Banned Book Week

This week, the American Library Association is promoting the right to read anything we want. No fan of censorship, I like the idea. Various libraries have displays of banned or threatened books. I imagine it's a big thing in some schools.

Have you heard of this peaceful protest? I'd like to know what you think of the idea. Any suggestions on such a book I should read?

Thursday Thirteen - Parkside Observations

Thirteen things I can see from my picnic table at the park. I decided to write at lunchtime, and this odd little exercise came to mind. Let’s see…

1. A bag of pretzels, now scattered those for the birds, the bag tossed – why are people such pigs?

2. Butterflies, too far away to determine breeds

3. A big yellow beetle whose type I’ve never noted before

4. Robins, patrolling the field for insects

5. One large squirrel, not something I see here every day

6. An abandoned playground set, which Mr. Squirrel is now checking out

7. Distant shimmers from the hot summer sun

8. No crows – I’m seriously surprised and rather disappointed in their absence today

9. A port-o-pot, one reason outside of crowds that I avoid going to most summer festivals

10. Falling leaves, reminding me that cooler days will be here before I know it

11. A tiny, curious bee who seems to think there’s something good to eat around here

12. Still more plastic bags – how many do I have to pick up today?

13. And yes, a garbage can, several, in fact, in strategic points all over this park

What Marriage Means

I ran into an online discussion of marriage and read the most beautiful definition. Kindly, my friend gave me permission to share his explanation. Here it is:

Love is the first and foremost part of any marriage. This sounds obvious, but I am amazed at the marriages I see that you wouldn't think would work but they do because there is love there. But, oddly enough, love is not enough. Your spouse is your best friend. Not your only friend, but the friend you can tell anything to, the person that will not judge you, the person that accepts you, completely, for who you are. I have met both women and men that say if only they could change a couple of things about their spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend, they could be totally happy. Rawr? No no no. If you love that person, completely, than you love all of them, completely. There is no such phrase as "I love you, but...". It's "I love you."

There must be trust, again, completely. Trust that your spouse or partner loves you and accepts you. Trust that your partner is loyal and true to you. Trust that your partner can forgive you, and believe you can forgive them, for minor trespasses, and major ones as well.

There must be honesty. Truth can be painful, but lies build upon lies and will be the death of a marriage.

There must be partnership. Your world is not completely your own anymore. You have agreed to share your life with another human, with someone that you have sworn to love and be one with. You certainly do not subsume yourself to another, but the world is not all about you anymore, either. Suddenly, maybe you shouldn't go out drinking with your buddies, but should stay home with the wife. Maybe you shouldn't have sex with the hot pool boy, but should be true to your marriage. Life is a choice of maybes, and with marriage the choices we make can have a larger impact than expected.

I know, for me, if I were single I would have a house, with my wife I have a home. I love coming home to her after work. I love being able to hold her when I am sad, and comforting her when she weeps. I love the decisions we make together, and our support of one another. Being married to her feels right.

I think that's the key. Being married should feel right. When someone asks me why I love my wife, I can't give them an answer. I just know that I do, that I can't imagine being married to someone else, or being alone. We never ask the question "Will we make it fifty years?". We ask the question "What will we do on our fiftieth wedding anniversary." There should be joy and happiness, pain and heartache, and all the emotions in between. There should be a life between a married couple.

Perfect, isn't it? Thank you, my friend!

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Thursday Thirteen - Celebrating The GLBT Bookshelf Rummage Sale

To promote Mel Keegan’s GLBT Bookshelf rummage sale, I’ve listed thirteen books from the sale “table”.

1. Miya – of course I have to plug mine; this one is returning from the March sale

2. Unmasking Miya – this brings back the characters in a new tale

3. Almost Home by Nicole Gordon – I’ll have to buy my friend’s ebook even though I’ve already had the pleasure of reading

4. A Case of Mistaken Identity by Nicole Gordon – ditto; it’s a good read, folks!

5. Aquamarine by Mel Keegan – all his books that I’ve read are compelling; to keep with the theme, I already enjoyed this one

6. Painting Stephen by Jayne DeMarco – I had the joy of helping with final edits on this one

7. Queerpunk by Cecelia Tan and Kelly Kinkaid – now I’m out of titles I’ve read and will list ones I want to buy; this futuristic collection sounds quite titillating

8. Umbriel by Mel Keegan & Jayne DeMarco – a collaboration! I’m intrigued

9. Fun with Dick and Shane by Gillibran Brown – I can’t resist a bit of humor

10. The Game in Spain by Lydia Nix – this trio sounds sexy

11. The Geography of Murder by P.A. Brown – a mystery with sex in it? I’m there

12. Man’s Best Friend by P.A. Brown – ditto

13. Moving On by Fabian Black – about the only one I listed with a heat rating lower than five (tells you what I like, huh?), its theme of redemption caught my eye

And here's the sale page!

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Thursday Thirteen

I have neat, family and work safe images on my Sand Castles blog today:

Sand Castles

Save! Save! Save! The GLBT Bookshelf Rummage Sale is Here!

It's September, and that means Mel Keegan's GLBT Bookshelf is hosting its second rummage sale.  I'm honored to have two titles alongside the talented Mr. Keegan, the original "Miya" from March's discount sale table and now the characters are back in "Unmasking Miya".  There's a little something for everyone among the offerings, so I hope you'll join me in checking out the bargains!

The GLBT Rummage Sale *

* for mature audiences only