests to bring water into the show as long as it is sealed. So they took bottles of flavored water, mixed with vodka and super-glued the top on so it was resealed. Genius!

They also came equipped with short legged lawn chairs, boxes of cigarettes, sun block, bug spray, chips and pretzels, the perfect combo of “stuff” for an evening of country music under the sun/stars.

They mentioned this was the second concert of a special six pack concert series - all country groups. And they bought two tickets to see Jimmy Buffet in the “good seats” because “Buffet is worth $150 a ticket.”

At the end of the show they brought Coronas for her and a couple Mike’s Hard Lemonade for him, they were in no rush to lave the parking lot and planned to let everyone leave before they ventured out to drink and drive home.

WE DECIDED TO LEAVE

The tickets were a present for John for Father’s Day from his loving pups and I told him if he didn’t want to stay we could leave.

The concert was supposed to start at 4 pm and the bands advertised were Darius Rucker (of Hootie and the Blow Fish fame) and Brad Paisley. We sat in the lawn and between 5-6pm learned there were six bands performing before Rucker and Paisley…so they wouldn’t come on until 8-9pm.

John was done sitting in the lawn, smelling second hand smoke from the “professionals,” watching young people get smashed on $10 beers and $14 margaritas – all for a band that we knew two songs. I just wish the promoters would have told us about the lineup - we would have gone at 7 or 8pm.

This was the first time I went to a concert and didn’t see the band perform. BUT, I did receive a nice culture lesson, spent quality time with my man and learned how to smuggle vodka into a concert – all equating to a priceless afternoon!

SEEING RANDOM PEOPLE IN WEIRD PLACES

2010-06-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

I purchased Brad Paisley concert tickets for Saturday afternoon, a father's day present for John from our extremely thoughtful pups. We didn't end up seeing the whole concert (long story) but we did bump into our favorite Philly drycleaner.

When she saw me, she yelled out, "John, I didn't know you liked country music!" (She calls me John because our dry cleaning is under his name and never corrected her or the owner who calls me Mr. Cunningham – it’s just easier that way.)

Now, it’s not like me and my drycleaner are super close friends, we see each other once a week, but we’ve never grabbed bears and chilled out to a cover band or anything…so I’m not sure why she was so shocked to see me at a country music concert – she did, however, make me feel like a sell-out since I’m not really a country music fan.

I’ve always run into people in the oddest places. While shopping for underwear at Target I saw my high school boss from my job at Moto Photo. He was across the aisle looking at tighty-whiteys and I was checking out the hot dudes on the underwear packages. (Looking back on this incident, I was a sexually deprived gay kid looking to be aroused by pictures on underwear boxes, very sad – and another story all together!

Last year I was eating breakfast at my favorite San Francisco breakfast spot Stacks, my waitress commented on my Chicago Cubs Master Card, "I love the Cubs too, I'm from Chicago," she said. I then found out that we went to the same high school and she was my yearbook editor when I was a freshman. Double dog-gone weird!

Most people know about the “six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon” rule – most celebrities are only “six degrees” of separation from Mr. Footloose. In fact, since you know me, you are “six degrees” from Bacon….my high school friend dated Ashton Kutcher in college, he’s married to Demi Moore who was in "A Few Good Men" with Kevin Bacon. Fun right!

These days I'm mostly stopped by older women who ask, "Did you know you look like Josh Groban?" Which has finally stopped being annoying and become the norm...so go ahead, tell me how much you love or hate him, I don't care anymore. And I often feel one degree separated from him.

And if you see me at out buying fetish underwear, porn, condoms, whips or anything else you might find embarrassing, make sure you say hello, as I enjoy meeting up with random people in weird places!

RECOVERING FROM CATHOLICISM

2010-06-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

The recent reports out of the Vatican resurface the bitterness and irksome feelings I have toward the Catholic Church.

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From Huffingtonpost.com:

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone this week linked homosexuality and pedophilia, and implicitly blamed gay priests for sexual abuse. This came in the midst of the gravest crisis to face the Church in the last 100 years: the rising tide of revelations of the crimes of sexual abuse of children, primarily boys and adolescent males.

In a news conference in Chile, Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican's Secretary of State, said, "Many psychologists and psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relation between celibacy and pedophilia." They do believe, however, "that there is a relation between homosexuality and pedophilia," he said. "That is true. ... That is the problem."

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Being gay does not make one a pedophile - this should be clear to any rational and educated person. Betrone's comments are made to shed light on the numerous accounts of sexual abuse the church has been ignoring for too many years. Placing blame on the gay community is an easy scapegoat, especially since the Vatican has never really supported the gay community.

The Vatican/Catholic church officials don’t hate gay people, they hire them as priests. They don't believe in allowing gays to marry, in fact they financially support political groups who believe marriage should only be between heterosexuals.

Now the Vatican's Secretary of State is blaming the numerous accounts of sexual abuse they have been sweeping under the rug for decades on the homosexuals they've employed as leaders of the church.

Contradictions, lies, fallacies, damaged children and partridge in a pear tree...Why are people Catholic again? Why does my dad give a portion of his well-earned pay check to fund a house of worship that treats his gay children like second class citizens, allows priests to potentially molest his grandchildren and steal money right out of his wallet? (The last part is in reference to a priest at my dad's church who stole a great deal of parishioner money to support his gambling addiction - after apologizing for his actions he was moved to another parish.)

I attended Catholic grade school, was an altar boy, a leader within my youth group, volunteered as a Eucharistic minister and my parents paid for me to go on a bus trip from Illinois to Colorado to see the Pope. I was raised VERY CATHOLIC.

I had nothing but great experiences with my church while growing up – I still have many great memories of community, friendships, education and family.

Today, when all of the cards are stacked against me as a gay man and watching all of the political and hurtful shenanigans rolling out within the leaders in the Vatican, this once happy place quickly became a big ugly sham. I was a good Catholic boy and now I’m a good gay recovering Catholic man.

With the blinding light being shed on these sexual abuse scandals, what's the call to action for the Catholic Church? What is the Vatican going to do differently to solve these glaring problems?

When the shit hits the fan you look at the men on top – the leaders - to find a common sense solution or at least a game plan to resolve everything. Unfortunately all I currently see is a bunch of the same lies, erroneous blame, cover-ups and looking the other way.

FEELING THE BLACKHAWK FEVER!

2010-06-21T18:26:00.000-07:00

photos from www.chicagotribune.com

WELCOME BACK DIXIE CHICKS...IT'S BEEN TOO LONG!

2010-06-11T18:08:00.000-07:00

WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

2010-06-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

2010-06-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers have advanced to hockey's premier game, the Stanley Cup. Growing up in Chicago and living in Philadelphia might be perceived as a rough place to sit for this sports fan, but for me the choice is easy - GO HAWKS!

I think everyone can agree that the Chicago Blackhawks have been a terrible team for many years. Bill Wirtz was blamed for the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup drought, which is the second longest in NHL history and the longest in team history. In 2004 the Hawks were rated the worst professional sports franchise in the United States by ESPN.

Bill Wirtz passed away in 2007 and the team was handed over to his son Rocky. Major changes were immediately made to turn the team around - including the franchise allowing for home games to be televised on television - which Bill Wirz never allowed as he believed fans needed to pay for a ticket in order to see the game live.

Chicago brought major hockey stars into my life at a young age. Growing up as a Chicago hockey fan in the late 80s early 90s brought glimpses of greatness with memorable players like Denis Savard, Chris Chellios, Ed Belfour and Jeremy Roenick.

But much like the Chicago Bulls, after Jordan & Pippen and co. left the franchise, I was left with a "so what - who cares" mentality. Watching and professional team lose year-after-year is hard to do, unless you are housed in Wrigley Field - which is another story entirely.

Call me a fair weathered fan, but I was never able to get back into keeping up with the Hawks like I did when I was a kid but now that they're winning, I'm totally excited for this talented and very enthusiastic team.

Hawks are up 2-1 and I'm saying my prayers, watching intently and totally enjoying the excitement! GO HAWKS!

TODAY IS NO HO-HUM DAY - IT'S A DAY OF GRATITUDE!

2010-06-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend wasn't filled with my typical long afternoons in the sun at a beer garden/street festival or late night parties ending in dance filled debauchery. I spent quality time with my loving man and my three adorable pups – it was perfect in every way!

We had a friend over for dinner last night as John made steak, potato salad and grilled veggies – yum! He's such a great chef and a master of the barbeque grill!

During the dinner conversation we heard about the many big life changes that were going on with our friend - all happening in the next few months.

John compared the difficult life changing decisions she was making to the many he’s made in life - like leaving loving friends and family behind in an effort to progress in his career.

He said, "I can't even imagine still scrubbing cases at that hospital in North Carolina," referring to the surgery position he held at the beginning of his career.

Which led to several discussions about many of our closest friends in high school still living in our hometowns and how they are happy with the small-town lifestyle. And we all knew that bigger cities were more our speed.

Before going to bed I evaluated aspects of my life and how I've progressed from high school till today. Living in three major metropolitan cities and the career I've established for myself is something that I’m proud of.

For the last 4 years, the glue that has kept my life together is the love I’ve found with John and my three pups – I’m so blessed to have such a beautiful family! We live in an amazing home, we have fabulous family and friends who support us AND we’re both healthy - which is an amazing blessing!

I too often take things for granted and find myself sweating the small aspects of life instead of looking at the big picture. I need to stand on top of the mountain and look down and see the great life I'm living.

Memorial Day weekend served as a reminder to me to not become complaisant, forge ahead and achieve in my career, love my family and cherish every day I have on this long twisty road of of life. (Maybe a little too philosophical - but you get where I’m going with all of this)

Today is no ho-hum of a day - it's a day of gratitude. Join me in being thankful for all of the blessings we currently have and the amazing days we have to look forward to in our future!

GOTTA LOVE THE WRIGLEY FIELD BLEACHER BUMS!

2010-05-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

It just isn't summer without attending a game in Wrigley Field bleachers! This guy has talent, very nice :)

LEE DEWYZE WINS AMERICAN IDOL

2010-05-27T07:15:00.001-07:00

I screamed in excitement when he won. The pups jumped on my lap and covered me in kisses to make sure I was alright and then they laid out on my lap and slept until I was ready for bed. Sweet night, glad someone from where I grew up won the show this year!

WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

2010-05-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

American Idol was pretty lame this year, with one exception...Chicago's favorite paint store clerk - Lee DeWyze.

His confidence steadily built up as the season went on and his rustic-manly voice is perfect for the radio. Whether he wins the whole shebang or not, I'm excited to hear more from him in the future!

Debit MasterCard: Proudly Showing My Chicago Cubs Allegiance

2010-05-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

When using my debit card people will ask about my ties to Chicago due to the Cubs logo proudly pictured on my card. It tends to be a pleasant conversation starter - normally people are interested because they love Chicago, are from Chicago, have a friend/aunt/brother living there, etc.

Today, while buying my lunch at a local deli, the owner told me he had to think twice about accepting my debit card because of "what THEY did to my Phillies last night."

That's right…the Cubs won 4-1 versus the defending NL Champion Phillies in Philadelphia. I was very excited to say the least and enjoyed watching the Cubs game on TV. I told the guy, "WELL, today is a new day, who knows what will happen." We both smiled, I signed for my meal and we moved on with our lives.

I've grown up watching the Cubs play on TV and have always went to at least one game with my family while growing up. In recent years I've been lucky enough to be able to purchase tickets for nine games - in the bleachers with my extended Cub family of drunkards and tanning queens.

Since moving way, it's nearly impossible to see my favorite team play and tend to just get the game highlights via my iPhone, Cubs website (Carrie Muskrat is my hero), and watching ESPN.

I miss my Cubbies and hope I get a chance to catch a game or two later this summer. I'm also hoping to make others feel the same way the deli owner felt today...of course they will have to keep winning!

Since they've always been my loveable losers, I really don't see this happening too often – but, like this afternoon - it will make me smile when it does!

WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

2010-05-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

This is surely part of his movie-making team trying to get publicity for his new movie - where he is dressed up like a Greek God - King of Prussia or something? The movie looks totally boring, but he's such an adorable dancer - thus it's what I love this week!

CHICAGO'S LAKEFRONT

2010-05-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

Over the seven years I worked at McCormick Place, there were many days my work friends and I would walk around Lake Michigan and see beautiful boats drifting in the light summer breeze.

Images like this were part of daily life and now I miss seeing the lake I love so dearly! I can't wait to see you again - Chicago Summers ROCK and I'm coming for a visit!

Looking forward to seeing my peeps and my Cubbies in Chicago this summer :)

WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

2010-05-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

Proudly raise your freak flag...I love the looks on the faces of the kids behind him!

THANKFUL FOR HORN JUICE!

2010-04-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

On the drive to Whole Foods this evening I needed to give a little toot-toot to the d-bag in front of me talking on his cell phone and not paying attention to the green light. Which reminded me of how lucky I am to have a car with an operable horn.

For whatever reason, both of my previous cars ran out of horn juice. I don't know much about fixing cars and wasn't in a position to fix any thing on my car that wasn't absolutely necessary for getting me from point A to B.

Life is good with a car that has horn juice! TOOT-TOOT!

WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

2010-04-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

2010-04-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

Obama was heckled from the crowd today, at a fundraiser in California, because he still hasn't repealed the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy.

I don't agree with heckeling Obama. But, it is shedding a bright light on how he hasn't followed through with what he promised to do back in 2008 - so maybe this one isn't too bad.

It's 2010 and close to nothing has been done in regards to providing equal rights for the LGBT community. Why no love Obama...we helped you get elected, do something!

SHOULD YOU GIVE YOUR AUTISTIC CHILD POT?

2010-04-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

The idea of giving your child pot as a medicine to help alleviate anxiety from autism is something I had never heard of before. After reading this slate.com article, I sent the story out via facebook.com to hear what people thought. Below outlines the correspondence it generated:

KSLATZ: In the spirit of it being April 20th (420) - I enjoyed reading this article on slate.com. I believe marijuana will eventually be legalized throughout this country and it should be taxed appropriately. We can then legitimately test it to see how it can medically help people for various medical conditions like this young boy's autism. What do you think?

I give my autistic son pot
By Marie Myung-Ok Lee
Slate Magazine
http://www.slate.com/
Last summer, we reached the six-month mark in our cannabis experiment. We'd been using medical marijuana to help quell our autistic son's gut pain and anxiety, and we were seeing some huge changes in his behavior and, presumably, his happiness. http://www.slate.com/id/2251174/

Michael M.: Interesting article

Katy E.: my son is autistic and there is no way i would try this there is other ways to get them to do those things i have done just fine without pot

Steve H.: Good read. I hope your vision happens soon (my brother suffers from limited access for his MS). however, I suspect the country isn't there yet. We'll likely make a few steps forward at the state level, but the political pendulum will swing back before any national legislation happens. And regardless of state law, the feds have insisted on their right to prosecute anyone anywhere.

KSLATZ: Katy, if your doctor told you there was a new medicine that could help with your son's pain and anxiety, wouldn't you try it? there's a negative stigma associated with marijuana (due to politics) and I believe this article gives an interesting perspective on the positive benefits it can have used as a medicine for more than cancer, AIDS, MS, etc. ...

If it becomes legal in our country we can test to see how it can be medically useful for a number of diseases. Steve, I'm a glass is half full kind of guy, it will happen soon, just a matter of how soon ;) and we will all one day look back and wonder why so many had such disdain for something that's medically helpful to people :)

Steve H.: I'm hopeful too, Kevin, but then there's guys like VA gov Bob McDonnell, who somehow turns the clock back on moderate, populist policies to pre-civil rights era - and he's in the minority party! It forces me to accept that advancing issues like this will always be a hard slog. The best we can do is be noisy activists and support our progressive organizations with our hearts and our wallets.

Katy E.: I do think though i don't agree w using it on autism i do think it would b beneficial to other health issues...i was just saying i don't agree w using it on autistic kids because there are already things out there that work for them....however other issues such as cancer, MS, AIDS etc. i think it could help.

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A negative stigma surrounds marijuana in this country due to political agendas and decades of faulty reasoning. As stated above by Steve, this is an issue that will be decided state by state and will eventually - in who knows how many years - will become legal for the country and taxed appropriately.

The main argument for legalizing marijuana is to gain proper medical testing to see what ailments it can resolve. The woman in this story used different strands of marijuana to help her son's autism. Certain strands worked and others didn't. With proper testing and regulation we can define how this plant can help treat and/or solve several different ailments people are suffering from.

If our political leaders would loosen up a little and work for the people instead of big business - like tobacco companies - maybe we could gain some headway on this issue and use this notoriously "bad" drug for some good!

PROUD TO BE A GLEEK!

2010-04-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

GOOD TIMES IN SAN FRANCISCO

2010-04-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

WHICH PHOTO SHOULD I HANG OVER OUR BED?

2010-04-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

KSLATZ HAS BEEN WORDLED

2010-03-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

NEW FAMILY PHOTOS

2010-03-06T18:47:00.000-08:00

I LIKE HOW PHILLY MOVES!

2010-03-06T16:56:00.000-08:00

WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

2010-03-05T05:16:00.001-08:00

CHILLING WITH THE MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA AND CHICAGO

2010-03-04T16:39:00.000-08:00

PHOTOS FROM "HOW PHILLY MOVES" PRESS CONFERENCE

2010-03-04T16:17:00.000-08:00

HEY, SOUL SISTER

2010-03-03T10:51:00.000-08:00

I'm totally digging Train's new single "Hey Soul Sister." It has a funky-reggae-beach vibe full of contagious beats that cause spontaneous "bust a moves" in my office desk chair, on the street corner and on the treadmill.

It's one of those catchy songs that's so simple - it's simply awesome! The song of summer 2010? I hope so! Listen to on the beach, sipping margaritas around the pool or in the car driving with the top down.

Train's lead singer Pat Monahan's voice is one I've grown accustomed to for a number of years as he's performed several hits for the "mellow rock" crowd. Like my love for Jason Mraz's "I’m Yours," this song will be added to many playlists for years to come.

My favorite lyrics:

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains
You're sweet moving - the smell of you in every single dream I dream

Hey Soul Sister ain't that mister mister on the radio - stereo - the way you move ain't fair you know

I'm so glad you have a one track mind like me - you gave my life direction, a game show love connection we can't deny

I'm so obsessed, my heart is bound to beat out of my untrimmed chest

WE ADOPTED AND HE'S A CUTIE PIE!

2010-03-01T11:39:00.000-08:00

We adopted a four month old Brussels Griffon - we named him Davis. He's been trying to keep up with the girls and it's fun to watch them play together.

DeRosa is the alpha of the group so she's mounted him a few times to establish dominance. She also enjoys licking him which is great because he enjoys to be bathed by her little tongue.

Doris wants nothing to do with Davis and can barely sit in same room when he's around. We're hoping this changes soon because Doris is such an amazing dog and her brother needs a friend in this transition into our pack.

We are very blessed to have the best dogs on this planet - more puppy stories to come! (I pictured my brothers rolling their eyes as I typed that last line!)

WAIT FOR IT...NEIL PATRICK HARRIS...WAIT FOR IT...

2010-02-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

Philadelphia was hit with the largest snow storm in 10 years the weekend we moved into our new home - as a result we have to wait for the snow melt off our roof so Comcast can wire the place up for cable and Internet.

The other night my mother suggested I plug the TV in and see if we get any reception without the cable company - John worked some magic on our complicated TV and we now get NBC and CBS.

Winter Olympics on NBC - You would think this would be the ideal channel to have this week, but as much as we have tried to watch them - we both find it incredibly boring.

Dark Side of CBS - I tried to watch the CBS show with LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell last night. It was really-really bad – the acting, plot line, dialogue – all awful! I know why O'Donnell never made it as a serious actor - he's nice to look at, but that’s his only game.

Bright Side - On Monday night we watched How I Met You Mother (HIMYM) – a great TV show. I've written about it in the past as I was drawn in over the summer after seeing Neil Patrick Harris (NPH) in a Philly restaurant.

The acting is genius, plot lines align to what my generation is dealing with and the best part - it’s actually funny!

Dear HIMYM Producers - If I could make one tweak to your hilarious sitcom – end your show with Neil Patrick Harris (NPH) being a gay sex fiend instead of the slutty straight character he currently portrays.

NPH Street Credentials – He’s become a gay leader of sorts in the world of Hollywood celebrity. Since coming out of the closet in 2006, in addition to his role on HIMYM, Harris has found success as a host of a major network award show, singin' on Broadway and has shown his comedic chops in various small budget films.

Why This Will Work - If you haven't seen the show, it's told through the eyes of the main character, Ted - he tells his kids about his life when he was single and "how he met their mother."

Viewers are left to guess who he ends up with and the story lines leave bread crumbs of information to help viewers figure out the ending.

NOTE – When speaking to your children, portraying your best friend as a slutty gay man is difficult, but making him straight and “macho” is probably deemed acceptable in today’s society.

This sentiment is obviously difficult for me to swallow. I hope for true equality for every slutty person out there, gay or straight. But I believe this to be the reality of today…no matter how much it sucks – literally and figuratively.

On My Soap Box – Folks, we are living in 2010 and more gay characters deserve a prominent place within the boob tube and silver screen.

Will & Grace in the 90’s was pretty awesome. Broke Back Mountain was a milestone movie. Today we need to bring out a multitude of diverse characters displaying campy humor, perverse dialogue and show a character like the one NPH portrays on HIMYM – one that is extremely slutty, lost count of the number of trysts he’s had BUT make him confidently homosexual.

Making Neil Patrick Harris a gay character isn’t going to solve anything for the LGBT community, but it might add another dimension in the not so diverse network TV landscape.

Would this be a shocking conclusion to an amazing show – YES - And that’s what this viewer craves!

By The Way – The show isn’t ending any time soon, just offering up my idea in advance – getting it out there in the open…awwww I feel better!

ON THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA

2010-02-11T18:21:00.000-08:00

RICHARD SIMMONS STARRED IN MY DREAM LAST NIGHT

2010-02-09T06:52:00.000-08:00

I had a stomach ache last night and was moaning like a little kid who needed his mommy to comfort him.

John turned over and asked if I was OK. I responded, "I may throw-up but I'll be fine." Minutes later I was off in la-la land, exhausted from a long day of work and play.

Per our normal morning protocol, I woke up to John's phone alarm at 6 a.m. John hit the snooze button and I remember dreaming about being at Wrigley Field and drifted back into sleep.

The alarm sounded and John hit snooze once again. I stayed in my dream until the alarm sounded the third time and John got out of bed.

I've grown accustomed to waking up and falling back asleep as it happens every week day and today was my lucky day - I vividly remember superstar fitness icon Richard Simmons making a surprise appearance in my dream!

No it wasn't the type of dream that had me in a bathtub caressing him, eating strawberries off his chest and licking whip cream off his toes.

This dream combined my urning for the Chicago Cubs to start their season and me being star struck with every one's favorite flamboyant gym teacher.

The following sequence of events are as clear as day for me - I can still see his charismatic face and the skimpy gym outfit he was wearing.

I was at Wrigley Field making my way to the bleachers with my brother Ryan and his two girlfriends. I had a beer in each hand and was thinking about getting a hot dog when I spotted him out of the corner of my eye.

I exclaimed to my brother, "Oh my God, it's Richard Simmons!"

I reacted like a 16 year old who just saw her favorite boy band - Jonas/Timberlake - member. He was a much younger version of his current self, wearing the typical red, white and blue skimpy shorts and tank.

I walked right up to him to get my picture taken - I wrapped my arm around him like we were long lost friends and my brother took our photo.

Suddenly, my friend Robbie, former co-worker Chris and one of John's former employees Bill arrived on the scene and jumped at the opportunity to be in the photo with me and my new pal - this was a weird mix of people, which happens all the time in my dreams.

I then looked at the man of the hour, the star of my dream - and showered him with praise for what he's done for the chubby members of the world.

THE WEIRDEST PART...Richard Simmons never said a thing, not one word! He blushed and fluttered his eyes at me like a little school girl - but not one darn word out of his big mouth. He is never short on words in real life - why didn't he speak to me?

THIS IRREVERENT BEHAVIOR NEEDS TO BE STOPPED

2010-02-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

Reported on huffingtonpost.com
Closer inspection of a photo of Sarah Palin, during a speech in which she mocked President Obama for his use of a teleprompter, reveals several notes written on her left hand. The words "Energy", "Tax" and "Lift American Spirits" are clearly visible. There's also what appears to read as "Budget cuts" with the word Budget crossed out.
************************************************************************************
Forget this moronic woman for just a minute (I’d like to forget her forever but apparently other people buy into her B.S. and she just won’t go away) – as I'd like to draw attention to the need of using one’s hand as a sticky note.

I wrote on my hand in the 3rd grade when I was really bored in class. My teacher pulled me aside and told me that this was improper hygiene and I should stop. I learned, adjusted my behavior and became a no “hand = sticky note” type of guy.

I've confronted co-workers, friends and family on their decision to write on their hands. I’ve also witnessed my buffoon of a boss write "gym shoes" in big black ink across his left hand I was in total shock the moment it happened – he’s a grown adult, an executive…my boss!

Some lame excuses include, "If I write it on a piece of paper I will lose it," and "This way when I wash it off tonight I will remember."

These excuses amount to a package of spoiled bologna as it truly makes me sick to look at people’s dirty-inked-up hands, especially in a professional setting.

I might have enough chutzpa to start a facebook.com group that ostracizes people who commit this truly idiotic behavior – the goal of the group – telling the world that making notes on your hand is truly heinous and needs to be stopped, NOW!

Speaking of idiots…

Dear Sarah Palin,

Thank you for being a prime example of someone who demonstrates this disgusting and juvenile behavior. This adds to a litany of foul things you have accomplished since your failed attempt at becoming the Vice President of our great country.

Most people I know do not want to be put into the "dingy-dim-wit" category in life so I believe you're a great role model for what “not to do” if you want to be successful. Which surprisingly enough, makes you good for something!

BTW, how's Russian looking these days?

Best regards,

KSlatz

PHOTOS OF THE DAY - OUR NEW HOUSE!

2010-02-05T16:24:00.000-08:00

BIRTHDAY ALA KSLATZ

2010-02-04T15:32:00.000-08:00

I love my new suit and the delicious cake John bought me for my birthday!

Now, if I eat the whole cake I will not fit into the suit - funny how these diverse gifts are so unexpectedly related!

Thanks to all of my friends and family who have helped make my birthday so darn special :)~

A SHOUT OUT TO MY MOM!

2010-02-04T15:21:00.000-08:00

When I was in town last weekend my mom told me about her new healthy outlook on life. Lots of fruit and vegetables. I'm excited for her and inspired to do the same. Keep up the great work mom!

STAY IN THE CLOSET IF YOU WANT A BIG CAREER

2010-02-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

Colin Firth received a best actor Oscar nod for his role as a grieving gay professor in Tom Ford's 'A Single Man,' but he acknowledges that his performance did nothing to help gay actors land the plum roles, gay or straight, in Hollywood. Photo credit: W Magazine online.

Reported on huffingtonpost.com:

Firth told reporters at the movie's UK premiere that a gay actor coming out in Hollywood faces professional risks that may not be worth taking.

"There might be risks for a gay actor coming out," he said. "The politics of that are quite complex, it seems to me.

"If you're known as a straight guy, playing a gay role, you get rewarded for that. If you're a gay man and you want to play a straight role, you don't get cast -- and if a gay man wants to play a gay role now, you don't get cast.

"I think it needs to be addressed and I feel complicit in the problem. I don't mean to be. I think we should all be allowed to play whoever -- but I think there are still some invisible boundaries which are still uncrossable."

In December Rupert Everett, who is openly gay, said much of the same, advising gay actors to stay in the closet if they wanted a big career.

**********************************************************************************

"The politics of [coming out of the closet for a job] are quite complex, it seems to me." Colin Firth

"COMPLEX," THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT!

"Equal opportunity" employers across the nation. Um...yeah right! Being openly gay in a job interview in many parts of the country puts you at an automatic disadvantage - in many career fields, not just the glamorous world of acting.

In 2008-09 I lived in San Francisco for eight months and relocated to Philadelphia without a job as I moved for my partner's career opportunity.

The inevitable first question potential employers in Philadelphia ask: Why the sudden move? Some add an obvious inflection in their voice, like I would you leave SF for Philly - but that's another story entirely.

I simply state I quit my job in SF and settled here because my partner makes the most money in our household and he was relocated here.

WAIT, AM I HANDLING THIS CORRECTLY?

Reflecting on the "almost wins" in my job search, I can't help but think the answer to this question has played against me in a few of my interviews.

Recruiters suggest I approach the interview like I'm going on a date - never reveal too much, project complete confidence, display a cool demeanor and never look desperate. Which begs the question, am I revealing too much?

My answer combined with my volunteer efforts listed on my resume for Equality Forum Philadelphia and AIDS Chicago Marathon raises a flag (a big rainbow flag) for someone who doesn't want to work with a gay man.

No matter how much I firmly believe in, "if they don't like me because I'm gay - I don't want to work for them anyway," I also feel I'm missing out on potential career opportunities because of my new "out and proud" stance.

STANDING UP WITH CONFIDENCE

Living in San Francisco, albeit briefly, I found a great sense of pride in being who I am - a professional American who happens to be gay. I felt fortunate to work for an organization that was led by strong gay leaders.

This is when I decided that sitting "in the closet" in the work place isn't where I wanted to be and I was instilled with a sense of pride for who I am and where I'm going with my career.

My part-time job and volunteer opportunities have kept me sane and help me build confidence since moving to the more "conservative east coast." I've been keeping the faith, forging ahead, standing up with confidence, knowing that an amazing full-time opportunity is right around the corner.

NOT A PITY PARTY

My sexuality has added to the numerous mix of worries, discontent and often hopelessness in my job search - I'm not complaining about my self-induced minority status in my job search, ahhh, well maybe I am.

But, ultimately, I'm looking for an equal playing field - most would believe that to be a fair request - unfortunately it may not be a realistic one!

THIS MORNING'S PRESS CONFERENCE AT CITY HALL

2010-02-02T20:26:00.000-08:00

GROWING UP WITH THREE BROTHERS

2010-01-27T17:10:00.000-08:00

It was early on Sunday morning. John and I were rushing around the house to get ready to spend the day in NYC to celebrate my brother's 30th birthday. I stopped for a minute and reflected on growing up with my brothers in the suburbs of Chicago.

For whatever reason, I thought about all of the gross things we did when growing up. You know, the disgusting "bachelor/fraternity house/men living with men" things that happen when growing up with three brothers.

Here a few of the nasty things we/I did while growing up:

Drank milk straight out of the milk carton, ate ice cream out of the container, etc.
My one brother wore my Calvin Klein boxer briefs - he only liked my designer underwear.
When playing sports - the occasional snot rocket was very acceptable!
Hock a "luggie" spitting contest anyone?
I admit to borrowing a toothbrush (something I did in college to my friend Margot - she most appropriately flipped out and proceeded to boil it to get my germs off it).
We had one laundry basket of white tube socks that we all shared - the socks hardly ever matched up, usually had holes or were light brown from walking outside with no shoes.
I can still remember the rank smell of my gym clothes - it's a smell I'll never forget!
Drank water out of the bathroom sink - mouth to faucet.
Shared bath towels - pretty much all of our bathroom supplies were up for grabs.
Changed sheets and pillow cases - um - well - not that often - super gross!
Someone's curly hairs on a bar of soap - yep - not an image that makes one smile!
I always chewed my food and asked my brothers what it looked like - good times :)

Yes, I was a weird kid and it had a lot to do with living with all men...my poor mother! We even had a male dog.

BUT, I would never change a minute of it - I love all of my brothers and my parents. They all played an important role in making me who I am today - and for that, I am eternally grateful to each of them!

NAKED: WHY NOT LET EVERYONE SEE YOUR GOODIES?

2010-01-26T17:11:00.001-08:00

Cleveland Indian's center fielder Grady Sizemore experienced the consequences of "sexting" - which made me a happy man - he's quite the stud muffin!

IN THE NEWS

The London Telegraph reported that a recent survey found that one in four teens have admitted to "sexting" - sending nude videos or photos through their phone to try to lure in a date.

This is hardly an eye-opening statistic with naked photos/porno tapes of athletes, actors and fame whores popping up all over the Internet.

According to the article, a teens brain isn't programmed to understand the immediate consequences of "sexting."

It stated, "Research shows teenage brains are not quite mature enough to make good decisions consistently. By the mid-teens, the brain's reward centers, the parts involved in emotional arousal, are well-developed, making teens more vulnerable to peer pressure."

MY EXPERIENCE

In the early 90's, when AOL was first loaded onto our family computer, I began communicating with people around the world in diverse chat rooms.

Once I started junior college, I found my way into gay chat rooms and chatted up some very nice LGBT folks. I finally found a place where I could experiment with my sexuality, feel like I wasn't alone and could meet other men outside of the small suburb of Chicago I lived in.

In order to meet a guy offline I needed to show off the goods - this meant nude or semi-nude pics that would pique the other dude's interest in messing around. Good online pictures are key to hooking up with quality guys!

I struggled internally with pressing the send button and releasing an image of my manhood to another person online, asking - will sending this photo hurt future career prospects?

For me it ended up being a fleeting thought as the sexual prospects easily won over any possible negative consequences in my career. I understand that I was one of the lucky ones who hasn't received any abuse from showing off.

MY VIEW

I'm divided on whether "sexting" is that big of a deal! Why do people judge others for showing off their beautiful naked body? More importantly, if they do, are those the people you want to surround yourself with?

If a nudie photo was sent out of me to the masses, I'd first think about my parents, boss, relatives, co-workers seeing it and their disappointment in me - and yes, it's pretty embarrassing. But I would immediately call my best friends - laugh it up - and brag about how good my naughty parts looked!

Obviously I'm half joking here, as I see the consequences with employment, college entrance, etc. I just wish we lived in a society that didn't place such negativity on nudity, naked photos or people being naked in general.

Maybe we all need to stop being so tightly wound up and relax for a hot second! We are all sexual beings, why hide it? What are we really fearing when showing our goodies to others? I say if you got it, flaunt it - you only live once!

SELF PORTRAITS

2010-01-25T19:12:00.000-08:00

These photos date back to right before Thanksgiving when we spent the day at the Longwood Conservatory.

GAY BINGO NIGHT

2010-01-25T18:01:00.000-08:00

John and I went to "Gay Bingo" with some friends on Saturday night. I went home with the saddest news ever - I almost won $1,000 in a black out game (every number on the card)...if they would have only called G53!

This was a fundraiser for the local AIDS foundation and it felt good to be out and about within our community for a social event.

After the bingo game we headed to a restaurant where a lot of the people who volunteered and attended the event came to have a drink and a bite to eat. An extravagant little man took a liking to John and told us the same story a few times, about how most of the crowd at the bingo game was young enough to be his kid. Apparently he was having a hard time with how old he was getting.

I turn 32 next week - I'm getting old people, its part of life and so far I'm digging my 30s. I just wish I was 32 and $1,000 richer :)

WHAT I LOVE THIS WEEK!

2010-01-24T19:05:00.000-08:00

HEADLINES SHOW A SIGN OF THE TIMES

2010-01-21T12:59:00.000-08:00

The following are some of the funnier headlines seen on huffingtonpost.com today:

New York Times Discusses Jennifer Aniston's 'Weight Gain'

Heidi Montag Tries To Move Her Face, Can't

Nadya Suleman Bikini Picture: Octomom Photo One Year Later

John Mayer On Jennifer Aniston, Tiger Woods & Masturbating

Scott Baio Tweets Michelle Obama Joke, Gets Death Threats

National Enquirer Submitting John Edwards Coverage For Pulitzer Prize

Man Hugs, Kisses His Pet Lion After Favorable Court Ruling

'Long Island Lolita' Amy Fisher To Strip For Haiti Charity

Printed newspapers are dying across the country because people are using social media, websites, blogs and news services to get their news. With headlines like these, it shows a lot about our society - and what standards people have in what they read - myself included.

CINDY MCCAIN STANDS UP TO H8!

2010-01-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

Huffingtonpost.com reported today:
"On Wednesday, the NOH8 campaign protesting California's Proposition 8 announced a new high-profile Republican supporter: John McCain's wife, Cindy McCain. NOH8 is a photo project in which subjects are photographed wearing white, against a white background, with their mouths taped shut and "NOH8" painted on their faces.

This story doesn't really shock me as I knew her daughter Meghan was in favor of gay marriage. What shocks me is the plastic looking photo - she looks like an alien! Photoshop gone wrong or too much plastic surgery - either way Cindy looks very unhuman!

HAVE YOU EVER?

2010-01-17T05:34:00.000-08:00

KSlatz is cranking out some great ideas.

Have you ever come up with a brilliant idea and lose it before you are able to jot it down on paper? Super frustrating!

Last night I thought of an amazing topic to write about here in my blog and for about an hour this morning I've been struggling to remember what the topic was - apparently too much wine last night.

But I did wake up with a great idea for the public arts group I've been working with, one that I think could evolve into a great promotion for a new product they are unveiling soon.

Hopefully I will remember my great new blog topic later...more to come!

I MADE A DELICIOUS DINNER!

2010-01-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

My meatloaf last night was less than stellar. So I took some advice from a friend and found recipes off the Food Network channel's website - from chef Giada De Laurentiis.

Thanks to my good friend Katie M. for recommending Giada - this dinner was awesome!

If you're interested in making this delicious dinner, here are the details:

Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables
By: Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients
2 red peppers, cored and cut into 1-inch wide strips
2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 summer squash, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
4 cremini mushrooms, halved
1 yellow onion, peeled and sliced into 1-inch strips
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 tablespoon dried Italian herb mix or herbs de Provence
1 pound penne pasta
3 cups marinara sauce (store bought or homemade)
1 cup grated fontina cheese
1/2 cup grated smoked mozzarella
1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/3 cup for topping
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.

In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.

Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.

MAN THOSE ARE SOME CHEESY-LOVEY-DOVEY MAGAZINE COVERS!

2010-01-15T09:20:00.000-08:00

I'm posting these photos, made from an iPhone application called iCover, because I'm totally lucky to have a family that loves and supports me in every way...I know, cheesy...but the cheese is good sometimes, it's good to be in the habit of being grateful!

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

2010-01-14T18:18:00.000-08:00

Love is all around us!

LET IT SNOW

2010-01-10T18:58:00.000-08:00

BROTHERHOOD

2010-01-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

HALLOWEEN 2009

2010-01-09T08:06:00.000-08:00

Halloween photos in January! I found these on our pocket camera and thought I would post because this was a totally fun night! My brother Scott came out to visit me in Philadelphia and he dressed up as a Jonas brother for the party. I was a Harlem Globetrotter, on the back of the jersey is #21 and the name Special K.

It was definitely a fun night out on the town in Philadelphia, a night to remember!

(Doris has crazy eyes...I love it!)

MY BROTHER MAKES THE CATCH!

2010-01-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

My brother is finishing up his 30 things he wants to accomplish before he turns 30. This one looks really cool and kind of scary if you are afraid of heights! Way to go Scott, I'm glad you were able to make the catch!

WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT

2010-01-08T19:47:00.000-08:00

YEP, that's me!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2010-01-07T19:59:00.000-08:00

This photo, for whatever reason, reminds me of a popular Aerosmith song Walk This Way.

Chorus of the song: walk this way, talk this way/she told me to/walk this way, talk this way/just give me a kiss...like this!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2010-01-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

Strolling through the middle of Philadelphia's City Hall.

BAND TOGETHER AND FIGHT FOR EQUALITY - HOME AND ABROAD

2010-01-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

THE STORY

While spending time in Chicago over the Christmas holiday a close gay friend of mine told me about his new job. He said, "One of the other guys in my office is extremely gay," followed with an impression of a stereotypical gay man's "womanly voice."

A chorus of laughs erupted from the other people listening to the story. Another friend said, "Oh, you mean he's a momma's boy," followed by another round of laughs.

Later in the trip I involved myself in a debate on gay marriage. My friend lived in London and he mentioned that British gays laugh at American gays because they believe we need to get over the word "marriage" and deal with "civil union."

I told him that I firmly believe in the stance given Portia De Rossi on The View. Here’s the interaction between De Rossi and Elizabeth Hasselbeck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lNeE4QEVSw

"Take men and women. Women want all the rights of men, but they're not asking to be called men," Hasselbeck said. "Do you think...is the word [marriage] more important than the rights?"

"No, of course the word isn't more important than the rights," De Rossi responded. "Without the word, we don't have equal rights."

DeRossi then hit it right on the money with the following comment:

"Every citizen of this country should have that legal right to be married. Marriage, the word, actually does mean something because people who see a gay coupling as a lesser thing in society can continue to [think] it's lesser than marriage when really it's the exact same thing. [It’s] the exact same love, the exact same commitment, love of family."

click here for video

DECIPHERING IT ALL

I woke up in the early hours of Christmas morning – laying on an air mattress in the bedroom I grew up in - reflecting on the aforementioned conversations.

I clearly remember the jabs my high school buddies and I would trade with each other - redneck, Guido, Pollock, gay, etc. I participated and/or laughed at many of our attempts at hilarity which I now equate to childish and immature trash talk that really wasn’t meant to be harmful.

But when I hear these remarks now, as I stand older, wiser and in a country that still hasn't afforded me equal rights, I find this behavior to be disheartening. Moreover, blatant discrimination within a minority group - my minority group - lights a blazing fire within me I've found hard to extinguish.

DEATH PENALTY FOR GAYS IN UGANDA

As I complain about the unfair equality issues in U.S., reports are released about proposed legislation that would impose the death penalty for gay Ugandans, and their family and friends could face up to seven years in jail.

This proposed "gay genocide" challenges gay Ugandans - stop being who you are as a human being or be put to death. Family and friends will need to choose between love for another human and their quality of life.

CONCLUSION

It's hard to fathom oppression of this magnitude with what I'm afforded as a gay American. With strong people like De Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres, I believe our country is making steps towards equality.

The proposed gay genocide in Uganda shows how far the LGBT people around the world need to go for not only LGBT equal rights - but human rights!

We need to band together and fight for equality - at home and abroad - and not participate in senseless remarks that bring our people down – there’s enough of that horrible behavior out there already!

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

2010-01-05T04:50:00.000-08:00

The people of Berkley, California...you gotta love them!

PAPPARAZZI ACTION FIGURES

2010-01-03T08:02:00.000-08:00

While looking through my photos from Amsterdam yesterday, I found this Papparazzi action figure photo I took in a shop near my friend's hotel. I think it's totally cool that a kid could play with Papparazzi action figures!

Is a Papparazzi the new Superman? G.I. Joe or Mr. Chubby Papparazzi in a cage match, who would win? Heee heee heee!

VACATION PHOTOS - PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA

2010-01-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

2010-01-01T20:19:00.001-08:00

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2009 - A STORY TOLD IN PHOTOS

2009-12-31T09:18:00.001-08:00

JANUARY: Thank God, he's gone...it was a great way to start off the year!

JANUARY: We said goodbye to San Francisco and hello to our new home city...

FEBRUARY: We moved to Philadelphia, into an apartment in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood.

FEBRUARY: John took me to NYC for my birthday. We stayed at a really sweet hotel, saw the Broadway show In The Heights, The New Museum and shopped throughout SoHo.

MARCH: John had a business trip to Washington D.C., I tagged along and found these angry protesters in front of the White House - they thought I was with the media.

MARCH: We took the girls to Washington D.C. and explored the Cherry Blossom Festival - good times had by all!

APRIL: I drove to the University of Delaware to attend a symposium by Anderson Cooper. I got my picture taken with him and made a new friend, Ellie Green...she's the coolest!

APRIL: We spent the day with Miss Liberty - she's really nice!

MAY: I volunteered for Philadelphia's Equality Forum and we attended a symposium with San Francisco's Mayor, Gavin Newsom.

MAY: Touring the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago for the first time was awesome! I'm so glad we made time to see this when we were in town!

JUNE: The Cyndi Lauper concert in Atlantic City was super-duper awesome!

JUNE: We attended the LGBT Pride Parade in NYC and brought the pups along (they were very popular). Pictured are some of the diverse folks we saw in the parade.

JULY: The Slatz family photo on the fourth of July!

JULY: I attended over 10 Cubs game in 2009 - hopefully the new ownership will help the Cubbies in 2010!

AUGUST: Our first Chicago visitor to Philadelphia - Barb came out to see the city's finest attractions - pictured here with the Liberty Bell.

SEPTEMBER: Amsterdam was an amazing get-away - one I will never forget!

SEPTEMBER: I started training to be a docent and volunteer for City of Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program.

SEPTEMBER: We met up with Paul Rudd while walking our dogs and saw Jack Nicholson eating lunch at a cafe down the street from our apartment - they were in town filming a movie.

OCTOBER: Fall foliage in Philadelphia was spectacular!

NOVEMBER: I had the pleasure of getting to know John's family a little better while spending time in Alabama for Thanksgiving.

NOVEMBER: Luke and John pose for a picture - aren't they adorable :)

DECEMBER: Costa Rica was amazing as we went with 14 friends and family. Zip lining, chilling by the pool, coffee tour and some much needed relaxation!

DECEMBER: The whole family was focused on Sarah's adorable reactions to opening gifts, charming dance routines and the youthful games she likes to play!

John and I celebrated our three year anniversary! I'm very thankful for the many blessings our family received this year and look forward to many more wonderful times with family and friends in 2010!

CUSP OF GREATNESS

2009-12-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

Four years ago I blew out the candles on my birthday cake and wished for a successful-loving relationship with a sexy man. I've succeeded in this endeavor - John is totally amazing and I love the life we have set up with our two amazing pups!

John and I don’t plan on having children so our careers play a major role in our lives – which makes finding the right job, one that will make me completely and utterly happy, very important!

THE STORY

We treated ourselves to a fancy French dinner last night – a final quaint meal in one of our favorite neighborhood joints before we embark on a seven day adventure to Costa Rica with 16 friends.

John did his usual eavesdropping on conversations of the people dining around us. I was off in space collecting ideas of everything I needed to do before our trip.

When we both came back to reality, John started to talk about my career, and made a comment that struck a nerve with me. He said, "You remind me a lot of the character from that movie last night."

I knew he was referencing the movie Julie and Julia as we watched it in bed the night before. I blurted out, "You think I'm like Julia Child?"

"No, no, no, Julie - the character that Amy Adams played."

Adams played Julie, a married woman in Brooklyn who was turning 30. She was the literary editor for her college magazine and believed she would have written her first novel by the age of 30. Instead she was stuck in a dead-end government job watching her friends excel in their careers.

John said, "I think you are sitting on the cusp of greatness, you just need to figure what you want to do and you will have a great career!"

I haven't found the "one thing" I'm great at. I'm essentially "decent" at many things. I just haven't found that one passionate outlet that fully expresses me.

I believe in myself and my creative abilities and agree that I haven't found the right outlet to showcase my diverse skill set. I have a strong passion for photography, event planning, marketing non-profit organizations and telling stories.

In my career I’ve had no shortage of creative ideas for other people and organizations. What I need is to channel my skill set towards something that’s completely and totally all about what I do best and do it in a way that is extremely profitable.

KSlatz’s New Year's Resolution: Decide what to do with the rest of my life - stick to it - and be the best "insert career here" I can be!

WE LEAVE FOR COSTA RICA TONIGHT!

2009-12-15T04:43:00.000-08:00

This is a photo from Jamaica - our last big group beach vacation. So excited to get some sun and relaxation and this trip will be fun, we have a group of 16 going...YEAHHHHHH!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2009-12-15T04:38:00.000-08:00

My morning OJ.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2009-12-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

This is how I've been feeling this weekend!

ABSOLUTELY ABSTRACT

2009-12-11T12:33:00.000-08:00

UNCLE JOHN AND LIL' GUY LUKE

2009-12-11T04:44:00.000-08:00

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

2009-12-10T19:23:00.000-08:00

BLACK AND WHITE - THAT'S RIGHT!

2009-12-07T15:31:00.000-08:00

CAPTURING DA RUST

2009-12-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2009-12-06T06:14:00.000-08:00

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2009-12-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

Looking for a Scratched or Dented Appliance? I found the perfect place!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2009-12-04T05:56:00.000-08:00

The colors, textures and composition are what I enjoy with this image taken in west Philadelphia at the site of one of the city's cherished murals.

An Italian Getaway

2009-12-03T04:50:00.001-08:00

THANKSGIVING IN SWEET HOME ALABAMA!

2009-12-01T19:22:00.000-08:00

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2009-12-01T06:08:00.000-08:00

My shadow rooted within a magnificent tree at the Longwood Gardens. Love the stars on the ground - this place pulled out all of the stops for visitors!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2009-11-30T04:03:00.000-08:00

John's totally adorable...I love it when he strikes his scary pose in photos! This picture looks extra scary since it's in black and white - BOOOO - AHHHHH!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

2009-11-25T17:07:00.000-08:00

DeRosa, move at warped speed! Doris, activate your laser eyes! These pups are a force to be reckoned with ;)~

BACK IN THE DAY, IN DA HOOD

2009-11-24T10:04:00.000-08:00

I had a moment of clarity in my dream last night - I was in an old comfortable place...in my friend Eric's old red minivan.

THE SETUP

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago (specifically Roselle, Illinois) had a huge impact on me - it's a place that will always be my home base.

I still keep up with many of my friends I went to grade school, junior high and high school with - we called ourselves DA HOOD. Many of us developed a common bond that carried into our adult lives.

Like many friendships and relationships - we have experienced many growing pains. People have moved away - like me, someone broke up with someone in the group, etc. But I still try to keep in some kind of contact with many of them - many only on facebook.com.

MY DREAM

I was sitting in Eric's red minivan eating a pastry when I realized I didn't have my jacket. I remembered I lent it to Dawn because she was cold and only wore a T-shirt. I began to panic because my phone was in the jacket and I kept repeating to everyone in the car that I never want to be apart from my baby - my iPhone. Hey - some people love chocolate, shoes, flowers - I love my iPhone.

My friend Lisa was sitting next to me and said she would call my phone so we could pick it up from Dawn. Then the phone vibrated in my pocket and I had to admit that I made a big deal out of nothing since the phone was in my pants pocket the whole miserable time.

We then drove to the basketball courts down the street and I saw famed NBA star Kobe Bryant playing basketball with our friends Ricky, Rob, Jim and Steve. We get out of the car and Eric yelled out, "We got next!"

I quickly mumbled to Eric, "We're going to get schooled by him, he's the best basketball player on Earth!"

Kobe came over to us and said he was tired and would play us tomorrow at Steve's house. I remember thinking he was shorter than I thought he would be. He told me that he only shoots the ball, he wasn't allowed to dribble or pass, so we had a fighting chance.

I abruptly awoke with an urge to pee - and accounted all of the details to this story as I tried to milk out the urine out of my semi-woody.

I felt all warm inside, like I was in a total comfortable world! It felt great waking up reflecting on the past and the strong friendships I was so fortunate to have back in my home town.

IN THE END

Living in Philadelphia with my main squeeze and two little girl pups - who greet me with complete love and affection - has been amazing. They help keep me sane, happy and thoroughly loved. But living in a new city comes with consequences - like having to make all new friends, which has been kind of difficult for us.

I truly treasure all of my peeps in Chicago - the people I see only a few times a year and/or talk to only on occasion. I love that we still try to keep the strong bonds we've had in our youth and I hope to continue to stay in each other's lives moving forward.

BUT it''s now time to develop new bonds and new relationships and make Philadelphia just as comfortable as sitting in Eric's old red minivan in high school!

A TRIBUTE TO MY MAN - WE CELEBRATE THREE YEARS TOGETHER THIS WEEK!

2009-11-24T02:49:00.000-08:00