Here’s a fun link to sum up your 2005.

Hugs from afar.

Christopher

Hola! It’s been sometime since my last post but we’ve been busy. Sick really. But, better now! So, Christmas past has been better, but I’m just happy to be up and around! I wish the sun were out. We’ve had really bad rain here the last couple of weeks, but hopefully it will subsided some and not wash us out! The Corps of Engineers has promised we’ll be fine, but after those poor folks in New Orleans.. who knows if you can believe or not!

We spent the evening tonight with our good friends Kelly and Anthony. That was so nice, since we haven’t seen them (or I haven’t) in sometime. I was feeling guilty about it.. I mean, I’m only across the river. But, more importantly – let me know how your Christmas Holiday was.

Ciao for now

3DollarBill
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Alright..

My friend Matthew’s memorial service is this weekend. His family are Soldiers for Christ in the Salvation Army. I forgot what a homophobic organization they are, but slowly but surely, I’m being reminded.

We’re putting together a photo-montage of his life. We have oodles of pictures of Matthew but they have made us take out the drag pictures. No cross dressing photos allowed. (Hello. That’s a good chunk girl!)

Then they won’t allow us to have his partner’s poem at the service (male to male poetry?).

We’re abiding by all this to respect his family of course. The last thing we’d want to do is turn his memorial into a protest but I am reminded of what we can do as individuals.

The photo above is a 3-Dollar Bill (as in: queer as). I used to print these out several Christmas’ ago and drop them into the kettle in front of the department store when I passed those seasonal bell ringers. I thought it was a vocal, and non-confrontational way to remind them that there are donors out there who are unable to contribute to some of the good work they do because of their homophobia.

Of course, now that Ms. Kroc (of McDonald’s fame) has provided them with the largest donation in U.S. history, they probably don’t even wince at my folded three dollar bill. But, if ALL of us did this, across the U.S. EVERY Christmas, eventually over time, maybe they’d do the math of how many real dollars they’re missing out on. Even die hard Christian’s do math in dollars and cents don’t they?

http://www.cultureandfamily.org/articledisplay.asp?id=336&department=CFI&categoryid=cfreport

I, for one, will be resuming this practice, I hope you might too. Be well. I love you.

http://www.glaad.org/eye/stories.php

Matthew D.
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

We were…

in San Diego at our cousin’s home of Carlos and Karen. I wasn’t feeling well and we almost came home early. But Karen and Carlos were very gracious and set me up with comfy pillows, ginger tea and home made soup!

But, then we received a flurry of calls from Northern California letting us know that our good friend Matthew D. had passed away in an accident in his home. We were horror struck and immediately packed and came home to be with our friends in the fellowship.

Matthew was 28, just getting ready to graduate from college, putting the finishing touches on his home remodel, had been working full time and partnered to a wonderful man Bobby T.

He stole the show in our video production at our conference (rcru.com). He was one of those folks that ALWAYS said ‘yes’ to every call for assistance. He made everything fun fun fun and we’ll miss him so.

Today, December 6 he would have celebrated 5 years of sobriety. We love you Matthew.

Foster Lager Nelson
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Not all..

days are sunny in bright in California. Contrary to what you might have heard. It’s blustery today and Rob and I are heading the car towards San Diego this morning. We leave momentarily.

The photo above is of Foster who unfortunately, passed away yesterday. He had cancer and had been limping around for a couple of weeks. My sister and family are distraught because he’s been such a big part of the family. We’ll be going to chop down our christmas tree next week and it won’t be the same without the sound of my neices and nephews laughing as they run through the trees with Foster barking right behind them.

I hope the weather in San Diego is nicer than here! It’s likely to be. I hope you all are well. And my next report will be from Southern California.